The Sandspur                        

ABOUT US

THREATS TO LIFE AND LIMB AND SANITY

Pensacola Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Its sand is quartz and is a dazzling white. There are, however,
some hazards that visitors and residents should be aware of.

SANDSPURS --- (L. cencrus longispinis). Sandspurs are the seeds of a grass that grows here. There are two varieties. The more common small sandspurs stick in your bare feet, your beach towels, and your dog's fur. They have been described as, "Nature's little land
mines," or more poetically as, "The thorns on the rose that is
Pensacola Beach." 
The less common big sandspurs can bring down an adult. Some Beach residents have been accused of cultivating the big ones to win the SANDSPUR Sandspur Contest which is part of the annual BEACH BUM AWARDS.
Sandspur tea is not hallucinogenic. It doesn't even taste good.
The myth of hallucinogenic sandspur tea was spread as an elaborate
hoax to get people to harvest large quantities of sandspurs in
order to control them.

CRITTERS --- On land we have a variety of animals that are pretty
much harmless. There are possums, skunks, raccoons, rattlesnakes,
and mice. In the Gulf of Mexico there are a bunch of creatures
that can kill or hurt you. Man eating sharks, sting rays, and
several varieties of jellyfish that can cause painful stings. The
most terrifying of the jellyfish is the Portuguese Man-of-War.
Their stings are very painful. You can see jellyfish in the water
most of the time and avoid them. After rough weather it is another
matter: The surf can break up the squishy jellyfish and their
unseen tentacles can still cause stings.

NATIVES --- The locals are Xenophobic but pretty much harmless if
you tip well and don't litter.

WEATHER --- Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.
Pensacola Beach is on Santa Rosa Island. It is a subtropical
marine environment. We experience powerful squall lines, water
spouts, and powerful hurricanes. In the recent past we have been
hit by Hurricanes Earl and Opal in 1995 and Georges in 1998.
Evidence of beach erosion and damage to property is still to be
seen. If a hurricane is headed here when you are visiting the
Island follow the advice of local officials and evacuate the Island
when advised to do so.

RIP TIDES AND UNDERTOW --- Dangerous currents in the Gulf of Mexico can sweep people out to sea and drown them, especially if they are not good swimmers or if they panic. We have very good lifeguards but they are few in number. The parts of the Beach they watch is very limited. If you go to the Beach where there are lifeguards it  usually means it will be crowded. Less serenity, more crowds, more Bikinis. Life is full of little tradeoffs.

TRAFFIC --- Do the terms "gridlock" and "road rage" mean anything
to you? They will take on new significance if you come to
Pensacola Beach when it is nice weather. Bumper-to-bumper traffic
coming and going. The toll booth coming onto the Island has
several lanes. A couple for people needing change, one for locals
with bar code bridge passes, and a couple for people ready with
four quarters. This system confuses even seasoned Beach residents
and fosters dangerous lane switching as people zig and zag trying
to get into the appropriate lane. Very close to Bumper Cars or
Demolition Derby. On busy Summer holiday weekends, like the Fourth of July, Beach residents travel by foot or bicycle only and like to sit and drink cold beer as the departing traffic creeps by in the
scorching late afternoons.

LAND MINES --- Nature's land mines, sandspurs, have been discussed already. Broken glass from hurricane-shattered windows and bottles is a hazard to bare feet. Watch out.

THE SUN --- Having a sun tan is cool. Take actor George Hamilton
for instance. He always has a fine tan. You have to pace
yourself. The Sun can fry you and sunburn can be very painful. Be
especially careful if you bring an infant to the Beach. They are
more easily burned than big people and you would never forgive
yourself if you fried your baby. Prolonged exposure to the Sun can
give you skin cancer. Very bad news. Outright death or
disfiguring surgery, like lopping off a nose or an ear, to try and
control the cancer. Sunscreens and sunblocks can make the Sun
safer but the only quaranteed protection is to stay inside a cold
dark bar.

sandspur@seii.net

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