Thursday, Oct 22 When you don’t plan ahead . . . you don’t get a camping spot for Halloween!! ANYWHERE! But, we were able to cuddle in at Harrison Lake State Park the weekend before Halloween. Plans were for Caleb and Halie to Join us, but that nose-dived when Caleb had to work on Saturday. This week we have had a cold spell and lots of rain, but by Thursday morning it was clearing up. By 8:00 a.m. the rain quit, but we gave the fog a few more hours to burn off before we left. Stopping at Bryan for a KFC fill-up, the fog was mostly gone by the time we reached the campground at 12:30. The cold temperatures lasted a bit longer, but by 3:00 it was 70 degrees and sunny and fall colors were in display. On a Thursday afternoon, the campground was mostly empty! We have gotten into a trend of having a lot of our food semi-prepared and pre-cooked and in the freezer when camping. This trip was going to be all about cooking (from raw) and tonight’s menu was Chuck Wagon Chili – beef, pork, bacon, beer, onions, broths, dark chocolate, lots of spices, and no beans! I prepped everything and Tom browned it all in the Dutch oven; then it simmered uncovered for two hours – outside in the Dutch oven! Was delicious! During all of this we enjoyed a fire in our biolite fire-pit and moved it up close to the awning where we sat and enjoyed it till dark. By 7:00 it was dark and Tom fired up the TV (television, not the tow vehicle!) to make sure we could tune in the last Presidential Debate. I ended up not watching, but Tom said both candidates mostly behaved this time around. Friday, Oct 23 Breakfast was hash and eggs. We cheated . . . we pulled the homemade hash out of the freezer. I had slow-cooked a brisket and converted it to hash status by adding diced potatoes and onion and letting it slowly absorb a bit of beef broth – then I froze it. Tom fried it up in the cast iron griddle, added cracked eggs, and cooked the whole thing so the eggs were nicely runny, and the hash was slightly crispy on the edges. We were too busy eating to get pictures! The morning was beautiful, and Tom took Charlie for a long walk and I finished a book. With the late breakfast we skipped lunch and patiently waited for the thunder/rain/storm that we knew would hit in the afternoon . . . 3:31 to be exact! There was a steady trickle of campers arriving all afternoon and it was supposed to be full for the weekend. At times the rain was nearly horizontal, but the worst only lasted an hour. By 5:00 it was almost sunny again, and campers were still coming in and setting up. But, the temperature was on the way down heading for the mid-30’s tonight. Our menu tonight was a chile-dog bake: hot dogs wrapped in tortillas, laid on a thick bed of diced onion, smothered in in Cincinnati Chili, and covered in cheddar cheese and BAKED! Evening entertainment: We have always loved the old book and movie “Rebecca.” Hearing that Netflix had done a remake, we had both downloaded it on our iPads ready for a movie night. Partly because it was Ohio State Game Day (at noon) and partly because it was cold and damp – we cooked breakfast and came home. The two days that we were at Harrison Lake had quenched our camping craving until the next time. We’re just not ready to give it up for the season, yet!
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Oct 10, Saturday Warmer and cloudy this morning, and supposed to stay like that all day! Our plan is . . . nothing! Nothing started with a big breakfast: eggs, sausage links, and toast. The little Silvermine oasis under our awning is relaxing and surprisingly full of things to do: movies, books, music, basket-making, napping. If that gets dull, we can always venture inside the Silvermine or head for walks around this vast campground. My book about the 1916 Jersey Shore shark attacks is great, and if I can sit another 5 hours, I’ll be able to finish it! The only picture today is our hang-out space by the Silvermine. Because of the big breakfast, lunch was just a little light snacking. Dinner was straight out of the freezer – BBQ ribs made/frozen at home and reheated on the grill . . . a nice change from seafood! Tom had also been hoarding a bottle of Boones Hill wine (yes, it is his favorite memory-lane drink!) and we emptied that before the meal even began. Then, there was a general picking up/packing up of the campsite to assist a quick launch in the morning. Oct 11 Sunday
