OCTOBER ON THE NEW JERSEY SHORE

While waiting for the arrival of Sandy, hyped by the media to be "the Perfect Storm" as tropical storm/hurricane meets Nor'easter, it seemed the right time to update my blog. October is usually a special time at the shore and this one, thus far has been no exception.

The beaches are practically empty, the sky is blue, the goldenrod is still in bloom.

The last of the Monarchs have continued their long migration to Mexico, with only a few stranglers remaining.

The Laughing Gulls and Sanderlings are following the Sand Pipers South,

Leaving the beaches to the larger Herring Gulls for the winter.

The fishing continues from the beach,

even on colder days, but with perhaps less enthusiasm.

The surfers come out in droves when the waves are up - a common occurrence this time of the year.

Good rides are there to be had,

And the paddle boarders too try their luck.

Often the days end with beautiful sunsets reflected in the clouds over the ocean.

CRANBERRY HARVEST TIME

Last week, by invitation from our neighbor, Steve Lee, my sister and I took her grandson Nick, to experience the cranberry harvest in New Jersey. The Lees have harvested cranberries for 7 generations on their property in Woodland, a short distance from our Island. I hadn't seen a harvest for several years, so it was a treat for me.

The bog that they were harvesting that day was filled with water and the cranberries had been freed from their plants to float to the surface.

A west wind had blown the berries to the eastern shore of the bog where they were ready to be gathered.

Near the shore of the bog a few wild flowers had managed to survive the flooding and poked their heads above the red sea.

Nick, properly attired helped the crew rake the berries away from the shore so that they could be enclosed within the advancing boom.

The final few were handled by the owner Steve Lee III.

The berries were forced to the gathering place where a submerged pipe sucked them into a large tube.

The berries were drawn up, separated from the water and deposited into the bed of waiting trucks. Can't wait till Thanksgiving!!