Summer Scene

Summer Scene, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Last moments of summer...On Fire Island's Ocean Beach some residents are luck enough to have their own swimming hole at the end of the street!

Sunfish

Sunfish, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
In what may have been the season's last sunfish race without wetsuits....off Fire Island's Ocean beach last weekend!

Beach View

Beach View, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Fire Island and summer, a magical combination of time and place. Life is good.

Davis Park Beach Breeze

Davis Park Beach Breeze, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Now THAT is a sea breeze! Long Island's afternoon heat has the classic southwest winds off the ocean cooling things down at the beaches.

Fire Island Fox

Standing Fox, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
I find myself wondering how the Fox family made out during the storm. We hear that water washed over Fire Island in depths of 4 to 8 feet. 

Fire Island Perspective

Fire Island Perspective, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The view before Sandy.....Suffolk County officials have declared Fire Island "off-limits" to all but emergency personnel. Individuals coming ashore in private boats will be arrested for trespass. News footage indicate that the island's dune system has been destroyed putting the south shore of Suffolk County at high risk for additional flooding. It is difficult to envision miles of dunes (as seen in this shot)  just vanishing. We are being told that the geography of the island is forever changed.

Doe See...

Doe See, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
YOU lookin' at Me?........Wildlife on Fire Island.

Fire Island October

Fire Island October, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
An empty marina, a vacant beach, temperatures in the 70's and a picnic lunch... must be October on Fire Island!

Deer By The Pond

Deer By The Pond, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Catching the moment.....one of those times when you pat your own back for having the camera with you!

Dune At Sailors Haven

Dune At Sailors Haven, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
I just love these kind of "gifts"....a perfect October day on Fire Island. Miles of spectacular beach, comfortable temperature, brisk fresh air and not a single person in sight! Life is indeed good.

Robert Moses Causeway

Robert Moses Causeway, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
One of Suffolk County's most recognizable icons, the Robert Moses Causeway traverses the Great South Bay. The causeway is one of the few ways to reach Fire Island without a boat. Many a sunburned beachgoer has used this crossing!

Taryn Ann

Taryn Ann, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Fishing on Long Island does not get much better than now through mid-Autumn. The party boat fleet out of Captree has been scoring well with fluke and bluefish and stories abound about the "one that got away"!

Robert Moses Sunrise

Robert Moses Sunrise, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Good Morning Long Island....The summer sun rises over the Robert Moses Bridge. Life is Good!

Inlet Sunrise

Inlet Sunrise, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
An early departure from Fire Island Inlet gave us a glimpse of the sunrise. In the distance is the Robert Moses Tower and Fire Island light while the sea buoy welcomed our arrival in the ocean. Life is good!

Beach Fence

Beach Fence, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Okay, this is what so many Long Islanders wait for... weekend mid-July, the water temperature is up, the sun is shinning and the beach awaits. Life is Good.

It's HOT

Rough Surf, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The talking heads on my TV point to maps highlighted in red and temperature readings in three digits. The camera pans out to show these readings in red to cover most of the continent. Baby, it's hot outside...get thee to a beach, a pool or just hunker down in the A/C. And...here's an interesting factoid: there are more annual fatalities from heat than any other weather related event. A curious statistic considering all those tornados, hurricanes and blizzards. Stay cool...

Point O' Woods

Point O Woods, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Private ferry, Private community....Point O' Woods was founded as a religious enclave in the late 19th century and is one of the oldest communities on Fire Island. Extremely private, Point O' Woods is family oriented with strict rules for renters and potential buyers. The screening process for possible residency requires buyers to rent for at least one season before approval. With no restaurants or bars the town is very quiet by design. No weekend rift-raft here.....

Dune Fence

Dune Fence, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Reclaiming the beach...The littoral drift, the shifting sands and man's endless attempts to control it all are evident here on Fire Island. This past winter was fairly free of beach destroying northeasters, those storms that linger and eat away at the beach. The use of snow fence to hold sand and rebuild dunes does work but only with a little help from mother nature!

Sayville Ferry

Sayville Ferry, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
There can be no question that the Fire Island summer schedule is in full swing. The Sayville ferry terminal is operating at full capacity, boaters navigating Brown's River need to contend with the constant issue of Fire Island bound ferries. On busy weekends the traffic can be somewhat daunting.

Back To School

It's official, schools are back in session. The local media is filled with those iconic "Back to School" images: backpack adorned tweens exiting a large yellow bus, parents waiting at suburban street corners,  and beaming attractive female teachers smiling in the front of a classroom (obviously prior to having cafeteria duty). So....I set out to find my own "back to school" image. I was struck by the peaceful scene of an empty beach on a rather perfect beach day in early September. Yes, indeed school is in session! Life is Good.