It’s not that I had forgotten how much I love sunrises and sunsets on the water; it was more that work had interfered with just about everything lately. Maybe that's why it's called work.

The sun sets over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Annapolis, MD.

The sun sets over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Annapolis, MD.



Funnily enough, though, the motivation to rekindle my sunrise/sunset connection happened on a work-related trip. On a layover between cities I had the chance to fire up my iPad and peruse a bunch of posts on the boats.com blog.

One click led to another, and eventually I stumbled across a post written by our editorial director, John Burnham, way back in 2009:  Drawn to the Water, It describes how the simple act of getting out on the beach near the water can remind us that we actually have a pulse.

Somehow re-motivated, I dragged myself out to the beach near my hotel the next morning and simply watched the sun come up. I went back that evening and watched it set over the dunes. It did the trick -- I was relaxed and reconnected.

When I got back, I decided to look back through the years and pull out some of my favorite sunrise and sunset pictures. Maybe seeing them will cause you to take some time out to enjoy yourself near the water.

Sunrise over Harkers Island, NC. If you look closely, you can see a number of common grackles (birds) hanging out on the boat lift poles.

Sunrise over Harkers Island, NC. Look closely and you can see a number of birds hanging out on the boat lift poles.



The sun rise over the Chesapeake Bay and Annapolis Harbor as a lone kayaker glides by.

The sun rises over the Chesapeake Bay and Annapolis Harbor as a lone kayaker glides by.



Sportfish yachts sit silhouetted against a rising sun in Ocean City, MD.

Sportfish yachts sit silhouetted against a rising sun in Ocean City, MD. The sky had a purple hue that morning.



The sun sets on a day of fishing near Cape Cod, MA.

The sun sets on a day of fishing near Cape Cod, MA.



Thomas Point Lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. You can see why in this sunset picture taken in 2003.

Thomas Point Lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. You can see why in this sunset picture taken in 2003.



Clouds appear to split the sun in two in this picture from an early morning crabbing trip near Kent Island, MD,

Clouds appear to split the sun in two in this picture from an early morning crabbing trip near Kent Island, MD.



 

Written by: Gary Reich
Gary Reich is a Chesapeake Bay-based freelance writer and photojournalist with over 25 years of experience in the marine industry. He is the former editor of PropTalk Magazine and was the managing editor of the Waterway Guide. His writing and photography have been published in PassageMaker Magazine, Soundings, Fly Fishing in Salt Waters, Yachting Magazine, and Lakeland Boating, among others.