Weekend Reflections: Beaches are open!

So happy the beaches are finally open!

These two pictures of Madeira Beach were taken on a nice summer day in July when we took a walk on the beach to see the turtle nests.

A walk on Madeira Beach in July

to see the turtle nest

This next picture was taken a few days after Hurricane Helene passed through. Not only were homes flooded, the storm surge had pushed an incredible amount of sand onto homes, hotel parking lots and over to the streets! For weeks, the county worked on shoveling, cleaning and sifting those sand before  moving them back to the beach.

All that sand sat in the beach parking lot at Madeira Beach

Last week, I was in the St Pete area, and drove along Gulf Blvd, from the southern end at Pass-A-Grille Beach to the northern end at Belleair. I was saddened to see the widespread devastation and the erosion of the area's pride and joy - the beautiful beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.

map of the Pinellas County beaches

Stuff from flooded homes lined the street at Passe-A-Grille

Three weeks after the duo hurricanes, I was walking the neighborhood in Belleair and was shocked to see several boats sunken or grounded on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) at the Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp. Guess what is the boat name? 

Did the captain try to run here from Hurricane Milton?

And the boat name is ... drum roll ,,,  Ain't Right. No kidding!

A couple days ago, we took a walk on Indian Rocks beach. This is one of our favorite beaches; it's close st to us and lots of parking space. Look what the hurricanes have done to it.

Part of the boardwalk to beach was blown apart

Shorebirds are happy

These next two pictures of Indian Rocks beach were taken in July.

Many beaches are opened except for Sunset Beach (Treasure Island),  Madeira Beach, and many county beaches and state parks. Click here to find out the current conditions of the gulf beaches.

The sun is shining. The beaches are being re-nourished and beautified. Businesses are re-opening. Y'all come visit!

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday.

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