Long Beach

Long Beach, California

After roasting in Pomona for a few days, we decided enough was enough and made the trek to Long Beach, California.  There was a big debate to which beach we should go to.  No matter which way we sliced it, it was going to be an hours drive. When we pulled up to the parking lot, it was like a ghost town.  Aren't all beaches chalk-a-block when the mercury explodes?  We flip flopped our way through scorching sand as a gentle breeze welcomed our faces.  The azureous sky greeted the cerulean sea only to be interrupted by the dreary ocean liners anchored on the horizon.  We rolled out the beach towels and settled in for a long escape.  The only other people on the beach was a horde of day camp kids having a huge party with music blaring and an MC occasionally making announcements over a megaphone.  So much for an escape.

We quickly lost Banyan in the neighbouring throng of kids.  He would disappear into the mesh of bodies and reappear for a brief moment only to vanish again like a magic trick.  At one point, Banyan, completely oblivious, wandered into the middle of a race and was trampled underfoot.  The camp leader peeled him off the sand and looked around wondering where on earth this stray kid came from.  She dusted him off and sent him on his way.  Banyan thrived off the mass energy of the kids.  Georgia on the other hand, slept for most of the time under a makeshift tent made out of an umbrella and a few towels. When she finally awoke, Georgia sprung up, grabbed her bucket and plopped herself down in a mound of sand with out missing a beat.  As you can see, her Papa put her swim suit on.  Not quite right but close enough.