We arrived last Saturday, and for the first several days we enjoyed sunny weather with temperature in the mid-80's. Even when the days became overcast, the temperature was still in the 70's and the water temperature remained warm throughout. If anything, the water seemed to get warmer.
On Sunday, Johnny, Gail and Carolyn came down and spent to day. Carolyn brought enough food to feed an army. We spent an enormously enjoyable afternoon together at the beach and then a dinner to match afterwards.
Things turned cloudy and blustery on Wednesday and Thursday. Notwithstanding the fact that I have been going to Long Beach Island since 1960, we made two excursions to places I had never been to before. First, on Wednesday, we decided to visit the Holgate Unit of the Edwin B. Forsyth Wildlife Refuge. This is the southern part of the island that continues on after the road ends. Its only open in the off season, so we figured this was our one chance to see it. For anyone looking for wildlife, the place is a total bust. In fact, there's nothing much there at all, except some beach and sand dunes. We took the opportunity, however, to walk to the absolute southern tip of the island. It was a two and half mile trudge in the sand. We managed the trip south without too much difficulty. The trip back into a stiff and constant headwind was another story. Every step was an effort. I had images of Robert Scott's ill-fated expedition to the south pole. He reached the pole with little incident, but on the return journey, all five members of his expedition perished from a combination of exhaustion, starvation (we hadn't eaten since breakfast) and the cold. I am happy to report that we did in fact survive.
The other trip we took was to the Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen's Museum. This is a re-creation of a maritime village. Although it gives the impression of being a low-budget affair, it contained exhibits about plenty of things I knew nothing about, including the origins of the U.S. Life Saving Service, the surprising number of shipwrecks in the 1800's off the Jersey and Long Island coasts, the privateers operating from New Jersey waters in the 1700's and something called pound fishing. To say nothing of the fact that the Seaport houses the only surfing museum in the state of New Jersey.
All the high winds churned up some pretty big waves by the end of the week. Unfortunately, for one who is no longer young and spends 51 weeks out of the water, the waves were a bit too far out and too difficult to catch for me. It didn't stop us, however, from having a great time.
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There is more wildlife in Area 51, Nevada than you will find in the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. It is closed during the summer and there are signs no more than 20 or 30 yards from the water's edge all the way down to the end of the island saying "No Trespassing beyond this point." I'll let you decide what the federal government is doing there.
The resort of Sea Haven on Tucker's Island, which was no separate island but part of Long Beach Island from 1860 to 1920, competed with Beach Haven for your vacation dollars until the Tuckerton Railroad built a trestle from Manahawkin to Beach Haven in 1885-6. In 1920 it became an island once again, and by 1945 the sea had completely reclaimed the once thriving resort.
A couple of other notes of interest:
Not since my childhood have we had a beach without a drop-off and sand bar, but while we were there we had a gentle sloping beach. Perhaps it won't last, but it was surprisingly welcome.
There is a small empty lot on Bay Ave. in Beach Haven with a "For Rent" sign on it.
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