Shaped by the Wind: A Thanksgiving Walk on the Barrier Island
Every tree tells the story. Pitch pines lean in permanent agreement, their branches swept eastward like brushstrokes pulled by an unseen hand.
On this breezy Thanksgiving Day, the real subject of the barrier island isn’t the trees, dunes, or shoreline—it’s the southwest-by-west wind that has shaped them all. You feel it the moment you step onto the sand: a steady, invisible force that has spent decades carving this narrow strip of land into its current form.
Every tree tells the story. Pitch pines lean in permanent agreement, their branches swept eastward like brushstrokes pulled by an unseen hand. Even the dead limbs bend in the same direction, a silent testament to years of salt-laden gusts. The dune grasses bow low, their winter-bleached blades trembling with each passing burst of air.
Along the high dunes, snow fencing lists toward the ocean, half-buried by wind-drifted sand. Flags snap sharply overhead, echoing the same directional truth etched into the landscape.
Nothing here grows straight. Nothing stands untouched. The wind is the island’s oldest sculptor—shaping, pruning, refining—and on this late-November afternoon, its presence is unmistakable. Through each frame, you’re reminded that on the barrier island, the wind is always the one writing the story.
Walk in the Park · DDI Fundraiser
Under the roof of Suffolk County Community College’s Suffolk Credit Union Arena, the Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) held its annual Walk in the Park fundraiser — a celebration of hope, movement, and inclusion.
My favorite subjects to photograph are the ones that help people — moments when compassion and community come into focus. Whether it’s one person lending a hand or an event built around a higher purpose, the story is always uplifting.Under the roof of Suffolk County Community College’s Suffolk Credit Union Arena, the Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) held its annual Walk in the Park fundraiser — a celebration of hope, movement, and inclusion.DDI serves more than 1,600 children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities each day, providing education, residential care, job training, transportation, and self-direction support across Long Island.Free from the threat of bad weather, families, friends, and walking teams circled the 200-meter track to the sound of laughter and DJ music. The event opened with the National Anthem and a ribbon-cutting by the Masters of Ceremony.Between laps, participants joined in games, crafts, raffles, and snacks — simple joys that carried deep meaning. Everywhere you looked, there were smiles, encouragement, and connection.
Caumsett State Historic Park
The park offers a network of scenic trails — from paved roads and dirt paths to winding single-track routes — that make it perfect for both leisurely rides and deeper exploration.
I spent a few hours exploring by bike the Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, a stunning 1,500-acre gem on Long Island’s north shore. The park offers a network of scenic trails — from paved roads and dirt paths to winding single-track routes — that make it perfect for both leisurely rides and deeper exploration. With its equestrian facilities, Caumsett is shared harmoniously by horseback riders, cyclists, and hikers alike. From the bluffs overlooking Long Island Sound, you can see both New York City and Connecticut in the distance, yet riding through the preserve feels worlds away from the suburban pace of Long Island life.
The Zen of Social Distancing in Surfing
Surfing's nature induces both social distancing and a togetherness among the tribe. Moving from land to ocean brings a sense of both peace and exhilaration.
I once spent several hours about twenty feet or so of another person and had no conversation the whole time. Not that we didn’t communicate, we did, through nods, eye contact, smiles and the occasional spoken, “right on!” It was one of the best days of surfing I had in a long time and even though I never spoke with my wave riding compatriot, I am sure he felt the same.
Surfing's nature induces both social distancing and a togetherness among the tribe. Moving from land to ocean brings a sense of both peace and exhilaration. Millions and millions of years ago our ancestors most likely crawled out of the sea, and surfers are those among us that return to the salty waters and feel at home.
As an activity surfing is mostly done alone but usually most enjoyed when there's others floating nearby and all looking to the horizon for that bump in the ocean that turns to a swell and creates the next rideable wave. Once in the lineup you are your own. Each break has its own rules and pecking order for catching waves, but usually its first one that gets the wave, rides the wave. The friendly fight for the wave creates a sense of competition and a level of distancing yourself from others. If one doesn’t catch a wave, or is waiting for the right set, having a front row seat to watching other surfers ride waves is the next best thing. Again, alone to catch your own waves, but share the stoke* for others when they get their own wave ride.
*Urban Dictionary
The Stoke
The great feeling that comes from catching a wave surfing.
I feel like a fresh hit of surf stoke is being injected into my veins!
That was the best stoke I ever had.
No matter how many are in the lineup there is usually little to no talk or chatter. There’s a common courtesy to let each be left to their own thoughts. A small gesture of greetings with a nod or quick “hey” is appreciated, but not expected or lack of considered rude. The vastness of the ocean, the rise and fall of the water, taste of the salt and the anticipation of the next wave creates a near meditative state. A little social distancing is needed to keep the personal vibe and connection to the sea.
