The Grimes-Honkanen bunch is settling in after a challenging move, and bubbling with gratitude for our new "cozy cottage by the beach": a tiny rented condo on Pacific Coast Highway. We're five minutes on foot from Sunset Beach for my daily choppy-but-gorgeous swim or prayer walk, often with dolphin sightings. Ten minutes south by car is downtown Huntington with its pier and window shopping, and the same distance north is Seal Beach, much calmer for family swimming.
Nicholas is equipped with shorty wetsuit and boogie board, and game to learn mastering the local waves from Mom--though I need to get a big softy and learn to surf before he does to maintain my cool cred. But Katie is still learning to swim confidently in the pool, and Midwestern-raised Matt prefers something more like his beloved Great Lakes. "No waves, no salt?" "Yes, darling, and no worrisome wildlife." "Except for the water moccasins, dude." You get the idea...it's all a matter of taste.
So in honor of summer, please share your own beachy memories, plans, and dreams with a "Beach Trip" Friday Five.
1. Ocean rocks, lake limps? Vice versa? Or "it's all beautiful in its own way"?
I do think it is all beautiful in its own way. However, having grown up in the land of 10,000 lakes, I'm more familiar with and more comfortable around lakes. Even the Great Lake Superior, which I love, does not compare with the lakes around my city, which are Great because I grew up swimming in them. I also love a lake I can walk all the way around.
2. Year round beach living: Heaven...or the Other Place?
I think that year round beach living could be heaven -- however, I fear that I might get bored after awhile. And, truth be told, where I live the beach is COLD many months of the year. That being said, I remember a winter trip up to Superior and sitting at a restaurant right on the lake, looking out at the cold and the waves and thinking, "I could get used to this."
3. Any beach plans for this summer?
Well, we are planning to spend a few days at a lake resort next week. And we are headed out near the Pacific later in July (Seattle/Vancouver), although we don't have specific beach plans there yet.
4. Best beach memory ever?
There are two:
Every year I went to church camp in Nearby State, and went swimming in the lake there every day. I worked hard to pass the test so that I could go out to the dock in the deep water. I remember one of the tests was to surface dive to the bottom, grab a piece of sand, and show the life guard.
When in the 5th grade, my family visited relatives in Seattle, and went to see the ocean -- the first time for me. I was surprised that it was COLD there.
5. Fantasy beach trip?
A trip to Hawaii (two weeks minimum).
Bonus: Share a piece of music/poetry/film/book that expresses something about what the beach means to you.
How about a picture of one of our beautiful City Lakes?
14 comments:
Seattle Vancouver-Beautiful trip. I love it-both places! Can you ever swim in the lakes in MN?
counselor -- used to, when I was a kid. Now some of them -- no, and others, are being "reclaimed", so the swimming beaches are back.
Yes! I love a lake I can walk al the way around, too! My first runs ever growing up were around a lake like that. Thanks for reminding me.
Oh, Diane, that picture. I'm sitting at my desk and wondering to myself if they'd miss me if I went & walked around Calhoun today. :-)
That is a great photo. What a lovely place to have within the city.
The year we lived in Minneapolis (well really St. Louis Park) - the lakes were my refuge - Lake Calhoun, Lake Minnetonka, oh my - except for the mosquitoes.
"Grab a piece of sand" - now that is a mean test!
I really enjoyed your descriptions of being by a lake. Wow--I bet that is nice.
I'm so excited about your trip to Seattle and Vancouver--my favorite places. You could visit Rev. SS! There are lakes in Seattle, too, plus you'll be around Puget Sound in both places. The weather should be better by then. (My daughter says they've been having one of the coldest Junes in history.)
Ah, those city lakes! I will be coming to City of Lakes in a couple of weeks and I'm excited to see them again (and the people too of course!) By the way is that a new picture at the top of your blog (faith in community) -- I like it a lot!
Lake Superior rocks. (Pardon the pun.) The clarity of the water was awesome.
water, water, everywhere... the lake is beautiful that's what hubhc enjoyed most about the marathon - running near the lake. the twisted knee he got however put a damper on his mood...
Now a Great Lake is more like a mini ocean than a lake, I think. Minnesota has some great lake front fun, I must say.
Two weeks in Hawaii sounds lovely! I've never been and would like to go sometime.
Have fun next week at the lake resort!
Lovely picture!
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