From the new boardwalk entrance to Hanlans beach, I look down the wooden ramp, and instead of beach, it ends in a giant lagoon. But it's more than a huge lagoon. It connects to the main body of Lake Ontario, so it's like a wide hook shaped bay, that has flooded the back gullies of the beach. The large white plastic platforms at the end of the ramp (for wheel chair access) are floating, layered farther up towards Dave's toys and lock box. They're in ankle deep waters that lead into a channel going around to Lake Ontario of about 3 to 4 feet deep, combined with quick sand and sink holes. This is 80% - 90% of the beach down on the airport half of the clothing optional side, and most of the clothing side. The majority of the beach is currently under water. It's not safe to walk in those areas. And the fire department told me that they can't get all but 1 of the emergency vehicles through the flooded roads - and that may not be true any longer since the roads are breaking apart in spots.

  

Hanlans has been separated from the other islands by 2 or 3 significant water breaches that have connected the lake side with the harbor side in full. So Hanlans is an island now. Something the park geologists were predicting would happen maybe 5 to 20 years from now. The fire department told me the floods are the more server than any recorded in over a hundred years! It's really not safe to be there. But it's a unique adventure.

  

As you make your way around the only part of the beach to venture out onto, is a 25 foot narrow stretch of sand that comes to a watery end way down towards the airport. The island of bushes paralell to the volleyball net & new bordwalk are protected from the lake by only a narrow ridge of raised sand in front a relentless Lake Ontario. Last year there was 50 or 60 feet of beach on the lake side of the bushes, and maybe a 100 feet on the volleyball side of the bushes. Now just a narrow strip coming to a tip, with water everywhere. Most of the beach's sand has been displaced and pushed up, building up this narrow ridge. In parts, it's close to 6 feet higher than it used to be. The life guard seat on the red tower, which was way above my head, is now level with the lower part of my chest. I'm standing on about 5 feet of sand built up all around, and in line with the life guard chair. The telephone, near the flag pole, has probably somewhere around 2 to 3 feet of sand deposited. The beach is distorted and battered.

  

Most of the exposed sand is very wet. There's a few select spots around the back upper edge or treeline, where there's some dry sand. Mostly whatever sand is visible, right now, is too wet to sit on, or is just plain under water. And there's still lots of debree scattered around, like after a storm. Although much less human garbage, than after any busy day.

  

The beach ends at the upper level firepit. Where everyone likes to make a bonfire and cook at. It's a raised nook with a large tree bench offering an overview of the beach. The Zen Garden was there last year, and some have nicknamed it Shangri-la. A third of the beach past this point is gone. The lake is just a few feet away from this firepit. Years prior, the beach was 40 or more feet wide, and this stretched all the way past the showers and water fountain entrance. To where Chrissy had her sand sculpture spot. All of that end of the beach is now Lake Ontario. The forest has been trimmed back, and a 5 to 8 foot cliff brings you down to the water's edge. The old wooden fencing and all signage at the forest line, or the back of the beach, is long gone. No evidence that there was ever anything there. The lake comes well past that point, and into the forest, a long ways behind where Chrissy made her sand sculptures. Both the entrance from the showers / water fountain, and the winding path 60 feet west of that, leads to no beach, and instead just a cliff.

  

There are 2 metal signs on the beach that indicate the water quality, by way of the flags raised (red, yellow, or green), also marking the swim zone, or no boats area. The easterly sign, in the middle of the beach, (I would frequently lock my bike to it) is well out into waist deep Lake Ontario. The second sign, towards the life guard tower, and usually considerably away from the water's edge, with lots of beach in front of the bushes island, is now on the edge of the remaining narrow strip of beach. At its base lies the large wooden post from the other end of the beach that has the green arrowed signs pointing the direction towards the Showers and Bathrooms; washed ashore, and lying out for it's morning sun.

  

Back on the main road, heading towards the lighthouse; near Gilbrators point, at the baseball field is now a shallow pond leading out to Lake Ontario. It's entirely under water. This connects right through to Trout pond where the light house is. Seperating Hanlans from the rest of the Islands. Art-scape is partially surrounded by water. And the divided road in front of it, the further away lane has collapsed. So if you're on a bike, take the side that is closest to the Art-scape building, or further from the lighthouse side.

  

Further along the road, heading easterly, from Center Island to Wards be prepared for a road that's mostly under deep waters. Expect it to be well above knee deep for at least 3 - 5 city blocks. With other spots being ankle or shin deep. The best route is on the old raised boardwalk from Wards beach on the lake side. That's still pretty intact, and for now, more passable. It's a slower than usual process of getting through the numerous obstacles. Most of the way, a canoe would really come in handy. Ward and Algonquin Islands are surrounded by huge walls of sandbags. Numerous massive industrial, military pumps and hoses continually try to keep the homes and streets from being submerged. It's a battle to keep this end of the Islands from being entirely flooded. My heart goes out to the residences and hopes for drier times ahead. Our beautiful Islands remain a mystical and wondrous place, a watery series of lagoons, filled with more waterfowl and wildlife than any typical spring or summer.

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