With a desire to feel the sand under his feet instead of the pavement, a London man has launched a new low-cost initiative to get other like-minded city-dwellers to Grand Bend this summer.
Matthew Thomas' passion project Bend Bus will take Londoners to Grand Bend to spend a day at the beach on two Saturdays each in July and August.
"We're in a really interesting position here in London where we have this incredible beach that is just a 45-minute drive away," said Thomas. "So in less than an hour, we can go from our apartment in the city to swimming in the water in Grand Bend. Once I realized that, I realized we could have a really great quality of life, we just needed a way to get there."
After six years of trying to convince others to undertake the project, the 33-year-old entrepreneur decided the only way to make his dream a reality was to do it himself. Thomas connected with businesses in Grand Bend and partnered with a bus company to rent a yellow school bus.
"This is going to feel like summer camp," said Thomas. "We will get 45 people into a school bus, open the windows, drive down the highway, and along the way I have some different trivia and facts that I have researched and will be sharing. It's not only a great opportunity to get to the beach but make it an experience where you meet new people, forge new friendships and create summer memories."
The Bend Bus offers two pick-up locations at Innovation Works at 201 King St. and Masonville Place, before leaving the city at 9:15am. Beach-goers will arrive in Grand Bend at 10am. They will then have four hours to swim and play in the sand before the bus begins its return trip to London at 2pm.
Tickets for the round-trip to the beach went on sale on Monday and Thomas is optimist they will sell out.
"The ticket price is just right, it is less than $20 and to park for the day in Grand Bend is typically at least $20," said Thomas. "So I priced it in such a way that it will be a fun experience for people, that will cost far less than driving themselves. That ticket price seems to be really resonating with people."
The $19.95 fee not only gets beach-goers to and from the Lake Huron town but also summer swag and discounts to Grand Bend restaurants.
So far, the Bend Bus will travel from London to Grand Bend and back on July 7 and 21 and August 4 and 18. Should Thomas see a surge in demand for the service, he has said he would consider adding Sunday trips.
