It was at least this vivid and bright and had faded somewhat by the time I made my way to this spot along the shore.

Six vertical images, stitched with AutoPano, the pay-for big brother of AutoStitch, which compensates, automagically, for the difference
in exposures, removes ghosting using an integrated SmartBlend, and will stitch HDR panoramas, which didn't seem effective for this particular setting.

For comparison, here is an HDR panorama from not quite as far down the shore: www.pbase.com/ssprengel/image/69398426.