Beach Season

Our Coleman Backpack Shelter and the smaller Catalina Speed Shelter- both are very portable

We packed up and left early today for the beautiful beach at Port Burwell which is on the north shore of Lake Erie. The provincial park here has one of the few dog beaches close enough to us for a day trip. It was only 23 C today but the sun was hot and the dry sand was uncomfortable for bare feet and dog paws. The water temperature was 17 C which was very cold in contrast and I didn't see any swimmers in the water. 

Izzy and Tofu

The beach dogs played well together and dog owners are generally a friendly group of people. The dog on the left was Izzy. Tofu, on the right, was not too thrilled with her orange bathing suit which may have been for fashion or sun protection. We saw a Great Dane called Malcolm and an all-Canadian mutt named Timbit. Canadian dogs do not know how well they are treated compared to their unfortunate relatives in poorer countries. 

A little further along a group of adults played a game I had never seen before. My daughter, who seems to know about everything new informed me it is called "testicle toss". Two balls attached by a length of string are tossed onto the frame for points. I checked it out when I got home, and sure enough, this is a nickname for a game that is sold under the more polite name of Ladder Ball or Ladder Toss.

My sister-in-law Shirley used to pack enormous, delicious beach lunches filling a big cooler with salads, submarine sandwiches, cold chicken and desserts. We keep it very simple with cucumber sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs and fruit. No day at the beach is complete without an ice cream cone.

This hammock cot with a canopy is ideal for anyone wanting to snooze to the sound of the surf. This beach is not crowded and there are no restrictions on sun shelters. Grand Bend is a very popular destination on Lake Huron but no sun shelters, canopies, tents or dogs are allowed on the beach. But we have many beaches to choose from on Lake Huron, Erie and Ontario that are within a 2 to 3-hour drive from our home. And this is a good year for "staycations" with record-breaking gas prices and air travel disruptions.