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.

Look! Up in the Sky!

At the marina taking photos of the gulls a chorus of honking approached. It took a moment to find them in the sky and as soon as I did I took as many shots as I could.

Oh well, I returned to the gulls.

I had been leaning on a fence near the water's edge with my cane resting beside me. My balance is off since it's the left ankle and right hip that are most damaged but as long as I have an anchor point I'm usually fine.

The noise started up again. I grabbed my cane and moved toward the sound. They were really honking up a storm now as they circled the marina. One hand on cane, other on camera I turned and turned trying to focus and shoot and hang on.

I was a bit dizzy after all that and I thought I was imagining that I couldn't move but actually I had screwed my cane deep into the sand and had caught the tip of it on a piece of exposed pipe. I was going to take a photo of it standing there on its own for your amusement but a young man walked by and pulled it out for me. He chuckled and said he admired my moves.

Only me.

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

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 ...

Butterfly

Back in June I  posted  a photo of one of the art butterflys that live all around Keyport, NJ.

A couple of weeks ago I found another one at the marina.

She's a pretty one

What The Duck Saw

I was pulling out of the marina parking lot when I noticed this one lone duck just sitting there gazing toward the trees. All the others had moved on down the stream.

I pulled over and crossed the road to get closer and followed the duck's gaze into the trees ...

One of the guys at the nearby fish shack said they are herons. The one farther up in the tree never moved but the other one posed a bit for me. At one point I felt he was looking right into my eyes. Then he grew tired of me and gave me the butt.

There are many creeks and streams in and around my town and I'm pleased to say that many local groups work hard to protect them.

NATURE NOTES