Coming down tomorrow to prep your shore house? Besides the obvious of securing the outdoor furniture and trash cans:
Lock all windows and doors (casement windows can rattle open in the wind if not locked).
Empty the ice maker bin (in case the power goes out).
Turn off circuit breakers for non-essential appliances/electronics.
Turn off the fireplace gas pilot.
Secure the outside shower door.
Walk on the beach…smell the salt air…and convince Sandy to stay out to sea!
Although it makes sense to be prepared, we are always concerned about the “hype” common with impending bad weather.
If you have a shore house, take the time to secure the outdoor furniture, grill, trash cans, etc. Thankfully, that’s normal procedure for this time of year anyway.
If your neighborhood tends to flood, make sure there is nothing in the crawl space area or garage that could be damaged.
And then follow along here and on Twitter for real time updates.
P.S. Borough of Avalon Emergency Management- web site
Add this to your “To Do” list: turn off the outside water at your shore house.
The plumbing for the outside shower WILL freeze and crack if not properly winterized. Many home owners do this themselves by shutting off the valve in the crawl space, and then removing the cartridge in the shower and allowing the water to drain.
Two other important items: 1) Even if you have a frost free hose bib outside, remove the hose from the faucet when not in use. Water will freeze in the hose and push ice up into the faucet and crack the pipe. 2) Faucets on upper decks are typically NOT frost free, and the therefore subject to freezing. Drain those faucets with the valve in the crawl space.
FYI- we typically experience our first “freeze” by late November.Â
If you need a recommendation for a plumber to help with these tasks, please let me know. ann@anndelaney.com
Back to my normal shoreline walks after 10 days of more challenging terrain!Â
Guess I shouldn’t whine about the soft sand 😉
Chilly morning- so I walked near the dunes to block the wind. And, wore a hat. Not quite ready to transition to the next season.
It’s always worthwhile to be on the other side of the vacation experience. And, I try to incorporate the benefit of a fresh perspective in our summer rental business.
For example, I appreciated that our rental cottage was immaculate and thoughtfully equipped. The owner supplied all of the extras needed for a comfortable week. And, she provided instructions regarding disposal of trash, recycling, and even composting (a container in the yard).
The best meals were in restaurants that also happened to make us feel the most welcome. We called for a reservation in a popular beach side restaurant. The hostess said they were filled for the night, yet suggested that if we come early, we will be able to sit in the bar area and enjoy the same view/menu.  It worked out perfectly- an outdoor table with a front row view of the sunset.
My final lesson was from the attendant at the car rental return. He was so upbeat as he asked us “How are you this evening?” When I replied that we were sad to leave, he gave the best response ever: “No need to be sad. The island will always be here- so come back!”  What a nice thought.
The attendant then mentioned that he loves to visit the Philippines- it’s his favorite place. So here is this man living in Hawaii…yet talking about vacationing somewhere else. We laughed because we understand that even when you live by the beach, it’s normal to be drawn to other destinations.
This is my official “Out of the Office” post.
Leaving the Seven Mile Beach to walk along another beautiful beach!
No blog posts until I return. However, I may post a few pictures on Twitter, so follow along!
This week, I was able to kayak on the bay, spend a few hours in a beach chair, walk in the (still warm) water, ride the island on my bike, and of course take my regular beach walks. Rough life.
And, yes…I DO work full time, too 😉
The annual Avalon Chamber of Commerce Seafood Festival takes place this weekend.
29th Street and Avalon Avenue (beach parking lot); Â Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 5pm.
Local food vendors, music, and crafts.
Also, on Saturday, walk next door the Community Hall for the Green Fair- 10am to 3pm.
The retail shops in Avalon and Stone Harbor are open for the long weekend, too-Â showing their appreciation for your business with end of season sales!
The golden glow at sunset on the Avalon Fishing Pier…
…and, a dramatic spot light on the Stone Harbor ocean front homes at sunrise.
Because we work weekends, Fridays are our opportunity to live as “tourists”. In the fall, we enjoy the added advantage of fewer crowds and beautiful weather.
Yesterday, we rode the island on our bikes- with pit stops along the way (mostly to check out homes under construction…I’m never completely off duty!) This is the view from the end of the 8th Street jetty. A unique perspective of the north end beaches.
Another pit stop: lunch at the Windrift (pictured- our view from the outside bar). A relaxing meal, sunshine, and a water view. What’s not to like??
Back to reality and the office today 🙂
P.S. During our bike ride Friday, we saw participants of this event : NJ Run for the Fallen  (at the time, we didn’t know what we were watching).  We wondered when we saw 3 vehicles stop on Dune Drive around 55th Street; with the occupants wearing matching t-shirts. I noticed a remembrance marker at that spot today. Now I realize they were family /friends of that particular soldier. Sad…