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! 🙂