Happy Canada Day. Not really one of my absolute favourite holidays, but it's an excuse for a long weekend to start the summer, so...what the hell?
Most people that know me, know that for longer than I can remember I've spent as much of my summer as possible at the family cottage in Muskoka. Despite popular opinion, it's not a palace, but I admit that it's not quite as much like a cottage as it could be. The wonderful thing about it, is that after driving three (hopefully) hours to get there, you're at your own place, you park your car in your driveway, then you walk the 100 or so feet to your dock, where you set yourself up for the duration, alone. It's peaceful (unless the kids and the dogs are there), and you can swim when you want, eat when you want, do pretty much whatever you want without anyone else being there to bother you.
This weekend, I decided not to go to the cottage. On long weekends, the traffic becomes absolutely hellish and I just didn't want to deal with that. So, on Sunday we hopped in the car and drove to the beach.
I've spent very limited time at the beach. A week while I was away in the Dominican Republic, a day here and there while in Florida, and an hour here and there when we've gone off to beaches at the cottage for picnics or whatever. From what I remembered of the beach, it was hot, and there's a lot of people. I was right, it was hot and there were a lot of people. Plus, you get sand everywhere. And there are rules you have to follow! Imagine being beside the water and not being able to have a drink? I can drink whatever the hell I want while sitting on my dock.
Anyway, the couple of hours we spent on the beach were lovely. The water was slightly cooler than what I like to swim in, but it's difficult to swim there anyway, because the water is so shallow. I don't particularly like being around that many people, most are terribly inconsiderate, and there are always so many kids around. Yesterday, while I was attempting to sleep in the sun, I had kids get me with water from one side, and sand from the other. Neither did it on purpose, but it was just a pain in the ass.
I understand that there are people who are extremely fond of the beach, it appears though, that I just don't happen to be one of them.
Posted by Michelle at July 1, 2002 02:52 PM