New Jersey 2016

June 30, 2016

Last day in this area, so we took the opportunity to catch up on laundry and do a few errands.
Moving tomorrow to Marlton, NJ

June 29, 2016

Played golf at Stockton Seaview Golf in Galloway, NJ.  We played the Pines course, they also have the Bay Course.  It was a difficult course in that there were trees and sand traps everywhere, but it was a well manicured course and fun to play, even though it was hot and humid.

Afterwards we stopped at the Elks and had a few drinks.  Very small lodge but friendly.   We then drove to Oyster Bar out on the bay, had another drink while enjoying the view of the Atlantic (way off in the distance.



June 28, 2016

Drove to Toms River to visit with our niece Val and her family.   This is Bobby's brother's daughter and they haven't seen each other in 45 years, she was 5.   We had a great visit and caught up on all her family.   She has 3 kids, two daughters and one son.  Her son Andrew was working, so we were unable to meet him or his family.   Her two girls still live at home and were there.

Left around 2 and headed towards home.   On the way, we needed milk so headed towards Walmart, along the way found this great Mexican Restaurant, http://tenamparestaurant.com/, it was the best Mexican food we've had in a very long time.   The avocado sauce on my enchilada was the best I've ever tasted.   Bobby really liked his burrito, it has a sauce that tasted more Italian than Mexican, but he loved it.

June 27, 2016

Drove into Atlantic City again, this time to do a little shopping at the outlet mall.  The mall is actually not a mall but just stores located in the heart of the city.   They take up about 8 city blocks.   Parking is a nightmare, as you have to find a parking lot (far and few in between) or try to find street parking, which we did after about 10 min.  The cost is great, only $1 per hour. 

Had lunch while we were there at Ruby Tuesday, Bobby had a wonderful hamburger and I had the salad bar (it was excellent).

We then drove over to the Borgata Hotel, very similar to the Bellagio in LV.   In fact, Dale Chully has created the centerpiece art work, that's why we came to see this hotel.   I must say, it was packed with people, much more so than hotels in LV.  Busy obviously is great for this hotel.

On the way back to the truck, we stopped at the Borgata Bakery and had one of the banana cream moon pies, it was scrumptious.   Best one we tried so far!!!


June 26, 2016

Lazy day, so I decided to go shopping at TJ Maxx and Lenox Outlet Store.   Found a couple of things!!!

Will spend the afternoon at the pool and watching TV.

June 25, 2016


Went to Toms River, NJ in hopes of connecting with our niece Val, but when we arrived at her house, found out she works on weekends.  We did hear from here later and we'll connect later in the week.   

When she called, we were heading towards Seaside, so she told us to have lunch at the Sawmill, it's a lunch spot on the boardwalk, known for it's pizza.   We parked the car in the middle and then headed south on the boardwalk.   This area is similar to the AC (Atlantic City) boardwalk but the stores are so much nicer and have great merchandize. 

Walked to the end where the Sawmill was located and had lunch.  We shared a piece of pizza as they are huge slices.   It was good
thin crust pizza.

Headed back to the North after lunch, looking thru the shops, watching kids play games, etc.  It's a beautiful day (78 degrees) so we are enjoying being outside.

Around 2:30 we head home, then I go over to a local fruit stand to look around.  The flowers are incredible, if only I could get them home with me.    Just afraid if we go into Canada, they'd take them away.


June 24, 2016

Cape May Lighthouse

 Cape May is about an hour south of us, so we head there.   Once we find the beach, our first stop is the lighthouse area.   Here you can walk up the lighthouse, go to the beach or look around the outside of the old bunker 223 (it's from WWII era).  

WWII Tower

Next we drive to the WWII Fire Tower, this tower (similar to a lighthouse) was built in three days during WWII.  It was to defend us from a possible foreign attack, which never came.   When you get to the top, there is a gentlemen who tells you all about the tower and surrounding area.   Very informative and worth the cost to climb.

We then drove to the beach area near this tower, looked through the few shops (bought a Christmas gift for a friend) and looked at the remains of a ship called Atlantus.   It's one of 12 concrete ships built during WWII.   The gentleman who bought this ship has hopes of making it a tourist stop but a hurricane caused so much damage to it, it never came to fruition.  Today it's a fish habitat.

