Day 1 Long Beach Island

Well the flu delayed the start of our trip as both Joni and I came down with it this week.  We were both sick as dogs, and at our worst, neither of us could imagine going anywhere.  I think we were both at the stage when asked, "is there anything I can do for you?"  we each replied, "get a gun and shoot me!"

Fortunately the worst lasted only 24 hours so the actual start of this trip was only delayed by a day.  We did cancel our plans to spend our first two nights with our good friends Rosemary and Bill.  We didn't want to infect them. 

So our first night on the road was spent on Long Beach Island, New Jersey.  However before we got to New Jersey, we stopped for lunch in Glastonbury, CT, and had lunch with our son Nick's family.  That was a last minute bonus decision which was made when we changed our route to to avoid a fire on I-95 in Connecticut.  

Nick, Jack, & Joni

Heading west on the Tappan Zee (AKA the Gov. Cuomo) Bridge

For those of you who don't know, Long Beach Island is an 18 long, less than one mile wide barrier beach on the Jersey Shore. For me this is a nostalgic stop; my grandparents had a summer home right on the beach.  

Southwick's Marina, looking west toward Barnegat Bay.  My grandfather docked his boats here.  His last was a 15' Lyman lapstrake.

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The four at the right are my parents and grandparents.  My best guess this was taken in the early 1950's.

 

My grandparents very modest cottage that they built in the 1920's has been replaced several times.  This is the newest occupant of their beach front lot.

Joni and I dined at the Dockside Diner, located next to the Spray Beach Yacht Club, where I learned to sail.  I think this diner is over 70 years old.

These aren't crepes, just plain old pancakes!

Yes, this was our dinner.  Since both our stomaches were still feeling a little delicate, we opted for the breakfast menu.  That's local lump crab underneath the poached eggs, hollandaise on the side, and freshly made hash browns.

The Spray Beach Yacht Club Juniors' clubhouse.  Apparently the adult members don't want to mix with their children...or they don't want their children seeing them drink.

We returned to the Surf City Hotel just as the sun was setting.  It wasn't fancy or elegant, but it was very clean, and after a tough week battling the flu, and a 400 mile drive we were very happy to be here!