Beach Day
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121714)
Gainesville, Florida
July 12, 2023 8:46pm CST
I never really paid much attention to it, but now that I think of it, most of the time that I travel or vacation or do fun things, I usually do them during the week and not on weekends like everyone else. It could be considered strange, but being that I'm the boss at my work, I can take off just about any time I'd like. And maybe I like weekday trips because the crowds aren't as bad.
Tuesday was one such day. It had been pouring rain non-stop on Sunday and Monday where I live, but looking at the weather forecast it seemed the one place that wasn't getting hammered was St. Augustine Beach, on the Atlantic Ocean on the northeast corner of Florida. I needed a beach day, so why not? I made some arrangements at work to have my duties covered, and away I went for a little rest and relaxation. And what a beautiful day it was!
I got there pretty early so I could enjoy laying out in the sun before the brutal heat of the day set in, so you can see from the photo I took that it was a peaceful and serene morning.
The water temperature was perfect, the water was clear and clean, and there were no seaweed infestations or sea lice, jellyfish or man-o-war. Just about a perfect day. I say "just about" because there was a period of about 30 minutes that the lifeguards made everyone exit the water because a school of blacktip sharks were feeding very close to shore. It was pretty exciting to watch, and even better when a school of porpoises showed up to feed as well. Sharks don't like porpoises, so the blacktips took off pretty quickly when the porpoises showed up. And since porpoises are generally friendly to humans, everyone was allowed back in the water while they swam and played and fed.
There must have been a Navy aircraft carrier out at sea making its way back to port (there's 3 Navy bases just about 30 minutes north of the beach we were at), because all morning long we could see groups of warplanes and helicopters fly in toward land from out over the ocean. It was pretty cool to watch.
Overall, it was a fun and relaxing day, and I must have done a great job with the suncreen, because I didn't get sunburned at all even though at one point I fell asleep for about an hour laying on my stomach. I thought for sure my back would be burnt.
How about you? When was the last time you had a fun beach day? Or just a fun day in general?
20 people like this
21 responses
@hillhjill (23717)
• United States
13 Jul 23
That all sounds so amazing!! I would love to have a beach day but we are so far away from the ocean.. maybe one day we'll drive down.
Fun days don't really happen right now..
4 people like this
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 23
We just take Highway 17 to get to the beach. You can take the Highway 17 Express bus from San JoseDiridon Station to get there.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
No matter what you are gong through, where you are living, or what your situation is, I really hope you can create some type of fun day for yourself. Even it means doing something local, or really just doing nothing at all. Sometimes I have fun days where I just grab my backpack and hammock and wander off into the woods for a night of peaceful camping.
1 person likes this
@hillhjill (23717)
• United States
13 Jul 23
@moffittjc yes we need to do that so bad. It's so hectic right now and we just can't seem to get out of this rut. Hopefully soon we will. I can way more than my husband as he's disabled and can't walk far..
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137634)
• United States
13 Jul 23
We haven't gone anywhere or done anything in several years. I'd really like to head down to the lake and swim for a while but don't know when we'll be able to do that.
I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.
2 people like this
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 23
Are you near any nice outdoor areas?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137634)
• United States
15 Jul 23
@Aquitaine24 We live on half an acre of trees and grass. I'm out in the yard a lot. There's a city park a few blocks away from us.
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
Do you have lakes with nice beaches (or at lease resemble beaches)?
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108126)
• Marion, Ohio
13 Jul 23
I had a fun day Tuesday also. Visited with friends.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
Depending on what friends I'm visiting, I could have an exceptionally fun day, or a stressful day. I hope yours was an exceptionally fun day.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Jul 23
@wolfgirl569 That's great to hear! We all need fun days.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Jul 23
We're not really beach people but that does sound like an idyllic day. We had a fun time last night, just hanging out with Vince's brother. We enjoy each other's company and don't have to be on our guard about saying the wrong thing or whatever.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
That’s nice that you enjoy his company. Does he live close by to you and Vince?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jul 23
@JudyEv I’m sorry to hear about the loss of his wife. I’m sure he takes comfort in the fact that you and Vince can visit with him more often now.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Jul 23
@moffittjc He is only half an hour away now that we've shifted to the city so it's much easier to see him more regularly. He also lost his wife just two years ago so has been a bit lost.
