The Beaches of Tiny

Finally got a chance to explore some of the better beaches up here around Penetanguishene.  I have always been told that the private beaches out at the concessions were far better than the public beach at Balm Beach, and I am now able to confirm that this is infact the case.

We started our day out at the public beach on the 11th Concession, in the Township of Tiny, where the beach features lovely, clean white sand, and the water was crystal clear.  My only real complaint about this beach was the amount of rocks that you have to traverse in order to get to the water.
There is a great sandbar, and the water temperature was seasonably warm.  There were a few families down at this beach when we arrived, but for the most part, it was pretty quiet.

Our second stop was the public beach at the 13th Concession of Tiny.  This beach had a much more secluded feel, but features coarser sand, that bordered on small gravel down by the waters edge.  But there were no submerged rocks to scramble over to actually get into the water.  The water at the 13th is uber shallow, meaning a long walk out to the first sandbar, but again, the water was crystal clear and was actually at least a couple of degrees warmer than the water at the 11th.  Being able to sit on the sandbars and soak up the rays was a pretty great way to spend the afternoon.

Of the two, I much preferred the beach at the 13th, dispite the fact that the 11th has nicer sand.

As a side bar, while both of these beaches are posted as public, the only parking available requires a valid parking pass, that only residents of Tiny can obtain.  Non residents take the risk of getting a $50 ticket every 3 hours for parking anywhere near these beaches.  The Township of Tiny has a funny way of encouraging tourism...Douchewaffles.  Haven't they ever heard of parking meters?  I would gladly pay 5-10 bucks to enjoy these beaches for day, but a mandatory  $50 fine for using a public beach just guarentees that I will trash them on the interweb...a classic case of heinous fuckery most foul.

Balm Beach - first impressions

So after spending 5 weeks soaking up the sun in and around beautiful Grand Bend, I have been transferred up north to Penetang for work.
A little over a week into the contract I finally have the time and the energy to hunt down the nearest public beach with a few co-workers for some fun in the sun.
Balm Beach is a really cute little community, not far from Midland, right in the shores of Georgian Bay.  Right away let me start by saying how shocked I was by the tiny size of their public beach.  Being raised on the shores of Lake Huron, I am used to miles and miles of available beach front property to choose from for all your beach related desires.  Here at Balm beach you are working with a clearly marked public area that can't be more than 600' in length.  And the sand is full of rocks...a shame.
When we arrived around 4pm the beach was host to alot of young families, and elderly couples, not the crowds I am used to after weeks on end spent in the Grand Bend area.
It seems as though every road is town us marked with no-parking signs, forcing you to park at one of the roughly 40 the municipal meters for a whopping $2/ hour up to a maximum of $15 for the day.  This blows my mind.  At Ipperwash you can park on the beach for free, all day.  What gives? 
On top of a tiny, rocky, beach, and the ridiculous parking situation, the first 30' of the water is carpeted in a solid stretch of stones.  Not fun.
On the plus side, because of the amazing weather we've been having this summer, the water was very warm today, likely around 76-78 degrees, which is warm for Georgian Bay.  The water was also a touch choppy today, with waves easily reaching 2' in height, which is apparently unusual for this area. 
What I will say, is that the view from the beach was stunning.  It really is a very pretty area of Northern Ontario.
I have been told that the better beaches in the area are private beaches on the local concessions.  I fully intend to brave the parking tickets that all non residents risk, should they be found parked at these private beaches in order to continue my quest for a better beach.
If I find one, I'll be sure to post pictures, and my impressions.

Why I love the beach at Sararas Road

When I was roughly seventeen years old I was introduced to a private beach 10.2km North of Grand Bend by a young lady that I was seeing at the time.  Up until that point in my life, all of my beach time had been spent on the beautiful white sand beachs of Ipperwash, 20 min south of Grand Bend, where my family has had a trailer for at least 30 years.  When you are raised 20 min from a great public beach, and also have a swimming pool in your back yard, there isn't alot of reasons to go looking for a new swimming hole.
The concept of a private beach changed all that for me.  While not technically private, it is far enough removed from the zoo that is the main beach at the Bend that it sees very little tourist traffic.
Located right on Highway 21 between Grand Bend and St. Joseph, the rocky beach at Sararas Road can be found at the bottom of a 40' cliff, well away from the eyes of passing motorists and day-trippers.  The most other people I have ever encountered at Sararas Road could easily be counted on two hands.  Hard to believe when you consider that the main Beach at Grand Bend can see upwards of 80,000 people on a long weekend in the Summer.
Since I have been lucky enough to work in the Grand Bend area for the last 12 years, the beach at Sararas Road has been the site of many wonderful afternoons and evenings spent basking in the summer sun, soaking up the rays and having a blast with my friends and Co workers.  The other draw? Besides being off the radar for tourists, unlike the other beaches in the area, the water at Sararas Road is virtually always crystal clear, and in late July/August, I swear that it is 5-9 degrees warmer than any of the other local beaches.
Some of my fondest memories of this beach involve late night, post show bonfires with the ever evolving gang from the Huron Country Playhouse.  Smores have been roasted, beverages consumed, and many a rendition of brown eyed girl butchered over the wrong 3 chords on a countles number of guitars. Trips to this beach have become a tradition with Playhouse Staff over the years, so much so that I especially enjoy introducing new employees to it each and every season.  Someone has to carry on the tradition once I'm gone...not that I'm going anywhere anytime soon.  One year we even planned an official Drayton Entertainment Social Comitee Day Trip down to this beach where 30+ of my coworkers drove down from Kitchener/Waterloo to spend the day at this specific beach.
Last week we had another opportunity to plan another imprompto trip to the beach at Sararas Road, and it was glorious.  I was the first to arrive at 2pm since my show had been cancelled, but I was soon joined by the rest of the gang.  All told there were  5 Stage Managers, 3 actors, 1 Costume Designer, 3 Technicians, and a Dresser in attendance.  A great blend of old friends and new friends, I couldn't have asked for better company. 
It was about 32 degrees in the sun plus humidity, and the crystal clear water was reminiscent of soaking in a bath tub.  Incredible.  As always, we came prepared with a selection of beverages, tall boys that you dare not drink on the local public beaches, and everyone did there own thing for the afternoon.  Some of the ladies brought books, while the rest of us frolicked in the water and on the sand.  Personally, I hardly left the water all afternoon, and thanks to copious amounts of sunscreen, I didnt burn.  This time ;)  We called it quits as the sun began to set, sinking into Lake Huron in a glorious display that lit up the July sky with a brilliant wash of pink, orange and red.  It was a day I won't soon forget.
A perfect Summer day.