Take your DEET/Bug Juice to the Beach!

[rapunzel]

Today is almost a perfect beach day. A big cloudless sky, perfect air and water temperatures, the gulf is smooth and aquamarine. We packed a picnic and a couple of books and headed down.

We were immediately swarmed by dog flies. We ran into the water to escape the attack. Once we got tired of being totally submerged we decided to abort the whole picnic idea. In the time it took me to run from the water, pack up the chairs and towels, and run to my bike I had an entourage of about 30 dog flies biting me. Ouch!

 

[seacrestkristi]

Ooowwweeee! Thanks for the 411. Friends are headed that way. I'll warn 'em. ;-)

 

[InletBchDweller]

They are bad. Little IBD and I went to Inlet beach around 8:30. The water was BEEEEUTTTTTTTTTTTTIFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLL!!! No waves, snadbar close, clear as a bell and lots of shells.
Then the flies came. BAD BAD BAD flies!:angry: I withstood it as long as I could.

 

[Jdarg]

Mom was eaten by flies while walking in Seagrove this a.m., then swarmed by lovebugs at the pool. She did report that so far the flies are staying away from her on the beach.

 

[InletBchDweller]

someone told me it had to do with the North wind????

 

[Camellia]

okay, it is time for all of you in the know to remind us of the best repellent for these pests. I've heard cactus juice, some stuff up at Frank's cash and carry, and something at the corner Grayton market, with a "money back guarantee."

 

[Miss Kitty]

someone told me it had to do with the North wind????

that's what I have always heard. i am sure the experts will be along soon.

 

[Kurt]

Yes, the north wind blows them down to the beach. If there is a bit of wind it will keep them off of you. It's when there is is a light breeze that they can be a problem.

They were a little bothersome on the beach this afternoon but not enough to keep me away from the beach with perfect weather and water as clear as it gets. The flies are attracted to umbrellas, chairs, coolers, etc. The trick is to set up your chair and umbrella and then go sit about 20 feet away. Or just stay in the water.

It was flat on the water and there were these leetle tiny waves rolling into and breaking on the sand bar. They were miniature versions of perfect waves with long rolling breaks. The water was so clear and shallow that these little waves were surreal, magnifying the refractions and shadows on the bottom. Mesmerizing.

Oh, and a neverending school of fish and lots of dolphins and dragonflies.

 

[NoHall]

Yes, the north wind blows them down to the beach. If there is a bit of wind it will keep them off of you. It's when there is is a light breeze that they can be a problem.

They were a little bothersome on the beach this afternoon but not enough to keep me away from the beach with perfect weather and water as clear as it gets. The flies are attracted to umbrellas, chairs, coolers, etc. The trick is to set up your chair and umbrella and then go sit about 20 feet away. Or just stay in the water.

It was flat on the water and there were these leetle tiny waves rolling into and breaking on the sand bar. They were miniature versions of perfect waves with long rolling breaks. The water was so clear and shallow that these little waves were surreal, magnifying the refractions and shadows on the bottom. Mesmerizing.

Oh, and a neverending school of fish and lots of dolphins and dragonflies.

I can be on the road in 20 minutes. Can I stay with you?

 

[Lady D]

Well, we had no problem with them this time thank goodness but two years ago we could not even walk down the beach and we were way more than 20 feet from our beach chairs and umbrella we could not enjoy and still were being bitten the entire time while trying to walk.