In Which I Satify a Need.
I've been in a bit of a funk what with life getting in the way.
Today, with my daughter Layne horseriding and my son Sam preparing for an afternoon ball game, I felt the need to visit a favored place. Aside from my pines time and Sweetwater time, my youth was much taken up with times at Tuckerton. It is a wondrous memory of my youth I have been aching to just knock around in a bit. With that said, I grabbed up my youngest, tossed in a Bee Gees C/D and Jason, I, and the brothers Gibb took to task a junket to Tuckerton. I will say that aside from Pestletown there is no other place I'd rather be. I've many friends there and the way of a bayman warms my heart. Passing Batsto was tough but the salt waters called. By way of 542 I jumped down River Road just to see how things were on that stretch and check out The Pacemaker Tower. Then off and up to Route 9. The mixed blessing of the ride is the pleasure of riding through some of the best the Pines have to offer.
I can not help as I think of it's waterways and tributaries to the sea that you, my lovely Pine Barrens, cry me a river that leads to your Oceans.
I did choose to stop by the actual Tuckerton Historical Museum although it is not open on Saturdays till The end of June. Over the years my timing has never been right for a visit and speaking with a curator of the museum this week I pined for a stop. I will get there when it is open soon.
On it's front yard is the base to the Tucketon Wireless.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/BASE.JPG
Hard to believe this was the pivot that began the whole thing.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/BASE_JASE.JPG
I am really sorry for the imagery but aside from my own little cam being a cheapie, I noticed later the lens was a mess.
I was so glad to have Jason with me because, with no one to love you you're goin' nowhere.
Jason on the steps of the Giffordtown Schoolhouse, the home of the museum.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/MUSEUM.JPG
Off to the Boulevard and the bridges. It saddens me the building I see in places where only a bait store and reeds lined the way so long ago.
Going over the bridges is always a treat and seeing folks enjoying, a man and his dog in the water, an old timer bicycling along, a pole in the water here and there, wonderful.
Now, I am not a herper but all kidding aside I hold reverence for the creatures and their safety even though my interest is limited. Jason on the other hand was in for a treat. There were not dozens but hundreds of turtles out there!!!! The roads were almost impassable. I started by stopping to let Jason see them and help some along but it became futile. There were too many. After my fourth helping across a truck stopped right in front of me, the guy got out and moved one out of his way to pass. For the most part these little boogers once they got up on plane were faster across the road than I could ever imagine!
Most did not need our help
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/CONTEMPLATE.JPG
There were a few though that just seemed to say, Life goin' nowhere, Somebody help me.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/EYEBALLIN_.JPG
They were thick on the sides as well. When stepping out of the car anywhere you saw dozens in the grass off to the side of the road.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/COVERT.JPG
They were everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!
We were off to the beach and on the way we saw Rands and Mikes full of vehicles, mostly launching from trailor, not as many I think from slips.
I guess it's getting too pricey from what I hear.
The Stinkhouse is always somehow a beacon that welcomes you as you near the end.
I will say that the litter disturbs me. I can't help but think it's 'cause we're living in a world of fools, breaking us down.
At the beach, more turtles....
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/BEACH_TURTLE.JPG
I am no expert so please herp dudes, do not laugh. I thought they were diamond backs and since all heck knows how many hundred I saw looked the same as the picture on the tutorial board at the beach I guess that's what they are. Man, if they're endangered in any way, it's not at Seven Bridges. Of course across the salt marsh, the station.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/CG_BASE.JPG
Funny story.. In my dad's Coast Guard days he was dreadfully close to being stationed there from Point Pleasant and had that happened, him retired or not, I'd be in Tuckerton to this day.That was actually an interesting walk. the farther you got into the marsh you were seriously outnumbered by thousands of fiddler crabs. (that is what they are right?) They are more interested in fleeing than attacking so we were good. There was nary a gull in sight but we saw Geese, and many other little birds of the marshes. Jason wanted to take the bridge to the station but I explained we were not to do so and when I tried to walk him on it he bailed anyway. There were folks fishing and sunning and boats a batch trolling just outside of casting range hitting fish. I breathed in the air and thought about how this place was Borne on the Wind, and Making it mine.
We also found one very lively Horseshoe crab.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/HORSE.JPG
Once Jason saw the tail swinging he wanted no part of it!
We knocked around like two old fools drunk on salt air and then enjoyed a stop to Stewart's where of all things I did run into a friend. Very cool.
The ride home was Pine Barrens Bliss and although Barry, Maurice, and Robin belted out a good version of it for us, the day was no Tragedy.
g.
