June 9th – 12th, 2016 – Our 50th Anniversary Getaway Weekend in Cape May NJ

Thursday, June 9th – Arrival in Cape May

For our 50th anniversary, we decided to head off for a romantic and relaxing weekend in

Cape May (written in the sand), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

where we reserved a room at the Rhythm of the Sea

Rhythm of the Sea B&B, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

situated right across from the beach!

Rhythm of the Sea B&B behind Rescue Boat from the Beach, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

After checking in we crossed Beach Avenue for a walk along the ocean

Waves Breaking over a Jetty at Cape May Beach, Cape May, NJ 2013-06-09

Storm Drain Pilings, Beach at Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-09

where, among other sights, we spied a pod of dolphins feeding just off the beach,

Dolphins off Cape May Beach (b), Cape May, NJ 2013-06-09

Dolphins off Cape May Beach (c), Cape May, NJ 2013-06-09

A pair of Mallard Ducks

Mallard Ducks in the Surf at Cape May Beach, Cape May, NJ 2013-06-09

and a walking bouquet of flowers.

Floral Tattooed Lady at Cape May Beach, Cape May, NJ 2013-06-09

Back at our B&B, we sat on the front porch and indulged in the fruit and cheese plate and bottle of wine we found in our room.  Having thus spoiled our appetite, we found local restaurant

Oceanview Diner, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

for a light dinner of BLT’s and enjoyed some of the roses blooming alongside the building.

Pink Rose , Oceanview Diner, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

Purple-tipped Yellow Rose , Oceanview Diner, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

 From there we headed for Sunset Beach, passing Cape May’s World War II Lookout Tower (Fire Control Tower No. 23),

World War II Lookout Tower, Sunset Beach, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

the last remaining vestige of the immense Harbor Defense of the Delaware system known as Fort Miles.  Built in 1942, it was one of 15 towers that helped aim batteries of coastal artillery.

Just after arriving at the beach, a loudspeaker system announced that the ceremony for “retiring the colors(lowering the flag), held each evening between Memorial and Labor Days, was about to begin.  Preceded by a recording of “God Bless America” sung by Kate Smith and the playing of the National Anthem, the solemn ceremony followed.

Lowering of the Colors Ceremony (a), Sunset Beack, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

Lowering of the Colors Ceremony (b), Sunset Beack, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09You can tell the veterans in the audience as they salute during the ceremony

Lowering of the Colors Ceremony (c), Sunset Beack, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

Lowering of the Colors Ceremony (d), Sunset Beack, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

With some high, thin cirrus clouds this evening sunset was beautiful as it set behind the remaining skeleton of 250’, 3,000 ton concrete-hulled freighter.

AtlantusDue to a critical shortage of steel during World War I, the federal government turned to experimental design concrete ships.  Of the 38 planned, only 12 were ever put into service.  After the end of War, more efficient steel ships were again available and the “Concrete Fleet” was decommissioned.  In 1926, Atlantus was later towed from Norfolk to Cape May to serve as a ferry.  However, on June 8th of that year, the ship broke free of its mooring during a storm and went aground. 

Sun Setting Behind Hull of the 'Atlantus' (f), Sunset Beach, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

Sun Setting Behind Hull of the 'Atlantus' (g), Sunset Beach, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

Sun Setting Behind Hull of the 'Atlantus' (h), Sunset Beach, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

Sun Setting Behind Hull of the 'Atlantus' (l), Sunset Beach, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

Sun Setting Behind Hull of the 'Atlantus' (p), Sunset Beach, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

 

Friday, June 10th – Our 50th Anniversary

On a Friday, fifty years ago today, Debbie Louis and I met at

St.Marys ChurchSt Mary's Church, Newtown Lower Falls, MA

and left as husband and wife!

18,263 days later, we woke early, dressed, grabbed scones and coffee from our B&B and headed across the street to sit … out of a cool morning breeze … in the lee of a rescue boat on the beach.

2016-06-10 - Debbie and Dick on the Beach early AM, Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-10

Later, walking the beach striated with tracks from the beach tractor which cleans and levels the sand every night,

Tracks on the Beachwe chatted with several surf fishermen,

Man Fishing Early AM, Beach, Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-10saw two sailboats heading seaward

Lighthouse and Sailboats Early AM, Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-10and a life guard working out in one of the iconic Cape May life boats,

Lifeguard (b)

Lifeguard (c)found an abandoned, wind-torn beach umbrella,

Umbrellawatched several American  Oystercatchers,

American Oystercatcher (b), Beach, Cape May, NK - 2016-06-10and ran into another walker who, it turns out, lives less than three miles from us … small world.

 

Then back to our B&B for a great breakfast before heading out on our bikes to ride through many of the streets of Cape May where the architecture is captivating, from the traditional and historic …

Building Architecture (e), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Building Architecture (f), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Building Architecture (g), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Building Architecture (h), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Building Architecture (i), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Building Architecture (j), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Building Architecture (k), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Building Architecture (a), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10to the more contemporary (and obviously pricey).

