So you’ll recall that, almost three months ago, we went to Maidstone Lake for a pseudo-camping trip before of Daph’s last week of school. I say “pseudo” because we unpacked, set up a full campsite’s worth of gear, then packed it all up again 5 hours later and went home.
There seemed a comforting symmetry to going up there after her first week back in school. So, after checking out the water temperature (68°! Positively Caribbean!), that’s where we spent the day on Sunday.
When we arrived there were three other families that had already taken up spots around the picnic tables which, by NEK standards, qualifies as an absolute mob scene.
Daphne didn’t mind.
After a couple hours, the “crowd” packed things up and by 3pm it was once again just the three of us on a private beach, the Sunday before Labor Day.
This is something that never ceases to blow our Texas suburban minds.
Because if a beach as beautiful as this one was anywhere within 100 miles of the Houston city limits, there would be zero chance of finding an open square foot of space on Labor Day weekend. And, if you did show up at 8am to find a spot, the beach would end up a volume battle between horrible Spotify stations (with their owners yelling at one another above the din), various flying accoutrements like footballs, frisbees, volley balls, spike balls, etc. would be arcing wildly overhead, the water would be churning with jet skis, wake boarders, tube riders, and pontoon boats, and the temperature would be somewhere around 12,000° Kelvin.
The only minor drawback to Maidstone, one that’s common to almost all public beaches, is their bathroom…
This is less a restroom and more a few holes in the ground with toilet lids sitting above a 20′ cistern of human excreta. Unfortunately I did have to utilize these facilities before we left for the day and, as I opened the lid, a cold dank wind burst up from out the holding tank and raked my nasal passages with the pungent stench of demon’s taint.
And yes, I’m a demon who enjoys the tactile sensuality of an angora sweater. What of it?”
The rest of the weekend was spent doing a bit of preparatory work for the incoming baby chicks, who are currently sitting in an incubator in Ohio. That or they’ve just been hatched and prepping for Lil’ Miss Chicky’s Wild UPS Ride over the next couple days.
Wish them luck…
See you tomorrow.
j.s.