Beauty and the Beast

It was a stormy day but the dramatic clouds and wind added to the rugged beauty of my visit to Gulf Islands National Seashore. I visited Ft. Pickens and Perdido Key areas and both places were jazzed with contract employees working to clean beaches. Workers were even using brooms to clean areas. I was very impressed.

Least terns were nesting on the open sand, seemingly content with their newly hatched babies. Pelicans foraged offshore. It was a wonderful visit to these pristine areas.

Then I arrived back in Alabama. Less than 10 miles from the super-busy-bees in the National Seashore, Gulf State Park beaches at Alabama Point were covered in tar balls the size of my fist. And worse, an oily sheen covered the surface and oil mousse was washing on shore.

I traveled another 5 miles or so to the beach pavilion at Gulf State Park and when I arrived at the end of the boardwalk, the hot, heavy smell of diesel hit me. It was so strong I could taste it on my tongue. The oily froth was thick there and I stood, choking on fumes and sobs.

So why are tar balls littering Alabama’s beaches and Florida has crews that are organized, energetic and are literally sweeping the beaches? Can someone please explain the difference?

And…WHY ARE PEOPLE ALLOWED TO SWIM ON THE BEACHES IN FRONT OF CONDOS IN GULF SHORES, ALABAMA? There was oily froth washing ashore and people were swimming in it. I suppose we can assume people are basically self-destructive or naive but is the health department so afraid of angry, hurting merchants that they turn their heads when people are being coated in oil? Come on! Let’s show some intelligent responsibility and protect those too ignorant to protect themselves. They trust ‘officials’ to keep them safe! I think their lives are worth more than their money!