Lynn Amber - Travel & Photography
sharing my thoughts through words and images
Bird Sanctuary ART
The Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary inhabits several city blocks – sandwiched between 2nd and 3rd Avenues and running from 111th Street to 117th Street. The small building in the photo above sits at one of the trailheads and had the coolest, folk-artsy door painting! I just had to capture it!
I spent some time one morning walking around the sanctuary trails. Some trails were closed due to Covid but I still enjoyed the stopover. If you are visiting the area, check out their website for information on trails and events.
While I actually did not see any birds, I did enjoy the native plants and some late summer blooming perennials.
A Shore Thing
One thing is for “shore” – there’s no shortage of sand, grassy dunes and wide-open sky along the Jersey coast. Everyone who lives in the mid-Atlantic states knows that when talking about the coastal vacation hot spots you are either a Jersey Shore aficionado or you frequent the Delaware Beaches. I don’t know why “shore” has been used to describe the coastline of New Jersey and the term beach is used for the Delaware coast. But, I assure you there is a difference and most people in the mid-Atlantic region definitely prefer one over the other.
We’ve always been a “shore” family. My grandparents on my mother’s side of the family vacationed in Ocean City, New Jersey. We shared a house with them for two weeks each summer. They had family who lived in Ocean City year-round and vacationing there allowed them to visit with that extended family. It was (and still is) a dry city – there are no alcoholic beverages sold within the city limits. The city was founded by a group of Methodists and has maintained its blues laws to this day. This directive has given Ocean City a reputation as a very family-oriented seaside town. Given that my grandfather was a teetotaler, it’s not surprising that this town was his choice for family vacations!
Ocean City was magical as a child. Nowadays, it is far too crowded and “city-like” for my tastes. But, as a kid, I looked forward to the vibrant, festive ambience of the city and the busy boardwalk. We would be allowed a very limited number of nights on the boardwalk during our two-week stay. Gillian’s Wonderland Pier amusement park was a favorite – along with miniature golf, salt water taffy, riding bikes on the boardwalk before 10am and sunbathing at the 9th Street beach near the historic Music Pier.
I have not ventured back to Ocean City in many, many years – preferring the more subdued, quiet side of the shore on the Seven Mile Island. Funny how our tastes change over time! 🙂
The Pogue
For our Sunday road trip, we traveled to Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park. The forecast called for rain and high winds later in the day so we arrived at the park around 11:30 hoping to beat the weather and take a brisk walk. It was a cold morning and we bundled up. But, as we climbed the carriage road that led to The Pogue, we warmed up fast! 🙂
I’ve been meaning to take Jim to the park since my excursion there during the summer. The carriage roads and surrounding trails are well-maintained and not overly crowded. He loved the moderate hike and we agreed that there are enough other trails through the woods to warrant a few more trips to explore. Definitely going to consider snow-shoeing here this winter!
Tree Silhouettes
There’s a beautiful stand of locust trees up the road from my house. I love how the twisting, gnarled branches display against the sky.
Bay View
In September, my mother and several of her retirement community friends rented a house in Stone Harbor on 121st. That’s just one block from the end of the developed part of Seven Mile Island. I was invited to join them this year and was excited to do some biking on the island. I was most interested in “flat” easy terrain – unlike our hills here in Vermont! The day I chose to ride the island it was very windy – so that definitely made up for the relative flatness of my ride! I started at the southern most part of the island and biked all the way to the top of the island – which took me through Avalon.
I stopped along the way to visit some old haunting grounds, especially the Avalon boardwalk. I spent a good bit of time in Avalon when my sons were young. At that time, my mother-in-law lived just off island and I would visit often in the summer with the kids. After getting Jim set up with a landscaping job, I’d head across the Commodore Barry Bridge and make my way to the shore via several New Jersey back roads while he stayed back in PA to work during the week. Jim would join me on the weekend and I remember it being such a relaxing, carefree time in our lives. My older son took his first steps at the shore and learned how to ride a two-wheeled bike on the boardwalk and in the Swainton neighborhood where we stayed. I was so fortunate to have spent so many wonderful, happy-go-lucky days in Avalon and Stone Harbor during those years as a young mother!
Back in the day, this was a favorite spot to access the beach – with a large parking lot and restrooms nearby – it was convenient with young kids. Of course, the ice cream place at the end of this group of stores was also an attraction! 🙂
Seaside Garden
Just past 122nd Street along 2nd Avenue and adjacent to the Stone Harbor Point Preserve parking lot is a small seaside garden maintained by the Stone Harbor Garden Club. Occupying some prime real estate and surrounded by fences and thick vegetation, it is easy to miss. The garden is a mix of annuals and perennials and harbors some sweet statuary and garden art – all on this tiny city lot. It is a meditative place – evoking a restorative atmosphere that wraps around those who dare to wander in and succumb to its charm.
Plover Play
I’m pretty sure these shorebirds are plovers. I might go as far as to say they are possibly juvenile Black-bellied Plovers or non-breeding adults. Chime in here all you bird experts and correct me if I’m wrong please! And inform me how to tell the difference 🙂
They were immensely entertaining on my beach walks at the Stone Harbor point. Their antics near the waterline were comical – running, stopping to peck at the sand for food, running some more. They reminded me of children frantically chasing the swash and backwash of the incoming waves trying not to get their feet wet. It was almost as if they were moving in fast motion – their little legs a blur as they ran!
Evening Light
I was still sitting in my home office (a.k.a the dining room table) working late when Jim came barreling through the front door insisting I come outside. He had poured a couple glasses of red wine and set up the Adirondack chairs on the patio facing west. With the extended warm spell, this might be our last night to enjoy a comfortable hour in the front garden gazing at the sunset. The air was still – not a whisper of a breeze – and quiet – not a single creature stirring or bird chirping. Magical! 🙂
Morning Light
I’ve been awaking early each morning before sunrise so that I can relax and organize my day with a quiet cup of coffee. I really need that meditative piece of time. This morning, between cups of java, I grabbed my camera and quickly ventured outside to capture this soft twilight glow.
Later, at lunch time, I took advantage of this unprecedented warm weather and embarked on a fast walk up the road. Everyday scenes from the neighborhood…..
Rail Trail Fun
With the mild temperatures continuing for another day, we decided to head out and get one more bike ride in before winter really grabs hold. Today, we chose the section of the Northern Rail Trail between Lebanon and Canaan. It was so refreshing to see so many people out enjoying the weather and using the rail trail.
This section of the trail follows the Mascoma and Indian Rivers and takes riders along the shore line of Mascoma Lake. Totally awesome day! Enjoy some shots below of the scenery along the way! 🙂
Lynn Amber - Travel & Photography 