It sure stays dark longer in the morning and we woke up and waited for it to get a bit lighter! We were hooked up by 7:30 and 669 miles, 11 hours, and 6 states later (New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Virginia, and Ohio) we were home! Oct 9, Friday Fifty-five and sunny at 7:30 a.m. Two eggs over easy, with hash browns and bacon, please, Tom! Today we stayed close to home, only driving 5 miles down the road to Sea Isle. At 10:00 a.m. activity was on the slow side on the beach, along the boardwalk and in the stores. This suited us just fine as we shared the oceanside walkway with bright sun , 68 degrees, and just a few bikers, walkers, and joggers. On the way back to the campground we dropped into Mike’s Seafood Market & Dock again – this time to buy some seafood to put in the freezer for home . . . and to pick up a dock-side menu. Back at the Silvermine at 1:00, we sank into the Silvermine enjoying every minute of the camping lifestyle. I finished a book and worked on a basket while Tom watched a movie and walked. I started a new book: "Close to Shore" by Michael Capouzzo. It is a true story of a Great White Shark that swam up the Jersey coast in 1916, killing people as it went; this was the first documented accounts of shark attacks on humans! At this time "ocean bathing" was just becoming a "thing", although heading to the seashore for relaxation and cool breezes had been popular for awhile. The book is a good description on period life at the Jersey seashore where we are loving seeing the architecture from 100 years ago! Following 5 hours of idleness at its best . . . we headed out to eat. We knew it would be somewhere in Fish Alley, but just not sure which restaurant. Remembering two years ago the wonderful food at Carmen’s and the outdoor on-the-dock eating, we opted for that. Their portions are just so big that we settled for a split of the grilled shrimp and scallops, French fries, onion rings, bread and salad. . . less than $35! Had we only known it was a BYOB establishment . . . we ordered water. Tomorrow will be our last day on the shore before we head for home! Here is a Google/Earth view of where we have been for the last few days!
Thursday, October 8 Today was moving day . . . just 60 miles on down the Jersey Parkway to Ocean View, NJ. We stayed at this campground several years ago, and knew it was huge and nice. Hundreds of campsites nicely wooded and spread out, game rooms, snack bars, café, 9 beautiful bath houses, laundry, private lake with beach and boats to rent . . . you get the idea. At this time of year it is mostly unoccupied, and we are delighted to probably be the only ones using our bath house across the street. We set up, fixed and ate lunch, and headed off at 12:30. Our first destination was just 4 miles away: across the Garden State Parkway to the coast and the little town of Sea Isle City, under the FISH ALLEY archway to Mike’s Seafood. It claims to be “where the locals go for fresh seafood” and has a wonderful story about how Lodovico and Rosina came from Naples, Italy, in 1919, and ended up in Sea Isle City to open their fish market. That is as far South as their money would take them on the train. It is still run today by their 3rd generation, Mike . . . who says "If they had gone North, I would be living in the Hamptons!" We bought one lobster tail and two large crab clusters – going to do a little taste comparison of lobster vs crab! We also bought some stuffed shrimp to take home. We raced the seafood back to the trailer to refrigerate and headed out again heading south on the oceanside highway . . . destination Cape May, the southern tip of the Jersey Shoreline. Cape May is as far South as you can go on the Jersey Shore Coast. It has all the Seashore amenities of beaches and beach-side brick promenades, but it also boasts history that goes back to native Indians, followed by Quakers, Pirates (Captain Kidd!) railroads as early as 1761, and the Underground Railroad! It is known as the first seashore resort in America, and because of the many Presidents that have vacationed here it is known as the “President’s Playground!” We followed the highway along the seashore for about 20 miles, and drove through all the little towns. In Cape May we parked near the downtown Washington Square, but couldn’t walk the downtown stores as dogs were not allowed. We kept to the periphery and enjoyed the Halloween decorations of many of the residences near the downtown area. Cape May is known for its architecture, featuring fancy gables, gingerbread trim, stained glass windows and turrets. Having done the downtown, we headed for the Cape May State Park and Cape May Lighthouse. The present tower, which is the third lighthouse at the southern tip of NJ, has been an aide to navigation for mariners since it was built in 1859. We did not climb the 199 steps to the top – the price was too steep! We took the quick trip (Garden State Parkway) back to our campsite where only formality left for the day . . . was to cook the lobster tail and the crab. Lobster tail = good. Crab = very good. (Dare I whine that they aren’t as good as Maine Lobster and Alaskan Crab?)
