Hurricane Season Has Arrived (Arlene Info)

[southof30A]

Walkovers are in better shape than after Ivan. A few have sustained damage but not very many here in Seacrest Beach. Saw a lot of green painted wood from Rosemary Beach floating by. We have sustained about 7-8' of beach erosion. All sand fence and a large part of the pushed up sand is gone.

[Smiling JOe]

I just posted photos in my album taken between 10:00-11:00am this morning, before high tide, from Grayton, west, thru Dune Allen.

[kurt]

I just posted photos in my album taken between 10:00-11:00am this morning, before high tide, from Grayton, west, thru Dune Allen.

Great shots Joe!

[seagrover]

More pics - some taken at 10:30 this morning at Seaside and Seagrove at the Andalusia walkover - and others taken at 12:30 - beaches are pretty bad.

http://community.webshots.com/user/seagrover

[Smiling JOe]

More pics - some taken at 10:30 this morning at Seaside and Seagrove at the Andalusia walkover - and others taken at 12:30 - beaches are pretty bad.

http://community.webshots.com/user/seagrover

That second photo with the Rentals sign is not a good one for tourism, eh? The photo itself is a great shot.

Kurt, while the subject in your latest post of photos is hard on the eyes, your photography remains some of the best I've seen.

[kurt]

More pics - some taken at 10:30 this morning at Seaside and Seagrove at the Andalusia walkover - and others taken at 12:30 - beaches are pretty bad.

http://community.webshots.com/user/seagrover

Thanks! - it looks like the water was higher this morning than when I went out around noon.

[kurt]

That second photo with the Rentals sign is not a good one for tourism, eh? The photo itself is a great shot.

Kurt, while the subject in your latest post of photos is hard on the eyes, your photography remains some of the best I've seen.

:oops: Right!

Here's the link to the pics SJ is talking about:
http://www.sowal.com/photos-061105.html

[seagrover]

Should have mentioned that was Cabana Man's former house for beach rentals. I personally have not been in that direction - my daughter took that one this morning. It sure looks like rocks also on the beach in that pic.

I know that so much of the sand that had been brought in to our Seagrove area is now back in the gulf.

[kurt]

Should have mentioned that was Cabana Man's former house for beach rentals. I personally have not been in that direction - my daughter took that one this morning. It sure looks like rocks also on the beach in that pic.

I know that so much of the sand that had been brought in to our Seagrove area is now back in the gulf.

That's sad to hear. Hopefully it won't be a total loss.

[seagrover]

More pics - it is hard to see Cabana Man in the 3rd pic - covered with suds.
http://community.webshots.com/user/seagrover

[lenzoe]

:oops: Right!

Here's the link to the pics SJ is talking about:
http://www.sowal.com/photos-061105.html

Hi Kurt,

Nice pics, as always.

At the Eastern Lake outflow shot, did you notice how the houses on the Western side of the outflow were faring? Last few times I've been down the outflow has been getting closer and closer to them. Especially the one right next to that public access. They didn't seem to have have much left before the outlet would be under their deck.

Just curious.

[kurt]

Hi Kurt,

Nice pics, as always.

At the Eastern Lake outflow shot, did you notice how the houses on the Western side of the outflow were faring? Last few times I've been down the outflow has been getting closer and closer to them. Especially the one right next to that public access. They didn't seem to have have much left before the outlet would be under their deck.

Just curious.

The water was under the deck on the easternmost house. That's what Larry was looking at when he waded out into the water. This pic is right on the corner.

[JustBeachy]

I hope the damage is minimal..I hate seeing all the sand wash back out again!

Sooo, I'm just lurking here, trying to decide if we should head out tomorrow a.m. or wait until later tomorrow afternoon. All depends on 331 bridge, naturally.

I suppose we'll spend a lot of time at the pottery place in Seaside, if the weather doesn't clear..of course the boys will want to surf.

[kurt]

I think it will be nice tomorrow. Might get some showers, and it will be breezy. It will take awhile for the water to recede, but the beach will be interesting.