I've been in a bit of a funk what with life getting in the way.
Today, with my daughter Layne horseriding and my son Sam preparing for an afternoon ball game, I felt the need to visit a favored place. Aside from my pines time and Sweetwater time, my youth was much taken up with times at Tuckerton. It is a wondrous memory of my youth I have been aching to just knock around in a bit. With that said, I grabbed up my youngest, tossed in a Bee Gees C/D and Jason, I, and the brothers Gibb took to task a junket to Tuckerton. I will say that aside from Pestletown there is no other place I'd rather be. I've many friends there and the way of a bayman warms my heart. Passing Batsto was tough but the salt waters called. By way of 542 I jumped down River Road just to see how things were on that stretch and check out The Pacemaker Tower. Then off and up to Route 9. The mixed blessing of the ride is the pleasure of riding through some of the best the Pines have to offer.
I can not help as I think of it's waterways and tributaries to the sea that you, my lovely Pine Barrens, cry me a river that leads to your Oceans.
I did choose to stop by the actual Tuckerton Historical Museum although it is not open on Saturdays till The end of June. Over the years my timing has never been right for a visit and speaking with a curator of the museum this week I pined for a stop. I will get there when it is open soon.
On it's front yard is the base to the Tucketon Wireless.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/BASE.JPG
Hard to believe this was the pivot that began the whole thing.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/BASE_JASE.JPG
I am really sorry for the imagery but aside from my own little cam being a cheapie, I noticed later the lens was a mess.
I was so glad to have Jason with me because, with no one to love you you're goin' nowhere.
Jason on the steps of the Giffordtown Schoolhouse, the home of the museum.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/MUSEUM.JPG
Off to the Boulevard and the bridges. It saddens me the building I see in places where only a bait store and reeds lined the way so long ago.
Going over the bridges is always a treat and seeing folks enjoying, a man and his dog in the water, an old timer bicycling along, a pole in the water here and there, wonderful.
Now, I am not a herper but all kidding aside I hold reverence for the creatures and their safety even though my interest is limited. Jason on the other hand was in for a treat. There were not dozens but hundreds of turtles out there!!!! The roads were almost impassable. I started by stopping to let Jason see them and help some along but it became futile. There were too many. After my fourth helping across a truck stopped right in front of me, the guy got out and moved one out of his way to pass. For the most part these little boogers once they got up on plane were faster across the road than I could ever imagine!
Most did not need our help
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/CONTEMPLATE.JPG
There were a few though that just seemed to say, Life goin' nowhere, Somebody help me.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/EYEBALLIN_.JPG
They were thick on the sides as well. When stepping out of the car anywhere you saw dozens in the grass off to the side of the road.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/COVERT.JPG
They were everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!
We were off to the beach and on the way we saw Rands and Mikes full of vehicles, mostly launching from trailor, not as many I think from slips.
I guess it's getting too pricey from what I hear.
The Stinkhouse is always somehow a beacon that welcomes you as you near the end.
I will say that the litter disturbs me. I can't help but think it's 'cause we're living in a world of fools, breaking us down.
At the beach, more turtles....
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/BEACH_TURTLE.JPG
I am no expert so please herp dudes, do not laugh. I thought they were diamond backs and since all heck knows how many hundred I saw looked the same as the picture on the tutorial board at the beach I guess that's what they are. Man, if they're endangered in any way, it's not at Seven Bridges. Of course across the salt marsh, the station.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/CG_BASE.JPG
Funny story.. In my dad's Coast Guard days he was dreadfully close to being stationed there from Point Pleasant and had that happened, him retired or not, I'd be in Tuckerton to this day.That was actually an interesting walk. the farther you got into the marsh you were seriously outnumbered by thousands of fiddler crabs. (that is what they are right?) They are more interested in fleeing than attacking so we were good. There was nary a gull in sight but we saw Geese, and many other little birds of the marshes. Jason wanted to take the bridge to the station but I explained we were not to do so and when I tried to walk him on it he bailed anyway. There were folks fishing and sunning and boats a batch trolling just outside of casting range hitting fish. I breathed in the air and thought about how this place was Borne on the Wind, and Making it mine.
We also found one very lively Horseshoe crab.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/data/414/medium/HORSE.JPG
Once Jason saw the tail swinging he wanted no part of it!
We knocked around like two old fools drunk on salt air and then enjoyed a stop to Stewart's where of all things I did run into a friend. Very cool.
The ride home was Pine Barrens Bliss and although Barry, Maurice, and Robin belted out a good version of it for us, the day was no Tragedy.
g.
