Orange Beach, Alabama, BP oil spill and tar ball clean up

This is my first real vacation in over two years and I end up spending it in the middle of a national news story. Orange Beach, Ala. is usually so packed that you cant find a place to sit on the beach, however, there almost seem to be more clean up personal than vacationers. 

Josh Hunter, 24, of New Orleans, La. and his daughter, Helna, 2,(cq) play in the surf at Orange Beach, Ala. Saturday July 3, 2010. Hunter said he hadn't noticed any oil or tar balls Saturday morning, except for maybe some oily residue. Photo by Brandon Wade

Stephanie Williams of Mobile, Ala. rakes tar balls into small piles for easier shoveling at Orange Beach, Ala. Saturday July 3, 2010. Williams said that she has been cleaning area beaches for the past month. Photo by Brandon WadeStephanie Williams of Mobile, Ala. rakes tar balls into small piles for easier shoveling at Orange Beach, Ala. Saturday July 3, 2010. Williams said that she has been cleaning area beaches for the past month. Photo by Brandon Wade 

A oil clean up worker ties off a bag of tar balls and sand at Orange Beach, Ala. Saturday July 3, 2010. Orange Beach, usually packed with people on Independence Day weekend, was practically deserted due to the BP Oil spill. Photo by Brandon Wade

Oil clean up workers use rakes and shovels to remove tar balls at Orange Beach, Ala. Saturday July 3, 2010. Orange Beach, usually packed with people on Independence Day weekend, was practically deserted due to the BP Oil spill. Photo by Brandon Wade