[lenzoe]

Thanks Kurt,

As you're out and about in the next day or so, if you could let me know if the dune walkovers at Ramsgate survived (both the public one and the private one from the Ramsgate deck), I'd appreciate it.

-- Len

[Smiling JOe]

Thanks Kurt,

As you're out and about in the next day or so, if you could let me know if the dune walkovers at Ramsgate survived (both the public one and the private one from the Ramsgate deck), I'd appreciate it.

-- Len

Where is Ramsgate?

[kurt]

Where is Ramsgate?

It's on the beach behind Summer's Edge in Seagrove.

The water was probably under it, hope the pilings were set deep. Angie at Beach Seekers probably knows. I left her a voice mail.

[FoX]

Found a few hurricane haiku's. I especially liked the last one!

rain rain go away
come again some other day
dreary walls ugh bleah

Thanks for all the info and photos!

[JustBeachy]

[Smiling JOe]

We have had less rain last night and today than we received the last time it rained.

[lenzoe]

The water was probably under it, hope the pilings were set deep. Angie at Beach Seekers probably knows. I left her a voice mail.

Could be, but the water didn't get past the dunes and under the deck during Ivan and I was expecting Ivan's effect to be a lot worse than Arlene's.

Course the dunes were in better shape pre-Ivan. Even so, I'm surprised by the damage shots we're seeing with Arlene.

[Rich]

I'm so glad to see that most of the heavier affects of this one were to the west of beloved Seagrove...does that seem to be the case for those of you who are on the scene?

I just returned from a week at Coach Bobby Bowden's home (Coach's Lair - Deer Lake Dunes) and while the red flag flew the majority of the week and kept the kids out of the water, we had a wonderful time (Angelina's twice in one week, Old Bay Steamers in Destin, a round at Camp Creek...and took the kids to the dreaded Big Kahuna and Track in Destin).

Stay safe...praying this year is a bit more kind to all you special folk.

Rich
(Baltimore, MD)

[FoX]

I'm so glad to see that most of the heavier affects of this one were to the west of beloved Seagrove...does that seem to be the case for those of you who are on the scene?

I just returned from a week at Coach Bobby Bowden's home (Coach's Lair - Deer Lake Dunes) and while the red flag flew the majority of the week and kept the kids out of the water, we had a wonderful time (Angelina's twice in one week, Old Bay Steamers in Destin, a round at Camp Creek...and took the kids to the dreaded Big Kahuna and Track in Destin).

Stay safe...praying this year is a bit more kind to all you special folk.

Rich
(Baltimore, MD)

I didn't know he had a place here. Good news!!!


















If I ever commit a felony he'll be able to help me reduce it to a misdemeanor.

[JustBeachy]

Yeah his family does. So does Tuberville. We always get tons of those kinds of 'celebrity' sitings in the summer, since they are so busy in the Fall and Winter.

[FoX]

I did see one of them Baby Bowdens here a couple of years ago, i think he's been on TV a lot.

[JustBeachy]

This one??

[beachmouse]

Bowden has family in the area. His daughter lives and works in Shalimar. Sadly, one of his grandsons (who played football for Choctaw HS) was killed in a traffic accident on I-10 last fall, along with his daughter's ex-husband.

[JustBeachy]

I remember that..wasn't it around Thanksgiving? Very sad...

[phdphay]

Goodness! I had no idea that things were so bad on 30-A. The Weather Channel certainly hasn't indicated such erosion, etc., in our area. I wish I were there to see the damage for myself. Thanx to everyone for the photos, that is, from all of you except the one whose website prevents one from using the back button to get back to the SoWal message board - GRRRR!

[Rich]

I'm guessing the posted "likenesses" are a reference to the coach's shape. The funny thing is that the lower/entry level of the home has an eliptical trainer and a universal gym (both very nice, athletic-center-quality units). The lower level also has a sauna and a steam shower. This fitness area is adorned with tons of the coach's accolades and celeb photos.

The rest of the home is "vacation rental" style with only a few copies of the coach's recent book on nightstands and coffee tables throughout.

The walkover from the front door to the beach looked to be recently rebuilt from last season, as were many along the beach. It is very low to the sand; hope it held up. Great place!

