People flock to beaches for sanctuary, but are met with crowds and exposure to more than the sun.
Myrtle Beach, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Folly Beach, Edisto, Hilton Head — all are summer attractions for tourists from around the world. There are large homes available for rent right on the beaches of South Carolina; some can sleep up to twenty people, providing a great destination for family reunions and house parties. The local economy depends on these tourists, but the hometown people have been flabbergasted by the recent results.
Recently, cases of COVID-19 have spiked to record highs. The more private beaches of Pawley’s Island, Kiawah, and Seabrook have not had the same uptick. In April, homeowners on Sullivan’s Island were successful in sequestering, and police were checking driver’s licenses and sending away non-residents. Today, all the beach access paths on Sullivan’s have huge signs: “WALKING ONLY” and “NO SHELTERS, CHAIRS, UMBRELLAS, OR COOLERS.” They are not kidding, because several of my friends have gotten tickets and paid $100.00 fines for bringing their chairs, even if they were not sitting in them. Social distancing at a beach is difficult with large groups wanting to congregate for the day. Can we really spread the virus on an outdoor breezy beach? Restaurants and bars seem a more likely place, and patrons are often seated outside. It has been a hot summer and the ocean is one of the best places to cool down and relax while small businesses are doing their best to stay open.
I love to walk the beaches; each one has a different vibe. My favorite time has always been at sunrise, when fewer people are there and lots of friendly dogs are walking with their humans. The colors are vivid and glorious right at daybreak, even when there are clouds. The sound of the waves is mesmerizing, perfect for a morning meditation. The surrounding habitats are filled with birds, and we often spot dolphins feeding inside the sandbar. The volunteer turtle patrol is out roping off nests where sea turtles laid their eggs the night before. Best of all, the heat of the sun is not yet scorching. There is plenty of parking in the morning; it can be far more difficult to find at noon.
It is a twenty minute drive to the beach from where I live. This makes it easy for a spontaneous excursion. I do not go every morning, because sometimes I like to sleep past 6 am. Yes, I am a morning person, and I do not use an alarm clock anymore. Many people bring a tent or umbrella for afternoon beach lounging. This is still allowed on Isle of Palms and Edisto.
Our first trip to Edisto took an hour by car. There is a very long access road off Highway 17 that has a canopy of trees along the way, and several small white brick churches stand like sentinels to guard the remote community. On the way in, we spotted a fresh fish market and a farmer’s market and took note so we could stop at both on the way back from lunch. Edisto had few shops and eateries, but long stretches of beach with hundreds of homes for rent. The beaches were well filled on a beautiful sunny day, so we took a short walk to watch the people watching us. On the ride home we bought a bag of boiled peanuts, tomatoes, and the best fresh shrimp I have ever peeled. We steamed them and ate a dozen with our light mixed salad.
Folly Beach, south of Charleston, is a surfer’s hang out. It attracts mostly young people, as opposed to Sullivan’s Island, where families of young children can safely play in the tidal pools. Two hours north of Charleston is Myrtle Beach, home to a hundred golf courses and a boardwalk at the beach. The hotels line up along the Grand Strand, with miles of beach offering plenty of space to sun all day. There is a direct flight from Cleveland, Ohio, to Myrtle Beach in the summer, which may explain why so many snowbirds end up moving to South Carolina.
If it is hot and humid in Aiken, a three hour drive for a getaway weekend to the beach may be the perfect solution to chill out. Although I would describe the water temperature as “bath water warm,” it is perfect for floating and body surfing. The saltiness of the ocean is a great natural treatment for the skin, but lather up with plenty of sunblock when the sun is overhead to protect your skin from burns and future unwanted issues.
You may find me in my one-piece black bathing suit, with a wide brimmed hat, shades, and a romance novel in hand.
