Along parts of the West Coast here in NZ, there is a lot of what is called "iron sand" which is for all intents black... suffice to say that during the Summer it is impossible to walk on with bare feet

Anyway, it is now Winter here and not great weather for beach walking. Looks like your weather there is quite beautiful and warm ya lucky thing

Black, metallic and sharp, that iron sand of yours is remarkable, I'll have to remember to get some for my growing rock collection. So much for a leisurely stroll on a Zealy beach.

XC

It is fun to play with if you have a magnet It is very fine though, just gets damned hot during the Summer due to the color. If you are a beach person, then you would love NZ West coast beaches during a storm... it is very primal and one of my favorite places to be.

Where do you like going when you need to recharge your spiritual batteries? And I do not mean spiritual in the religious sense, either... just places you go that refresh your soul...

I've some haunts. Having a fascination with crystal quartz in particular, often I'll be out in the wilds collecting quartz stones that are plentiful and relatively easy to obtain. Guess I just like the calm and quiet.

XC

Having studied and being a bit of a "closet geologist"myself , what you mention there about collecting rocks out in the wilds certainly has a lot of appeal Guessing you have a fairly extensive collection that you have acquired over time... do you mind if I ask what continent you inhabit that quartz crystals are so abundant?

I've dubbed myself a 'crystalphile' as my lust for collecting quartz is certainly unhealthy. I dwell in Canada upon the island of Newfoundland, which ironically, is nick named 'The Rock'.

XC

Heeee... how appropriate Nothing wrong with being a dedicated collector of such things. Beauty can be found in the strangest of places if you know where to look.

Looks like a nice place to enjoy ones vacation.