GLOUCESTER, Mass. (WHDH) — Nevermind heading to the beach, everybody is already there. Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester was packed before noon with die-hards like Michelle Pike, who knows the drill.

I worked last night. Got all my beach stuff prepared. Packed it all up. Got up at 6:30 this morning. Got the car ready. Left at 8:30. Off we came,” said Michelle Pike. “I didn’t think it would be any hotter here than it is at home. We do not have central air so I thought this was a good choice.”

Traffic was backed up for a good two miles before 10:00 this morning.

We are regulars and it always fills up. But this is the weekday,” a woman said.

The parking lot wasclosed to the public before 10:30. It was good for the city but that is about it.

Lifeguards were also busy dealing with lost children and keeping their eyes on swimmers.

“They are busy. I’ve seen them running up and down. But they all have their walkie talkies. They’re all in communication,” said Carole McNair.

There is only so much room. There is about a thousand spaces. You put about 400-450 non-residents. The rest are for saved for residents. Its a crap shoot, said Mark Habeland, who works for the city of Gloucester collecting money at the entrance to the beach.

But families familiar with this always have a plan b for staying cool.

Were going to try Wingaersheek we figured, or were gonna go to the hotel and rent a room for the day. Were with the car in front of us to try to rent a room for the day. We will work it out somehow, a woman said.

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