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Ophelia London | Beaches
April 13, 2013
I've been asked a lot lately where I like to vacation. My knee-jerk answer is
always the same: The beach, baby! Which might be why I chose the small beachy
town of Seaside, Florida—the most beautiful coastline I've ever
seen!—as the setting for Abby Road. 
As a California native, I grew up on the beach. Not the typical beaches,
however, that you picture when you think of California. No palm trees, no
oiled-up weight lifters, no boardwalk and no laying out for a tan. You see, I
grew up in Eureka, happily situated between San Francisco and the Organ boarder.
The average summer temperature is around 65. The average winter temperature is
around 55. We like to call that the temperate zone.
The beaches I grew up on had one consistent attribute: gray. Gray skies, gray
water, gray sand. We had to bundle up for a day at the beach. But it was
glorious. Imagine sand dunes two stories high to jump off, and crashing waves so
loud you have to scream to be heard. Because of the temperature and deadly
undertow, you can't really swim at my beach, though wading and running from the
waves (often for dear life) is always an exciting adventure. Moonstone Beach and
Trinidad are two of the places to surf. Though, hello, you couldn't catch me out
there...no matter how many wet suits you wrap me in.
No, my early experiences with the beach were sweatshirts, rolled up jeans and
bare feet, soaked to the knees with seaweed between my toes and an ensuing
earache. But surfing and swimming...never! There are sharks in those waters,
dude. And jellyfish and weirdo slimy, gray sea life that bump against your legs
and try to pull you down. Plus, Jaws was, and still is, one of my
favorite movies. Needless to say, I have rather polarizing beachy issues.
This might be why—to this day—I have a highly irrational fear of the
ocean. But I also experience overwhelming pulls toward the sea that wake me up
at night. Do you see the quandary here, people? Despite all that, or maybe
because of that, I take beach vacations very often. Of course, I always have to
do some major psyching up before I go into the water. It's best if I don't think
at all...don't wonder about what's there under my feet once I can't touch bottom
anymore. *shiver*
Most of all, I love to write about the beach. Happy beaches, where the sun is
always shining and surfer boys lounge around like Moondoggie and the Big
Kahoona. (see Gidget. Like, literally: go watch Gidget now.)
Beaches where there are no sharks and no undertow and no fear of the seaweed
that resembles an octopus coiling around my neck. No, "my" beaches are where you
have a picnic with no wind, where you read The Scarlet Pimpernel for the
first time (true story) and especially where you fall in love (future true
story).
Earlier this year, I made a little promise to myself: no more Florida until I
visit a new beach. It was a little paralyzing at first...until I booked my trip
to Hawaii. Aloha! I'm already planning on writing a "One Night in
Waikiki" story (picture the hero as a seasoned surfer boy by day/big shot lawyer
by night and the heroine as...well...me!) After crossing the Hawaiian beaches of
my To Do list, I might as well just go for it and hit Santorini. I'm all about
goal-setting and "research" trips for my next novel. I owe that much to my
readers, don't you think?
So, what about you? Where is your favorite beach? One commenter will win an
e-book copy of ABBY ROAD
Comments
16 comments posted.
Re: Ophelia London | Beaches
I also have a fear of going too far in the water. I won't get in more than knee deep. Thanks to a friend getting stung by a stingray. But I always find I am most relaxed on a beach. Hilton Head is my absolute favorite beach. I just always find myself rejuvenated at the end of the week there.
(Pam Howell 11:48am April 13, 2013)
I was born and raised in Michigan, and have never left the state. There are 2 favorite beaches that I love, and it really depends on what I'm in the mood for. The first one is actually a campground. The site that I love, when we park our camper the right way, faces out towards Saginaw Bay, and when you open your door in the morning, not only are you a few steps from the Bay, but there are Blue Herons that nest nearby in the water. They're my favorite bird, and I'm always in Heaven when I go there. I tend to camp when it's sort of off-season, so it's quiet. The other place is called Silver Lake. It's another campground/tourist area where the lake is actually a Silver color. You can cross the Lake in a small watercraft to a small beach where there are sand dunes which are quite large. After crossing the dunes - either by foot or dune buggy which you can rent, lies Lake Michigan, in all her glory, just as blue as can be!! So there you get the best of both worlds!! It's a bit more congested there, being a tourist area, but the views are breathtaking!! Since I don't leave the state, at least not often, I would love to read your book. My second love is Tennessee, and I would love to see Colorado one day.
(Peggy Roberson 12:43pm April 13, 2013)
I love the water! My favorite beach would be the one from my honeymoon on Antigua. You could be in water 30 feet deep and see down to the bottom! Temps around 80 ALWAYS and a perfect breeze. And blue...the water is a perfect teal blue, not green. Aah....
(Sue Galuska 12:43pm April 13, 2013)
I love the beach and live near one in the sunshine state - we have so many beautiful perfect beaches!! Truly this is paradise. I love the Keys especially, the clear water with the sandbars that you can walk 200 ft out into the ocean, with turquoise to navy water calling you into Neptune's embrace.
(Carla Carlson 1:33pm April 13, 2013)
When I was little, I went to the beach with my grandmother. I was not allowed to go in the water, just play in the sand.
(Kathy Sullivan 2:42pm April 13, 2013)
looks really really great.
(Kent Cook 6:57pm April 13, 2013)
I can't swim but love beaches! :) I like the one in Caribbean... the water is so clear and cool in the hot weather!
(May Pau 9:17pm April 13, 2013)
I've never been on the beach, but have been on a couple of cruises. Love
to just watch the water.
(Susan Falkler 9:31pm April 13, 2013)
I live in Arizona now but growing up I loved our family vacations to the
Jersey shore!! I miss the beach........
(Susan Dyer 2:58pm April 14, 2013)
Our home is near Bull Island, a UNESCO World Conservation Site. Naturally formed sandbars at the mouth of Dublin Bay enclose two lagoons and the variety of habitats from saltmarsh to marram dunes etc. is amazing. We walk on the beach on Christmas Day and in summer, enjoying the wildlife and the kite-surfers.
(Clare O'Beara 3:22pm April 14, 2013)
Revere Beach, Revere MA is my current favorite - long expanse of hard packed sand, gentle surf for walking in the water, even sand dollars! Piping plovers nest in a protected area (unusual to find them in such a busy urban beach), there's an annual sand castle competition - it's wonderful, historic, public beach.
(Beth Fuller 7:00pm April 14, 2013)
It would be the Big Sur Coast in Northern California. There are two beaches in that region that I love because of the scenic views. They are Heaven on Earth and the McWay Cove. One of the reason I love those two beaches is that they both have a waterfall. How romantic could I ask for about these two beaches.
(Kai Wong 7:45pm April 14, 2013)
I love the beach. These days I don't go in water over my
knees, but there was a time when I was fearless.
(Mary Preston 9:16pm April 14, 2013)
Long Beach on Vancouver Island.
(Cheryl McEwen 10:18pm April 14, 2013)
MS GULF COAST.
(Shelley Summers 1:38am April 15, 2013)
I can swim in a pool, but I need to know where the bottom is. Makes it hard
in the ocean or a lake. :) But I do love the shore and the water. Just have to
have my life preserver at all times. :)
(Penny Mettert 8:29pm April 15, 2013)
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