Angelica Haggert
When I was a kid, the thing I hated most
was getting my feet dirty. I refused flip-flops
or sandals and came in crying from the
sandbox. The feeling of dirt and sand
between my toes made me cringe - flash
forward 20 years and now I’d give anything
to be able to spend my days with no shoes on,
playing volleyball on the sand with friends,
sounds of the water in the background.
Windsor-Essex offers a lot of beaches,
although for anyone who reads the daily
news, you’ll notice our beaches aren’t always
safe for swimming. There are 10 beaches in
the area, and as of Friday June 28th, the
Health Unit determined that only ONE was
safe to swim in. This doesn’t mean your
beach day is ruined! There’s lots to do at the
beach that doesn’t involve the water.
If you’re really looking for some time to
splash in the waves, Hillman Beach in
Leamington is your safe option right now,
according to the Windsor Essex County
Health Unit. The Health Unit posts a report
every week into September of which beaches
are safe to swim at. The tests are for E. Coli,
and although no beaches are officially closed,
the report does detail which ones have levels
above the recommended level.
E. Coli in the Great Lakes area originates
from many different places: we have a lot of
people, high migratory patterns in birds in
our area, and a lot of urban sprawl and
agricultural runoff. Sometimes being such a
diverse area - where you can drive from beach
to farm to suburb - doesn’t pay off! But even
when water’s not safe, it shouldn’t stop you
from playing in the sand!
Get active
Bring a frisbee or a volleyball, or even
your baseball gloves and get moving! The
sand makes for an extra work-out (have you
Check out these 10 area beaches!
Cedar Beach
Cedar Island Beach
Colchester Beach
Hillman Marsh Beach
Holiday Beach
Lakeside Beach
Northwest Beach, Point Pelee
Sandpoint Beach
Seacliff Beach
West Belle River Beach
The WECHU’s interactive map showing
beach conditions can be seen here
ever tried to run in sand!) and gives you a soft
cushion to land on when diving for that save.
Check the area you’re playing in for shells or
glass to make sure your shoe-less toes don’t
get injured. The wide open areas are also great
for kite-flying.
Sand Play
Build a sandcastle, bury your friends, dig
a river … you can pick up buckets and
shovels at the local dollar store. Use different
size buckets to get different sized turrets on
your sandcastle - or use uniquely shaped
containers for a whole different look. Spatulas
and melon ballers from your utensil drawer
at home are great tools for those epic
creations.
Hike
A lot of our beaches are located in
conservation or nature areas, filled with trails
and pathways to explore. Put the shoes back
on, bring a water bottle along, and go on an
adventure. These hi