Sandy – we think we’re ready

Hurricane Sandy is expected. I have just been out for an incredibly wild walk. Yesterday was warm, calm and yet another glorious day. Today, it is still glorious but very different as the wind is already blowing wildly.

Looking North, the sea is already choppy and getting more so by the minute.

We are all ‘hurricane ready’. All the pleasure boats are out of the water. Outside, at the family home and everywhere else, all the chairs and picnic tables have been packed up into garages, and all moveable objects tied down. Even my little condo deck is cleared. I picked the last of the basil, coriander and parsley from the pots and had a grand cooking morning before consigning the leftovers to the freezer. My little plastic table and sit-in-the-sun chairs are indoors with the plant-pots and deck umbrella in the space under the hall-stair for the winter. My bike is safely in the store under the building. I have candles and matches – we expect the power will fail at least once.

It is far too windy to ride, but far too wonderful to stay indoors and the really strong winds are not expected until tomorrow. The sea is grey with white waves, and even at low tide the spume is flying across the breakwater. I am excited and love the wild weather. I want intend to return to the harbour again tonight when the tide is high. And, tomorrow is full moon. Maybe I should not be excited, I know there is a combination here and elsewhere in the path of this very wide storm which could well bring hurt and harm. But a feeling is just a feeling. There it is as it is. I am wildy excited waiting for the wind and the weather.

The Block Island ferries will be cancelled and Interstate Navigation has to take the boats away from Block Island and Point Judith to safer harbors.

Click to see bigger pictures.

The Block Island ferryboat arriving from Point Judith – no more sailings to the island until after Hurricane Sandy has passed

Coming into Old Harbor

Safely across – but this boat returns – the last boat to leave the island until after Sandy has blown by

Looking North the sea is getting choppier by the minute, and the wind is stronger

From Ballard’s beach to the South of the Harbor

More wind and waves, powerful and noisy surge up the sand

This is LOW tide, but the spume is over the breakwater

Even the sand is responding to the wind

More sand patterns from the small beach inside the breakwater

Waiting for the boat to leave – from Oceanview – the berries and leaves are beginning to toss about

Last boat – unless the small planes fly – we will be on the island for a few days whether we like it or not

Still in the harbor – heading for sea

reaching the gap

the rocking has started as the north east wind and wave takes hold

I do not want to be on that boat – glad I am here taking photos

Turning into the wind is hardest for the ferries from this harbor when wind is like this from the North East

Travel safely – even if it is not a very nice journey

Looking Nroth, the sea is already choppy and getting more so by the minute.

Back home, please everyone, stay safe.

It has been a bad and sad week here. I am thinking of two families who have suffered separate tragedies, both accidents happening off-island. [See BI times obituaries and article.] Even while I am excited by a storm I am hoping that families and friends of Rebecca Domski and Hermann and Doris Hassinger are finding comfort in their griefs.

Take care, stay safe.

The wind is howling and I love it. Just like a child in spite of all the sensible thoughts.

Aren’t we fortunate that the weather scientists now know how to predict with some accuracy, and can forewarn us to prepare? Thank you all you meteorologists, and everyone who helps us be safe and excited and having wonderful experience at the same time!