30 bays showed level of neglect of our best asset
THIRTY bays in 30 days – what a great idea. My wife and I are both keen swimmers and try to swim in the sea from early June through till the end of October, so the chance to take part in 30 bays in 30 days was a challenge that was difficult to ignore.
Along with three good friends, we've done our very best to enter into the spirit of the concept and before the end of the 30 days will have been for a swim at each of the bays suggested by the organisers.
We are all agreed that our bays and beaches are a fantastic asset to our tourist economy and to the local community – it's a pity the States of Guernsey appear to think otherwise and in our opinion have failed over many years to invest in what we believe to be an under-utilised element of our island environment.
The car parks are a disgrace, as are the cliff paths. The beaches are covered in rotting seaweed, the swimming pools are in a sorry state of repair.
General maintenance in the areas surrounding the kiosks leaves a lot to be desired and we find it difficult to remember when any significant addition to our beach facilities undertaken by government has taken place – other than emergency repairs. Thankfully our ancestors had the foresight to invest in creating the asset that we presently enjoy.
However, on the positive side, swimming on a high tide at Le Crocq (behind Fort Richmond at Perelle) was a revelation. As was the slip at the beginning of the Castle Emplacement into Havelet Bay. Bordeaux Harbour in the rain was memorable, along with the shingle bank at Le Fontenelle on Saturday 20 July, just when the heavens opened.
Our swim at La Jaonnet was an eye opener in several ways when confronted by fellow beach goers strutting their stuff on the foreshore wearing only the bathers they were born in. We do not believe we're a bunch of prudes but there were children also using the beach. We are all proud grandparents and agreed that the approach to the beach should warn families and the squeamish that full, in-your-face nudity is likely to be encountered on the beach below. Bear in mind it is a challenging hike to get to the beach and if you have a problem with naked men sharing the beach with you then an about turn and a journey back up the cliff is somewhat daunting. It's worth asking the question, is what they are doing legal? Perhaps somebody in authority could respond.
To finish, we would like to heartily congratulate the organisers of the 30 swims in 30 days challenge for what we hope will become an annual event that should raise significant funds for Les Bourgs Hospice.
BRUCE WALLACE,
wallacegsy@gmail.com.
