A Day of Treasures
I was walking in a 35 mph wind while the thermometer hovered around 40 degrees on a gray sky morning. I felt the incredible life force around me, within me and within every creature, in the Gulf waters–even in the air. Making the commitment to document the oil spill and recovery has had one very positive effect on me: I have been outside more this year than I have in decades. Not every day has been pleasant and many have been physically and emotionally exhausting, but I have connected with nature in a very deep and personal way and as usual, nature has gifted me endlessly.
Today there were many gifts and the first one was the element of wind. The north wind brought moisture-laden air across Mobile Bay and buffeted me with full force as I walked along the bay beach at Ft Morgan. It was challenging to walk against it but when I turned around, it pushed me along…almost lifting me out of my boots until I felt air-borne between steps.
There was minimal surface oil on the beach apparent on the bay side of Ft Morgan but I realized that each day’s wind can deposit sand to cover oil or use its force to uncover what lies hidden. After yesterday’s discovery of large amounts of hardened oil just ten miles east of here, I felt a slight reprieve from the sadness of finding more oil on these sensitive land areas.
After walking a couple of miles along the Ft Morgan peninsula, I needed to thaw out so I drove back to civilization. The car ride thawed my chill so by the time I arrived at Romar Beach in Orange Beach, Alabama, I was eager to get back outside. The deep cleaning and grooming had removed all traces of oil on this beach…even the tiny tar balls were gone. The beach was once-again snow-white and birds had returned to enjoy its beauty.
Alabama Point had some tar balls but it had also been cleaned and the oil that was washed up was minimal or well-hidden. I noticed many sanderlings and gulls and so this beach reminded me of the typical winter beach experiences of years past where shores birds are numerous and the north wind flattens the Gulf into a beautiful, rolling body of water that appears to sigh as its golden waves roll ashore.
Finally, I visited Gulf Islands National Seashore at Johnson Beach in Florida. Many folks were working on the beaches, still cleaning up tar balls but the water there was clear and beautiful. The white sand reminded me of snow and I soaked up the peace found there among the dunes. I saw a flock of about 100 canvasback ducks on the sound side of the peninsula which a delightful treat.
As I walked along the water’s edge I expressed gratitude for the coastal recovery that is taking place. I grieved about areas like the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge that continue to be heavily oiled. But today, I was given many gifts from nature and I gratefully accepted them with a deep realization of the treasures we have along our Gulf Coast. I can think of no more satisfying work than to help protect such sacred places.