10
Close To Home, A World Away
www.blockislandinfo.com
BLOCK
ISLAND
BEACHES
17 miles of
sandy fun
I LOVE THE BEACHES
Here, plain and simple. I visit
them frequently with my family,
and over the years have discov-
ered how the seasons change
the dynamic of these special
places that provide recreation
for visitors and play an impor-
tant role in our ecosystem.
a fall day on the beach
brings plenty of sunshine and
light wind. The perfect Indian
summer day is always a pos-
sibility, and the temperature
averages in the mid 60s. By
mid-afternoon, it's a perfect
time for an outdoor adventure
on a west-facing beach exposed
to the warmth of the descend-
ing sun. aside from enjoying
the tranquility of the beach,
you can walk the shore, gather
beach treasures and explore
the tide pools exposed at low
tide.
The water is still warm from
the summer season and noth-
ing finishes the day better than
a dip in the ocean. With the
water clean and clear, one can
see the bottom and the designs
the water has created in the
sand.
Due to the warming effects
of the ocean, spring on the
Island is filled with days of
above-average temperatures
even during april school
vacations and Easter weekend.
spring is a great time to plan
the first of many family days at
the beach. shoes can be dis-
carded upon arrival; the sand
is typically warm to bare feet,
especially the iron-rich sand
found along the toe of many
of the Island's dunes. retreat-
ing tides and long-gone winter
storms uncover a plethora of
treasures, including hard-to-
find sand dollars.
Kids, with nothing but their
imaginations and the sheer joy
of a warm spring day outdoors,
can run and expend energy
and play in the gentle waves
along crescent Beach or in the
tide pools of mohegan Bluffs.
Grownups can walk leisurely
and embrace the much-needed
time to reconnect and catch
up on gossip, revitalize in the
sea air, take a stroll or simply
daydream.
personally, I love spending
the hours before the sun sets
into the Block Island sound
collecting treasures like rocks
for skipping and painting, worn
driftwood to make mobiles,
clam shells, lobster claws, and
various other mysterious items
washed ashore. The wrack line,
where the tide stops and de-
posits its day's load of flotsam
and jetsam, can be a virtual
jackpot for the keen observer.
on a later excursion, head
to the shores of the Great
salt pond. during the colder
months, the Great Salt Pond
is loaded with seals. Harp,
harbor and gray seals can be
seen in the water and on the
rocky shores. They are curious
creatures; their heads bob up
and down in the gentle waves
as they watch visitors on the
shore.
Along with the seals are a
variety of wintering seabirds
gathered in rafts in the pond.
species include mergansers,
loons, buffleheads, grebes,
goldeneyes and eiders. a
coastal walk at the north end of
the Island, at the Block Island
Wildlife refuge, in the fall
finds waterbirds seeking refuge
in sachem pond and the pro-
tective waters of Cow Cove.
so check the boat schedule
and come to the Island. Then
check the wind direction and
the tide chart and choose any
of the beaches surrounding
the Island, all accessible to the
public. dress in layers, and
bring a change of clothes as the
kids always end up in the tide
pools.
Corrie heinz
President
Committee for the Great Salt Pond
Photo by Chris Barrett