Building Architecture (b), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Building Architecture (d), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10\ Building Architecture (c), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Walking our bikes along the Washington Street Walking Mall, we passed a carved wooden memorial plaque to fishermen who were lost at sea,

Carved Wooden Plaque Dedicated to Fishermen Lost at Sea, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10a public town clock,

Public Clock, Washngton Street, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10a public collection of “Cape May Love Locks”

Love Lock Display, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10and Our lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church.

Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church (a), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church (b), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church (Nave), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church (Stain Glass Window), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10

In our rambling, we also discovered that Cape May celebrates one of my favorite foods!

Home of the Lima Bean Festival, Cape May Borough, NJ - 2016-06-10

Then off to see the Cape May Lighthouse

Cape May Lighthouse (c), Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-10

Cape May Lighthouse (b), Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-10withits avian apartment complexes

Birdhouse, Cape May Lighthouse, Cape May, NJ 2016-06-10

and World War II concrete bunkers just a few hundred yards away,

Concrete Bunker,Currituck Beach, Lighthouse Avenue, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-10It was never meant to be permanent, but the massive concrete bunker built as a military structure during World War II is still sitting out on the beach in Cape May County, New Jersey, startling visitors to the area and dismissed as just a fact of life by the locals. The concrete building, complete with walls that measure seven feet thick, was constructed on top of thick wooden pilings that had yet to give out, even if the rest of the structure is in less-than-ideal shape.

and a nearby nature preserve and bird sanctuary where we saw a Red-winged Blackbird,

Redwing Blackbird (b), Cape May Lighthouse, Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-10Osprey in flight,

Osprey, Cape May Lighthouse, Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-10

and more than three dozen Swans.

Swan (b), Cape May Lighthouse, Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-10

This evening we had a quiet dinner at the Marion Inn

2016-06-10 - Diebbie and Dick - 50th Anniversary Dinner, Merion Inn, Cape May, NJ

Walking back along the beach we posed under a wedding arch used just hours earlier by a couple just starting out their married lives.

2016-06-10 - Diebbie and Dick - Near the Beach, Cape May, NJ

We climbed one of teh life guard chairs and watched the pink after glow of the sunset before finally returning to our Bed & Breakfast. 

We only hope the next 50 years are as incredible, healthy, fun and full of love as the first! 50!

 

Saturday, June 11th – Our Third Day in Cape May

We again took advantage of getting to the beach before the tag checkers showed up as it gave us another chance to walk along the ocean and then hunker down in one of the rescue boats to enjoy our morning coffee.

Rhythm of the Sea B&B behind Rescue Boat from the Beach, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-09

After delicious breakfast with Paul, a frequent guest sometimes unofficial greeter at the Rhythm of the Sea, we struck out to explore more of the island … yes, Cape May is technically an island … on our bikes.  And, as it is now Saturday, the traffic is noticeably heavier than the past two days.

We visited the Harbor area with its fleet of fishing boats

Fishing Boats at Cape May Harbor (d), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-11

Fishing Boats at Cape May Harbor (b), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-11and the Fisherman’s Memorial, dedicated to those who went to sea and never returned.

Fisherman's Monument (c), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-11A wife and mother looking seaward awaiting a husband who will never return

Fisherman's Monument (b), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-11

Fisherman's Monument (a), Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-11When looking at the dates and names engraved on the stone, you note that in 1983 there were nine people lost including two with the same last name and in 2009 six men perished including three with the same last name … suggesting a tragedy similar to the fate of the Andrea Gail (subject of the “Perfect Storm”)

Just 20 yards away is a beach where scores of horseshoe crabs were lying dead for no apparent reason we could discover.

Horseshoe Crab Shells

There was a small home in the shape of a house boat where the owners were affixing patriotic bunting in anticipation of Flag Day (Tuesday),

House Shaped like a Boat, Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-11an additional water tower to add to Debbie’s growing collection,

Coast Guard Water Tower, Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-11

The ubiquitous body art

Tattooed Man, Cape, May, NJ - 2106-06-11

Tattooed Woman, Cape, May, NJ - 2106-06-11

Near the city’s convention center, we discovered a plaque commemorating the Dutch explorer, Captain Cornelius Jacobson Mey who founded Cap May (spelled with an “a” rather than an ”e”) in 1621. 

Captain Cornelius Jacobson Mey Plaque, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-11This stimulated us to do a little research into the early history of the area.

The earliest inhabitants of the peninsula we call Cape May were the Kechemeche Indians of the Lenni-Lenape tribe who mainly hunted these grounds.  Following sighting by Sir Henry Hudson in 1609, and exploration by Cornelius Jacobsen Mey in 1621, the first residents purchased land from the Indians in the 1630s and developed a prosperous fishing and whaling industry. English colonists from Connecticut and Massachusetts, by the late 17th century, had further developed whaling and introduced farming to this area now known as Cape Island.

