Damon Point — Monday, Jan. 6, 2025

This hike gets shorter every year. Seriously, look the old photos in Google Earth. In 2000 you could drive to the tip, and even in 2020 the island was substantially larger than it is in 2025. At the rate the tombolo is eroding, it may not even be accessible in the near future. On the other hand, the old topo maps show it didn't even exist in 1957. That's what I like about coast hikes, they're always changing. Also there are signs out there closing off the tip of the island from March to September to protect streaked horned larks. Yesterday I was talking to a USFWS biologist and she told me no one has seen a streaked horned lark out there in years. The island has gotten too grown up with Scots broom and shore pine, the larks won't nest there anymore. But it's still a lovely walk, especially on a sunny winter's day with a brisk breeze.