From the boardwalk of Gulf Shores National Park, the miles of white sand seemed inviting last weekend.

Scattered groups of people attempted to enjoy the beach in its natural aura as the sun blazed over the tropical sector of Baldwin County, nearing the Florida state line.

Some of the scattered groups, however, were fully dressed in matching tee shirts and shorts and were raking through the sand as if in search of gold.

As media has revealed with its steady appalling photographs and reports, gold was not the treasure for which these crews were searching.

In fact, crude oil in natural wildlife is the furthest thing from what many would call treasure.

These crews consisted of contractors and workers who were hired to clean the beach of the tar balls caused from the spill.

The crews examined the assigned zones by raking through the sand and then lingered on or around the beach until time for the next clean up.

The Gulf State Pavilion held more crew workers than visitors on the afternoon of Sunday, June 6.

During cleaning sessions, the crews warned visitors that they would be cleaning nearby, and visitors relocated vicinities.

Though the Alabama Department of Public Health strongly advises not to swim in the gulf at this disastrous time, people who actually came to the beach on that weekend showed little concern.

As evening approached the tar balls became more noticeable on the shoreline.

The small, hazardous mounds floated in the surf until nesting in the dampened sand.

Touching these compacted tar balls was also not recommended.

The tar, once separated from its whole, stained the hands and left stickiness nearly impossible to remove. The odor also had a repulsive potential.

Local news sources in Mobile and Baldwin counties reported an increase of onshore tar the following Monday.

Photographs taken at the beach expose the growth of the onshore buildup during the past week.

Large masses of oil have been spotted in the water from the beach, and the tar ball collection has increased, as well.

The next week could accumulate further damage across the gulf coast. Clean up crews will remain steady at work, and the remainder of Alabamians will hope and pray for a solution.