In 1766, that Cape Island’s development as a place where many resort for their health and pleasure began.  The visitors came first from Philadelphia, by horse-drawn wagons, stagecoaches, sloops and schooners.  They were housed in very rustic public houses, taverns, and resident homes.  At the turn of the century, advertisement in the Philadelphia papers described the beautiful situation of Cape May, the sea-bathing, and the fish, oysters and crabs to eat and enjoy! 

By 1834, there were six boarding houses and Cape Island began to attract the elite of New York, Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia. Hotel size increased in ensuing years – the New Atlantic, built in 1842, could accommodate 300 guests. Music pavilions and ballrooms blossomed.  A two week stay by Henry Clay, in 1847, reinforced Cape Island’s position as the major seaside retreat in the country, and so began its reign as the Queen of the Seaside Resorts.

The 1850s included grand renovations of Congress Hall, visits from Presidents Franklin Pierce and Benjamin Harrison, another hotel fire, the Mansion House in 1857, and the construction of a new lighthouse in 1859, that still exists today.  The Civil War and Cape Island’s pledge of support for the Union in December 1860, caused the southern patrons to disappear overnight.  It was the completion of the railroad from Philadelphia to Cape Island, in 1863, that signaled the next development of the resort island – the Cottage Era – the parceling of land into lots for Philadelphia families to build their own summer homes.

The most devastating fire of all, in 1878, destroyed 35 acres of the city from Congress Hall over to Ocean Street. Cape May decided to rebuild itself as a smaller scaled-down version of its pre-fire era – homes and businesses were built in Queen Anne, Gothic and American bracketed styles. The decision not to compete with modern popular resorts preserved the town’s character so many find attractive today.

After walking through a craft fair, we grabbed a quick lunch at

Bagel Time Cafe

We walked a local craft fair, with the predictable juwelry, baby clothing and pther types of booths.  However, what was extremely interesting was a method we'd never seen of decorating silk.  Paints are floated on a tank of still water.  The cilk is laid on the top of the inks and then removed and wrung out.  Absolutely fascinating!

Silk Printing (a)

Silk Printing (b)

Silk Printing (d)

Silk Printing (e)

Silk Printing (f)

Before returning to the Rhythm by the Sea … but not before picking up a cold bottle of wine!

Just before getting back, we saw one of the horse-drawn carriages with newlyweds.

Newlyweds in Horse-drawn Carriage, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-11

Around 5:00 PM, we enjoyed the wine along with some cheese … and really didn’t feel like a big dinner.  We stopped at the second story bar at

Harry'swhere we had a great view of the beach and ocean

Ocean Viewand people flying kites.

Kite

But, by then, even another drink was not on the top of our agenda.  So off for the mile long walk to the Washington Street Walking Mall

Washington Street Mallpassing more interesting and beautiful architecture

Building Architecture (b), Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-11

Building Architecture, Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-11

Building Architecture (a), Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-11before arriving for what became our dinner at

Ben & Jerry's

Enroute back to our B&B, we were treated to yet another of nature’s shows  … a gorgeous sunset afterglow!

Sunset Afterglow (a)

Sunset Afterglow (b)

 

Sunday, June 12, 2016 – Last Day

I woke just after 5:00 AM and took my daily tablet of Synthroid.  Not being tired, I dressed and quietly and after leaving a note for Debbie, I snuck out of our room, crossed the street, walked across the beach and climbed up a life guard chair.  From there I had a ringside seat to a beautiful sunrise.

Sunrise (a), Over the Beach at Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-12

Sunrise (b), Over the Beach at Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-12

Sunrise (c), Over the Beach at Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-12

Sunrise (d), Over the Beach at Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-12

Sunrise (e), Over the Beach at Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-12

Sunrise (f), Over the Beach at Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-12         

Meanwhile, it was impossible not to become mesmerized by the endless motion and sounds of the waves relentlessly coming ashore.

Surf (b)

Surf (d)

Surf (a)

Surf (c)

However, even before Debbie finally woke and joined me, I was not alone.

Gull

Laughing Gull

Gull in Flight

Gull (a)

After she joined me,

Debbie

we walked north until we reached he boundaries of the U.S. Coast Guards enlisted basic training facility … where it is clear visitors are not welcomed!

Waringing Signs (a) at Coast Guard Enlisted Station, Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-12

Waringing Signs (b) at Coast Guard Enlisted Station, Cape May, NJ - 2106-06-12

Heading back to our B&B, we passed a pair of lonesome chairs which had survived the night and winds still gusting over 20 MPH,

Abandoned Beach Chairs, Cape May, NJ - 2016-06-12

And a man launching and flying colorful kite.

Kite 1

Kite 2

Kite 3

Kite 4

After another wonderful breakfast … today, Belgian waffles, Canadian bacon and fresh fruit, we packed up and headed home after what was truly a wonderful and memorable weekend!

 

 

 

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