Fort Pickens as Hurricane Ike Flood Water Recedes

It was much easier to see Fort Pickens today, though it still wasn't possible to get down to the fort without a boat.



The Santa Rosa Island Authority parking lots will both need some repair!



The flood waters had greatly receded, leaving interesting patterns in the sand...



and dune erosion



and missing sand from the pedestrian walkway



and the new dry gully from the hike with Mark the other night.



The asphalt pile lost the bank of sand Gustav desposited on it last week...



Even the nest signs and screen were missing from FP7111, but the eggs were still there when I went to assess the nest!



That said, the visitors seemed to enjoy slogging through all the standing water,



and the birds were having a blast as well!



We're lucky the storm stayed so far away, but Ike still left a mark we won't soon forget... Pensacola Beach is a barrier island, and it will breach at will -- it's no place to stay during a hurricane!