Well, there you are!

   Since Hurricane Zeta demolished the pier, we have been trying to salvage what boards we can from the debris line.  Not only are we salvaging our planks, but we find a lot of my brother's pier parts in our yard (and he finds a lot of ours over his way!)  We merely set his aside and he comes to retrieve them.  Son does the same.  It is not an easy task and we still have a long ways to go before we can say we are finished.  We may never be finished.  It is that big of a mess.  That is fine and dandy.  I take my time and try to do what I can each day.  Some days it is more than others.  I do find it very disturbing that the very people who want to use the pier will never show up to lend a helping hand to restore it.  This has made me realize that saying "No" to wannabe visitors is not wrong.  If you cannot help, then you do not need to be here.  Simple fact.

  If there is not enough aggravating things about hurricanes, I have found quite another.  Those goofy storms love to play "Hide and Seek" with items.  My brother came over a couple of weeks ago in search of a huge plank from his pier.  He measured this one and that one but never found the right one. We figured that the plank had made its way to some other shoreline.  No problem.  He would just make do with another. He did make the offer for Son to come look at some of the planks he found.  "They may be yours or, at least, they may work for your pier."  We never thought much more about the missing plank.

  Early this afternoon, Son and I were meandering the debris line taking stock in what the chores will be for the next week.  While he pulled a plank, I stared out over the Bayou.  "Son, what is that across the way?"  He looked and had to start laughing.  "Well, there you are!"  I looked bepuzzled so he explained.  "I think THAT is the missing plank!"  Ahh, well that explains a lot!  We began looking in the Bayou some more and, lo and behold, found our missing planks, as well!   Some he will be able to retrieve by simply traipsing out on the marsh clumps but others will need a boat.  Crazy old Zeta!!!  It is bad enough that you ripped up the pier but you did not need to hide stuff from us!  I guess next month will see us with rubber boots making our way out in the marsh and back in the creek bed to see what else Zeta stole!  Always something.

Every Little Bit Helps

   Cleanup after any storm is a slow, tedious process if you are wishing to salvage anything.  Stuff has to be pulled from the debris pile, checked for damage then sorted into "keep" or "toss".  We are trying to salvage our pier planks from 1100 ft of a debris line that is 4 ft deep in places.  It is not easy but every plank pulled, every section cleared is progress.  Slow progress but progress just the same.

  My main job is managing the burners so we can eliminate as much of the marsh waste as possible in as short of time as possible.  Son is pulling the pier planks and doing all of the "heavy" work.  I stack the boards to dry them,  It is a teamwork effort but we are working against the clock.  There is a good possibility that another hurricane could be in the Gulf in a few days and having that slam us with the debris still in place would mean devastation.  So, the race is on.  The work is exhausting but we cannot take a break.  

Double Trouble?

   Things are a bit up in the air around the Coast.  I am sitting here listening to the drone of the huge engines of our Hurricane Hunters as they are preparing to fly over the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding area.  These folks are true heroes that go above and beyond to keep us safe.  The uncertainty of whether we are to be in the path of the two hurricanes that are threatening back to back visits has folks not knowing just how to prepare.  Do we stockpile enough supplies to carry us through two storms or do we wait and hope the storms change their directions.  Those a bit inland can get by with minimal effort and laugh at our quandary but those living near the water have a different set of rules about facing hurricanes.  We do not have the buffer zone that others have.  If a hurricane takes aim at us, we catch the brunt of it.  The winds die quickly once the eye comes ashore.  Of course, those inland do not have to be concerned about the tidal surge either.  With back to back storms, the effects are of course doubled as is the time span of the overall battering.  Even back to back tropical storms can do major damage to those of us with waterfront homes.  So, we prepare as only we know how to do!  We have learned from experience what works and what does not.  "Prepare for the worst and pray for the best" is always a good mantra.  In other words, take the ultimate of precautions then leave the rest to the Good Lord.

  Today, as I was heading to the pier, a thought struck me.  Son just this past week finished the repairs on the pier.  The damage from Tropical Storm Cristobal was extensive.  The entire structure of the pier was in shambles.  Now, we face the possibility of more damage.  When I questioned him on his thoughts, his statement was "Hurricanes are not something we can control.  Pier repairs are."  That made a lot of sense.  We won't worry about what "might" happen but will focus on the job at hand..whatever that may be.  If any readers are in the path of either storm or both storms, as the case may be, be careful.  Prepare for what may come and think safety first. 

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.