Monday Morning at the Beach

Now that I write less about my crazy attempts at gardening, and more about the beach, some people have actually started reading this blog. Imagine that. So I'll start the week with photos of the beach, taken this morning at around 8 am and some simple, unscientific observations: There is a yellow flag up. The surf is still a little churned up, the trademark turquoise color evident only near the second sandbar. The water, as it hits the shore is clear (at 8am I saw no tar balls). Ironically, as you leave the beach you will see a warning sign posted that this "beach has been affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill" (no kidding, really?). But to answer what folks most want to know, yes, people are still coming to the 30a beaches (I go early so you don't see many in this picture but the rental chairs indicate at least some folks are expected and later in the day the beach access parking I drive by are full). I admit I saw no surfers, yolo boards or kayaks in the water this Monday morning but the "pretty yachts all in a row" were out in the water again. There were 2 BP clean-up people walking along the shore and one guy in an ATV (he may have been the "safety observer" as there actually is such a position) and a handful of tourists. For more information on the water tests the surfing community is spearheading check out http://www.waltonoutdoors.com/ because Lori is really good at covering anything to do about, well, what goes on outdoors in Walton County. My observation in it's simplest form is this: The beaches look good, there are plenty of businesses and activities in place to keep visitors happy. I'm really pretty certain that anyone coming for a vacation here will have a good time albeit a little different than past years because the 30A experience is more than just the beach.

I'll keep posting my observations on the beach but I plan to also continue to blog about other attributes along our piece of paradise. And maybe something, if there ever is anything, about my experiences with plants and critters in my yard, a place which I have decided can no longer be identified as a "garden".