Rising tide: Increasing number of visitors at Aboiteau Beach

ParleeBeach in Shediac, N.B. has been a popular, and much touted tourist attraction for decades.

But just 17 km up the road in Cap-Pel, there's another, lesser known sandy shoreline. PlageAboiteauBeach is well-known to locals, but it hasn't attracted the same kind of tourist trade as its neighbour to the westthough that seems to be changing.

This year, Parlee Beach has been plagued by reports of water quality problems, and it's been closed to swimming on several occasions due to high bacteria counts and fecal contamination.

Ronald Gallagher has been a long time fan of ParleeBeach, but on Saturday, he avoided it in favour of Aboiteau.

"I have grandchildren with me today," he said."I don't want to take any chances that they can catch something."

Passing the test

Gallagher isn't alone. Several people sunning themselves at Aboiteauon Saturday echoed his concerns, including Elliot MacDonald.

"We don't want to be walking waist deep in...'that,' if you will.So we just want to keep ourselves away from it."

Justin LeBlanc, who works for the village of Cap-Pel, said the number of visitors to AboiteauBeach has doubled since last year.

"We have a lot of things to offer at AboiteauBeach and we have passed all our water tests," he said.

"So maybe that was a factor."

While Gallagher and his family are wading in the waters at Aboiteau this weekend, hehopes the water quality problems at Parlee Beach are resolved soon so he can feel safe bringing his family there again.