High tides and strong winds can change the gentle nature of
the Gower coast. Gone is the balmy weather of yesterday as the first gale of
the autumn blows in from the west. On days like this, I often come to the cliffs
to watch the sea boil, and to feel the full force of the Atlantic. By Gower standards, today’s blow is not
serious, probably force eight, and the rain is not too heavy. There’ll be many
more severe gales in the weeks and months to come, when the wind can sometimes
gust to over 100mph at Mumbles Head.
A few other like-minded souls sit in cars overlooking
Limeslade Bay. Pointing into the gale, we sit mesmerised, watching the force of
nature. With visibility just a couple of hundred yards, there’s not much to
see, apart from the constant waves rolling in from the west, and crashing onto
the rocks below. Gulls appear not to mind the gale, revelling in the wind that
whips up the cliff-face from the sea. Black-headed gulls seem to enjoy it most,
often flying backwards, whereas herring gulls seek shelter in the bay, huddling
together on the rocks.
The gale is forecast to blow itself out by mid-afternoon,
when crystal-clear light from the northwest will light up the still-boiling
sea. This aftermath is what I really look forward to, and I’ll be back as soon
as the first rays of sun appear.
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