Somber Sunrise on Pensacola Beach

The smell of oil was thick this early Sunday morning as my daughters and I took a somber sunrise walk on Pensacola Beach. The tar balls are getting larger, and more numerous. I wondered if they had made their way into Pensacola Bay and if they were hitting the shores of Gulf Breeze yet...



The BP cleaning crews were out already, picking up the tar balls and blobs.



This little crab seemd to be suspiciously eyeing the tar balls coming in with the surf. I silently apologized to him, and to the shore birds diving into the waves to catch their breakfasts.



As we left, although we thought we were very careful to avoid stepping on tar balls, we all had gooey tar on the soles of our feet.

Tar Ball

This "tar ball" on Pensacola Beach yesterday looked like a rock at first. It was a little over an inch wide. Once I realized what it was, I started to see several along the waterline. It is the first sign of what is to come.

Oil begins to come ashore today

On this picture perfect warm summer morning, Margaret and I went out to Pensacola Beach and the Gulf Islands National Seashore on Santa Rosa Island to walk along the water's edge and take some pictures of the still-pristine waters and sand. As we pulled in to the parking lot at Casino Beach, we heard the news that tarballs were beginning to be found on the beach this morning. It is impossible to describe the sorrow that permeates this community today.