Island Light: Barefooting
Take only pictures, leave only footprints.
Take only pictures, leave only footprints.
Jumping off Big Bridge is an annual rite of summer for families.
Jumping off Big Bridge is an annual rite of summer for families.
Care should be taken, only jump or dive when others are near to assist.
Care should be taken, only jump or dive when others are near to assist.
Keeping cool during July.
Keeping cool during July.
Bridge jumpers pose for a portrait.
Bridge jumpers pose for a portrait.
Busy day on the sand at Inkwell Beach, and in the water off the beach.
Busy day on the sand at Inkwell Beach, and in the water off the beach.
South Beach fills with swimmers and sun worshippers.
South Beach fills with swimmers and sun worshippers.
Lifeguard makes his way through the beach keeping an eye on swimmers.
Lifeguard makes his way through the beach keeping an eye on swimmers.
Sunflowers at a roadside stand, ready for the dining room table.
Sunflowers at a roadside stand, ready for the dining room table.
Katama Farm pig keeps cool in a soothing mud bath.
Katama Farm pig keeps cool in a soothing mud bath.
Keeping a watchful eye out at East Chop.
Keeping a watchful eye out at East Chop.
Bella Murphy working at the Katama Airfield.
Bella Murphy working at the Katama Airfield.
Red biplane outside its hangar.
Red biplane outside its hangar.
Shedding shoes is a summer ritual that belongs to the young and young at heart. And this is the time of year for it. In New England we bare legs in the spring but still cling to the winter ways of socks and shoes. Soon our shoes are replaced by flip flops and open sandals.
But in summer, shoes are for venturing downtown, while closer to home, both on the lawn and at the beach, bare feet are the footwear of choice. Warm, golden sand turns an end-of-the-day walk into a distinctly tactile experience. Wrack lines of seaweed make a pleasant outdoor carpet for traipsing barefoot. And cool green grass underfoot stirs memories of childhood summers.
The season for kicking off shoes is short-lived, but one to savor nonetheless.