While recently visiting friends at their cottage on Sauble Beach, where I haven’t been in about 40 years, I was surprised by a couple of things. The first was how little it seemed to have changed, at least in the area just south of town, where the land is still under lease from the Saugeen Nation. Lots of small, folksy cottages right on the beach, or a short walk away.

Sauble Beach

The second surprise was that you can drive on the beach. I guess I must have known this, but had forgotten. Our hosts explained that this makes for great entertainment. There is a small stream that empties onto, and spreads out over the beach, right in front of their place. When we were there, it was only an inch or so deep, maybe ten feet across. But at certain times a year, it can be deceptively deep, as much as a foot, and look pretty much the same. Lots of vacationers leave with stories they never planned on telling…
Historically, the First Nations people policed the beach, and by all accounts did a fine job of it. Speeding, drinking, fires, all strictly prohibited on the beach, and effectively enforced. Then, for some reason, the job of policing the beach was turned over to the Ontario Provincial Police. Now the OPP do (let’s say) a fine job of patrolling our province’s highways, but when faced with enforcing speed limits on a beach, they must have struggled with the concept. Their solution was to erect signs. Speed limit signs and No Parking signs, all along this hitherto unspoiled stretch of the world’s second longest freshwater beach. (After Wasaga, also right here in Ontario — not sure what the OPP are up to there these days).

(photo by Lynda Chiotti)