We had so much work to do this weekend, but with such beautiful weather and energetic boys we knew we had to get out for some fun too. The boys have been asking to visit a beach and go for a nature walk, so we scanned the state parks for water quality and swimmers itch reports and picked one nearby state park which has a large lake, walking paths, picnic areas and playground equipment. The boys were both excited - they don't really like swimming in the lakes, but love playing on the beach and in the shallows.
The boys played for ages, happily building with rocks and digging in the sand. G doesn't like to get wet much (unless in a warm swimming pool) but did wade and splash a bit. A loved playing in the water, seeing all of the other kids swimming and splashing around, and watching boats speed by pulling people on ski's and tubes.
As we headed out we found a spigot for a full body rinse and scrub down. After changing into fresh clothes we headed out for a nature walk. What a lovely day!
But, after we got home we found that A most likely got swimmers itch. We had checked the reports online before we left, asked about the water with the ranger at the check-in point, and looked for posted signs upon arrival. After all of that, we thought we would be OK to walk and wade in the water a bit - but still did rinse off and scrub dry to be safe. Ha. Poor guy. He has crazy itchy red bumps all over his thighs, bottom and waist. Hopefully the itching will clear quickly. I love that we live around so many lakes, but it is so hard when you cannot ever touch the water - with the algae blooms, flooding and ag runoff, and trematode parasites.
This has A interested in all the details and facts, of course, so we have at least a day of reading and research ahead of us!
14 comments:
Wow. We're about to spend our final week of summer at my Mother's lake house--no such issues there, but because of all our rain this summer, swimming in small ponds has been out and we've missed it!
I would never even have thought to look online before going out. Maybe we don't have that as much around here? I know I've never gotten swimmer's itch in all my childhood years of swimming in MN lakes. Though I have heard of it.
That's too bad for A! I'm going to have to follow your link and find out more about swimmer's itch.
Lisa
lisa - We always look online before visiting beaches/lakes - especially after all of the major flooding in June caused ongoing problems for lakes in the area. They all post current conditions reports which include bacterial counts, reports of swimmers itch, and any other water quality warnings or advisories (or closings)...and then there are usually signs posted at the beach as well.
It is present worldwide in freshwater lakes (anywhere there are ducks, geese, etc.)...just peaks in certain places more than others depending on conditions and time of year, I guess. I remember it being in lakes where I grew up in MO too...
I somehow accidentally deleted my own comment. :) Need some coffee, I guess!!! Ha.
Oh...poor A! I hadn't really heard of swimmer's itch much before either. Your day looks like a lot of fun other than that. I love that he wants to spend time reading and researching the facts about those parasites now- what a great kid.
Yuk. The dreaded itch. What a bummer that such potentially wonderful times at a beautiful lake are plagued with those problems. You'll have to invent some kind of swimmers itch body block lotion!
Yikes! I've never heard of swimmer's itch before. What a reward for some healthy wonderful splashing and wading. Hope it fades quickly. And thanks for the heads up. I'll be watching out for this next time I head of to a lake.
Seems like your back is all better. Glad of it! Take care.
I remember when Autumn was little and she came out of the lake water peppered with red spots and feeling horrible! That's the first and only experience we had with the itch. It's awful stuff, hope he feels better soon!
ahh water. we need to get out of the desert for a while, thanks for the idea!
Your family adventures are always met with excitment here....but I sure do wish little A didn't have the itch!
As we settle into our "new" old home, I find such comfort in checking in on the life and times of Mom in Madison (even DH asks about you now, LOL!) The girls will worry now!
I hope the itch is already subsiding!!!
Swimmers itch...yuck! Hope A is feeling better!
The lake pics were lovely!
Oh, dear. I've been reading you long enough that I now notice that your boys are GROWING UP!! I can see the physical transformation, not to mention all the others. Wow.
Oh, yuck. I hate that part of summer.
I hope he is feeling better, poor little guy.
I love your new header, btw.
(I use bloglines so I haven't clicked through for a while.) :)
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