Bunche (the e is silent) Beach is the only mainland beach in the Ft. Myers area (http://www.leeparks.org/facility-info/facility-details.cfm?Project_Num=0025.) All the beaches except Bunche are on outlying barrier islands. As you might expect, given the name, it was the beach reserved for people of color. It is named in honor of Ralph Bunche, African American diplomat and Nobel Laureate. This being Florida, it, and the other beaches were integrated in 1963-4. As I understand it, the beach also spent time as a hangout for good ole boys and a place to let your dogs run, as well as a spot for nudity and male-on-male solicitation, but now it is county property and pretty well patrolled.
Also, as you might expect, it’s not a great beach for swimming. In order to actually get in deep water, you have to wade out a very long way. Other times, the tide is so high there is no beach. It’s a mud flat with a sliver of white sand, perfect for small children and birds. No dogs are allowed, primarily because some of the birds that frequent Bunche are severely endangered, the piping plover being one. Dogs, even on leashes, upset birds. And, it must be said, occasionally in the off season , I am turned off by creepy-looking old men in cars who seem to be waiting for…what I don’t want to know.
During season, Bunche is a well-used beach, kayak launch and fishing spot.
The in-season people I observe who go to Bunche fall into roughly four groups. Primary among them are the birders. The beach is on the Great Florida Birding Trail and has the signage to prove it. If you’re lucky, during the right month (March-April) you can observe the piping plover AND a mangrove cuckoo. And a lot of other wonderful birds, on shore and among the mangroves.
The second observable group during season are fishing people and kayakers. They could be split into sub-groups, such as Spanish-speaking fishermen/women and families and well-covered (especially in floppy hats) white men in specially equipped kayaks. There are also wading fishermen and cast netters.
Next come grandparents and parents with small kids. There is almost no risk of being knocked down by a wave on this beach–for kids, it’s a paradise, even if there are some embedded mangrove stumps in the sand.
My last quantifiable group of humans would be first-time visitors, natives, and those who live here for the winter months. They can be sub-catogorized into shellers, walkers and readers, sunset-watchers, those who bike in, and sleeper/sunners. Oh, and busloads of elementary school children and sometimes college students who come for beach study/fun.
Off season, like now, it’s a mix. But there are still great birds in May, beautifully colored in preparation for breeding season up north, and wild flowers and fish and interesting stuff that washes up on shore. Lots of people still come to Bunche on the weekends.
If life is a beach, Bunche would make for an interesting journey. I plan to visit during the summer and observe what I can of both the flora and the fauna. More Bunche tales later, and there IS drama…like the morning heavily armed police arrived and told everyone to get off the beach NOW. More later.
Floridawoman 