SHRIMP BOAT WRECK

Our pier does not allow docking for any boats other than authorized ones (Coast Guard, DNR, pilot boats, etc.) So the shrimp boat that tied up last Saturday was not supposed to be there. Evidently, the owner was trying to sell some fresh caught shrimp to bystanders.

I don't know if he sold any shrimp or not, but he did have a problem with his boat. The High Tide hit the pier, knocked over a couple of lamp posts and destroyed part of the railing. The pier has been roped off to foot traffic. Here's the view as we walk out on the pier.

And here's the view when you get out to the end. There were two more lampposts between the one you can see and the end on the left; both now gone, alas! You can also see my shadow as I take a photo over the yellow tape barring us from going any farther.

The owner was taken to the detention center. I feel kind of sorry for him -- all he tried to do was sell some shrimp before hitting the pier with his boom -- but on the other hand, we'll be the ones footing the bill for repairs.

Too much excitement, I say! Hope there won't be any more unauthorized boats trying to dock there!

ISLAND TO BE INUNDATED

Big headline on yesterday's local paper -- "Study says Ga. coast vulnerable to flooding" -- scared me to death. Yes, I know a hurricane will one day hit and cover the island, but I feel we should have plenty of time to get us and the cats out. However, the article was about global warming.

It seems that with the seas rising (I guess from the arctic and antarctic ice melting), we are in extreme danger of being flooded. By 2100, the model predicts the oceans will rise 3.1 feet. The article gives lots of percentages for different scenarios (hurricanes among them) but the main thing I get is that, by the end of the century, we may be in trouble. I am horrified.

Down at the pier this morning, we sat in rocking chairs at the Casino and looked out at the rain on the ocean. And I'm thinking, could this be the one? Could this be the storm? How much water will it take?

I'm quite upset. Now, besides killer bees and alligators and the sun fading, I have to worry about rising waters. My nerves won't take much more.

My one consolation is that not that many years ago, everyone was predicting another ice age and warning temperatures were going down, down, down. Maybe in another couple of decades, scientists will come up with something else I can worry about.

FIREWORKS

We went down to the pier in the Village for their fireworks display. It was wonderful, as usual, with the fireworks exploding directly overhead. This year they added music to the display, and I couldn't believe how much it enhanced the spectacular! Here are a few pix my guy took:

Hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth!

SCENES AT THE PIER

We walked down to the Village the other day and spotted this guy standing on the pier, looking at the horizon with his kayak laid on the concrete. Here, he's just dropped the kayak over the pier edge and is holding the rope so it won't float away.

We wondered if he was going to jump over after it, but he waited. Soon a couple more guys came up and began discussing who was getting in.

Finally, one climbed over the chain. "I'll do it."

The others looked relieved but acted like they were disappointed. "You sure, man?" "If you'd rather stay here..."

The brave one managed to get in without capsizing and pushed off the pier footings. You can just see the nose of the kayak here over the pier railing.

Soon he paddled away without mishap. Don't know where he was headed. Don't know why they didn't launch off the beach. In fact, I don't know a lot about what was going on!

Hope it ended well for all concerned. There are sharks in these waters.

We walked back home.

FOG

We walked down to the pier a couple of mornings ago. It was the first time we'd walked down there in a while. My guy's been a little under the weather and so we've been taking shorter walks. I'm glad he's feeling well enough to do our two-mile stint again!

The fog was unbelievable, but lovely, too. I took a couple of pix. This one shows the pier taken from the sidewalk. You can just see the end of it through the fog.

And this one is the Christmas tree at the pier park. You can see the palm trees behind but usually, you can see the Sidney Lanier Bridge in the distance behind them. Not this day!

GREAT WEATHER

We've enjoyed wonderful weather here hot-wise. In the eighties and low nineties. Oh, an occasional thunderstorm crops up but otherwise, it's been great.  There have been years of 100 plus degrees.

On the pier last week in the early morning, we watched a ship come through.

A few fishermen were out, but the adjoining beach was nearly deserted.

We're so lucky to live in a place like this!

OCEAN VIEW

We walked down to the pier yesterday to find a HEAVY LOAD ship anchored, probably waiting for its cargo to get to the port so it could load up. Anyway, as we watched, my guy pointed out a tricolor heron on the beach.

I believe the ship impressed the little fellow!

JULY 4TH AT THE VILLAGE

Company's gone and time to relax. We had a great time though. Tennis, swimming, walking on the beach and best of all, fireworks! Hope everyone else enjoyed their Fourth, too.

This photo is the crowd on the Casino lawn waiting for dark to fall so the fireworks can start at the pier.

Sea Gulls Prepared for Flight

Took this photo the other day of the sea gulls getting ready to take off. Notice the leader down in front.

 I believe they were aiming to bombard a couple of beagles frolicking in the park but on the offchance they were seeking people for target practice, I decided to walk a different way.