Our "local" Daily Press (Newport News) cheerily boasted today, "Virginia beaches among the best." Their article reported that the National Resources Defence Council, having analyzed data from thirty coastal states, has rated Virginia fourth for water quality. The cheer may be somewhat moderated by the knowledge that last year, our state's ranking was third. But it's still good news. New Hampshire, Delaware and Oregon are the states that beat us.
Now, on a strictly local basis, no one claims that tourists flock to Deltaville - or anywhere in Middlesex county - for the beaches. We all know that Virginia Beach rules in this region, if it's a beach vacation you're after. Wide sands, real waves, no contest.
But on the other hand, we do get Virginia Beach residents as guests, who come to Deltaville for the calmer, sheltered waters, and the peace and quiet, the absence of traffic and clubs and noise. Whether you want to kayak, or sail, or fish, the local waters: Broad Creek, Jackson Creek, the Piankatank, the Rappahannock, and the Chesapeake Bay itself, can hardly be beat.
Go ahead and smile, but we do also have our patches of beach. I think the three little beaches at Wake are really sweet, and the views are wonderful. Just three miles up the road from Heaven Scent, you can enjoy a tiny patch of sandy public beach, possibly all to yourself, likely with a public you can count on the fingers of one hand. I had a German guest for a week who went there every day to read, sun, and swim in the wide Rappahannock, and she found it delightful, too. Buddy approves, as you see. No facilities, of course. If you're staying with us and haven't brought beach gear, we'll lend you towels, floats, and coolers.
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