Today’s cool north wind and stormy ocean reminds me of a September day.
Our visitors will have to be creative to block the wind on the beach.
The retail shops LOVE this type of weather-Â the downtown is definitely busy.
Summer officially begins on Sunday…confirmed by the number of check-in’s scheduled for this weekend – including members of my own family! Can’t wait!
Those of us who live here full time or in the summer find it entertaining to watch the rental properties in our neighborhood.Â
Every Saturday, a new family arrives to make claim to their shore rental home. It’s like a different TV series for us each week (sounds pathetic…but it’s true).
The tenants intrigue us with their “toys” (like the motor home AND jet skies above), fancy cars (as long as they don’t park in front of our house!), and gatherings on the deck.Â
And then they sadly pack up the following week, and the cycle starts all over again.
The beach adjacent to the Villa Maria Retreat House on 111th Street is called “Nun’s Beach”- and this morning, the name was fitting.Â
No zoom lens on my cell phone camera…and I was too chicken to take a picture as I walked by (Catholic school rules stay with you forever!). The nuns are the 2 dark spots to the right- in full attire, and collecting shells.Â
The IHM Sisters are typically more informal at the beach- so it catches your attention when a visiting order is in town.
Best nun related quote of the day: Sister James, who lives and works at the retreat house year round, was on her way to morning mass as I was walking by. She said “You are so faithful”…I think she was referring to my morning routine??  😉
Park at the 123rd Street lot in Stone Harbor and follow the path south. The unspoiled beach at the point is a popular place to fish and bird watch…and a great place to watch the sunset.
You can walk all the way to the inlet that divides Stone Harbor and North Wildwood (it’s a healthy walk, but worth it for the views).
Watch the tides- the “beach” along the water’s edge may actually be a sandbar!
 The radar map is clear- no rain in sight. But you will still return soaking wet from a walk on the beach.
It’s good for the skin!
The seashore mist- a nice name for visible layers of swirling moisture.  The phrase “cold and clammy” comes to mind. Before the days of air-conditioning, beach house furniture and towels would never fully dry during the summer months. Ahhh…the good old days!
 32nd and Dune Drive in Avalon-  a mortgage broker’s office closed and replaced with a Chinese Restaurant!
I’m the eternal optimist about our local real estate market-Â this is not a sign of doom and gloom, just part of the cycle…and a bit funny 🙂
Beautiful morning on the beach- I was back home getting ready for work when the 1st band of rain arrived.
Glad I closed up the house before I left (the downpours were torrential by mid-morning).  I even turned on the air conditioning- painful for frugal me!
The sun is back out this afternoon- a wild day of weather at the shore.
And not just the over served bar patrons arriving home at 2 am.  This is even more annoying: skunks wandering our neighborhoods.
 The skunks are adapting to people- no longer intimidated by those of us who dare to walk in the evening. One crossed the street right in front of me last night- and the odor lingered well after he disappeared behind a house.Â
Tip: avoid walking on the sidewalks adjacent to heavily landscaped yards- I often walk to the right of the bike lane, and appreciate the extra visibility from the street lights.
There are 2 distinct groups at the shore: beach people and bay people.  Similar to your religious or political affiliation- you are who you are. Â
Sure, a mixed marriage can work, but eventually one spouse will cave to the pressure and convert.
So you have the bay front owners fluent in bulkheads, floating docks, and fishing gear…and the other property owners who can’t understand why someone would want to live that far from the beach.
I am a beach person at heart, but also enjoy quietly snooping (…I mean kayaking) around the beautiful bay front neighborhoods. The boats and elaborate water toys are impressive-  sometimes in contrast to a modest cottage.   And the residents are a friendly bunch- everyone waves as I paddle by 🙂
Rain, Rain, Go Away…
What a week- so challenging for families on vacation with young children.
It has to get better eventually…right?Â
Our son and his family arrive tomorrow night and expect to be on the beach 1st thing Saturday morning!