Another beach adventure

After a morning of hard core winning, Mom and I headed off to Christie Conservation area. It's a cute little man-made lake about 20 minutes from my house. Actually, as the name implies, it's much more than that. They have protected swamp areas, biking trails, fishing ponds, picnic tables, bbqs (you can rent one, or bring your own) I hadn't been in years. It was always a "school trip" kind of place, where they took us to learn about wildlife or have some lame class picnic because there was WAY too many kids for the three adults to properly supervise, so they spent the whole day telling us not to do this or that because invariably, some dumb kid would crack their head open doing something stupid. (And no, it wasn't me!)

The place was exactly as I remember it, only now, I'm big enough to walk all the way out to the buoy line and still touch bottom. Do you have any idea how long I waited for that? Well, let's just say, it was a long time! Walking too/from the water was much easier than our normal "spot of choice" (Port Dover) because there are trees everywhere so noone is fighting for the one tree on the entire beach and edging you out at the first opportunity. People were spread out over the wide space and it left me with enough thinking room to beat Mom at Scrabble! Yes, you heard right, for probably only the third time in thirty-plus years, I took the game. Clearly, it was all that fresh air. Go me!

Anyway, we ate a simple picnic, swam a bit and enjoyed the smell of other peoples' barbeques while I lamented that we should have brought OUR little guy. No matter, it was a low energy day, and an enjoyable one.

Here's a great little fact sheet on Christie's along with some cool pics. We forgot the camera. It always seems to get forgotten in the fray of packing lunch:-)

There was a big ol' party at one of the outdoor pavilions complete with adults having some serious fun playing various picnic games. No doubt they were testing out the potato sacks and cracking under the pressure of the egg toss. Their music sucked though, and was WAY too loud, only bummer of the day (and yes, I sound 85, why do people have to blast their music in a public park?)

In the nice weather, you can even bring your own horsey in, and ride along the many trials. A little country life goes a long way in this area, it's nice to see it being so well preserved. A free pass doesn't hurt either. Yes, another free outing. Is this a good summer or what? :-P

http://www.conservationhamilton.ca/area-information/conservation-areas/area-information/christie-lake