The manly ritual of digging a giant hole on the beach-Â a long standing seashore tradition.
The sand architects try to out smart high tide with elaborate barrier walls. The kids just want the water to rush in to create a muddy pool!
The lifeguards ask that the holes be filled in at the end of the day for safety reasons.
Happy digging…and enjoy the weekend!
 I have always admired the collections of sea glass in local properties- thinking that it couldn’t all be from our local beaches.  Wouldn’t I have noticed that much glass under foot??
A friend’s display in a vase on her kitchen counter prompted me to toss the few pieces I had into a glass container and add to it over time.
Now that I’m looking, I find a few pieces each time I walk…and my container is 3/4 full.Â
I joke that the dolphins know my morning routine and join me for my walk…but now that I’m scanning the sand, they aren’t getting my full attention. Plus, my pace is slower and I wonder why my neck has a twinge 😉
The weather changed as I walked this morning. The humid breeze from the south east switched to a hot and dry west wind.Â
Still a perfect morning to be on the beach…or out in the water fishing!
The ocean temperatures are back in the comfortable range – 72 degrees reported yesterday.
 Cool north east winds,  low humidity, and a rough ocean- it looks and feels more like September than July.  Â
No complaints…I know the real July weather will be back by the weekend!
 Cape May is known for its fine restaurants and colorful Victorian homes. The beach cabanas add to the charm, too.Â
A worthwhile day trip- Â just 20 minutes south on the Garden State Parkway.
 For information regarding tours and special events in Cape May, visit: http://www.capemaymac.org/index.html
The Catamaran slips south of 122nd Street should be filled by this point of the season.
Another sign of the times-Â almost 1/3 of the slips are empty.
Likewise, we have a larger than average supply of rental properties available for the next few weeks.
If you know anyone looking for a last minute vacation at the shore, please share this information:Â www.powerplayrealty.com
Thanks! ann@anndelaney.com
 Barrier Island:  surrounded by water on all sides. For a toddler from Colorado, that’s very exciting. Â
For those of us who live here and see the ocean every day, it’s fun to experience it through their eyes.  Â
Â
 Enthusiasm for an early morning kayaking trip in the back bay 🙂
 We had the best seats for the fireworks last night- the balcony of a 2nd floor condo at the Anchorage (available as a summer rental – property ID 13557 on the Power Play web site).
Fun to watch the crowds, too!
This morning’s Islandman Triathlon was a huge success. 625+ participants of all ages swimming in the ocean, riding bikes, and running on the beach.  Impressive.
Race results available later today on line:Â www.timkerrcharities.org
The island is especially crazy this morning- with the actual holiday falling on a change over Saturday.Â
Fireworks tonight in Avalon (30th Street) and Stone Harbor (80th Street). Â
Tomorrow in Avalon- the Islandman Triathlon will take over First Avenue and Avalon Avenue between 7 and 9 am – plan your Sunday morning routine accordingly. Â Volunteers will be on each street end to block all pedestrian and car traffic during the bike portion of the race.
For more information: www.lin-mark.com or http://timkerrcharities.org/home/
 The seashore bride and groom. So very sweet 🙂