It has been a few years since I have been to Sea Breeze. It looks different in the photos, like it is cleaned up, less houses? Is that so? Maybe I should get out my map and plan a trip there. There was a inlet near there that had a historic picture set up that showed a group of men from years gone by. It had something to do with the industry in that area years ago. Anyone know what I am talking about and where this is near Sea Breeze?
The new seawall has enhanced (with "enhanced" used as a negative connotation) the look at Sea Breeze. Rednek, above, mentions the beach road (named nearly precisely that, Beach Ave.) being partially in the bay during his last visit. Piles and piles of debris used to represent a haphazard, thin line of protection from storm surges. For a while, it seemed like all might be lost. But only a few of the small shoreline homes seem abandoned now.
Remember the old, grounded barge that was there for years? And the Seabreeze Tavern? This Internet link to a photo show the former and the foundation remains of the latter ...
http://www.weirdnj.com/_images_stories/abandoned14-1.jpg
... but there is virtually no sign of either now. A much wider angle is presented in the photo below, but the image would have been dominated by the two structures if they were still there.
My parents took me to the tavern often ... there was never any protection from the encroaching bay here, and Hurricane Gloria finally did the restaurant in back in the mid 1980s. It was only a matter of time.
Batona's post above is dead on in regard to bald eagles (birders still frequent this area heavily). Yes, the trees off to the left when heading toward the bay is a perfect location in which to spot the eagles. The photo below shows the area he mentions and includes a couple of bald eagles, but only as tiny dots on the highest tree in the distance. (No zoom lens with me that day; drat.) I'd like to catch a closer camera view someday soon, for sure.
Al (Manumuskin) has mentioned seeing several bald eagles clustered nearby at Dix WMA (accessible via Sea Breeze Rd.; photos of the area in top post); I've also seen several birds of prey here.
It's nice to read that several forum members appreciate this area. The bay is actually closer to my home than the barrens and, with the price of gasoline these days, a ride there is instead often opted upon for much needed doses of nature and seclusion. Those who haven't visited in years owe it to themselves to return.
Bill
what are those black and white pics?they look like negatives.i like those and the enhanced colors.were your chigger fears confirmed?Had you been there before?I thought it was a new one for you.I never took you out there,I used to whine all the time for you to check the island out with me but i was ignored.Biggest darn deer trail i ever seen goes the length of it and theirs a cellar hole at the far end.very open island too with owl pellets and otter poo everywhere.
