Like many of my friends, I have
enjoyed a few beach vacations over the years. My family vacationed in
Florida when I was in fourth grade. We stayed on Collins Avenue in Miami
Beach at the Sans Souci Hotel. There are impressionable moments that I
carry with me - this is one. Santa stood on a corner, under a palm tree,
wearing red velvet shorts. Even though we are Jewish, I never forgot that
incongruent vision; no sleigh, no snow, just ho-ho-ho! At twelve we wound
our way from Mexico City to Acapulco. As in Florida beach days were
requisite - now I had seen both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. And
though we lived close to The Rockaways on Long Island Sound and Asbury Park,
New Jersey, I don't recall any forays to shorelines beside the two aforementioned
family trips.
I honeymooned in Italy one year
past the actual wedding day. My wusband and I swam at the Isle of Capri
and Taormina in Sicily. Warm, calm Mediterranean waters. Of course,
when one is young and lovestruck a bottle of Aquafina seems idyllic.
Nonetheless I am grateful for this European vacation celebrating what was
supposed to be a lifetime of bliss. I also had no idea that the next 40
years would not afford a return visit.
I've been to Jamaica where it
rained most of the time. The Bahamas where I conceived my second
child. We flew there in a Volkswagen with wings, piloted by a friend who
barely had a license to fly. While it was great to spy fish from the air,
because of how low we flew over the waters from Palm Beach, it was also a bit
terrifying. In my ex's and my epic adventure of 1987, we saw much
of the Pacific coastline from Seattle to San Francisco and the Atlantic from
Florida to Maine. We also drove out to the Keys, and that was a most
memorable leg of our year-long road trip.
What I am saying is this; every
ocean vacation I have ever had involved rainy days and day trips inland, and
basically little time at the actual beach! This year, I decided to do
something about that. My brother lives in a laid back beach enclave
called Avon by the Sea. I put it upon him to put feelers out for a
reasonably priced beach rental. I had looked on Airbnb and every inquiry
was answered with "That's not the price". So why was it on the
website? I don't know, and all I need to remind myself of is that is what
led me to find a private party to rent from. So, Harry asked around and
found me a pretty sweet rental for the month of June.
When I saw the pics and the
address (Ocean Avenue) I knew I was about as close to the sand as one can get.
That didn't stop my cousin from commenting how it would be nice if I were
closer, and there are some places right on the beach. I don't
respond to these comments because I know that 100 steps to the strand is much
closer than anywhere in Colorado is to an ocean. About 1,000 miles to the
Pacific and almost twice that to the Atlantic to be imprecise. So really,
how limiting is a car park and a beach road before I can touch my toes to the
sand?
The view from my balcony
The place is lovely. Well
appointed, comfy bed, a balcony with a bird's eye view of the surf. To
the north is Bradley Beach and a scenic walkway called the Promenade.
Nice paver stones on the path above the sand. There are vintage photos
attached to the railings that allow my imagination to wander backwards.
North of that is Asbury Park, and in past years my brother and I have walked
there. I'm only four days into my stay - give me time! Just mere
steps to the south is the boardwalk that goes the entire stretch of Avon.
There are many benches to sit on and watch the water and wonder. There
are a few pavilions to take a break from the sun. There is a playground
on the beach for kiddos. There is even an outdoor town pool that I can
walk to from my condo. The boardwalk ends at a drawbridge that spans the Shark
River. I hope that name is just for dramatic effect, and not that it is
actually shark infested. Which just reminded me as I typed, that I have
been to the Rockaways. It was shortly after the movie Jaws came out and I
wasn't keen on going in the water. No worries about that here yet - the
ocean temp is just sixty-five not so balmy degrees.
I am walking distance from a
few shops and a snack bar. I can stroll up a westward facing street and
visit my brother and his wife. Dori graciously picked me up at the
northernmost rest stop of the Garden State Parkway. I chuckled when I saw
the sign "James Gandolfini Rest Area". The man (rest his soul)
played a mafioso on The Sopranos, so to me a rest stop was a
great play on words. Dori said the name literally just changed in the
week since she had made this trip for other reasons. None as joyful as
picking up her sister-in-law, that's me, and delivering me to the beach!
Today is a 5K Walk/Run that
benefits the Avon First Aid & Safety Squad. This is old hat for Harry
who used to be a jogger; he even ran the New York City Marathon in 1987.
I have only participated in two official walks to raise money for worthy
causes. Both were in Colorado Springs - one at the Air Force Academy and
the other through Garden of the Gods. Two not so shabby views!
Today's route is unbeknownst to me - I only know that the starting point is
right outside the condo. Harry and I picked up our shirts and number bibs
on Thursday night in a light drizzle at the rescue station. (Since Dori
was cooking dinner, we got hers as well!) I had to google bib placement
as I only know how to attach bibs to infants. It seems like the front is
protocol. I debated about wearing the souvenir T-shirt and decided that
to act like a local, I needed to don that today. Harry and Dori both said
it was the nicest T-shirt ever, so I am feeling pretty lucky.
Today is a beautiful June day. The sun is shining, and I as close to the action as one can get. And by action I mean the beach and the starting line. I will probably venture out onto the sand today after my walk. I am sun screened and have a hat for the 5K. I am with my older brother and his lovely wife who has been my sister-in-law for many years. I hear there is a giveaway at the end. My fingers are crossed for two reasons; I will finish the 3.2 miles with no pain, and I will win something. I am lucky like that. In truth, I am just lucky to be at the beach right now and for the next 26 days. Ah, life is good.
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