My wife Rachel and I like to travel. She likes to get away to relax, lie in the sun and recharge from the stress of daily life; I like to explore, experience, and photograph. These are two totally different dynamics, but we look for ways to make it work.
One type of vacation we both enjoy is cruising. It offers each of us what we’re looking for. Even when we look for excursions to shore, we try to find day trips that work for us both.
While on a cruise that stops at Bermuda, we decided to go ashore and head towards Horseshoe Bay. It’s a gorgeous crescent-shaped beach and a popular tourist spot. It’s a great spot to relax and enjoy the sun, sand, and water. It’s perfect for my wife. As a photographer, I love shooting the beaches, but hate all the people. The photo below says it all. Beautiful beach, too many people. And this was the same type of photo most tourists come back from Bermuda with.
I could sit and relax for a little while, but it wouldn’t have been a good day unless I could get some better photos. So I decided to explore. During my research for the trip, I found some information about a less frequented stretch of beach called Jobson’s Cove. Less frequented cause it wasn’t as easy to get to. I was going to have to hike and carry my camera gear with me.
My camera doesn’t just slip in my pocket or into a small case that hangs around my neck. It’s a good size camera bag full of lenses, filters, and supplies. And then there’s the tripod. A good one, not a tiny little flimsy one.
So I picked up my gear and started walking along the beach of Horseshoe Bay. Once I got to the end of the beach I walked up a sand hill and continued following the rocky coast line. It wasn’t very easy and there wasn’t really a path to follow.
I climbed up and over rock after rock. In between were short patches of beach, or shallow water to trek through. All the time making sure my equipment didn’t get wet with each crashing wave. For over an hour I managed my way through this terrain.
Climbing the rocks became a hassle. They were too steep to climb with shoes on, and the rock face was jagged and hot to the touch. Jumping from one rock to another was a challenge because my equipment made my weight uneven; twisting and pulling my body with every leap.
Long walks on the beach sound romantic. But what they really are is tiring. Flat beaches aren’t so bad, but mounds of sands aren’t fun. The midday sun takes its toll as well. I was prepared for the sun though. I had my sunscreen and had bottled water in my bag.
Looking on the map it didn’t seem very far. I figured it would take about 25 minutes. In reality it wasn’t really that far, but I didn’t realize the obstacles that stood before me. After the first few cliffs, each time I climbed to the top of the next cliff I figured I made it to Jobson’s Cove. But each time I realized I had farther to go and another cliff ahead of me. This went on for a while.
I was tired. Tired of walking. Tired of climbing. Tired of being in the sun. Tired of carrying my gear. Tired tired tired tired. I was worn out. Exhausted. I was also gone longer than I planned. Rachel was still hanging out at Horseshoe Bay and was probably wondering when I was going to get back. I kept looking for an easier path, but there was none. I thought about turning around.
But if I turn around, I won’t see Jobson’s Cove and I wouldn’t get the photos I wanted. I decided to press on.
“Just one hill at time,” I told myself. And it’s a good thing I did. Over that next cliff was Jobson’s Cove. I couldn’t believe I almost turned around. I would have been so mad at myself later on when I retraced my steps on a map.
It was awesome. It was everything I thought it would be. It was perfect. It was paradise. I was like my own private ocean pool to enjoy. I put my gear down on a towel and dove in. The water felt great. Nice and cool, but actually warmer than the cold Atlantic water at Horseshoe Bay (and yes, I know it’s the same Atlantic Ocean water, but because it was a shallow ocean pool the water was warmer).
Because of how long it took to find this place, I could only relax for about 20 minutes and I still had pictures to take. I got to work shooting the cove and taking it all in. It was so picturesque that I knew I got multiple shots. Now I felt good and that I accomplished something.
Now to get back to my wife. I really didn’t want to go back the way I came. I just didn’t have the energy. But once I was at Jobson’s Cove, there was another path out of there. I decided to try that instead. It took me up and away from the coastline, walking up and down hills of sand through the brush; at least it was a foot path. The journey back took me about 40 minutes. I still had the sun, still had the sand, but much less of the climbing. It was a struggle, mostly because I was so worn out already. Otherwise this way would have been a lot easier.
But who wants easy? You don’t get anything from ‘easy’. No pride, no experience, no sense of accomplishment, and in my case, I would have missed out on getting photos of the coastline, missing the stunning sites it had to offer, and a story worth sharing. Just as Robert Frost once wrote:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. “
Brian Austad is a professional web designer, Internet marketer, and photographer. In 2005 he started Austad Productions, whose goal is to help small businesses exist and compete on the Internet. He is also the creator of the Austadpro Blog where he discusses digital media topics including Web Design, SEO, Social Marketing, Photography, and more. Find out more information on his website Austad Productions, follow him on twitter @Austadpro, or on Austad Productions Facebook page.
