We were experiencing the outer most bands of Hurricane Ike and they were coming directly from the north. That alone was unusual. But hardly any rain. Just a sprinkle here and there. I really wanted to see what the tide/surge was doing to North Beach. If you have been to Isla, you will recognize these spots. If not, I hope you can just enjoy seeing what a surge can do up close and personal. So here we go!
This is the water starting to come up in front of the Swing Bar at Maria del Mar. This water will eventually start to flow down the road that leads to the Swing Bar.
Looking north from the Swing Bar towards Sunset Grill.
Facing the other way. That is the corner of the NaBalam restaurant you see through the trees.
In front of the restaurant area. This is the new elevated eating level they built last high season.
A view of the bridge crossing over to the Avalon. Notice the waves coming in from the ocean.
The dock that runs out into the ocean off the tip of the Avalon.
Casa de las Rocas. This is actually an occupied home!
Moving to the other side of the island, this is Sergio's Bar. I know a lot of my readers spend hours on this beach. This was taken from the pathway heading towards the dock.
The surge is starting to take over the beach. Those white clumps you will be seeing are big gobs of seafoam. I accidently stepped in them and they are really sticky. The following pictures were all taken at Sergio's.
What were these dudes thinking! The water here was extremely dangerous and certainly too cold for swimming!
I could not believe the sunset last night from Sergio's. Absolutely one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I took gobs of pictures of it.
Notice here how the sunset just kind of ends on the left of this picture.
Here's why!
I don't think I have ever enjoyed the nastiness that comes with a hurricane more than I did this one last night. I hope I get a chance to do something like this again in my life. It was an extraordinary experience.
14 comments:
Nice pics, Wayne. We're getting the outer edges of the outer bands here. It's POURING down rain right now. Stay safe and don't worry too much - it makes wrinkles.
Cool pics Wayne. It's certainly easier to enjoy the storm when we're just on the fringes. I'm guessing we won't see you out and about the same way in the eye of a big one! :)
It's just amazing to think that if these represent only the outer edges of Hurricane Ike....I don't even want to think about what they would like like in the eye!!!
Thanks for venturing out and taking these photos.
Wow! Great photos of the beach and that BEAUTIFULE sunset. Thanks for sharing these with us.
I have had you on my mind - watching the Weather Channel and each time they showed the "bands" hitting Cancun I thought "ut oh"...Glad to know you're ok enough to get out and photograph...that sunset is magnificent.......STAY SAFE!
Having lived with the fear of hurricanes for almost 50 years while living near the Gulf - I'm happy NOT to have that worry anymore!
Beauty in fury. Thanks for braving the elements to share it with us.
Great pics..Amazing sunset. I remember Wilma and the water surge. Awesome stuff.
KW from Michigan
Great pics! We were out and about a bit earlier and enjoyed seeing the surf on the east side. But I would not want to be living there right now, I'm scared of water encroachment too. Those pics at Sergio's are a surprise, I didn't realize the sea had gotten so high. Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful photos! Glad you were just on the fringe--the sunset was awesome.
Thanks for venturing out to take these pictures Wayne. Glad you are safe and well.
Awesome photos and magnificant sunset! Thanks so much for sharing them with us! Do you take request? :-) How about some new pictures of North Beach and Playa Sol once the surf calms down. I am curious to see if Ike changed the beach at all (bigger, smaller, moved it around!)
Thanks again for the show!
OMG - that is so much worse than it is in Playa. I just can't believe it. Here I am anxious to get into the ocean to go boogie boarding. The wind and waves where you are look SCARY.
loretta: I was a bit concerned about you and my brother in Tampa. Looks like you got worse than we did.
jackie: my pleasure. thanks for looking!
babs: thanks for thinking of me. Aren't you glad you aren't in Texas right now!
steve: it was a real trip. Glad you enjoyed it.
kw: were you actually on the island for Wilma??? I fled to Merida and it took 3 days to find a road to get back! Never again will I leave.
sue: were you with 2 guys? I think I saw you from my roof. Yeah, I hate the high surge on our side.
jamqueen: believe it or not, the pictures only do partial justice to how beautiful that sunset was.
ahealy: trust me. If it hadn't been safe to venture out, you'd be looking at pics on CNN now instead of here!
md: sure, anything you want! I'll scoot down there this weekend and post on Monday. Surge is still really high so wouldn't do any good right now.
M&A: they are scary. At least they break out on the reef in front of my house. WE just get the rolling surf and surge of highwater.
I was with two 'guys', one was Miguel and the other was Loco (our dog), who looks like a little old man with his gray head.
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