The boardwalk is a wonderful place to walk and enjoy the
weather while we can – flat, straight, the beach and Atlantic Ocean on one
side, McMansions on the other side.
Yet all is not peaceful and quiet.
Heavy machinery seaside screeches while building dunes. Pipes extend across miles of beach, moving
sand from one section to another. Huge mounds of sand sit, waiting to be pushed
into dunes and planted with grasses that help shield the landside from the
worst of Mother Nature’s storms. And the dunes work, protecting many homes from
destruction during last year’s Sandy storm.
The activity is not necessarily welcome, but we realize its
positive impact in the short run. I am not a fan of fighting Mother
Nature – she can be relentless and, in the long term, it is futile (and very
costly) fighting her – but understand the dilemma facing governments following
decades of building where we should never have built in the first place.
This weekend I spotted the following piece of equipment
located every few blocks along the boardwalk.
The solar-powered machines, called “SeismoBot,” monitor
ground vibrations, air blasts, and water pressure changes. Apparently the sand dredging
may unsettle the fragile earth beneath us. I am not sure what would happen if
the monitors start beeping or a siren sounds signaling that something unusual
is occurring, but I hope never to find out.
With any luck the machines only record good vibrations...
Researching the machines I discovered the company providing these machines was
involved in the implosion of the Sands Hotel in neighboring Atlantic City a few years ago. The small
hotel could not compete with larger competitors, declared bankruptcy and closed
in 2006.
Pinnacle Entertainment, owner and developer of casinos
throughout the country, bought the land, announcing a $1.5 billion resort would
be constructed on the site.
At 9:37 p.m. on October 18, 2007, with much fanfare, the old
hotel fell. Accompanied by fireworks and
parties on the boardwalk and beach (who said Atlantic City is only about
gambling!) – the building collapsed.
Here is a video of the event:
The song in the video
is “The End” by the Doors
“This is the end beautiful friend
This is the end…”
The economic downturn hit the casino industry hard, and in
2010 Pinnacle bowed out of Atlantic City, putting the land up for sale. The
city built a park on the site and the land finally sold, but no
announcement concerning specific plans for the location has been made.
Meanwhile, the vibrations that may or may not someday rock
my town brought back memories of an old favorite song. Here is a video of the
Beach Boys singing Good Vibrations.
There is a cameo appearance by Paul McCartney, a birthday cake for Brian, and
some awesome outfits.
“I’m pickin up good vibrations…
Good, good, good, good vibrations…”
Good Vibrations. I always liked the Beach Boys, especially the Little Old Lady from Pasadena. Go baby Go baby, go, go go.
ReplyDeleteThinking about getting a red sports car are we? Dianne
Ooh, hope they aren't searching for vibrations like Florida gets when the earth opens. Man is so determined to try and outwit nature.
ReplyDeleteI was just listening to the Beach Boys today-- Kokomo. Love it.
Thanks for including the video--good memories.
ReplyDelete