The tide is out so the winklers will play!

If you ever find yourself in need of an adrenaline rush, I have the solution.  You need to head for a tidal island, in the winter,with 2 fearless men, just before sunset, with only a vague sense of when the tide is due to come in.

Throw in a dead seal, and this describes the adventure Matthew, James, and I had this past December when we went out to Cramond Island.  Although I was fearing the sudden surge of tidal waters at any moment, it was a grand adventure.  And I really need not have fretted, as the winklers were out a-winkling and surely they knew when the tide was coming in.

What are winklers, you ask?  Well, a 'winkle' is an edible mollusk and winklers are folks who go out to the beach while the tide is out and gather such mollusks.  In my experience, this involves a shovel, bucket, headlamp, and a dog barking somewhere in the distance (maybe the dog was on tide-watching duty). I feel that having a winkler or two about the place can only enhance the tidal-island hopping experience.  They were basically my favourite part, as evidenced by my taking every possible chance to reference them in this post.  :)

Our first stop in Cramond was at this wee church near the Roman ruins.

Tower and tombstones in the churchyard.

They're off to find the ruins, the wonderful ruins of... Roman-ness.

Having successfully found Roman ruins, the correct course of action is to stand upon them.  :)

... And then there was a bit of silliness!

Sunset had began and we had yet to make it to the island...

The mainland with the causeway connecting it to the island.

Matthew & James demonstrate how the WWII anti-submarine devices would have functioned.

A winkler a-winkling.

Blurry shot, yes.  Posted as evidence that a headlamp is a  requisite piece of one's winkling kit.

I would love to go back to Cramond Island at some point during daylight hours.  I wonder if one can go a-winkling in broad daylight or if it is best done under the cloak of darkness?