Wednesday, Oct 7 It was not nearly as chilly this morning at 6:45 when Charlie roused Tom out of bed for a morning walk! Tom cooked pancakes outside, but we ate breakfast inside. Our dinette window was wide open with a good view of the geese as they made their morning appearance – they leave every night at dusk! Our trip today was a drive down the Barnegat Bay area of the Jersey Shore. The Garden State Parkway is the principal North/South road along the Atlantic Ocean, and just a few miles east is Route 9. Then there is the large Barnegat Bay that is sheltered by long sandspits and barrier islands. There are two East/West roads that lead across the bay and onto the sandspit, and that road merges from one little named seaside settlement to the next without a beginning or end. The whole thing is part of the New Jersey Heritage Coastal trail run by the National Park Service (300 miles and 5 distinct areas.) We traveled about 50 miles of the trail. It surprises me that it is very much post-season along the shore. Mile after mile of ocean-front rentals are empty! Of course, this means the restaurants and tourist industry up and down the main strip are also closed. I hope all those people don’t realize that they missed a perfect, cloudless, 72-degree-day! On a side note -- patriotism seemed to be alive and well! Once we were on the sandspit, we headed north to Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. The lighthouse was first built in 1834, had to be rebuilt several times, and then was shut down in 1927 and made a state park in 1951. There were nice walkways out onto the beach, high-rise walkways full of fishermen, and a closed visitor center. There was a lot of history . . . and even a massacre on the beach! On the way back we searched out a seafood market and settled on two Halibut filets – local catch. By 2:30 we were in our places above the stream, enjoying a very brisk breeze and wonderful 74-degree temps. Tomorrow we pack up and move on down the coast and will camp just north of Cape May.
October 6, Tuesday The only thing better than Tom’s hash & eggs for breakfast . . . is when the hash is home made from a brisket that has been smoked and cooked, sliced into cubes, with diced potatoes added! With that under our belts, we were ready to go exploring for the day. Our objective was to drive to Ocean Grove, 18 miles north of us, and again explore the town where my parents met 80 years ago. Three years ago when we visited it was rainy and cold . . .how much better it was this time around with sunshine and 70 degrees! In 1869 several Methodist ministers camped on New Jersey’s seashore and decided to build a permanent Christian camp meeting community and call it Ocean Grove. It started as a tent city, followed by a wooden auditorium, and in 1894 the Great Auditorium that now stands was finished. Originally built to seat 10,000 people it resulted in Ocean Grove being known as the “Queen of Religious Resorts.” The community’s land is still unincorporated and is still owned by the camp meeting association and leased to individual homeowners and businesses. It is the longest-active camp meeting site in the United States. Directly surrounding the Great Auditorium to this day is a tent city. The tents are put up seasonally April thru September and have permanent wooden foundations and a wooden shed on the back side that houses a kitchen and bathroom. During the winter months the shed stores the tent canvas. The last time we were here the tents were up in colorful magnificence, but it was just as interesting this time to see the tent frames, platforms, and sheds without the actual tents. A tent rents for $4,000-$6,000 per summer, and tents are booked 10 years in advance. Another unique feature of Ocean Grove is the Victorian architecture . . . street after street of “painted ladies;” the largest collection of Victorian homes in the entire country – all packed into only 0.372 square miles! We parked and walked some of the main streets that lead from the ocean, beach, and boardwalk to the Great Auditorium. Oh, if I could only peek through to 80 years ago when my parents met here! I did my best, comparing their picture on the front porch of their boarding house, to all the front porches up and down the main street. If this is not it, it is very close! We left Ocean Grove feeling like we had really experienced it, this time, like my parents did in 1940. On the return trip we took the ocean-side road while follows the barrier islands – it was 71 degrees and beautiful. We stopped at Shore Fresh Seafood Market/Restaurant to check over the local catch, and ended up eating fish sandwich and Lobster Roll on the outdoor patio. There was still a lot of lovely afternoon to enjoy our private little creek-side outlook at the campsite. Our Canadian Geese and Mallard Ducks are very entertaining, and are starting to have distinct personalities! We ate scallops (from the seafood market) and steak for dinner and planned our outing for tomorrow.
