Only a few miles from where I live, Maryland Route 404 passes by. This road is a major thoroughfare for people traveling to the beaches in Delaware. The traffic on weekends and holidays is tremendous. There is not much of interest in Greensboro or Denton to attract these travelers. There is , of course, a gas station, a McDonald's, a Burger King and in process, a Seven Eleven store at the base of an exit ramp. It is into this McDonald's that what I call, The Beach People, stop to refresh themselves. I had occasion to be at the McDonald's yesterday and the beach people where there in full force. A large crowd of loud and pushy people dressed in beach attire. The beach people have that sense of urgency about them. We are stopping to refresh and refuel, but it must be done quickly ! We are the Beach People and we will reach the beach at all costs. Locals had best get out of the way ! We are the Beach People and we have money to spend. Everyone step aside. We are the Beach People.
Now, you will encounter the Beach People in other places as well, but not as much as the McDonald's. I guess the allure of those golden arches attracts them, sorta like insects to a light-bulb. They swarm around ,annoying everybody for a while, and then move on. They usually leave a mess behind them as well. Beach People seem to suffer from tunnel vision. Looking straight ahead and totally unaware of their surroundings. A singleness of purpose to their actions, to reach the beach.
I do wonder how many of these people have stopped at this McDonald's as a regular thing, year after year. This stop, a permanent part of the voyage. How many have ventured into the town or surrounding area. I expect very few, there are no beaches close by,only the river. There is no boardwalk or concession stands. Nothing to attract them. The town of Denton is nothing more than an exit on the road. A place to stop and use the restroom.
The beach people are a minor inconvenience. They stop for a brief period of time and then move on. I try to avoid Route 404 on the weekends. This works for now but I am beginning to see a slight change. Some of these beach people are starting to use their GPS systems to navigate through the back roads. Some beach people have started to buy property here.They may start living here but will keep their beach people attitudes. They are a different breed. Like an incoming tide they will eventually cover things up and when the tide goes out the landscape has been changed. A little erosion has occurred. The tide stays in a little longer every year. Soon I'll have to head for higher ground. The beach people are only surpassed in their annoying ways by tourists ! Happily, we don't have any of those.
Now, you will encounter the Beach People in other places as well, but not as much as the McDonald's. I guess the allure of those golden arches attracts them, sorta like insects to a light-bulb. They swarm around ,annoying everybody for a while, and then move on. They usually leave a mess behind them as well. Beach People seem to suffer from tunnel vision. Looking straight ahead and totally unaware of their surroundings. A singleness of purpose to their actions, to reach the beach.
I do wonder how many of these people have stopped at this McDonald's as a regular thing, year after year. This stop, a permanent part of the voyage. How many have ventured into the town or surrounding area. I expect very few, there are no beaches close by,only the river. There is no boardwalk or concession stands. Nothing to attract them. The town of Denton is nothing more than an exit on the road. A place to stop and use the restroom.
The beach people are a minor inconvenience. They stop for a brief period of time and then move on. I try to avoid Route 404 on the weekends. This works for now but I am beginning to see a slight change. Some of these beach people are starting to use their GPS systems to navigate through the back roads. Some beach people have started to buy property here.They may start living here but will keep their beach people attitudes. They are a different breed. Like an incoming tide they will eventually cover things up and when the tide goes out the landscape has been changed. A little erosion has occurred. The tide stays in a little longer every year. Soon I'll have to head for higher ground. The beach people are only surpassed in their annoying ways by tourists ! Happily, we don't have any of those.
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