2022 Life Logs, Day 195: Afternoon at Wood Neck Beach and Little Sippewissett Marsh
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2022
Weather: Sunny; High 82, Low 62 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Sam, Ollie, and I had a wonderful afternoon at Wood Neck Beach and Little Sippewissett Marsh. We were totally unaware of the fact that there were high levels of bacteria in the water. When we drove into the parking lot, the attendant warned us that due to the super low and super high tides today, swimming would be at our own risk. The attendant said nothing about high levels of bacteria. Since we arrived at low tide, we weren’t planning to swim, so on we went.
It was not until we were leaving that Sam noticed a new sign that had been posted saying swimming could cause you to be sick. Again, it said nothing about high bacteria levels. As we drove out of the parking lot, I asked the attendant to explain the meaning of the sign. That is when she told us about the bacteria level. Oops. Ollie and I had spent the last two hours in the marsh waters on our boogie boards. But at least we weren’t swimming with our heads in the water. The tide was coming in, but it was still too shallow for diving and swimming. Sam was safe as he had spent his entire day sleeping on the beach. I guess ignorance is bliss, as we had a great afternoon totally unaware the problem. 
After we ate lunch on the beach, Sam slept and Ollie read while I walked along the water line, far out from the beach.
I then talked Ollie into going back in the marsh with me to look for jingle shells. Eventually, Sam came looking for us. And as a last activity of the afternoon, both Sam and Ollie took turns on the skim board.
Ollie was so excited that he is so much better at skimming this year. Tomorrow morning we all, except for Sam who has to work, travel to Mass Maritime for Jonah’s ‘graduation’ from the ASLP program. It looks like this gorgeous weather is going to continue for another couple of days. Ollie and I are hoping we can convince Jonah to go to the beach with us tomorrow afternoon when he gets home. But since he has been away for ten days, he might just want to chill at home. We shall see.
