Maybe it is because yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox (the first day of fall), I feel the need to hold onto summer for just another day or two. I am doing that by reliving the recent visit to Geneva On The Lake, Ohio. We visited on a really hot July day — although I think the whole summer was really hot. The “we” included my husband, Bobby, my parents, Bud and Dolores, my great-nephew, Ameareka and his mom, Aya. Ameareka is 6 years old and neither he nor his mom had ever seen Lake Erie. Aya had a few days of vacation and she expressed an interest in seeing the lake.
I talked everyone (the aforementioned “we”) to go to Geneva On The Lake. I had read an article about it and wanted to see it for myself. There are closer places/beaches for us to visit the lake, but the article made the boardwalk sound like a lot of fun. (More about that in a later post.)
We began our visit at the Geneva State Park. There we set out our chairs. Thankfully we found some shade above the beach where my parents could enjoy the view without being on the hot sand. (Did I mention it was really hot.) Then we, Aya and Ameareka and I headed to the lake. Ameareka decided he didn’t want to go into the lake, so he went back to my parents location.
The beach was pretty, but also very crowded. Everyone was trying to get a break from the heat, I suppose. Aya and I stepped onto the sand and at first just observed that it was warm. After a few steps the warmth turned to hot. Then it became a race to see if we could get to the lake shore before our toes caught on fire. (Did I mention it was hot?)
We reached the edge of the lake and the cool sand that was wet from the lake felt so refreshing on our feet. We found out, though as we were entering the lake that there is “barrier”. That barrier consists of little rocks and shells all along the water’s edge. Once we made it past that, we basked in the coolness of the water.
We stayed quite a while. Aya tried to get Ameareka and I tried to get Bobby in the water, but neither were having any of it. We did play in the sand (which was still hot, but more bearable) and improvised in making a sand castle, as we didn’t have a shovel or pail or plastic cup or spoon.
So what are the lessons I learned at Geneva State Park?
- If you are going to Geneva State Park, it would be a good idea to bring shoes you can wear in the water. I would think it would make it easier to walk on the hot sand and over the rocks to get to the lake;
- If you are going to the beach with a 6 year old, you should probably bring a bucket and shovel, or maybe two. That would make sand castle building much easier; and.
- Even when things aren’t as perfect as you want them to be, fun memories can still be made. Especially if you are with people you love.
