The Story of Tar Balls & Beach Tales

I can't believe this is what a 'tar ball' is. They are everywhere down here. It hasn't been at all unpleasant to be in the water or on the beach but these little gooey balls really are washing up constantly. This is not the only new staple down here on the Gulf of Mexico:

We have all kinds of beach combing machines.

Blimps and helicopters spotting from the air.

Barges, boats and skimmers all moving slowly back and forth out in the water.

And then those black speckles in the surf... the tar balls.

We also don't usually have to keep anything that 'powers away grease' near the dock shower, but the BP workers left some for us!

Despite the catastrophic oil spill that will take a long, long time to clean, we have had a wonderful time at the beach. This is year 25 for Bryan's family down here and it has been a lot of fun! I'm so glad we were able to make it!

(Bryan, me, Bryan's sis Cary, and her husband David... A,B,C & D)

(mamaw & papaw)

Some of us even took our fun to the next level! It's his vacation too, and if water down the pants makes him happy then so be it!

Tomorrow we head to Jackson! Hope to see you there!