Rescue on Pensacola Beach

It's a very lucky day for one young man on Pensacola Beach.

Around 11:00 a.m. this morning I took P-pup out for a walk and thought I heard someone yelling. I listened for a minute and realized it sounded like they were yelling for help.

I walked out toward our dock and continued to hear it, but could see nothing unusual in the area. Then I noticed the wind was coming out of the south -- the calls had to be coming from the beach.

I ran back inside, grabbed my car keys, and headed toward the beach as quickly as possible. A string of cars heading east toward the newly re-opened road between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach held me up and I began to hear sirens. As I waited I saw something was indeed happening as a firetruck and several beach patrol trucks rolled into the parking node across from my neighborhood. Below is what I saw:


A young man had gotten caught up in a riptide. Red flags were flying and warnings of rough surf had been issued since yesterday. Everyone was being cautioned to either stay out of the water or swim in areas where there were lifeguards. This young man (I've blurred his face in all the photos) probably thought he was a very good swimmer and would have no problem. It almost cost him his life.


Exhausted, he collapsed as they brought him to shore. In the distance you can see someone from the beach rescue team heading out on a waverunner to bring in another young man who went out to help him.


A news team from WEAR-TV happened to be at Casino Beach doing a story on the concerns of spring break and the high surf - amazing timing - and rushed to the location when the call came in. You should be able to see the story on tonight's news and hopefully it will be a reminder to beachgoers how quickly the situation can turn dangerous when a riptide occurs.

The rescue team tends to the young man on the left, while the waverunner approaches the beach with a surfer who probably went out to help him. (You would have to double-check with Bob West, Pensacola Beach Safety Director, but I believe I am correct in stating that no surfer has ever drown on Pensacola. Don't forget they have a flotation device!)

The young man was given oxygen and will mostly likely be taken to the Gulf Breeze Hospital for observation. Though young and healthy, secondary drowning is a concern after a near-drowning experience.

Before leaving, I walked over and thanked this member of the rescue team. And our thanks to all members of the Pensacola Beach Fire & Rescue Team who put their lives on the line for us on a daily basis.

Please, take heed of red and yellow flags. If you want to swim, go to areas with lifeguards and make sure your Pensacola Beach vacation is a safe one.

[UPDATE: For a link to the WEAR-TV report, click HERE.]

The learning curve

The Great Blue Heron above has obviously gone through some sort of trauma. I feel certain its appearance is not a result of regular molting (click on the photo for greater detail), but is it from being buffeted during storms, battles for territory or mate, or some type of illness? So much to learn.

The longer I live on a barrier island, the more I want to know about the birds, wildlife, wetlands, and the whole barrier island ecosystem in general - yet the less I seem to know. My learning curve seems more like the St. Louis arch. I miss my friend Kirsten, the Traveling Turtle Girl, and her wealth of information.

Open at last - J. Earle Bowden Way

How exciting to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the re-opening of J.Earle Bowden Way this morning, the scenic road which connects Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach.


Media from all around attended the ceremony...

to document an event we've been waiting on for over four years

Mr. J. Earle Bowden himself attended the ceremony and was one of the ribbon cutters.

County Commissioner Grover Robinson IV was also in attendance, as were many other dignitaries and members of both Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach Chambers of Commerce.

I spied tiny Miss Carleen Wheeler behind the big boys.

A car full of tourists from Iowa happened upon the re-opening and were very happy at their luck, as you can see.

For the first time in four and a half years, I was able to drive my vehicle from Opal Beach back home to Pensacola Beach...and it was only nine miles down the road for me! I don't think you can imagine how excited I am.

On another positive note for our businesses, I stopped by Island Style this morning after the ribbon-cutting ceremony and happened to meet a lovely gentleman also shopping in the store. He seemed familiar with the island and I asked if he was a local. He once lived in Villa Sabine, on the west end of the island, but now lives in the Navarre area. Today he drove over on the re-opened road, did a bit of shopping at Island Style, and was meeting up with a couple of old friends for lunch on Pensacola Beach!

