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!

Spinnaker Time

Spinnaker Time, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Sailing downwind is a bit like running downhill! Catchin' the evening breeze on the GSB....

Sail Shadows

Sail Shadows, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
It does not get much better. Warm temperatures, blue sky and a nice breeze. August on the Great South Bay...

Flying Scot Sunset

Flying Scot Sunset, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
August evening on the Great South Bay...Life is Good!

Flying Scot

Flying Scott , originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Sayville Evening: enjoying a peaceful sail on the Great South Bay.

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.

Fourth Fireworks

Fourth Fireworks, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Happy Fourth of July!!

June Evening In Sayville

June Evening In Sayville, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Great South Bay evening.....Sayville dockside sunset!

Browns River Sunrise

Browns River Sunrise, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
It's time for this snowbird to bid Long Island farewell for the winter. This is view I will take with me, after so much  Sandi sadness and destruction Long Island's natural beauty still shines through. So, until the warmth of Spring returns it's Florida sunshine that I seek.

Windy Marsh

Long Island Windy Marsh, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The temperatures are plunging, the sun is setting in the afternoon, the "breeze" is now a steel cold wind and a seasonal corner has been turned. This snowbird feels an inner compass that's pointing south......

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. 

November Sunset

November Sunset Two, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Long Island continues to go through a traumatic and heart breaking recovery and clean up from hurricane Sandy. It warms the soul to still find nature's beauty around us.

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.

Powerful

Passing Storm, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Sandy has departed. The destruction, heartbreak and chaos lingers. I am left pondering the serendipitous nature of random catastrophic events. Why are folks just miles away devastated? Why is my house spared? What cosmic forces are at play here?  Nature's power is indeed awesome and evokes a new sense of respect.
Fortunate? Blessed? Lucky?....What I am is grateful, thankful and eager to be helpful....

Boating Sunset

Sunset Fishing, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Usually, Long Island's boating season comes to a gradual close by mid-November. With hurricane Sandy approaching (aka the "Frankenstorm"), the season is ending with a frenetic flurry of boats being pulled. Marinas are working overtime and the wait time at area boat ramps can be extensive. It will be awhile before the area waters will appear this calm again. Batten down the hatches.......

Chubby

Chubby, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
A Chubby farewell.... My neighbor's boat, "Chubby" was recently sold, this shot was taken as the new owner sailed off into the horizon. A fixture in the neighborhood, the 25 ft Marshal Cat will be missed by those of us who always smiled when we saw her profile on the bay.

Robert Moses Bridge

Moses Bridge, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Summer crossings.....The Robert Moses Bridge is THE roadway linking Long Island's Suffolk County to "the beach" (aka Robert Moses State Park).  At the end of most summer beach days the north bound traffic can be a tad crowded!

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"!

Transparent Sail

Transparent Sail, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Hazy, Hot and Humid....but I'll take this breeze any day! Summer, gotta love it   :-) .