 At the shore, our exposure to traditional fall colors  is limited.Â
 Trees along the high dunes and in the Bird Sanctuary provide some color. Blooming golden rod along the beach paths, and the marsh grass fading from bright green to an orange-brown are also signs of the season.
 Brilliant sunshine for my morning walk. 1st challenge- getting on the beach. Some of the paths are closed due to the erosion.
Â
Â
Â
 The sand dunes are damaged, but thankfully, still in place protecting the shoreline.
Â
Â
Â
Â
 Enough beach for my walk 🙂
 Prior to the weekend storm, snow fencing and sand dunes surrounded the poles still standing- a perspective of the erosion of the dunes.
 High tide on Dune Drive!Â
Glad for a back parking lot at work. Water is quickly surrounding the cars parked on the street.
The winds are now from the north and expected from the north west by this afternoon. That will keep the bay waters high, but help on the beach side.
 For the best view of a Nor’easter- head to the inlet in Avalon. I couldn’t see over the 7th Street sea wall from my car (I think that’s the point of the sea wall)…so had to get out for a better look.
Â
Â
 Refreshing! A salt water shower for me and my car. So much for my comment about the crazy people driving through the flooded streets this morning  😉
Â
Â
Â
 A sand blasting on the 10th Street beach path finished my “storm chaser” field trip. Ouch!
Island:  noun. A piece of land surrounded by water.
Yep…that’s us this weekend!
Â
Â
Â
 This morning’s high tide caused flooding in the usual sections of town. Fortunately, no rain right now to make it any worse.
Saw cars driving through the deep water- I guess they don’t realize the water is from the bay (AKA- salt water) ??
 First the Bad News: the coastal storm is causing some beach erosion along the Jersey Shore. Just checked out our beach- which was already in bad shape from previous storms. These pictures were taken at 5:30pm tonight - one hour before high tide.
Â
Â
Â
Â
 Sand dunes- the most valuable real estate on the island- protecting our shore line.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Nun’s Beach (111th Street) looking south.Â
Now the Good News: the Stone Harbor beach fill project is scheduled to start within the next 2 weeks. The dredging company is still working on the North Wildwood beaches (can you imagine that job in this weather??)
Dreary, wet, windy, and chilly. But the power of the ocean is so mesmerizing… you have to check it out!
 Coastal storms in the early fall catch property owners off guard.  Damage is most likely to occur from unsecured household items:  outdoor furniture; trash cans sitting in the side yard; awnings and umbrellas on the deck.Â
Make sure your beach house is ready for the weather later this week.  Also on the “to do” list: close the crawl space vents and drain the outside shower.
I attended the meeting last week regarding the consolidation of the 2 island elementary schools.Â
Based on the study presented at the meeting: projected enrollment for each school is not expected to rise. Avalon has an average of 75 students; Stone Harbor 69. Tuition students- approximately 10 per school.
The Avalon School has a capacity for 200 students; Stone Harbor 150 students. If the 2 schools combined, the average class size would be 15 students.
The cost savings to the tax payers- less than $100 per year. The real benefit is the social interaction for the students and ultimately, a better education.
The school boards have 3 options: 1) no change; 2) a send/receive agreement utilizing both facilities with the lower grades in Stone Harbor, and the higher grades in Avalon; 3) a complete merger to one facility- the Avalon structure is newer and larger, so the likely choice.
The send/receive option is the easiest to implement and does not require a public vote.  Both school boards are discussing the study now.
 I’m feeling pressure to take advantage of the warm sun and moderate temperatures.  It sounds like we will be wearing SHOES and SOCKS later this week  🙁
The bay was a bit choppy, but with high tide conveniently at the end of my work day- kayaking was on the schedule.
A snowy egret and blue heron watched me pass from the marsh. Otherwise, had the bay to myself.
Avalon Beaches
Tip:Â If a path is blocked, be careful of the drop off at the end!
Â
Â
Â
The damage to the north end beach is significant, but not as bad as expected. There is a steep drop off at the end of most beach paths (I walked out -carefully- at 20th, 15th, and 12th Streets).