A Gorgeous Mid-Summer Day

This morning, the water felt wonderful. The sand felt wonderful. The air smelled wonderful. But...



Once the oil from the Deepwater Horizon disaster began washing ashore in June, my enthusiasm for taking photos took a vacation. However, this morning I wandered out to Pensacola Beach just to see how things were going. On July 21, on a beautiful, warm morning at around 10:00 a.m., I witnessed water as clear and beautiful as I'd ever seen here. Sand clean and soft, and bright white. And a surreal almost complete lack of people to enjoy it all.



Sadly, with health warning signs posted everywhere and BP clean-up crews still here, this community is suffering in a huge way. The unknowns are frightening people -- both locals and tourists -- away. Even though the water and beach "look" great, and the air is salty and fresh, no one seems to know if there are unseen dangers in the waters, the air, and buried just under the surface of the sugar white sands. Some are taking their chances and enjoying themselves anyway. But most others are staying away. And Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach and the surrounding communities are hurting. Badly.

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.

What a difference a month makes.

At the end of March, Gulf Breeze was celebrating Seagrass Awareness Day at Shoreline Park. Now, we are facing perhaps the most devastating natural disaster in our history.

As I drove out to Ft. Pickens and the Gulf Islands National Seashore on this overcast morning, I noticed a few people standing on the beach here and there, just staring out to sea. Some fishermen were casting their lines, probably thinking "Will this be the last weekend of fishing until...?" We are all stunned and outraged, that this could be happening to our beautiful home. Smiles have faded, replaced with a touch of sadness on most faces, and our neighbors and friends are wondering how this will affect our economy, our wildlife, our quality of life that we cherish.

The pictures we post on this blog in the days and weeks to come might not be very pretty, but they will tell the story of Gulf Breeze and the surrounding area as we face this next tragedy.

For now though, enjoy these bloom stalks from a plant growing in the white sands at the western tip of Santa Rosa Island.

Sunrise on Pensacola Bay

Seagrass Awareness Day

It was Seagrass Awareness day at Shoreline Park South today. Activities and wildlife displays were centered around educating the public about the importance of seagrass preservation in Santa Rosa Sound.







(Thanks to guest photographer Nadia for the photo of the turtle!)

Spring is here!

After the coldest winter on record, finally spring has arrived in Gulf Breeze! Dogwoods are blooming and spring break is just around the corner...

Gulf Islands National Seashore: The Treasure of the Gulf Coast

Jill Hubbs, Director of Outreach and Educational Services at WSRE-TV, our local PBS affiliate, has announced that their documentary, Gulf Islands National Seashore: The Treasure of the Gulf Coast, is available for viewing online. Ms. Hubbs wrote, directed and produced this wonderful film and even persuaded Ken Burns to narrate the piece which serves as a companion to his series The National Parks: America's Greatest Idea.

I want to thank Barrier Island Girl for posting this a week ago on her blog.

I hope you enjoy!

Peace On Earth

Ready for Christmas in Florida

A festive boat in the Lafitte Cove Marina behind Peg Leg Pete's on Pensacola Beach.

Skywatch Friday - From NAS Pensacola

There is something very primitive about the beach in winter. On this late November afternoon, the beach at Lighthouse Point onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola was chilly, lonely, and spectacular.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Another shot from a recent visit to Ft. Barrancas. At the end of a dark, steep passageway, this door leads outside to the water battery.

What's for Lunch?

Meredith got this photo of a friendly great blue heron fishing along the shoreline in the Gulf Islands National Seashore, near Pensacola Beach.

Past Meets Future

Three young soldiers check out weaponry of the past on a visit to Ft. Barrancas onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.

Pensacola Lighthouse

The 1858 Pensacola Lighthouse onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola overlooks the entrance to Pensacola Bay from the Gulf of Mexico.

Over so soon?

Another soccer season came to a close today for the teams of the Gulf Breeze Sports Association. Balls will be flying again next August!

Tropical Storm Ida

There is no more "shoreline" at Shoreline Park this morning! Tropical Storm Ida blew in overnight, and the storm surge has pushed the waters of Santa Rosa Sound up over the beach and into the parking lot.

Great Gulfcoast Arts Fest 2009

Artists young and old, professional and amateur, enjoyed the final day of the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival under the shade of the giant oak trees in downtown Pensacola today.













"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." -Picasso

After a long day in the sand and salt water on Pensacola Beach, a rinsing off at the showers feels sooooooo good...