Sunday at Disappearing Island

[DrRalph]

Memorial Day, being one of the "drunk holidays" (July 4 & Labor Day are the others) usually brings out every piece of fiberglass on the East Coast, and about 500 of them anchored up at Disappearing Island in the backwaters of Ponce Inlet yesterday. There was a substantial law enforcement presence, and most of it involved addressing overloaded boats. We saw them stop a 17-ft ski boat that had 11 people in it. We did not see any significant bad behavior, just an immense crowd of happy people. I hope they all got home safely.We had a beautiful day, but it ain't the Bahamas.;)

And while we're at it, we hope all of you have a safe and happy Memorial Day. And let's all take a moment to consider the Nation's fallen fighting men and women.

[patw]

OMG!!! Look at all the people! I'll take the beaches here on Guana any day!

[SamFamAustin]

That's a crowd, but sounds fairly tame and the shade under the umbrellas and Bimini tops looks quite inviting.

Down here just yesterday (Sunday), three people drowned and one was stabbed. There were many car wrecks and it took two hours to cross the Causeway to the mainland. Us locals avoid the beach on "amateur weekend" to keep our sanity. Fortunately, people are starting to leave now because it's check-out time ... gosh I love Monday through Thursday!

Thanks for the pics, Ralph! Did you bring the "Bunny Floatie" along?
-sammie

[JJ]

Ralph,

We used to take our boat there but haven't been in years. Whenever I think of it lately, the tides aren't right. But my daughter's current boyfriend's family has a second home on Ponce Inlet and she was over there Sat. and they took the boat to disappearing island and she said it was not at all like she remembered from our visits years ago. We must have always gone on slow days or maybe it has just gotten more crowded over the years. She said it was wall to wall boats and all the people were "drunk 30 year olds" --she is 16, so even you may qualify as a drunk 30 yr old in her eyes. ;)

[DaGoose]

Yep, a bit different than our 'secret spot', even Tahiti Beach, but I bet you all had a great time! We've had cool and partly cloudy weather here, very much like winter:( , so thanks for the photos of sun and warm water!

Tina

[Abacoparrott]

That's a prime example of why Carol and I stay home on holidays and travel on "work days". Even on Lake Wylie near Charlotte, it's been years since we've taken the Trojan out on the weekend because of the "Weekend Wazoos".....love midweek tho......Ken:D

[DrRalph]

Ralph,

We used to take our boat there but haven't been in years. Whenever I think of it lately, the tides aren't right. But my daughter's current boyfriend's family has a second home on Ponce Inlet and she was over there Sat. and they took the boat to disappearing island and she said it was not at all like she remembered from our visits years ago. We must have always gone on slow days or maybe it has just gotten more crowded over the years. She said it was wall to wall boats and all the people were "drunk 30 year olds" --she is 16, so even you may qualify as a drunk 30 yr old in her eyes. ;)

JJ, it seems like the rest of the world found Disappearing Island last summer. Prior to that, you could spread out and feel like you had gotten away from civilization. This year it is much more crowded, and the access canal on the west side of the island has shoaled, so that now only small outboards can get in unless you have a full tide, and even then it's tricky. I think your daughter is about 5 years off, we're noticing drunk 20-25 year olds, they seem to come in packs on small boats. They aren't real boaters, and they don't know how to anchor or cooperate with others. And to make matters worse, people are now trailering as far as a hundred miles to spend the weekend here.

Here are a couple of pics we took three years ago; this is what we used to look forward to.

[JJ]

Yeah, that is more how I remember it. We moved on a lake 4 yrs ago and just stopped going over around then. We still have our Key West on a trailer (we have a Sea Ray for the lake) so it isn't too bad to head out. Our boat is a small 17-footer, with shallow draft, so we could probably get into the canal on the west. Our problem is also the boat ramp. That parking lot fills up quickly. We usually launch at New Smyrna just north of the bridge over to the beaches. Do you know of a less crowded ramp or is that the best place to put in?

[DrRalph]

LOL, the short answer is no. There have been so many fights at the ramp under the Dunlawton Bridge in Port Orange that there is now an ambulance and a police cruiser on station there all weekend.

The ramps at Halifax Harbor may be the best solution. There is plenty of parking, 8 good ramps, and it's a 9nm run to the inlet. New Smyrna is a lot closer, but that lot fills up fast on the weekends.

We try to get to the island before 9:30: we throw off lines at 9, anchor up, then cook breakfast and eat while we watch the chaos. I occasionally have to get back in the water to keep a newbie off of our anchor line, or just "help" them slide by us into shallower water. We need minimum 3 feet, even with our drives up, so that leaves about 30 yards behind us, and someone always want so sneak in. Oi!:eek:

[Abacouple]

You're right, Doc. It ain't Abaco!

[patw]

You're right, Doc. It ain't Abaco!

OMG, where do all those people come from???? I've been on Guana too long I guess.:eek:

[Abacouple]

My non-scientific estimate on Sunday was 'more than 75,000'. Looked more like Coney Island.

[BahamaAngie]

Beaches here are also very crowded in the summer. Nice off season and during the week. We do NOT leave the house on weekends. Abacocouple is that a bay area or the ocean as I see civilization in the back there and looks like a sand bar in the water. Your ocean looks the color of ours. Ours gets pretty looking in Sept. But in winter looks gray and in summer looks green. Nope not Abaco!

[Abacouple]

It's the Atlantic Ocean. Mostly beach homes in the background, but a few scattered condos. Most of those you see drove in for the day. There is a big sandbar there where a river runs into the ocean. It's amazing to watch as it changes constantly. At low tide, you can walk out about a quarter of a mile. Lots of dolphins swim by. Today it will be back to scattered vacationers. The building(s) you see in the background is a condo complex under construction.

[Abacouple]

Angie: Here's a better view of the crowd. Weren't many boats around.

[DaGoose]

Abacouple, the family of my roomate in college (mid 70's) owned a vacation home on St Simons. She was from Atlanta and I visited there quite a bit but never got over to the island. She talked about it often...it sounds like a great place except for those weekend crowds.

Here in SoCal I never go to the beach either on the weekends. Sometimes we can't avoid putting the boat in the water on those days but it's a ZOO at the launch ramp...especially with all the dorks on Waverunners:mad:

Tina

[theKurp]

I spent Sunday in front of Coconuts on Cocoa Beach. I've been going to the same spot for 20+ years and while it's always been a popular spot, these days you can't get from the water to the restaurant without stepping on someone's towel.

On the plus side, it's a young crowd so the scenery is pretty good :eek: and on this particular Sunday I looked up from reading a magazine to see none other than Gilbert Arenas standing next to my chair. This was particularly exciting for me because I've been a Bullets/Wizards fan since the days of Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld, and Phil Chenier. :D

[BahamaAngie]

Is that a ferris wheel in the right background or am I seeing things out of showers again? (joke)

[Abacouple]

A windsurfer. lol

[SamFamAustin]

You folks have good eyes ... all I see is a purdy girl in the surf. :D