NJ Beach Memories

5.30.2010My niece Susan and I took a walk on the beach. Within our view were several hundred people. Their umbrellas, chairs and other beach necessitates, in no particular pattern, lined the dry section of the sand. Everyone seemed to enjoy the unseasonably hot weather and opportunity to get started on their summer tan.

The waves were gentle but the water was ice cold. I watched people being led into the icy water by insistent relatives and friends. A father coaxed his shivering 7 year old daughter while his other daughter, probably a twin, jumped each step of the way. The destination was a sand bar. The intent, to ride a wave back to shore.

Memories of my childhood beach vacations flashed before me. Images of the past like:

· racing ahead of my sisters hoping to pick the biggest sea shells

· strolling on the boardwalk with my eyes down in search of coins, lost between the planks

· The taste of waffles with a thick layer of vanilla ice cream, which usually dripped down the front of my clothes

· The excitement of amusements and gaming booths

My mother was afraid of water because her cousin had drowned. She would sit on the beach and watch us play, occasionally helping us build sand castles. She allowed the ocean waves to pass over her feet. However, I don’t recall her ever getting her ankles wet.

My most impressionable seaside memory was learning that my father was only human. I had always thought of him as a superman. He could fix anything and would always protect me from harm.

When I was about 10 we waded out in the ocean. At that time rope barriers sectioned off the shallow swimming area. If you ventured out a life guard blew his whistle and signaled you back in.

The waves were rough and the rip tide grew stronger with each withdrawal. I was swimming 12 feet from my father when the undertow took me. I fought hard to make it back up to the surface. I felt the salt water filling my lungs as I grasped for air. I saw dad’s hand reaching out and he called my name but didn’t move. He was holding on to the barrier rope yelling to me to swim towards him.

I made it back to the ropes confused by his seemingly unwillingness to save me. I laid face down in the sand while someone pushed on my back until the water expelled from my lungs. Mother not saving me was understandable but dad? Was he trying to teach me independence?

The answer was much simpler. He did not know how to swim. A fact he had failed to mention. Perhaps he felt it was a weakness. A few days and several waffle ice creams later he became my hero again. And I became a confident swimmer with a health respect for the power of the sea.

Susan and I returned to her beach house to cool off. Margaritas were soon served. We sat outside watching the neighborhood return to their cottages from the beach. The parade of families carried towels, chairs, umbrellas and toys. Adults stopped to brush sand off their children and to smack the sand out of their sandals. Teenagers, appraising their tans, chatted on about weekend plans. It was a perfect day at the beach.

New Jersey

5.24.2010 we left Delaware City and crossed over to the great state of NJ.

The Captain wanted this picture posted because the ship has a bulbous bow which cuts
the waves.

It's a big ship.

Ship John Shoal Light

Elbow Cross Ledge Light

Maih Malll Shoal Light

05.24.2010 we anchored in Cape May in front of the Coast Guard station. Our plan was to dock in Atlantic City Basin Marina but the spaces for our width boat were filled and or did not have working electricity. So, we traveled another hour to Beach Haven Yacht Club. We met a nice couple from Tom’s River who gave us tips on anchorages on Tom’s River and Barnegat Bay.

The sun sets the same in NJ

marshland and city

NJ sea gull

Near Atlantic City

Clown barrels - These are the largest No wake buoys we've seen on the trip.

A Marina on the edge of the city

RR bridge

Atlantic City

Trump Towers

Wind power

Beach Haven sun set

Nice marina but no grass for the cat.

Flock of loons flying over Beach Haven Marina.

Island House

Windy Cove, Tom's River, NJ

Ducks floating past Windy Cove

Windy Cove at night

Hospodar Landing

Loons swimming in Hospodar Lagoon

05.27.2010 Hospodar Landing, is an excellent place to stay. Swans and ducks swim around the pond while sea gulls dance in the sky. The atmosphere is peaceful and the neighbors are friendly.

The location was 2 miles across the bay from our niece Susan’s house which allowed us to visit several times during the holiday weekend.

Nephew in law, Joe, made Andrew's wish come true by taking him blue crab trolling. An Extra bonus was deep sea fishing with Juliano.

Andrew and Tut rest after a walk around Hospodar Village. Andrew and Tut rest after a walk around Hospodar Village.

Tut waits patiently for the neighbor's dog to arrive.

Casper in search of a cat.

The lagoon has many swan residents. More swans than I've seen in one place outside of captivity. There must be something in the water that attracts them.

Or perhaps what the neighbor feeds them keeps them in the lagoon.

Day three Tut was decided to do some weeding.

Tut considered the height of the weeds pile.

It was high enough for a well deserved nap.

The catch

There is nothing left to do but glide quietly towards the sunset.

Thank you Pat and George for the hospitality. Next time we stop by we hope you're home.

Thank you Susan and Joe for the dinners and company.

Thanks Nicole for introducing me to Mrs Fields Microwave chocolate chip cookies

Thanks Bryan for turning us on to Adult Swim. Let the games begin!