1 person likes this
@Butterfingers (66583)
• India
13 Jul 23
It's better to do things a different way and I would love to spend my weekdays like that too lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
@Butterfingers Do you ever get a chance to visit a beach there, like if you were on vacation or holiday? Is it popular where you live for people to take beach trips?
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
•
13 Jul 23
I really enjoy St. Augustine, it's a lovely place. I am glad for you, that you had a nice beach day. The last time I had a fun day...hmm...really fun? An entire day? After Christmas, I had some days with my youngest daughter and her little family in St. Pete. They were fun days. We played and made cookies and raced little toy cars...it doesn't take much to entertain me!
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 23
@MarieCoyle are beaches in Florida hot?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
Sounds like you had a great time in St Pete. We’re you able to visit a beach while you were there?
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
•
13 Jul 23
@moffittjc
We went one day, but honestly, it was so terribly hot I wasn't sad to not go back during that time. Just way, way too hot for me! I always have a nice time there. I'm not fond of Tampa like I am St. Pete.
2 people like this
I haven't been to the beach in about ten years, but my last fun day period was probably a month ago when I spent the day with my friend, Dominique.
Your picture is gorgeous!@AmbiePam (93883)
• United States
13 Jul 23
@moffittjc Seeing that would have made my whole year; what a treat!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
@AmbiePam It was quite a treat for me, especially since they were so close to shore.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
I really wish I would have thought to grab my phone to get some pictures of the porpoises when they appeared. They were so close to the shore line!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51359)
• Canada
13 Jul 23
@moffittjc We had a great time.
We went up to blue Mountain and the Collingwood area. It is the ski area in Ontario as it is perched on the Niagara Escarpment. It offers spectacular views. We took an open-air gondola up to the top of the mountain. The views were very hazy due to humidity and poor air quality from the wildfires. We visited a really well known craft brewery and took a boat cruise on Georgian Bay and did alot of fun stuff.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Jul 23
@Juliaacv I've been skiing in Collingwood before, many moons ago when I was in college. It was so beautiful. It's where I learned to snow ski. I spent a little more than a week in London visiting some friends, and we drove up to Collingwood to spend a few days there having some fun.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
Nice, I hope you enjoyed your vacation. Did you do anything special or go anyplace fun during your vacation?
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80736)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 Jul 23
Glad you had a great beach day. The beach is only a couple of blocks from me but I have not been in a long time like since the pandemic rolled in. I would not spend a day at the beach but I hope to go soon to dip my feet into the Atlantic Ocean to cool off,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80736)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
14 Jul 23
@moffittjc BTW how was the water was it cool or warm, They are saying the waters in Florida are getting very warm now. Here is what it says on the Internet
The sea water temperature throughout Florida warms above 68°F and is enough for a comfortable bath1. The warmest ocean temperature in Florida today is 85.3°F (in Everglades), and the coldest sea temperature is 77.4°F (Jacksonville)1. The average water temperature in Florida over the past 60 days ranges from 67.5°F to 82.5°F2.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jul 23
@RasmaSandra The water was refreshingly cool, so it must have been close to the 77 degrees recorded in Jacksonville.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jul 23
From what it looked like on the radar, your area got a lot of rain on the day I went to St Augustine.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317241)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 Jul 23
My last fun beach day was decades ago when two of my kids were still toddlers. Not much fun though, except for my husband who had a wonderful time because he wasn't watching two toddlers on either end of the beach. I'll need to write a post about that experience.
I'm glad you had a fun beach day.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Jul 23
What was your husband doing all that time? I used to love taking my kids to the beach when they were little, and playing with them in the water or building sand castles or whatnot.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Jul 23
@just4him That must have given you quite a scare! I never let my kids go in the water by themselves, and never more than an arms length away from me when we were in the water together. And I made sure to teach them from an early age how to safely escape a rip current if they ever got caught in one.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317241)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Jul 23
@moffittjc Playing volleyball. Being in two places at once wasn't easy. My daughter who loves to swim almost drowned. When I got back to her, I saw her struggling and rushed to her, but a man got to her first. I was grateful for his help.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
I thought for sure you went to the beach on a frequent basis! What's stopping you from enjoying a day on the sand?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Jul 23
@NJChicaa Why do you have to be invited to go enjoy a day at the beach? Just hop in your car and go enjoy a fun day all to yourself!
