Moonstone Beach

Moonstone Beach lies a short distance west of Matunuck, on the barrier that separates Card Ponds and Trustom Pond from the ocean (Block Island Sound). Trustom Pond is a large closed lagoon that's protected as a National Wildlife Refuge.

AERIAL VIEW

Besides the back barrier wetlands and the bitterly cold wind, the most notable thing on this beach was the home located immediately to the east of the access road. It was perched on the dune, its deck posts protected by some sort of jute-wrapped mattresses. This place might weather a few more average storms, but it's tough to imagine it making it through anything much worse.

Other notes: There's another Moonstone Beach, on California's central coast, north of San Luis Obispo. There may be more. A moonstone is a blend of orthoclase and albite feldspar with unusual optical properties. I don't know if they were found on this beach or not. And reportedly, Moonstone Beach was once a clothing optional beach, although apparently not any more. And certainly not with a windchill in the low 20s!