If you've never vacationed on a barrier island, you should. It is an experience completely unlike that found on mainland beaches. The difference is noted as you cross the Intracoastal Atlantic Waterway and the vast salt marshes between the mainland and the island. It is beautiful, and you can see the ocean spread out before you at the peak of the bridge. There is little commercial development, and virtually no high rise condos. The beaches are strewn with shells and stones, and every low tide there are tidal pools for the kids to play in. Unfortunately, it is a fragile ecosystem, subject to frequent change which can result in loss of homes. The house where we stayed used to have two rows of homes in front of it, and it is now ocean front with only a very narrow beach during high tide.
The sand dunes are a vital part of protecting the ecosystem and the homes, and the only way to access the beaches are over wooden walkways. The first picture below is the view from the lower level of the house towards the walkway.
The second picture is a recently hatched sea turtle nest. You can see the bits of eggs strewn about. This was about 1/4 mile up the beach towards the end of the island. The third picture shows some of the tidal pool areas. You can see where attempts are being made to save homes using sandbag dunes at the end of the island where the normal dunes have been washed away. This is only about 7 houses away from where we stayed. And finally the kids walking along the high tide line at the end of the island. Can you believe how few people are there?
2 comments:
These photographs and your description of the barrier island are wonderful. I would prefer the experience to the madness of MD beaches if I knew there would be no serious storms while we were there. I do want to have this experience myself during non-hurricane season sometime. Your photography is getting better and better, Annie...Mom
You just can't worry about hurricane season. There is always more than sufficient warning that a hurricane is forming and then that it may be headed towards the coast. There would be plenty of time to evacuate, especially from these non-outer banks islands which are so close to the mainland. Plus you can get vacation insurance for a small fee so that you get refunded your rental money in case of an evacuation. We've been going during "hurricane season" (eg. summer) for the past 3 years and have been lucky so far!
Thanks for the compliments on my photos!
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