CBC discovers new island at western end of Blooming Point but fails to tell the back story
By Stephen Pate – CBC reported a new island was created when a channel developed at Blooming Point.
Story and reader comments failed to clarify if the island was created on the nude section of the beach or not since Blooming Point is a well know nudist beach.
Blooming Point Beach is on the northern shores of Prince Edward Island, has miles of wonderful sandy shoreline. (Photo Yasehtor Creative Commons)
A new island is always an exciting event. The CBC story and photo gallery give us excellent waterside and aerial views of the new island created from Blooming Point.
The winter tides created the island by pushing a channel through the sand dunes into Tracadie Bay.
The obvious question to Islanders is: what happened to the sunbathers? Are they stranded on an island? If so, that will create a new water taxi service for some enterprising person. Is the water taxi operator nude or does he/she dress/undress in the channel?
Even more important, will the water taxi offer accessible transportation from Tracadie Harbour?
“Bare Island” off Blooming Point beach (photo: CBC, Kevin Yarr, Pat Martel)
These are important questions, not covered by CBC, in my never-ending research on PEI’s beaches and their accessibility to those living with disabilities.
Yes, people with disabilities like nude beaches. Let’s put that to bed right away.
The disabled have sexy bodies, although we may be missing the odd extremity. We also enjoy catching a glance of other sexy bodies.
Oops, I misspoke myself there. Nudism is not sexy but naturist. It’s very uncool to have any interest in the nude human form on a beach other than aesthetics.
However, sources tell me the beach is divided into three sections, all of which allow for swimming, drinking and stoking fires: 1. partially clothed, 2. double-breasted and 3. nude to nude gay.
The whole beach is inaccessible with long walks through soft sand just to get to the first section. The 20 minute walk to the left (west) to reach the parts 2 and 3 is and has been beyond me for decades. I prefer nude beaches in southern resorts which are conveniently located next to a bar, or what is referred to as “gin and tonic with a view.”
It is the lack of accessibility and bar privileges that keeps Blooming Point off the Matador list of Best Nude Beaches in the World.
Blooming Point is # 4 in the Wikipedia List of social nudity places in North America. “Wonderful sandy beach along the northern shores of PEI and just a short drive from Charlottetown. While not an official nude beach, it is used regularly by naturists without problems. The nude section is about a 15-20 minute walk to the left from the parking lot.”
A more complete description of Blooming Point is found at the Federation of Canadian Naturists which also includes listings for 2 nude beaches in New Brunswick and 3 in Nova Scotia.
“It has dunes, a wide expanse of sand and shallow water. Mostly used by locals, it is not a “legal” nude beach. However, once you get down the path to the beach, turn left and walk until you nearly get to a fence. This is a good 20 minute walk. You may encounter nude sunbathers, a couple or two or a few singles.
Some sun lovers shelter their spot with towels or rocks for privacy. The last arrest were quite a few years ago and it was because of sexual activity.
The fence is to prevent people from going into an area where there are nesting piping plovers, an endangered species in Prince Edward Island so it is advisable to not go past that area. Directions are easy if you have a map. Just go down the Blooming Point road to the very end, the parking area is to the left. Like any beach, it is much busier on weekends. There are no facilities of any kind so come prepared.”
So that’s it. Get to the beach, turn left and stop where it suits you. Don’t mess with the piping lovers, no ogling or sex on the beach please.
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