A full day of shore activities- early breakfast at Uncle Bill’s; ocean kayaking with a few dolphins before the lifeguards reported for duty; arrival of family members to join us for a day on the beach; swimming, sunning, & snacking; more ocean kayaking and wave riding after the lifeguards depart; and then Nemo’s pizza for dinner. Whew! A summer’s worth of fun in one perfect day.
P.S. This is one of our family members having fun on the kayak 😉
The sun has returned, and comfortable temperatures remain. A picture perfect day at the shore!
The Brendan Borek High Tides Memorial Surf Contest is Saturday on the beach at 30th Street in Avalon. For more information: www.brendansfund.org/events/
And, then heads up (literally) next Wednesday for the Atlantic City Thunder Over the Boardwalk- Air Show: http://www.atlanticcitynj.com/acairshow.aspx  I will be on the beach in Margate to watch, and even those on the beach in Avalon and Stone Harbor will hear the roar in the distance, and see many of the planes ride along the coast.  It’s a fun (and free) event.
Why does it feel like there is a deadline looming? With no school age children, Labor Day should not signal the end of the summer…but for some reason, we continue to live by that schedule!
For those of us who live and work on the island, summer is our busy time. Yet we still want to enjoy the many perks of seashore living- trying new restaurants, attending outdoor concerts and events, etc. The pressure to do everything on our summer wish list… within the next 3 weeks 😉
 I am proud to support Brendan Borek High Tides Memorial Fund. A wonderful local charity providing  financial and practical assistance to families in Cape May County dealing with pediatric cancer.  Upcoming events are posted on their web site: http://brendansfund.org/
Soon after paddling off in my kayak this morning, a heavy mist fell over the back bay and marsh. It was actually quite cool- a nice relief from the heat!
I don’t know how “real” boats manage with the fog/mist-  very disorienting. Thankfully, I can stay close to the docks and marsh- no worries about water depth with a kayak.  It’s important to avoid boat traffic when visibility is poor- I can’t paddle out of the way that fast!
High tide means less hard sand…and the beach walkers have to share the tight space.
Unwritten rules:Â those without sneakers should hang along the water’s edge; large groups may need to pair off to allow oncoming “traffic” to pass; and a friendly hello or smile on your first pass is appropriate (include the beach cleaner on this, too!)
8/4/2010 – Barbecue and Blues is a town-wide celebration sponsored by Stone Harbor Borough and its many civics organizations.  Wednesday August 4th from 4pm – 9pm.  80th and First Ave.  Advance Tickets: $15 Children, $20 Adults. Tickets at Door: $15 Children, $25 Adults. Menu: ‘Pappy’s Pig Roast’ featuring Chicken, Ribs, Sides, and Cornbread Beverages: Beer, Wine and Soft Drinks Sponsored by Chamber of Commerce. Entertainment: Blues Band-Mikey Jr . Music begins at 5pm. Featuring a dunk tank with Special Guests!!
For more information: http://www.stoneharborbeach.com/default.asp
On the weekend, the annual Arts & Crafts Festival takes over the 80th Street field.
What an incredible experience. Returned yesterday from Lake Placid after watching the IronMan- and specifically, 3 family members competing.Â
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Thousands of spectators to support the 3000 participants during the 17 hour event.
“Our” athletes finished between 11 and 14 hours- and then we all watched the final racers arrive just before midnight to an enthusiastic crowd.
Before the race, I had a few days to tour the scenic area and check out their real estate. Beautiful homes line both Mirror Lake and Lake Placid. On Lake Placid, it’s all about the boat house and water front garages.  For some, it’s the only way to access their home!
I posted updates on my Twitter site: http://twitter.com/AnnDelaneyBeach during my trip and on race day- along with links to additional pictures.
The family members of the athletes (AKA the cheering section) are set with their attire for Sunday’s IronMan. Â
 The back of the  t-shirt: “What will YOU be doing for the next 15 hours?”
Hope we have the endurance to last the whole day along the course 😉
Seriously, I am. Heading up to Lake Placid, NY this weekend to watch three family members participate in this incredible event.Â
They will swim 2.4 miles in Mirror Lake, bike 112 miles through Lake Placid and the surrounding towns, and then run 26.2 miles…whew!
Expecting a finishing time of 12 to 13 hours- that’s a long time for me…I mean them! Thankfully, I will have a chair and snacks to get me through 😉
Will post pictures here and on Twitter.