[lenzoe]

Back on the topic of Arlene ....

Please post more beach pics and reports when you all can. Still trying to get a feel here for what the damage is.

[kurt]

Pics coming - all that beach scraping turned out to be a terrible idea as I suspected. There is no sand on the beach. Ivan started it, the scraping lowered the level a couple of feet and Arlene took the rest.

If the scraping had not been done, Arlene would have been just what the Dr. ordered. Arlene and all the weather in between would have repaired the beaches. Although the dunes would have taken a couple of years of natural forces to repair themselves, they would be stronger over time.

Don't be in such a rush, don't interfere with nature.

[Wildernester]

The sheriff's patrol would not let anybody on Grayton Beach this morning. Apparently, this is due to the debris on the beach. Please let us know if there is there is going to be a clean up patrol organized in which we can participate.

[lenzoe]

Pics coming - all that beach scraping turned out to be a terrible idea as I suspected. There is no sand on the beach. Ivan started it, the scraping lowered the level a couple of feet and Arlene took the rest.

If the scraping had not been done, Arlene would have been just what the Dr. ordered. Arlene and all the weather in between would have repaired the beaches. Although the dunes would have taken a couple of years of natural forces to repair themselves, they would be stronger over time.

Don't be in such a rush, don't interfere with nature.

You may be right. The scraping shortened the beach on each pass, but I think it was a roll of the dice to see if they could get through the next season without a hit, with kick-started dunes, and let the beachfront build itself back.

[kurt]

Rolling the dice is bad business.

I'm afraid now we'll hear cries of "do something, do something" - louder than last fall. Talk of renourishment, etc.

Pretty soon the impatience will mean gritty brown sand dumped on the beach, and shorter beaches in the long term.

[Smiling JOe]

Maybe we should let the Gulf front homes wash out to see. Our views would be greatly improved, and the dunes would come back naturally. Any thoughts?

[phdphay]

The beach scraping was a bad idea IMHO. That ugly black stuff is awful. And there were no plantings established to hold the sand in place, especially since people trampled down the dunes, not allowing any vegetation to take hold. I'm with you, Kurt - we should have let nature take care of it. And I'm sure the scraping cost all of us taxpayers a boatload of $.

[Magic Hour]

Is the Andalusia walkover damaged?

[southof30A]

Don't know the walkover to Adalusia but the road is fine...

[phdphay]

My sister was at Seagrove during the storm, and she said she couldn't believe how high the water level was relative to the top of the dunes. Someone said that's because it was high tide. The top of the bluff where we are is 35 feet. Actually some of our neighbors say that it could never get that high. Now I'm not so sure after what my sister saw on Saturday. And Arlene wasn't even a hurricane!

[kurt]

Worst case scenario might be 10 foot surge and 30 foot waves.

[phdphay]

Say it ain't so.

[RiverOtter]

Yes, smaller storms should put more sand on the beach.

We are waiting on RiverOtter, the person with the most posts other than Kurt, to purchase a place on the Beach to house the web cam, but he tells us that we may be waiting a while.

What's a post?

Even funnier is the part about me buying a gulf front house.... I'd need about 20 partners

[Smiling JOe]

Even funnier is the part about me buying a gulf front house.... I'd need about 20 partners

Any takers to help RiverOtter get us a webcam?

[Landlocked]

Count me in

[phdphay]

What's a post?

Even funnier is the part about me buying a gulf front house.... I'd need about 20 partners

Exactly - I wouldn't have a gulf-front no matter how much $ I have. It was incredible after Ivan how hard the "first rows" were hit. The second and third rows (and back) had minimal damage.

I'd set up a webcam, but some stupid renter would probably mess it up.

[Smiling JOe]

I still think that we could have a greased pole contest on 'ole # 13, the flagpole on Grayton Beach, and have the winner install the battery powered remote webcam while he or she is up there. Maybe we could sell Cabo Ritas at the base of the pole to draw potential candidates.

[RiverOtter]

Any takers to help RiverOtter get us a webcam?

So far we've only got one