Mud Flats

Once again, I am painting at China Camp in California’s North Bay area near San Rafael. This area is a wildlife and bird sanctuary, but when the tide is out, the tidal pools become a feasting ground for all the shore birds who flock here. China Camp ranks as a fantastic location for swimming, paddling, and water sports; however, the park’s waterfront is strongly affected by tides. At low tide, large areas that look inviting can turn into mud flats in a matter of hours. Also, strong tidal pulls can be a challenge. The other morning at low tide, I witnessed a group of young boys at day camp playing in the mudflats. From my vantage point under a shade tree, it was clear they would all need to be hosed off before returning home, but clearly they were having a wonderful time!