So, we decided to hit Presque Isle, and yeah, Beach 11 was the target this time. You hear about all the different beaches there, numbered and all, and we just sort of picked one. No grand plan, just figured, “let’s see what Beach 11 is all about.”
The morning started like any beach day prep. Scrambling. That’s the word. Hunting for the towels that aren’t still damp from the last trip. Making sure the cooler wasn’t growing its own ecosystem. Sunscreen, hats, the whole shebang. You always feel like you’re forgetting something vital, but you just gotta roll with it, right? Load up the car, stuff everything in, and hope for the best.
Got on the road. Traffic wasn’t a complete nightmare, which was a pleasant surprise. But then you get to the park itself. Presque Isle is popular, no doubt about it. And Beach 11? Seemed like everyone else had the same idea. The parking lot was already looking pretty full. We did a couple of slow crawls through the aisles. You know the drill, scanning for those reverse lights, trying to anticipate who’s leaving. It’s a bit of a game, really. Finally, way down at the far end, we snagged a spot. A bit of a walk, but hey, we were there.
Made our way onto the sand. Beach 11. Well, it’s a beach. Sand’s there, water’s there. Lake Erie water, mind you. It’s got that look. Not exactly crystal clear, but it’s what we’ve got. It was busy. Families spread out, kids yelling, radios playing a mix of everything. Standard beach scene, I suppose.
We found ourselves a little plot of real estate, threw down the towels. The main activity for a while was just settling in, getting the umbrella angled right. Then, we just sort of… existed. Watched the waves, such as they were. Took a walk along the water’s edge. The sand was that fine, gets-everywhere kind. Of course.
One thing that really struck me, and it seems to be a trend everywhere these days, is the sheer amount of gear people haul to the beach. It’s like they’re setting up a small village for the day. Huge canopy tents, elaborate chairs, coolers that could feed an army, inflatable everything. I mean, good for them if that’s their thing, but it felt a bit much. We were pretty minimalist in comparison, just a couple of towels and a small bag. Simpler times, maybe I’m just getting old.
Saw some folks trying to get a fancy drone up. That was a bit of entertainment. Looked complicated. Lots of beeping and manual-reading. Not sure they ever really got it soaring properly. The gulls didn’t seem too impressed either.
After a few hours, the sun started to dip a bit, and that feeling of “okay, that’s enough beach for one day” began to set in. The packing-up process is always less fun than the arriving. Shaking out sandy towels, trying to get all the gritty bits off your feet before getting back in the car. It’s a losing battle, mostly. Sand just has a way of following you home, no matter what.
The drive back was quiet. Everyone a bit tired, a bit sun-baked. Beach 11 at Presque Isle. Yep, we did it. It was a day out. Not spectacular, not terrible. Just… a day at the beach. Sometimes, that’s all you need, I guess. Or all you get.