My parents met at Ocean Grove, the first week of June in 1940 at the National Brethren Convention; my mother was the daughter of a Tennessee Old Order Brethren Minister (the Reverend Reuel B. Pritchett) and my father of an Indiana Old Order Brethren Minister (Dr. Edward Kintner.) The Midwest Hoosier lifestyle of Indiana was about to collide with the old-world mountain traditions of eastern Tennessee! Here is how my father wrote the details in his book “Events in the life of Elgin Perry Kintner. A Personal Journal.” It was at an Ocean Grove seaside resort hotel that Robert Merrit (Elgin’s brother) and I put up for the conference. The hotel was rather breezy, with open transoms into the hallways, and open windows to the outside. On the first day, I had attended a meeting and noticed this striking southern girl speak up at a discussion meeting. The following morning, the same vocalization came floating through the transom. Ethel was calling her father who occupied the room next to hers. We were across the hall. “Do you hear that southern gall talk?”, I asked Bob. He did. I did, later in the day at another meeting. I wasted no time in introducing myself. One thing led to another and it was evident I had fallen in love with Ethel Pritchett. We did many things together – some with Bob, and with Reuel Pritchett, her father. Both John Pritchett, Reuel’s brother and “Little” John Pritchett, Ethel’s cousin, were at the meeting too. Ethel was talking about going into airline stewardess work. I figured if she did that, I would never see her again – some pilot would marry her and I wouldn’t have a chance. After the meeting, we went our separate ways as we had planned before we met. We got into a daily writing habit. Once in the fall, I hitchhiked to visit her in Roanoke, and then we made plans for her to move to Indianapolis in the fall of 1941 before we hoped to get married the following spring of 1942 (April 4). What wonderful anticipation of plans for the future were developing. I grew up knowing this story, but I had never been to Ocean Grove until we found ourselves “passing by” in late June, 2018 . . . 78 years after my parents met! Oh, what a surprise we were in for, and oh, what little time we had to explore during our rainy 2-hour tour of Ocean Grove. I have always wanted to go back! Sunday, Oct 4 This trip began on a Sunday morning . . . not our usual day for launching a trip. The boys had a little spree to the Indianapolis Speedway on Saturday for The Harvest Grand Prix – a race limited to 10,000 people, including masking and social distancing. Tom was home by 8:00 Saturday night and we were up and off at 9:00 this morning. The drive across Ohio/Pennsylvania logged 495 miles, arriving at Harrisburg, PA by 5:30. We were not expecting the fall colors that we saw; still a mostly green background, but with pops of bright fall colors that seemed to collect in clusters. There was time to walk Charlie Button, cook supper and sit outside as it grew dark by 7:00. We have a pull-thru campsite, and the plan is to get up (no rush, Tom!) and drive the 158 miles on to the NJ shore and our destination near Ocean Grove. a.m.Monday, Oct 5 There was a light tapping of rain on the aluminum frame during the night, and a low temperature of 55 – both making for nice sleeping. With only 160 miles to go, we were anxious to get off . . . 8:30 a.m! In the car we are listening to the audio book “First Man” by James R. Hansen – the Story of Neil Armstrong. The early part was a bit tedious as Neil climbed his way from elementary school to entering the Space Program as a full-blown astronaut; then it picked up, leaving us engrossed as the story of the first moon landing played out. One thing I had not remembered: Neil got plenty of photos of Buzz Aldrin on the moon – but the only picture of Neil was his reflection in Buzz’s faceplate! To this day, that is a very regretted detail of the whole landing. By 1:00 we were set up at the Surf & Stream RV resort, a few miles from a deep inlet off the ocean and the town of Tom’s River. Our site backed right up to a small stream at a location where local geese and ducks have claimed a nice little swimming hole. This is one of those times that we are grateful for the view afforded out of the rear dinette set-up. Across the road there is a flock of fat little Guinea hens who occasionally raise a big brouhaha as a large hawk follows them in the tree tops. With site and weather so nice we were in no hurry to head out and explore, and we read and napped with the sound of the large geese slapping their wings on the water, squawking, and making noisy honking and splashing sounds. By 2:30 we were in the truck and on a quest for a seafood market. Who would have known that seafood markets take Monday off! After our 5th strike-out, and on our way back to the campground we saw a small “Clams, Crabs & More” hut, and pulled in. She admitted to being open on Monday because every/other seafood place was closed. Only a few of her selections were “home grown,” and we put our $ on the jumbo (true whoppers) shrimp . . . from Brazil! At this point, seafood . . . is seafood! It turned out to be wonderful, and we were not able to eat the whole pound that we purchased. As we got to know Surf & Stream RV resort, we saw that our site is indeed the prime site, and even has a privacy fence down one side of it! The rest of the campground is occupied by grungy permanent residents, with derelict trailers. I’ll never again second-guess when a campground sets “standard” for a trailer! Never mind! Our site is a wonderful little slice of Jersey paradise for the next three days.
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October 2021
We don’t go camping any more . . . we go ‘streamin’ ! The “SIlvermine and His” is our 2018 25' Airstream Serenity with Salsa interior and front twin beds., and ‘streamin’ is the name we use to describe our adventures. Stream along as we document everything from weekend trips to longer summer excursions and full-blown vacations. You know what they say: if you’re not in an Airstream – you’re just camping!
Tom & Ella Brown |