Shipwreck Atlantus

We then drove to the east side of Cape May, looked around and visited a fish market.   We could see the rain coming, so we headed home via hwy 9.   Had the opportunity to see some of the damage from the storm a few days ago.  

Got home around 3:30, just in time as skies opened up.   Found out later, Cape May area got 2" of rain, we got less than 1/2"




June 23, 2016

It's raining so we decide to go get me a haircut at a place about 15 miles away.   On the way back, we stopped at Historic Smithville.   This area is a small community that has 50 shops that we visited.   They are your local tourist stuff.   We did buy a loaf off bread at the bakery, but otherwise didn't find anything I couldn't live without.

Got home, still raining so we did a little house work.   Later in the afternoon, we did laundry and by then sun was out so we went swimming!

June 22, 2016

Absecon Lighthouse

Being crowned M

Atlantic City is about 25 miles from us, so that's our destination for today.   We arrive around 9 and headed to Gilchrist Restaurant for breakfast.  We had some of the best pancakes we've had in a long time.   They were thin and almost like a crepe.  Bobby had plain ones, while I had blueberry.  Yum!!  While here we also saw our first horseshoe crab, looks similar to a stingray vs. crab.

We then drove down towards the water, it's the north end and honestly it is nothing like the south end (learned this later in the day).  It was pretty much destroyed and what was not destroyed, hurricane Sandy removed the rest.   All that's left is pilings. 

Atlantic City from Steel Pier

We then went to Absecon Lighthouse, third tallest in USA, but closed today.  Will come see again later in the week.

Boardwalk

Board walk is about 1/2 mile from lighthouse, so we found a parking lot ($5) and walked the 1/2 block to the boardwalk.   It's nothing what I had imagined, very long and there's three main pier off it.   We walked from the middle south to the Tropicana and then to the North to Taj Mahal and then back to the car.  That's 7.35 miles or 16,442 steps!!!!   It's hot very, close to 90 but humid, however if you catch the breeze it's very nice but the hotels block most of it, making the boardwalk hot.
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Atlantic City and beach

We went thru many of the shops along the boardwalk, most tee-shirts, beach stuff, your typical beach stores.   We are going back on Sat. to see fireworks, might by a tee-shirt then.   Had lunch at Johnny Rockets, great lunch.

The boardwalk is home to the Miss America pageant, we took pics by the statue.  Fun to imitate Miss America getting the crown.

Steel Pier

Also saw the worlds largest Pipe Organ, has over 31,000 pipes.   We will go back and take a tour on Wednesday as we couldn't today because of a show going on the hall.   We did however listen to a concert from the small organ, 4,000 pipes.

On the way home, found a geocash, so now we have NJ...Yeah.   It's 4:30, so we are done for the day!!!!   Feet hurt but had fun.

June 21, 2016

View of LBI from Lighthouse

It's raining and we are supposed to have a major thunderstorm and large hail this afternoon!  Not my favorite thing, but getting better about getting through these storms.

Barnegat Lighthouse

Around 9 we headed out to see the Barnegat Lighthouse.  It's located on the northern tip of Long Beach Island in Barnegat Light, NJ.   This is your typical beach town, exept it's spread out over 6 miles.    It has the usual stores, etc.

Once we arrived at lighthouse, we took the walk out on the walkway to look at the ocean.  It was amazing that the breeze cooled it down 10 degrees, making it wonderful.   We then headed into the lighthouse and took the 228 steps to the top for the incredible view.    It's a stunning view, looking out towards the Atlantic and up and down the LBI (Long Beach Island).

We know the storm is coming so we decide to head home after stopping for a few groceries.  Got home just in time, as around 3, the storm is here.   We'll spend the remainder of the day inside, safe and sound.


June 20, 2016

We left Stevensville, Maryland around 9:30, as we had to pickup our mail at the post office.   It took us about 4 hrs to get to our next destination, made a couple of stops along the way at the visitors centers.   On the east coast, they have incredible rest stops, they are located usually in the middle of the freeway, shared by both directions of the traffic.  They have restaurants, gas, etc.  The last one even had a farmers market!   Very nice!!

Chestnut Lake

We'll be staying at Chestnut Lake RV Park for 10 days.   This will give us time to just relax plus see all the sites, including Philadelphia, while we are here.

Once settled in, we headed to the pool....it's extremely hot with the temp and humidity.   Temps are in the 90's, but the humidity makes it feel like it's in the 100's.