In Perspective, east to west of Middles

Above, a view from the end of the Hot Saltwater Pool, this time with key areas labeled to give a more detailed overview of what is where, also providing some scale and perspective.

Above: Comparisons 27th march 2007 & 4th August 2007.
Below: Today, countless more truckloads of sand have been deposited over the dune at the end of the access way from The Marae at 2/3rds.

leela of light

After work today I planned a surf with Caitlin, but when she didn't arrive home from school by 3.30 I bailed and set off for a solo down south. I made the mistake of stopping by Blackhead with the camera, and therein 2 hours was absorbed on the beach.. waiting, in good company watching, and waiting for the light... which was well worth it when the sun peaked through the cloud cover near sunset.

Below: Blackhead hasn't escaped erosion either..

from the top

After reporting on 4th August's massive hunk out of Middle beach over the last week, I made it down to the sports fields to take some images from the top. The erosion is now well into the downward side of the dune and would be only metres away from the edge of the sports ground.

Above right: the dumped sand from the harbour over the edge of Moana Rua Road continues to slump and fall to the beach below to be washed away.

Above: Looking towards St Clair with Moana Rua Road a few Metres at my back.
Below:The mixture of sand and rock reinstated at the base of the sausage buffer see here has been reduced to a pile of rocks.

Above left: again the rocks remains, right: forgot to put up from the 4th, a view from the Hot Saltwater Pool.

between the showers

Out of the wind, between the showers somewhere late afternoon.

phoam in Slide Longboard magazine

Its been out on the shelves for a month already, I just couldn't find space/time to post on to the blog till now. Issue #10 Slide
Thanks to Rod Rust for the words in the article 'The phenomenon that is phoam" Pretty stoked to have nearly 8 pages in a world class surfing mag!!

:: POLL :: on erosion

:: NEW POLL ::

Right tool bar: some question to gauge public opinion over the Middle Beach Erosion issue, if you have time to lend your opinion.

St Clair / Kilda now a new left Point break??? Pretty obvious where all the sand from the dunes have been deposited! A deep trench now lies between the dunes and a massive second outer bank, anyone surfed it yet?

Another Massive Bite out of Middles

This morning revealed another 3-4 metres of dunes washed away into the sea with a rather bizarre water course ditch forming parallel to the dunes at the base.
Another forceful South East swell due to hit tomorrow, I just can't even find words to describe the anguish I am feeling .. just watching it all happen. In all my research of the history of this area, there has never been such severe erosion as what is occuring now. Its all too little too late. Yes it's the uncontrollable force of nature. Well intended decisions have been made in the past with regards to planning, engineering and beach protection initiatives. We can see now that none of these measures have proven to be sustainable. But now there is absolutely no excuse not to implement a long term viable solution to this most urgent issue. Bugger the cost! Stuff the Otago Regional Council (front page todays ODT) earmarking 12 million for new offices on the waterfront because they're a little cramped.. and 10 million dollars for a feasability study for a rugby stadium?? Priorities??

Below: comparison left is today, right is 4th May 2006

half a million or so spent earlier in July trucking in sand to cover the slashed sausages for emergency protection work, now a month later nearly 2 thirds of the sand has been washed away, again exposing parts of the sausages..

2 Above: today digger creating yet another rock and sand buffer at the base of the washed away sand placed over the sausages last month.
2 Below: looking towards Middles today showing the loss of the sand buffer over the sausies, pink circle showing one exposed.

Below left: 31st July taken from the top of Moana Rua Rd looking down showing the rubble 'buffer line' created at the toe of the eroded dune.. right: 5 days later with increased erosion and exposure of rubble at the base

Above right: More exposed rubble, which I thought they were removing?
Above left: the new trench which has formed at the base of the dunes at middles/kettle park side (low tide).
Below left: Today at low tide, waves peel off a second bank parallel to Middle beach creating a long peeling left, and that wasn't even a set coming through. Right: a closer look today.

Erosion at Ocean View beach too

The erosion from the recent barrage of South East Storms had a massive effect on Ocean View beach too, the two smaller pics showing the 10ft plus sand scarps created.

Packing and moving

Been missing putting up some posts the last week as I have been packing up the house for shifting soon.. so here is a bit of a catchup. nelow and above 26th July 07

28th July 07 two below:

A different angle of St Clair beach looking over to Seconds.. and my man J on my board.. well his board but I always use it :0)