A Less Inviting Beach

Moonlight Beach in Encinitas CA used to be one of my favorite beaches to go to.  Not that it means much when I only go to beaches about twice a year.  Now, we're told it is most enjoyable if we follow a few simple rules:

I'm not sure if 8 or 10 panels of small print counts as "a few" rules.  Oh look, some of the panels pack more than one rule in there -- no alcohol OR glass containers.  It used to be, the beaches were just covered in cigarette butts from people with foul habits who just throw their crap on the ground when finished, and yes, broken glass and barefoot walks don't mix, so I'm glad we have progressed beyond that.

I remember some business gatherings on local beaches 10-20 years ago where the "fun police" showed up every time and started pawing through people's bags looking for things to complain about.  The number one reason I don't go to the beaches is parking, but number two is being subjected to the authorities.  I appreciate trying to keep the area clean and safe, but there's always that layer of surveillance, scrutiny and accusation.

Speaking of scrutiny, about half the time we have gone to beaches in the past few years, there was the mosquito whine of somebody's drone ... somewhere ... doing something.  Then the tables turn: we could actually hope it's the authorities doing their job without being in our faces, as opposed to some guy flying solo and looking down bikinis.  So, yeah, I don't really see the appeal of beaches.  At least not popular, crowded beaches.  Up the coast in Oregon the beaches were wind-blasted and remote, empty and natural.  But as much as people boast about our beaches, they have just been spoiled by me.

Not only that, but the beach itself has washed away.  There used to be about 50 feet of sand to walk on here.  Maybe it was just a super high tide because of the atmospheric rivers rolling through California at the time?

On a natural beach you should be able to dig and find seashells and interesting things.  The last few times I tried to dig around here, I found nails.  Because the sand is trucked in from construction sites to try to battle the inevitable erosion.  The bluffs slowly wear down and collapse.  Houses tumble into the sea and somehow make the news every time.  It's not news.  Don't build there.  Beaches are fine ideal, but also a battle that cannot be won.