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Fortress 5070Home \ Fortresses \ May 2000 \ 5070
Location: Lanikai Beach |
Sunday,
May 7, 2000
Fortress #9 was created back at Lanikai Beach. Lisa went with me. Once
again, like the week before, I got there after low tide.
-Shut up and get to the pictures-
The sand at Lanikai is a little different from Bellows. While the top sand is just about the finest on the island, like powder, there is an obnoxious layer of little shells just under the top sand at low tide, close to the water, where I have to build. It wasn't too bad on this day because the tide had already come in quite a bit, and so the fine sand was just deep enough at the water level to get quite a bit before hitting the layer of shells.
The tide was on its way in so I did bring a few pipes for a drainage system, but I didn't have my buckets, so stacking the sand would have to done by hand. This process would be difficult, since I should build far enough from the tide to give myself time to complete construction before the invading tide wiped out the fortress first. But without a bucket, I couldn't carry water, so I had to build close to the incoming tide. In this situation, I would usually forget about even building anything but a very small structure, since it would go quick, but I decided to give it a shot. I guess at this point, I'm driven and can't help building something in the sand whenever I go to the beach.
To help solve the problem, I decided to build as large of a water break as possible. I always start by creating a pit for the water to pool near the fortress and use that sand as its base. This time, I started digging up sand, making enough of a base to cover the pipe, the threw most of the remaining sand into a pile in front of the pit as a water barrier. Soon, the water began filling the reservoir, and I started construction.
At one point, a little kid came by and asked if he could "play" with me. ("Play"? No, no, no. The poor kid didn't realize that sand fortress construction is extremely serious business, is not at all "fun," and is not considered "playing" in the sand. At least that's what I try to convince people of when I sit there playing in the sand.) He wanted to sit next to me in the water reservoir and build a "mountain" too. So he did. His little sister sat in the reservoir I build on the other side of the fortress and played in the sand there. The tide was coming and I wanted to start carving, even though only one side was constructed. As soon as I started carving the front tower, and he saw the straight edges coming to life, the little kid started going crazy. He could barely contain his excitement. He wanted to do it too and told me he was "big," but I said it was too dangerous. I thought about giving him the other butter knife and letting him carve his own little tower, but I didn't know who or where his parents were, and wondered about the ramifications of a stranger giving their kid a knife to run around the beach with. Fortunately though, as often is the case, he lost interest soon and left.
I only had time to carve the outside wall of the front, then I started on construction of the other side. I worked fast because the tide was coming in fast and started to quickly erode my water break. Lisa came over and helped me. She carved a little and tried to help pile sand on the water break, but the tide was too strong by now and nothing was going to stop it from eroding the front.
A girl walked by and said it was as cool as last week's sand castle. She said she got a few good pictures of the one last week. She must have done that after I left last week because I didn't see her. I thanked her for the compliment, but I was so focused on finishing the fortress before the tide got it, that I didn't remember until after she walked away that I didn't have any pictures of the previous week's fortress. I wish I would've remembered; I could have asked her for copies. So, if by chance you are this girl, or you know this girl, I would love to have copies of those photos, and would be willing to work something out, including, at the very least, a nice mention on this web site. We could discuss any other terms, just email me and we'll figure something out.
Anyway, before I even had a chance to carve many details on the interior of the fortress, it was showing the telltale signs of imminent doom: A stress fracture was developing just behind the large front tower. Or, if you prefer to look at it geologically, a large fault was developing. So, I decided to stop all protective measures, just let the tide get it, and take some action shots of it as it fell. To date, I didn't have any pictures of fortress destruction. I stood guard over the fortress, camera in hand, and waited. Each time a wave came, I watched the tower through the lens of the camera, looking for movement. A wave would run up the beach, swat the fortress, then sneak back to the water. After the fourth or fifth wave had done this, things started happening: The fault started expanding, the tower started slowly leaning forward, and I tried to concentrate on keeping the camera steady when it went, which it did a few seconds later. I got a shot just as the front tower fell. I was about to take another shot, to document the aftermath of the fallen tower, but then I saw another smaller tower about to go, so I got a shot of it falling too. I got shots of other parts falling to the ground, then a final shot of the damage.
I called the Governor's office and asked if my fortress could be declared a disaster area and qualify for federal disaster relief funds, but they hung up on me. Some help they were. A guy walked by and asked if I got a good picture of it before it fell. I said I got an action shot of it as it was falling, and he laughed. Looking at the big picture, I guess taking photos of sand falling over is sort of a silly way to spend an afternoon. And one that I like a lot.
After the sheer horror of watching the fortress bite the dust, err... bite the wet sand, Lisa said she also took photos of me while I was building the fortress. So the photos of 5070 should serve as a nice Sand Fortress Life Cycle presentation. These photos are probably best viewed chronologically, although the placement map is still here.
As we were leaving, a little kid, probably five, walked up and shoved over one of the remaining towers. His mother sort of laughingly yelled at him but didn't seem to think it was too big of a deal. Since I already had my pictures and most of the fortress was gone anyway, I figured, even though the last remaining tower was still nice to look at, he might as well give it a karate kick too. So he did. Hell, why teach your kid to respect art and creation? I'm sure he'll make a fine criminal when he grows up.
Photo Placement Map
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Photographs Chronologically
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Life Cycle of a Sand Fortress
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