Coast Lines: Beach Mishaps

Going to the beach can be lots of fun. It’s important to keep in mind a few simple rules though. Common sense rules that I forgot while on my latest outing to walk the beach and go snorkeling.

Rule 1. Search for parking close to your location. What should be the simplest concept was completely lost on me during my trip to the water. I wanted to make it down by the bridge of John’s Pass, but I parked at the city parking lot a mile and a half away.While usually, this type of walk would be great fitness activity it was noon and the sun hanging high on the sky. It felt like a torturous walk towards my destination.

To further worsen the situation, I realized that I had my phone in my pocket, so I had to walk back to my car. Make sure to carry a bit of cash with you too. On the way back, I was dying for a bottle of water and couldn’t get one since my wallet was in the car.

Rule 2. Bring someone with you. My wife had to stay home to work on her college homework so I hit the beach alone to do some snorkeling. Although she encouraged me to go, I really should have waited for her to come with me. Not just for the fact that she makes any activity more fun (she’s a bundle of energy!), but also because she’d help look after things while I was in the water.

If she had been with me, my issue with my phone wouldn’t have been a problem. I could have easily handed my phone off to her before going in the water, thus negating my long walk under the hot Florida sun.

Rule 3. Dress Appropriately. I am not a water person. Between stories I hear about , and watching way too much Jaws as a kid, The ocean and I have never gotten along.

Never the less, I made a conscious decision when I got the job as the Pinellas Beaches Patch Editor that I’d make amends with the sea and try to do more water oriented things. That’s why I decided that I’d buy a set of goggles and a snorkel and hit the water.

What I didn’t think about is getting a swimsuit instead of wearing jean shorts. Jean shorts get extremely heavy in the water making it harder to swim. They also dry a lot slower than usual swim trunks. Not that the snorkeling was bad, I just should’ve bought a swimsuit before I went.

While I had mishaps on the beach, I won’t be letting it put me off. I’m looking forward to getting out in the water and doing even more fun and adventurous things. Next time though, I’m going to think things through a little more.

One final tip. Wear lots of sunscreen if you’re pale like me. I’m now going to have a nice pink sheen to my skin for the next couple of days.