When on land surfers usually stay several feet apart. Not for empeeding the stoke and vibe for another, but because you don’t want to bang your board against another. Nothing social about approaching with the friendly, “Hey there bru,” followed by the ding of the nose of one board into the deck of the other. When on land it’s socially acceptable, if not the norm, to chat with other surfers. There’s important information to be shared, but at a safe distance to not ding boards.
We all know the current public health crisis with COVID-19 is very serious and can not be taken lightly. Public distancing is needed, it’s expected of us, for any solution to work. There is a balancing we do each day, fact vs. myth, personal liberty vs. public good, and it’s these daily decisions that could determine our health and those around us. Life today is a lot like surfing with a new set of social norms. Yes, there is distancing, yet we are all in it together. We need to take personal space and distance seriously and proactively, but at the sametime, let’s share the stoke, no matter what it is for you, and keep our vibes positive and optimistic for our future.
Photo Gallery from April 1st, 2020, at Democrat Point, Fire Island, New York. All photos by Craig Low
Find your park? Mine is FINS
Our greatest assets along the Great South Bay are the many public parks, whether Town, County, State or Federal properties — they are ours to be experienced and enjoyed.
Our greatest assets along the Great South Bay are the many public parks, whether Town, County, State or Federal properties — they are ours to be experienced and enjoyed. One of my personal favorite is the boardwalks from Robert Moses State Park Field 5 to the Fire Island Lighthouse within in the Federal Park of Fire Island National Seashore. I have walked the route hundreds of times over the years and each time has offered new sights, sounds and experiences with the natural surroundings of sea, dunes and bay.
Supermarket Bingo Helps Historic Bay Shore Church
For the weeks prior to the event the church parishioners collect and donate foodstuffs to be used as prizes for the bingo participants.
Every three to four months the First Congregational Church of Bay Shore hosts a Saturday of “Supermarket Bingo.” For the weeks prior to the event the church parishioners collect and donate foodstuffs to be used as prizes for the bingo participants. This Saturday’s game started at 2 pm and for the next few hours the celebrated shout of “BINGO” was heard among the friendly chatter of neighbors. A game fee is collected and the funds help support the historic church.
The First Congregational Church of Bay Shore was established in 1853. The present sanctuary was built in 1891 by ship's carpenters and is listed in the National Register of Historical Places. The beautiful sanctuary features dramatic, inverted crossed hulls of ships, 29 breathtaking stained glass windows, and a 113-year old Orman Organ.
It ain't as easy as it looks! Foil Kitesurfing
As easy the flow looks, it’s remarkably dangerous. The rider had to manage the water conditions, fly the kite and balance on the foil -- all at high speeds. Notice the helmet! Not too bad for a mid-February day on Long Island.
In 2003 while on a windsurfing vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina I stopped in REALKITE, the premier Kitesurfing retailer and arguably the epi-center for North America kitesurfing and spoke with owner Trip Forman. I was familiar with Trip from my national windsurfing days. He said something that I couldn’t believe, “Windsurfing is dead!” A few months after my trip to the OBX, I tried kitesurfing. I broke the number one rule of all boardsports - Don’t try to teach yourself! I’ll skip the gearhead talk and just say I learned what it feels like to be a spinning fishing lure pulled behind a boat at 20 miles per hour. I was completely out of control and dragged underwater further than I was comfortable with.
Since then I have had a few chances to take kitesurfing lessons, but opted to not waste the wind to learn something new, but stick with what I knew -- a handheld sail. Windsurfing is dead, but for a few holdouts. Kitesurfing has taken over and I am happy to see the sport grow by leaps and bounds each year.
I promised I wouldn’t reveal the person or location, but this chap is one of the best kitesurfers I have seen on the South Shore of Long Island. Like all action sports there is an evolution and most water and wave boardsports are experimenting with hydrofoils. As easy the flow looks, it’s remarkably dangerous. The rider has to manage the water conditions, fly the kite and balance on the foil -- all at high speeds. Notice the helmet! Not too bad for a mid-February day on Long Island.
Great South Bay Cuisine, "Bay to Plate"
Great South Bay original cuisine, “Bay to Plate”
My Saturday photo excursion took me out to the Oak Island area. Had a nice chat with a guy clamming. He had a commercial permit and works part-time on the Bay to earn extra money. Took about 30 minutes of racking in the low tide sands to fill his bucket with little neck clams. There's "farm to fork", so would this be "bay to plate?"
