Living on the Bayou

  The tropical system that went inland west of us did not do considerable damage to our place.  We did, however, wind up with a mess in the front yard.  As with any rough weather, debris from the marsh is washed ashore and our pier takes a beating.  Most of the time, the pier withstands the winds fine but, if you throw in a bit of high tide, the boards just cannot take the pounding.  Planks will lift off and go floating into the marsh.  Some can be retrieved and reused but others will never be seen again,  The marsh claims the boards and they soon become part of the "fill" as marsh shoots penetrate the boards and anchor them.  Birds use these boards as resting spots, otters will find them handy as "tables" to crack shells, snakes soak up a bit of sunshine while basking on them and fiddler crabs burrow deep beneath them.  This is our loss and we have to replace those missing planks but, in an odd way, is the marsh denizens gain.

  Although the pier only lost a small number of planks, the work involved in replacing them is a bit labor intensive.  It is not a problem as it come with living on the water in a place where hurricanes are a way of life.  In a way, this could be considered a blessing in disguise as we have been meaning to replace a good bit of the structural parts beneath the planking for some time now.  The wear and tear of waves requires a constant upkeep.  Replacing planking is the easy part.

  This afternoon as the waters receded, a number of planks could be seen lodged in the marsh.  These are just a reminder of what storms can do and how blessed we are that this one was not worse.  The next one?  Who knows?  We do know there will always be the "next" one and will always prepare accordingly.  It comes with the territory.  Its part of living on the Bayou.  I would not trade it for anything.