Other Damage in Flagler

November 25-December 1, 2022                                     Most Recent Posts:
Gamble Rogers State Park  Site 49                        Gamble on the River Side
Flagler Beach, Florida                                       Evacuation with GREAT Friends

In my previous post, I mentioned I’d developed  two daily rituals – a morning walk through the woods over to the beach to then walk along the ocean and  an evening walk through the same woods to the river basin for the sunset.

There were never many people on the beach but on Friday there was a lone surfer and what I assume was his family.  They were there under the cloudy skies that had become a daily fixture.

Clouds do make for beautiful skies with the waves below.

And they do the same thing with the sunset on the tranquil waters of the river basin.

One morning I walked 4 miles through the neighborhoods to the park.  It was sad to see the loss of property caused by the hurricane’s flooding.   Streets were lined with it.

Traffic from the state park is being rerouted through this neighborhood because of the damage to Highway A1A which along with the pier was already damaged from Ian when Nicole hit.

This picture is from Flagler Live just over two weeks ago.  I was shocked to find out that I actually could get to and from the park after seeing this.  I expected the park to be closed due to lack of access and damage.  The road repairs have been almost unbelievable.   This is highway A1A on November 10.  I wonder how many more times they can save this road.

Another picture from Flagler Live of the flooding which caused most of the damage to these homes I walked by.   This is also from Nicole 2 weeks ago.

Some houses had been boarded up and abandoned.  I wondered where the owners were and what would happen next.   The cost of insurance in Florida is becoming extremely difficult.  But how can you be without it?

These properties were 4 or 5 blocks from the ocean and 2 or 3 from the river.

Water still in the drainage intended to protect the homes.  Hurricane Nicole did more damage here than Ian.  $23 Million is the estimate. 

And some folks were totally spared.

Yet some fun things were not hit or were already replaced.

I have always loved the great variety of clever mailboxes here.   Not as many as usual and some damaged but still . . . .

This one is my favorite

Eventually I did arrive at the park and walked along the boardwalk through the mangroves to the open river channel where a large dock has bench seats. 

The boardwalk showed a few signs of repair but not nearly as many as the flooding in the nearby neighborhoods would have led me to expect.  Once I saw that, I thought perhaps I would not be able to walk on the boardwalk at all.

How could these homes right on the water not have been damaged in the river flooding?

Looks like great paddling if you can find your way in and out.

There are connecting turns of the boardwalks that lead to walkable trails.

Debris here is visible.

As though to cheer me and the neighborhood folks up, on the return trip I caught this rainbow.  It really surprised me as it wasn’t raining or even as cloudy as it had been.

When I returned after 8 miles, I saw another rainbow of boats for rent at the river dock.

and later took this picture of the dock from which you can launch them or your own kayak which sadly because of the wind every day I never did.   Something to look forward to next year.

On another evening when I went over to the dock for sunset this man gave me a start.  From the back he looked just like David.  How I wish!

The waters turned choppier as the sun slipped below the tree line and orange filled the sky.

These paths are so wonderful.  I never walk to the beach without going through the Maritime Forest even though it is a longer route. The trees are so interesting and individual.  On most of these morning walks, I don’t see anyone.  Not so this morning.  

On this day I came upon a gopher tortoise strolling along.  He must be very used to campers as he did not with draw into his shell.  I seem to have lost the best video I took from the front of him walking along eating as he went so this one will have to do. Just click that link.

I made it over to the beach one last time and took this final shot of the Flagler Beach water tower from the shore.  I haven’t made my reservation for next December but I’ll be trying for one soon.

And a last sunset before I move on to Wekiwa Springs and some kayaking.  It’s amazing how different the sunsets here are.  These pictures are taken from the same spot as those above.

The water is like glass reflecting the skies.