By the Bay

In between rain and snow (it is spring?) I went over to the marina and a few other spots along the bay to see how things were going.

The bay is very unusually high in spots. I have read that storm related changes to the underwater topography along with sunken debris is causing this issue.

One hard hit restaurant put up new fencing to protect people from the rubble and that fence has since been knocked down by new flooding.

The business across the road can't get all the debris cleared yet.

A brighter spot up the road - Mike is rebuilding. Since 1961 Mike's Subs was a small fishing shack like building. Great food and great people. He was wiped out by Sandy. 

The new shop is up off street level. A lot of folks are looking forward to the grand re-opening.

Further down, away from the business district the bay looks rough and bits and pieces of destroyed piers hang about.

As I headed back home I was rerouted by a road crew who were prepping to restore some underground systems.

Guess this says it all 

Stop Turning Left

Who'd of thunk this pagan liberal would ever hate anything left.

Yet these freaking storms that come up from the south and then turn left just keep coming. The area by the marina and further down the road in poor hard hit Union Beach is already experiencing some flooding from this afternoon's high tide.

Thanks NJ.com for always being around to cover this area. You can see more photos from this afternoon
HERE
You might even recognize some of the places from my photos.

This howling wind is making me as skittish as the cats. 

Speaking of cats - thanks to all who asked how Siren is doing. He's fine. Actually he's very happy right now as he always is during the days immediately following his shots. It's a chronic condition and it is what it is. At least the meds still work.

Those of us about to float away salute you.

Working Hard at the Marina

I took advantage of last week's warm, sunny weather to check out the work being done to rebuild one of the marina's near me.

A group of workers were rolling a huge machine with a giant hook on it back and forth between the broken and jagged pieces of dock. As best as I could figure out they were pulling up the large pieces of debris caught under what is left of the docks.

In some of the photos you can see how many boats are still left on the shoreline where they were tossed like toys. 

This gull seems to be showing me some of the damage.

Further out the work is going on

Both gulls and people are watching

This guy says thank you

NATURE NOTES

Our World Tuesday

Enough is Enough is Enough

I don't know what sweet Nemo did to anyone to deserve having this latest weather ClusterF**K named after him.

I'm not all that worried about the snow amounts. If I lived further north or east I would be.
I am worried about the damn wind gusts - hurricane force at the coast they say.
Here in NJ our coast can't take much more.

This is still sitting out there

Although the storm surge is not predicted to be anywhere near as high as Sandy's there is so little left to protect us.

This morning Hope asked if we had enough gasoline for the generator. Even the little ones have become pros.

Then again there are those who wait until the last minute. I went shopping Wednesday for all things storm related. I passed Home Depot last night and it looked like the circus was in town.

What do people do with their shovels from year to year? How could so many need so much?

Right now I'm charging everything I can think of and making sure batteries are where they should be.

I try to have empathy for the utility workers but if power goes out and stays out I may need to beat the crap out of someone.

Then again, look how fragile it all is

I found these photos of Hope during her first snowstorm in 2010, she was 6 months old.

I love her face in the 2nd shot.

It seems to say "Enough."

Stay safe kids

Heart

Seen along the Jersey shore
Courtesy of the men and women working to clean up and rebuild

Ready for a new season ...

... regardless of the surroundings

Looking out to the horizon wearing a little Red Cross cap

Waving to NY

At the base there is a tiny bandage that says "bent not broken"

You've gotta have heart

All you really need is heart

When the odds are sayin' you'll never win

That's when the grin should start

You've gotta have hope

Musn't sit around and mope

Nuthin' half as bad as it may appear

Wait'll next year and hope …

By Adler and Ross

Written for the musical ‘Damn Yankees’

Our World Tuesday

The Clean Up Goes On

It's really difficult to visit the places I love since Hurricane Sandy came through and washed so much away.

I have to remind myself that as hard as it might be for me it is so much harder for those who lost everything they had. I go to patronize whatever businesses are open and I stop by the Volunteer Firehouse to see if help or supplies are needed.

On my most recent visit I took a few photos of the work being done at the waterfront.

Wreckage is still being carted away. Paths are being cleared. Boat ramps are being rebuilt so that the locals can get out to resume fishing. Pieces of docks need to be pulled out of the water. Railings and fences have to be replaced; in some spots it's dangerous to get too close.

I found these shots of sunnier days in my archives. All of this is gone. 

And on we go ...

Our World Tuesday

NATURE NOTES

In The Details

Sunday morning I took a big thermos of coffee and some doughnuts over to the marina. I knew some of the "old guys" would be there; it was sunny and they've been hanging out there talking about their homes and boats and all that's been lost or saved in the aftermath of Sandy.

For the first time since the storm I took my camera with me.

the gulls watch over the scene

there used to be a building attached to that ramp

boats have been pushed up onto the front lawns of private homes that were once separated from the marina by a fence

I've been told that some of these restaurant chairs have been found across town

I stopped at what is left of a favorite restaurant.

That bit of fence you see standing is all there is of the railway that led to the terrace dining area.

The owner of this restaurant has been travelling around town in a bus handing out food and supplies.
She is an exceptional person.
Star-Ledger made a video that can be Viewed Here

This house has been seen on just about every news broadcast and in every newspaper.
It amazes everyone that half of it is still standing.
The owner says she intends to re-build it.
She calls it her "Tara"

it is details like these shirts that make the photos real to me

It took me from Sunday to today to take these shots off the camera and decide to share them. It felt ghoulish and depressing. I feel a deep sense of loss over the destruction of so many of the places I love yet I am so grateful that my home is OK.

When I went to the firehouse to drop off some supplies a woman told me she felt "survivor's guilt".

Someone else said that if you drive just two miles it is as if nothing happened and that feels surreal. He's right.

I promise you a happier post soon. I felt the need to share with you all how I'm feeling and what I'm seeing.

And on we go ...