By Chloe Voss
With summer on the horizon one may expect to find a fair few sun worshipers settled on the beach. However, thus far into the season that does not seem to be the case. As a tourist destination in particular the beach still does not seem to have the draw that perhaps it should.
Part of the reason could be the recent hurricane. Hayden left quite the impression on our little island and the beach suffered more than most areas being littered with all kinds of detritus heaved from the ocean. However, clean up was thorough and the beaches were restored to a near pristine condition. Regardless, crowds have been light despite the tidying, leaving lifeguards to wander long stretches watching the surf and sand.
I met one such lifeguard, Abigail, a rubber suit aficionado sporting her state of the art Duratex suit while out on a little stroll. The suit offers protection from sun, sea, various creatures, even glass and nails so she informed me. Another benefit: it can be used for scuba diving; a past time that Abigail teaches, or would except for the lack of interested beach goers.
Lifeguards like Abigail are at a loss to explain low visitor numbers. The beach offers “swimming, sunbathing, reading books while surrounded by the soft sound of waves washing on shore. The younger ones like making sand castles, playing Frisbee or hide and seek. In the evening, the later teens show up to make campfires… and party.”
The only drawbacks seem to be the occasional bottle left by a careless party goer, jelly fish this time of year (or so I’m told), and the ever present tender love of the sun’s sweet kisses upon vulnerable skin.
The lifeguards would like to remind visitors that even if you pop out your door to take in some wind, surf, and sand, and have forgotten your sunscreen or towel or goggles; they have the items you may need at the guard towers. So to escape some stress, perhaps it’s time to take a moment to visit the beach, close your eyes, and breathe.
Part of the reason could be the recent hurricane. Hayden left quite the impression on our little island and the beach suffered more than most areas being littered with all kinds of detritus heaved from the ocean. However, clean up was thorough and the beaches were restored to a near pristine condition. Regardless, crowds have been light despite the tidying, leaving lifeguards to wander long stretches watching the surf and sand.
I met one such lifeguard, Abigail, a rubber suit aficionado sporting her state of the art Duratex suit while out on a little stroll. The suit offers protection from sun, sea, various creatures, even glass and nails so she informed me. Another benefit: it can be used for scuba diving; a past time that Abigail teaches, or would except for the lack of interested beach goers.
Lifeguards like Abigail are at a loss to explain low visitor numbers. The beach offers “swimming, sunbathing, reading books while surrounded by the soft sound of waves washing on shore. The younger ones like making sand castles, playing Frisbee or hide and seek. In the evening, the later teens show up to make campfires… and party.”
The only drawbacks seem to be the occasional bottle left by a careless party goer, jelly fish this time of year (or so I’m told), and the ever present tender love of the sun’s sweet kisses upon vulnerable skin.
The lifeguards would like to remind visitors that even if you pop out your door to take in some wind, surf, and sand, and have forgotten your sunscreen or towel or goggles; they have the items you may need at the guard towers. So to escape some stress, perhaps it’s time to take a moment to visit the beach, close your eyes, and breathe.
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