Maryland

5.16.2010 we anchored behind Berkley Island and were entertained by a few locals trying to teach someone to use a wake board. The guy tried from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to just get up on the water. They took a dinner break and the class resumed at 6 p.m. The learner had a lot of guts. He took many falls without a second of success. His friends in the boat, now three sheets to the wind, appeared to take pleasure in his failure. Between howling laughter they yelled, “Keep the board close to your chest”.

Every time they past our boat we were waked. At first the Captain was angry. Then he got into the spirit of the game. We flashed Olympic type score cards after each fall. This seemed to encourage the learner because after being scored a 1-2 he made it up on the board for 10 seconds. Eventually he stayed on for a minute. As the sky darkened his record was 2 minutes and 5 seconds. His determination validated the old saying “You got to believe in yourself”.

5.17 &18 we stayed at Dozier’s Regatta Point Yacht Center to ride out a storm. I use the word ride because waves rocked us the entire time we were there. On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate them an annoying 4.

We arrived at the marina at 0900. The president of Dozier’s Waterway Guide helped tie our lines. Yeah no tip needed! I quickly made my way to the laundry room. There was one washer and one dryer installed side by side in this 16” by 8” room. Opposite the appliances were an ironing board and clothes folding table. The open floor space was 4 feet.

Halfway through my wash a live aboard named John put his pile of clothes (2 loads vertically stacked) on the floor by the washer which means he gets the washer next. It also meant that the open floor space was now three feet.

John and his family live on a 42' catamaran,(5 years). He has 14 year old twins. Last winter it was so cold they rented a house for three months. We chatted for a few minutes and then he left to do boat chores.

Halfway through the dry cycle a woman came rushing into the Laundry room with 3 loads of wash, in a horizontally containment bin. They took up an additional one and half feet of the opening. She was in a state of panic and asked my advice on whether she should jump the claim to the washer.

I gave up making crisis averting decisions when I retired. My response was “It’s up to you” which of course wasn’t enough for this woman who continued to rant about inconsiderate people, inadequate laundry facilities and marina laundry etiquette. She asked me how long the washer was empty. I said 10 or 15minutes. She started asking for details about the man who owned the clothes on the floor. I couldn’t remember and this just made her mad and she repeated all her marina laundry complaints.

Thank goodness John returned. She asked him how many loads he was going to do. He felt her panic and said he only had to do one. He could do the other later. Both John and I assumed she was going to be at the marina for only one day. Why else would someone have a virtual nervous breakdown over getting the laundry done, right?

John put his wash in and left. I would have followed but the dryer stopped. Andrew came to help me fold clothes, which was nearly impossible because the woman had blocked the folding tables. She talked non-stop about her trip and then read local brochures out loud. I was nodding not listening at this point. Andrew and I tried to fold a sheet around the woman. She did not take the hint. We decided to ball the sheets up with the rest of the clothes, take the wash back to the boat and fold in peace and quiet.

The marina's loaner car was a Mercedes. Seriously! Ok, it was a 15 year old Mercedes station wagon. The bucket seats were made for small yuppies. It had some interior wear, but it ran fine.

Day 2 we were recruited to drive ‘laundry etiquette’ lady and mate to town. We learned that they planned to stay at the marina for three days. Luckily it was a short ride.

Dozier's Regatta Marina (DRM), Deltaville VA- Freedom and Winter Hawk

Tut waits patiently for his turn to blog.

Tut needs help spelling some doggone word.

DRM front view

Dozier Waterway Guide's official Yacht

Side entrance

Tut makes his way to the grassy area . He scared 2 rabbits and a bird.

marina fountain

Winter Hawk - We visited their 2008 American Tug which cost us $300.00 in upgrades.

Dolphins

Solomon Island

We reunited with John who we met in Dismal Swamp. We had dinner at the new Laughing Buddha restaurant.

Winter Hawk waiting to be put on the hard until fall.

Harbor at Solomon Island

Light House on way to Annapolis

Dredging operation near Annapolis

Another light house

Another dredging operation

Crab boat next to nuclear plant

Adagio : We first met them in Alabama in October 2009.

Very cool light house

Annapolis : Saint Mary's is in the background . Our friends, Ed and BJ (from Harbour Cay Club)
live a block from St Mary's. BJ assured me it was an easy bike ride from the marina. She did not say don't come over when St Mary's School dismisses.

Freedom docked at the Annapolis Yacht Club .

St Mary's is a very large school.

We rode our bikes down a narrow brick sidewalk, encroached with brushes and trees . The street was lined with cars driven by anxious parents. It was dismissal time. I knew we were in trouble when Andrew swerved to avoid a child and a no parking sign. I got off my bike in time to save it from a car door being flung open . A drove of children politely pushed by me.

The bridge we drove across to get to Ed and BJ's house.

Bank on way to Delaware City.

Houses built on a hill giving everyone a view of the ICW.

?

Laughing gull waiting for his lunch order to arrive

It's ready!

Delaware City, Delaware

This is what happens in strong current when you have twin engines and you're learning how to use them. The stern hit the dock hard three times . Andrew and another guy helped keep the boat from taking out the dock and another boat.