by Archie Nadon
Chockpish. I keep coming back to the photo of the wooden walkway to the beach at Chockpish and I know it’s not the adult in me that’s is drawn to it.
The walkway goes up and over the dune before the breakwater and down to a short path through the grass leading to the beach proper. You can’t see the beach from the wharf side but you can from the platform at the top. You can turn around and see the beach on both sides of the wharf going north and south.
Of course, we love beach access. That’s what we’re about. So many times we ‘re disheartened to see signs reading, “Private rode”, or there are obstacles that make it impossible to get to the beach or you feel like you’re trespassing once you’re there. This walkway says, “Here’s the beach. It’s yours to enjoy.” Mind you, there are no toilet facilities and not many places to hide if the needs arises which means to truly Enjoy you should do your business at home first, but I like what that walkway says.
It was probably built by the Chockpish Harbour Authority that is made up, like all the other 550 some harbour authorities across Canada, of interested local parties, like commercial fishermen and business people. All of them volunteers. They made it for their own kids and anybody else that visits this little corner of Côte-Sainte-Anne, about 20 minutes north of Bouctouche.
I always forget about the walkway, though, probably because you can’t see it until you drive through the one lane bridge (if you’re northbound), turn right off the road and go between the red buildings of the lobster processing plant. You drive between the buildings and go to the end of the long storage shed to where the breakwater begins and you’ll find it. There are other paths to the beach, but we always use the walkway. It’s just more fun. A little more magic.
And it’s all there. The wonderful sand, the beach grass, the weathered snow fences, the driftwood, the shells, the diving terns, the cormorants and ducks as well as the seagull perched on top of the light on the pole at the end of the breakwater, facing into the wind. It would all be cliché if it weren’t so authentic.
I’m sure Parlee Beach by Shediac is authentic, but it’s crowded. When I was young beach wasn’t beach unless it was standing room only, and mostly girls. Now, the only girl I want with me is Elaine and finding a beautiful beach we can have to ourselves is better than any resort.
