Thursday, August 12, 2010

NaBalam and Avalon Beaches

There's been a lot of talk lately in our local paper about how awful the beach erosion has become again. So I thought it would do me good to go check it out for myself.
As I approached the beach from the NaBalam Road (I made that name up. I don't think that street really has a name), I didn't really notice anything different. Except that one of the those giant baskets for collecting plastics has now been placed there. Yes, the island has finally, reluctantly, entered the world of recycling.
Looking off to the right of the bridge, it still looks the same to me.
But as I glanced further along that side of the beach, it actually appears to me as though there has been an increase in the sandy beach, not an erosion. That little section never was really wide to begin with anyway.

Looking to the left is another story altogether. My stick for gauging the beach is now back in the water. And the beach itself is very dirty. Not garbage, just dirty.



Across the way, the Avalon Reef Club and Tax Evaders have now built a retaining wall to try to save what they can of their beach. Truthfully, I wouldn't care if that whole thing washed out to sea.



Back on the NaBalam side. The NaBalam has purchased the rental concession for this beach which allows them to rent out chairs, umbrellas, beds and palapas. Of course, with the beach erosion going on, that leaves no room at all for families or casual bathers to spread out. I hate the commercialization that is taking over the once grand beaches here.




See those white bags? Last time I was at the beach I snorkeled along them. They were totally immersed and fish were using them as nurseries. It was fascinating to watch all the miniature fish hiding around them.




But no matter how much, or how little sand there may be on a beach, the ice cream man is always a welcome sight!

9 comments:

Linda said...

Glad to see you're out & about!!! Thanks for the beach update!

Linda
IC

KfromMichigan said...

Gosh .. the beach looks good to me! So glad you are back and sharing pictures!

Life's a Beach! said...

Glad you took those photos! You got out!!! In July, the beach looked better to me than after Ida went through in November. But the beach from Tarzan's on down past NaBalam was disgusting with huge smelly seaweed beds. I'm thinking they're leaving those now because they think they'll collect sand? We went down to the Avalon Cove on a July Sunday and it's always a treat to see all the locals and kids playing and relaxing.

Jackie said...

Glad to see the recycling bin. But even better to see you out around the island.

Ann said...

The side beach at NaBalam doesn't llok much different than it did in January. Glad to see you are getting out & about.

lisa said...

Nice beaches, Wayne, but that sky looks pretty stormy to me.

Anonymous said...

The street name is"Zazil Ha" meaning sparkling water.

Anonymous said...

Hi Wayne, do you know what that house is, or used to be, across from Avalon Reef Club? Was it someones house that got hit by Wilma or a different hurricane; or was it a hotel/motel?

Great to see you getting out and about. Thanks for the pics!!!

BlueSky said...

Glad to hear about the recycling....