The dredge started up this morning at 7:30. Not complaining - I was up. And, delighted that they aren't taking the day off. Francisco, the guy actually running the dredge told me last night that he hoped to be done by noon today.
As noon is about to roll around, the dredge just shut down... no idea if they are done in this part of the canal, or if it is a break for lunch.
This weekend is Sand Castle Days on the island. It is kind of a big deal - there will be sand sculpture artists from all over the country competing. Unfortunately, Mother Nature put a kink in the plans: the extreme high tides brought down the beginnings of the sculptures two nights ago. The organizers built a sand berm up the beach to protect the sculptures, and most of the competitors started over.
This is held at Clayton's, billed as the largest beach bar in the state. They have a large stage and covered area, a huge deck, and a great location on the beach. They do fireworks every Friday and Saturday night during the summer. They know how to promote, and took on hosting this event several years ago.
Off to the beach. The parking lot at Clayton's was full out to the road, with overflow parking at the SPI Convention Center...
Yep, that's a bit of a walk. A "welcome" sand sculpture outside Clayton's...
Crowds...
And, sand sculptures...
This part of the beach is usually wide, between the high water line and the water - like 100 yards or so. Here's a look at the berm the organizers built up to give the sand artists a chance to show off their talents...
Not much beach on the other side of that sand berm. Also doesn't leave much room for the sand sculptures...
There were booths selling stuff set up in the covered area...
Music playing, people enjoying the sand sculptures and the sun. The crowd will change this evening, when the bands crank up and the booze flows.
Back to the car and a trip down to the beach park at the southern end of the island - you can tell by the sand on the road that the water has been on the road with these high tides...
Yeah, there's a road under that sand. This beach area is also generally wide - not much today...
Not many people on it, either. If the water wasn't so high, this beach would be packed on a nice weekend like this.
Well, the water is a bit rough...
There have been coastal flood warnings, extreme high tide warnings, and rip-tide warnings the past few days. Not a result of Hurricane Nate, just a matter of the moon and sun lining up to make these tides.
Back home, the dredge crew went back to work around 3:00 and are still going at it just beyond our dock.
In the words of the philosophers Sonny and Cher: "And the beat goes on..."
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