(Sand)castling

Lately I have been taking some sculpting classes in the hope that they would improve my abilities at goldsmithing. Alas, it seems I have been honing th wrong skills for the results I wanted, as getting the topmost quality results when making golden jewellery is fundamentally determined by gold smithing skills...

Still, my work hasn't been *totally* wasted I guess. In a brief holiday I had in the Brown Islands, I discovered my ability at building sandcastles has vastly improved. Here's an example:

This is bang in the middle of a long sandy beach, stretching to the east and west. To the north, a path leads away from the ocean into a small village, while to the south are just endless waves as far as the eye can see. Just to the east of here begins a long pier out to sea.

It is a hot summer prime's evening with almost no wind and a beautifully clear sky.

There are five obvious exits: north, south, east, west and southwest.

make a sandcastle

You pack some sand together to make a small and magnificent sandcastle.

l sandcastle

This is one of the most magnificent examples of sandcrafting one could ever hope to see. The towers have been carefully etched to give the impression of stonework, with the occasional window breaking the monotony. The walls are perfectly straight and the overall effect is stunning. This sandcastle is only quite small, being four towers connected by four walls. You could probably build on it to make a bigger one.

build on sandcastle

You build up another wall around the small and magnificent sandcastle, supporting it with towers at the corners and along the walls.

l sandcastle

This is one of the most magnificent examples of sandcrafting one could ever hope to see. The towers have been carefully etched to give the impression of stonework, with the occasional window breaking the monotony. The walls are perfectly straight and the overall effect is stunning. An inner keep of four towers and walls is surrounded by an outer wall supported by a number of towers.

A blissful native and a relaxed native arrive from the north.

The village to the north must be more interesting than here.

build on sandcastle

You build a stronghold on top of the inner keep of the large and magnificent sandcastle, packing sand over the original centre and building a new set of towers on top. You then surround the whole affair with yet another wall.

l sandcastle

This is one of the most magnificent examples of sandcrafting one could ever hope to see. The towers have been carefully etched to give the impression of stonework, with the occasional window breaking the monotony. The walls are perfectly straight and the overall effect is stunning. The castle is huge, a large raised fortress in the middle, surrounded by an outer wall supported by dozens of towers.

build on sandcastle

You dig a moat around the entirety of the outer wall of the huge and magnificent sandcastle and then a trench to the sea, filling the moat with water.

l sandcastle

This is one of the most magnificent examples of sandcrafting one could ever hope to see. The towers have been carefully etched to give the impression of stonework, with the occasional window breaking the monotony. The walls are perfectly straight and the overall effect is stunning. A goliath among sandcastles, its huge raised central stronghold stands proud and high within an outer wall, lined with turrets. Surrounding the whole castle is a moat, filled with water, with a drawbridge leading into the front gate of the castle.

build on sandcastle

The sandcastle is already huge, with a massive moat. Build a new one!

I tried to see if other sandy, artistic endeavors had improved as well, but no: my sand drawings are just as bad as ever. Perhaps I need to get some classes too in that regard before I can start making more than crooked and squiggly lines in the sand...