I have come to realize that I am a beach girl, through and through.

Last year I did a project where I went to ten different beaches on Cape Breton. Doing that intentionally and making time each week or so to be on a beach helped me to see just how much I love beach time. I always felt inadequate because I wasn’t a skier, or I wasn’t into sailing, or whatever. I wasn’t one of “those people” who have a “thing,” an outdoor sport that they’re crazy about and live for. However, I’ve come to see that my “thing”, when it comes to the outdoors, is swimming, and walking along the sand. It’s less racy and glamourous but it makes me incredibly happy.

(Here’s a couple more posts from this past summer about how much I love to swim: the Bras d’Or Lakes, and Chimney Corner.)

When I moved to North Sydney last year, I didn’t know the local spots. I asked friends and was told a couple of places. And Florence Beach is turning out to be my favorite. It’s not too far of a drive from my house, maybe 15 minutes. On the way home, Lick-a-Treat is a quick stop if I want ice cream. It’s ocean water, which I prefer to the lakes (bigger waves). It’s sandy, with very few rocks. It’s clear – not much if any seaweed. It’s long – probably a kilometer or two. It’s not very busy – even though there are usually a few clusters of other people there when I go, there is lots of room. It doesn’t get deep right away, but neither is it too shallow. There is no undertow that I’m aware of.

This past weekend I was able to go to the beach twice. Heaven! I bring a book and alternate between swimming, and lying on a towel reading (or snoozing!). This time of year is definitely one of my favourite ‘seasons’, even though it’s not a full season – the summer is winding down and the air is such a perfect blend of coolness and warmth. Change is coming… work will be through soon and school will start up again. I love that feeling of looking forward to a fun change, and still having a week or two left to soak up the last bits of summer.