“I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.”
The day is thick with an intermittent breeze. Rain is again predicted, maybe even thunder showers. The sun won’t be making an appearance until tomorrow when the weather report predicts partly cloudy. I think they could have thrown us a bone and said partly sunny instead.
I used to like to miniature golf. I admit, though, that the windmill sometimes gave me trouble even with its three openings to the hole. My ball usually hit the wall between the openings and bounced right back at me. I’d keep count, one stroke, then try again, two strokes, and hope the ball would go through and maybe even into the hole. Nope, that never happened. It usually went through but to a corner, and I’d have to move the ball a club head length away from the side so I could putt. Par was like a magic number to me. The best thing about the miniature golf course in my town was it took just a minute or two to walk to the Chinese restaurant after a strenuous 18 holes.
We used to spend the whole day at the beach, usually Sunday because Saturday was my dad’s errand and chore day. We swam, walked the beach, collected shells, ate sandy food and were never bored, not the whole day. My mother wasn’t a swimmer. She had never learned how. She used to sit on the blanket and read and keep an eye on my two sisters who never strayed far. She wasn’t worried about my brother or me as we could swim, and she could see us walking along the shore or throwing rocks into the water. I remember she’d go crazy if we stepped on the blanket with sandy feet. That meant taking everything off and shaking out the blanket. The picnic basket was always on one side to anchor the blanket and keep it from blowing. We’d eat lunch and then periodically comb the basket for a snack as the day lengthened. Usually we’d find cookies or fruit. In the late afternoon, it was time to pack everything up and trudge to the car. My dad always put a towel on the seat to keep the seat dry and the sand out of his car. He’d then have us sit on the edge of the seat while he dunked our feet in a bucket of water to get the sand off and then we’d inside the car so the next sandy feet could be cleaned. The ride home was usually a blur as I slept most of the way.
I remember lying on my pillow as I was falling asleep and feeling warm water drip out of my ear. It was the weirdest sensation.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: Beach, Clouds, Miniature golf, rain, rocks, sand, shells, swiming, thick day
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July 2, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Very much the same here but if we were lucky we went both Saturday and Sunday, it all depended on the weather. Even though we have very little sand on the beach we still always managed to get sand in the food and I can still remember the sound in the head while eating it 🙂 If we were really lucky we got some coins to buy ice cream too.
We used to play miniature golf all the time but suddenly we stopped but I can’t remember why. It’s actually quite fun but we never had a windmill over here, I’ve only seen that on films 🙂
A bit of everything when it comes to the weather today and quite windy too. Only three more days until vacation starts 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
July 2, 2013 at 4:25 pm
Christer,
Our beach had tons of sand, but the water was cold. We used to swim at low tide in a deep tide pool which was warm. There were beaches closer to our house, but my parents loved that one which was further away.
I think there was a stand which sold things but I don’t remember going to it much.
I can’t even remember the last time I played miniature golf. There are still a few around, but we never think to play. Each hole has something different to make each a bit complicated. None are just straight to the hole.
No sun all day today, just dampness. I’d be excited counting down to Friday!!
Have a great evening!!
July 2, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Hi Kat,
Yes to the whole post. It was even the same miniature golf place and the same Chinese restaurant. Both are still there.
I did get the windmill on one shot one time. Never again, though.
My dad didn’t usually come to the beach with us. My mother packed us all up on summer weekdays and took us to Nahant Beach. On very rare occasions it would be Wingaersheek Beach which was farther away but her most favorite. When the tide was out you had to walk for what seemed like miles before the water was even up to your knees. It had great tidepools, though.
Same dull weather up here, today. No rain. Yet.
Enjoy the day.
July 2, 2013 at 4:31 pm
Hi Caryn,
I drive by there sometimes when I go visit my sister. That was a good golf course. WE don’t go to the China Moon anymore. My sister prefers one in Wakefield.
We always went to Wingaersheek Beach. It was my parents’ favorite and we loved it. The tide pools were the best part. I remember one which was so deep and the best for swimming.
Damp the whole day here-chilly too.
July 2, 2013 at 2:26 pm
I can’t complain about the weather, but the next ocean beach is 150
miles away. Sometimes I miss the sea…
July 2, 2013 at 9:24 pm
I hate miniature golf almost as much as big golf. I don’t have patience to chase a little white ball around a course. Once I tried to play golf with a friend in college. I used my father’s golf clubs and gave up on a par four when I let seven people play through and took 10 strokes to get to the green. The windmill caused me more about twice as many strokes. I have too many other frustrations in my life to take up any kind of golf. Golf is a wonderful spectator sport if accompanied by a large quantity of alcoholic beverages.
I am not a beach kind of guy. I don’t like the sand nor the salt water. I hate the feeling of sand in my bathing suit and the salt water dries out my skin and gives me a rash. Give me a nice clean swimming pool any day of the week. Swimming in the ocean is not my cup of tea. I don’t want to meet a sea creature face to face or leg to face. Who needs to worry about jelly fish, sting rays or sharks 🙂 I can still hear the music from Jaws when I go to the beach.
Today was one of the most beautiful days that I have ever experienced in Texas in July. The temperature this morning was in the upper sixties and driving to work it was seventy. The sky was blue and cloudless. On the way home it was about ninety degrees which was the high for the day with a humidity of 22% with a light north breeze.
July 2, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Bob,
It was a group date night for us, and we had a lot of laughs. I have never played regular golf, never had an interest, but miniature is far easier. I can’t stand watching golf on TV. It is ever so boring, even more boring than watching tennis.
Salt water certainly dries out the skin. I remember that from being a kid. I don’t remember sand in my bathing suit, just on my feet.
I prefer a lake to the ocean despite being surrounded by the ocean. Only once have I seen jelly fish by the water and haven’t ever seen a sting ray or a shark. I’ve seen few small hermit crabs slitter across the sand but that’s about it. I do love quahogging and clamming and enjoy both foods.
I have a friend who also hears Jaws at the beach, but she too has never seen a shark close to the beach. They tend to be out where the seals are and no one goes near that area. Sharks don’t discriminate between seals and people.
We are still thick with humidity and will be for at least another day or two. Maybe then that mysterious star called the sun will reappear.
July 2, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Watching golf is about as thrilling as watching paint dry. The last beach we went to for vacation was Puerto Vallarta Mexico on the Pacific coast. I didn’t see any creatures on that beach but I have seen them on Caribbean beaches in places like Cancun, Jamaica or Cozumel. Since there is now a requirement to have a passport to travel to Mexico and the rising drug gang violence in that country we have given all inclusive beach vacations a pass.
July 3, 2013 at 9:41 am
Bob,
This place is bulging from all the people starting around this time of the summer through Labor Day. You can go to ocean or bay side beaches. Dennis, my town, has some great beaches. A couple are for residents which makes them far less crowded.
I love the winter beach when the wind whips and the only people are hearty souls who don’t mind the wind.
July 3, 2013 at 7:45 am
I can’t complain about the weather, but the next ocean beach is 150 miles away. Sometimes I miss the sea…
Are you still looking for coffee songs?
I think this song by Greg Brown is a nice one, but you may already know it:
http://i12bent.tumblr.com/post/54449331064/greg-brown-a-smell-of-coffee-from-milk-of-the
Good blog too, usually my daily dose of culture before I go to sleep.
July 3, 2013 at 9:49 am
Birgit,
Today is a glorious day with sun and a cooling breeze. It is supposed to get hot, but I don’t care. I’m happy for the sun.
I might have that song on my external hard drive which I used when my PC was alive and well. I’ll check as I wouldn’t want to miss it if I don’t-thanks!!