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (120122)
• United States
13 Jul 23
@moffittjc Family issues. They don't invite me. Long story.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
13 Jul 23
Most of our enjoyment time is during the week:) I'm glad you took time out of your busy schedule, to rest and relax at the beach! I'd love to see porpoises
they are friendly, I've heard:) We had heavy showers last night.
they are friendly, I've heard:) We had heavy showers last night.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jul 23
I’ve never met a mean porpoise before, except for when they are chasing sharks away. Porpoises are very friendly towards humans.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jul 23
@kobesbuddy Wow, what an amazing story!
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
14 Jul 23
@moffittjc Our friend's were fishing with their pastor, in the Gulf of Mexico. The boat tipped over, they were in the Gulf hanging on, for hours. The pastor had been torn open by a fish hook, he was bleeding into the water! Porpoises swam in and circled around them, they were encompassed until help arrived. The day after it was reported, the biggest shark ever seen was spotted where they were stranded.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
I have a lot of fun days locally in our nature parks and trails, but every now and then it’s nice to have a little change of scenery. I grew up on the beach, so it is always calling to me to come back.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Jul 23
@RubyHawk At this time of the year I usually try to stay far away from our beaches due to the excessive heat and humidity. But I really needed a beach day, and we got really lucky that the weather was cooperative....not too hot or humid, and a beautiful cool breeze blowing in most of the day.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
14 Jul 23
@moffittjc I've only been to the beach a few times and it was so hot, I couldn't enjoy it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181721)
• United States
13 Jul 23
2000 was the last time we took a major vacation and went to the Keys and Everglades. It sounds like you had a super day with all kinds of things happening. A fun day? Well, I enjoy going out to eat with my best date. Other than that, our "fun" days are limited. We took two small trips in the past 3 years. My favorite was the drive-through safari where we got to feed animals such as the GIRAFFES! So fun! We had giraffe heads IN THE CAR; and we fed them carrots. SO COOL. Now THAT was fun! Enjoy your day.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jul 23
We had a drive-thru safari near where I lived in West Palm Beach. It was called Lion Country Safari. I loved that place. Growing up, it was miles and miles west of town out in essentially what was the Everglades. Now, it is surrounded by development. I guess that’s progress for you.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jul 23
@LindaOHio Nah, it’s still there, it’s just not in the middle of nowhere anymore.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181721)
• United States
14 Jul 23
@moffittjc That must have been cool. Too bad it's gone.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
13 Jul 23
It has been much too long since I have had a fun time. Your beach day sounds perfect, though.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jul 23
I find that as I get older I also seem to have less fun days. I’m not sure if it is just life getting in the way, or if I’m slowly turning into a grumpy old man.
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 23
Tomorrow would be a good day to go to Santa Cruz because it’s going to be hot in San Jose tomorrow.last fun beach day was Easter. We went to my aunt’s house in Santa Cruz.
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 23
@moffittjc It does get hot in summer, but it has sea breezes so not normally as hot as the Central Valley. Peak heat is often in the 90s F, but can get over 100 F. It is supposed to get hot in the next couple of days. Cool the entire time is a little unusual, but we have been having nice cool weather until recently.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jul 23
How hot does it get in San Jose? I was there one summer and it felt nice and cool the entire time. Maybe it’s because I’m so used to the blazing hot Florida temperatures.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50525)
• United States
13 Jul 23
I have been to the beach as recent as 2020, but I haven’t had a swim at the beach since 2000. It’s been way too long.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
There’s been so many times I’ve been to the beach but couldn’t go in the water due to red tide, jellyfish sea lice, rip currents, etc. But the conditions were perfect on this trip and that water felt so good!
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jul 23
Thanks. It was an early morning shot while the ocean was still calm and the temperature was still cool.
@summerscent (335)
• Philippines
13 Jul 23
I have no work right now; I can go anywhere and do anything I like with budget constraints, but I have sidelines for income. That's a beautiful picture. I love going to the beach as I get the feeling of refreshment. We went yesterday to the nearest one but weren't able to stay long because it's been raining here every day.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
It’s been raining here every day as well (it’s our rainy season), but we got really lucky and it was a beautiful sunny day with no rain.
@Laurakemunto (12862)
• Kenya
13 Jul 23
Last year on may ohh I miss the beach so much
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jul 23
I grew up living right on the beach, but now I live about an hour and a half away. I miss the beach so much as well. I wish I had the time to go every week.
1 person likes this
