NOVEMBER ALREADY!!

Now that Thanksgiving is almost upon us, I am finally thinking back to the first weeks of November and decided to post a few images. As usual November weather was very changeable with a few warm sunny day interspersed between the fog, the clouds and Nor'easters.

Early mornings often had beautiful sunrises as the clouds passed through on their way to sea. And the Goldenrod and October Daisies were in full bloom, causing problems for those with allergies to the pollen.

The Monarchs, though were attracted by the blossoms as they passed through in great numbers on their way south.

The sandpipers accumulated by the ocean edge to store up on food in preparation for their migration.

Pestering this lone gull by their numbers he felt required to squawk his protest.

But as the waves came in the lifted off the sand en masse to find a better spot.

As the evening approached the fishermen appeared to try their luck under the darkening clouds.

NOVEMBER COMNTINUES ON OUR ISLAND

As the month goes on, and the storms come and go -

We get some spectacular sunrises. The old adage holds true - "red skies at night, sailors delight, red skis in the morning, sailors take warning.

The shells accumulate on the water's edge.

The Cormorants join the migration south.

The waves increase in size leaving nice islands of sand,

For the Herring Gulls who winter here.

They are left to follow their own pursuits, watched by the occasional mother and child - and photographer.

The wind leaves interesting patterns in the sand at the base of the dunes.

The bay, covered with whitecaps, even at low tide throws spray over the bulkhead,

and drops waves onto the narrow beach.

But back at out house the holly tree, dug out of the pine lands nearly 70 years ago is covered with berries. It survives despite hurricanes and yearly trimming by the trash truck when we don't get to it.

Though most of our annual flowers have succumbed to the wind and salty air, the snapdragons have decided it is not yet time to give up the ghost, and bloom again.

OCTOBER ON LONG BEACH ISAND

I have been very neglectful of my blog of late, no real excuse laziness and some pleasant distractions. Enjoying several of my friend's photos and comments on their blogs have re-inspired me, so I decided to go back a month when our daughter was visiting. After our trip to the Chesapeake and the safe retrieval of the boat from Cape May where we left it as we drove home to beat the approaching bad weather, her time on the island was nearing the end. Asking what she wanted to do on her last day she responded, go to the ends of the Island.

It was a cloudy day and signs of fall were appearing in the foliage near the lighthouse in Barnegat Light at the northern end.

Golden rod appeared several places between the rocks of the jetty.

As we walked along the inlet to the beach on the ocean the light peeped through the cloud cover in a array of soft pastel colors.

On the return trip, while my daughter walked the rocks, I cut across the sand to capture this shot of Barnegat Lighthouse behind this concentration of goldenrod.

Back by the lighthouse the October Daisies were in full bloom

HOLGATE IN OCTOBER

Holgate, the southern end of Long Beach Island is always much more deserted that the northern end. Most of the area is closed during the summer as it is a bird sanctuary during the nesting season. This time of the year it is practically empty, except for the ever present gulls that is.

As the tide receded on this afternoon it left interesting patterns in the sand at the water's edge.

Away from the ocean the remains of wind blown trees stand testament to the severity of nor'eastern storms.

The tire tracks of the occasional fisherman's jeep remain long after the catch has been taken home.

The small dunes at the edge of the nesting area showed a bit of the color of fall with the bay visible in the background.

Walking back along the waters edge we met a small group of Amish people, probably visiting from Pennsylvania, enjoying the beach. They were almost the only people we encountered on our long walk.

There is nothing as pleasant as a walk on a nearly deserted beach in the fall after the crowds have departed.

BACK TO THE CHESAPEAKE

We have tried to make a boat trip to the Chesapeake every fall, some years with more success than others. Weather is always the main factor, last year we didn't make it at all.

This year on the first leg to cape May, on a relatively calm but overcast day, we were treated with a wonderful sight, a first for me in this area. We came upon a large pod of Atlantic dolphins with many young, moseying their way along the surface.

It appeared to me that this mother was teaching her baby the joys of life in the sea.

Arriving in Cape May for a night at the Marina, the fish1ng fleet was at dock for the holiday.

From our slip at South Jersey Marina we had a great view of the commercial boats.

As we watches as a large flock of Boat-tailed Grackle arrived to perch on the lines. I wondered what the decks looked like the next day.

That evening the fleet lit up the water and made a beautiful sight.

The next morning as we waited for the sun to come out behind the clouds and the boats remained at rest,

I took one last shot of our "Snow Goose".

ON TO BALTIMORE

Finally getting underway, Chuck was happy to be back at the helm. Looking ahead at two rainy days, he decided to head to Baltimore where there would be plenty of things to do, rain or shine.

Heading under the bridge on the Cape May canal this Great Blue Heron chose to ignore us.

I always enjoy looking at the shoreline of the canal and the homes that boarder on it. This old gazebo took my eye as I had missed it on previous trips.

After a choppy trip bucking the current up the Delaware Bay and River, I was happy to finally reach the C&D Canal and pleased to see some early fall color in the trees there.

Arriving at the Inner Harbor Marine in Baltimore in the afternoon we settled in and found a good restaurant for dinner. The next morning we took off on foot to walk the waterfront, always a pleasant way to spend the day.

A visit to this replicate of the Chesapeake Bay Lighthouses is a good stop.

I had never noticed this Blue Crab near the Acquarium, perhaps it was new.

I appreciated this sign outside Dick's Dock Restaurant bragging about its award as "Baltimore Most Beautiful Eyesore".

The Constitution remains at an inner dock awaiting visitors.

As the rain began to fall on our way to the Science Museum we took shelter the the Visitor's Center with the Big Pink Poodle greeting us near the entrance. We spent the late afternoon at the movies watching "Money Ball" a really good movie.

BALTIMORE ON

We wakened our 3rd day in Baltimore to a light drizzle and heavy fog.

The Domino Sugar sign reflected eerily across the water. As the weather was predicted to get worse in a couple of days we decided to leave and head for Rock Hall on the Eastern Shore, a relatively short trip across the bay.

Leaving Baltimore we were accompanied by a lot of sailing ships as there was to be a race held later that morning further out on the bay.

After an uneventful trip, with our sharp eyed daughter watching for crab pots, we worked out way up the river to Haven Beach Marina.

The helpful, but whimsical dock master gave us a slip next to a boat of the same name. The couple, who were on their way to Florida's west coast when they were sure of a spell of good weather, spent their summers here at the Haven Marina.

The facilities at the Marina were very nice, but unfortunately they were already closed for the season. There was a swimming pool, tennis courts, restaurant, and bikes at the exorbitant price of $5 an hour. Since we had to go in town for lunch, it would have added $40 to our lunch bill, a bit much for "off season". We talked them into an hour free and Chuck and I picked out our bikes while my sister and daughter began walking to town.

First we watched the ducks bathing in the water.

Then we picked up our bikes and rode into town for lunch,

Detouring a bit to see some of the fall decorations done by the locals.

Back at the Marina for the afternoon we had a period of sunshine, perfect for photos of the tall masts against the blue sky.

At marinas I am always fascinated by the different ways skippers tie their boats to the cleats - some neatly, some not.



And by the names they bestow on their favorite toy.

Some are a very clever play on words.



Some leave you wondering about the true meaning.

We had a wonderful dinner that evening at the Swan Point Inn down the road and it included transportation both way. There we met a couple who were at the Inner Harbor Marina in Baltimore with us. A small world!!

The disintegrating weather on the way we left early the next morning to return to Cape May. After another rough ride down the Delaware, bucking the tide again, we entered the Canal just before the ferry left the dock.