The re-opening of J. Earle Bowden Way will be a boon for both communities. The scenic drive is not to be missed if you are visiting the area. My mother has already made me promise to drive her over to Sailors' Grill for a sticky bun next time she visits, as well as the Panhandle Butterfly House in Navarre; those in Navarre can much more quickly attend Pensacola Beach events or visit our local restaurants.

What a great day!

Pensacola Beach Mardi Gras Parade - I

The Krewe of Wrecks Pensacola Beach Mardi Gras parade took place on Sunday, February 22, a cold and windy, but beautiful day. I must have walked five miles that day, back and forth along the line, and still didn't get all the photos I wanted.


A lot of work and a lot of fun went into preparations for the event, and when the day finally arrived we did exactly as the sign said, "Enjoy the Parade"!


Looks like a group of Daisy Dukes to me!


Appears Ms. Bonnie (Boogie, Inc.) is calling for her driver. It's inspection time! All parade float/vehicle drivers must pass a breathalyzer test before the parade and at any time during. Safety first!


Ahh, haven't we all felt this way at some point?

Nereids on revue...and what a hoot they are. Remind me to show you a photo from after the parade when the Nereids 'performed' rather spontaneously at the Pavilion.

It's Sylvester, but where's Tweety? I loved Tweety Bird!

Beads, beads and more beads. Doncha love it!

A coupla stray cats, just wandering down the sidewalk.

Krewe of de Feet - a krewe of walkers and runners - was founded in 1989 by Glenn Windham, whom you may have seen jogging around the island.

And what a clever way for the Krewe of de Feet to decorate/accessorize their float -- adding all those discarded running shoes, spray painted in Mardi Gras colors!

So sad...I realized I'm either too old or too cold to have any reaction to this sculpted young warrior other than to wish I had a coat or blanket to protect him from that cold north wind.

I've discovered Tweedledum and Tweedledee!

Ooooh, Elvis! "A little less conversation, a little more action, please!"

Two flamingos and a Rastafarian...I think.

"Here we come, walkin' down the street.

We get the funniest looks from everybody we meet..."

Our sweet Beverly found Miss Piggy!

Lining up on Via de Luna.

It's a bunch of Silver Slippers!

It's amazing how many parrotheads we had today, but birds aside, I'd really like her sunglasses

Oh dear, this poor ship's officer seems to have missed his mate and I've missed my photo op! Darn! Jim and Lila Cox are a couple of the new Ship's Officers for the Krewe of Wrecks.

Pensacola Beach Mardi Gras Parade - II

The Hilton set up a tent where Mardi Gras revelers could sample a bit of cajun cuisine...


a box top of crawfish!

Another flamingo!

This looks like a Mardi Gras version of Uncle Sam...on stilts.

Hey, Miss Carleen! I see you're wearing your Krewe of Wrecks beads.

Another Parrothead!

Can you believe it! King Tut, the "boy king" showed up for our Mardi Gras parade. What a cutie!

Now this is just wrong! How can you eat an icee in weather like this! Look at those little pink cheeks.

And here we have the reviewing stand with the Krewe of Wrecks' carefully chosen, unbiased parade judges.

Mardi Gras mama! Everyone is having fun today!

And the parade begins. Do you see anyone you know on this float? Allen Strum, WEAR-TV's chief meteorologist, was one of the "stowaways" this year.

The Krewe of Brew show lotsa love, not war on their Love Train.

One of the great floats -- and great throws -- from the Krewe of Seville.

Another Krewe of Seville float.

Wow, how many girls her age do you see that still have their tonsils?

So this is where all those Parrotheads were heading! They have their own float.

The Dreamland Skate float. That's one brave mascot up there.

Kimberly Blair from the Pensacola News Journal and Allen Strum, this year's stowaways, show off a major 'throw' caught during the parade. So there's my Tweety Bird!

This float was amazing. Pirates of Lost Treasure was this year's first place winner in the Krewe of Wrecks Mardi Gras Parade. Great job.

The Krewe of Warriors, herding a host of stray cats, won the second place ribbon!

What a great parade again this year.
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