The ocean in a powerful mood

It doesn't seem angry or stormy, just immensely powerful and intent on showing it, reminding us - especially those of us who live close to its edge - of that power.

NOAA is saying this is the biggest oceanic event here since the "perfect storm" in 1991.

The waves, as much as 18 feet high, have crashed over and through the dunes in some places, again reminding us of how important those dunes are, how we need to protect and not destroy them. The area of beach at Middles where we flew kites just a few weeks ago is filled with seawater that rushed over the dune. The road a little further on is closed because the ocean is covering it. The beach road at Golandrina is covered with debris, mostly coconuts and palm fronds, sand and mud, washed over by the waves.

Down at the end of our road the ocean has pushed up into the river and flooded the corner where you turn to go to Villa Tropical or Villa Montaña. The Villa Pescara - a popular beach and party place, what our friend Zan calls the "beer park" - has been closed and evacuated. Several of the kisoks at Villa Pescara are filled with sand. A friend told us emergency crews are moving tons of sand off the road and out of the kiosks with front-end loaders.

So far, we don't seem to be in too much danger of flooding. The forecast calls for scattered light showers. As long as we don't get a big rain, I think we'll be okay. As I write this we are more than two hours past high tide, which is the time of greatest danger from ocean surge. The next high tide will be a little after 8:00 this evening. We'll be keeping a close eye on that.