While Lancaster is a pretty good place to live, it does not have the one thing I had gotten a lot of last several years: quick access to beaches and ocean. My former camping buddy, Karen, felt the same “missing the beach” feeling a few months back, so we plotted a three-night getaway end of October to Cape May, a place long on my bucket list as the southernmost point in New Jersey. I’d never managed to get there with trailer in tow, oddly enough, so now I’d get there and stay in a rental, like most people do when they visit the Jersey Shore.
Yes, there were lovely old Victorian houses and, yes, there was good food and some nice shops to wander through. But really, this trip was all about the beach. Every morning, I got up and explored the ocean along the boardwalk. Even the construction crews at both ends of it couldn’t harsh my mellow at once again hearing the surf and smelling the salt air.
I spent an inordinate amount of time standing in front on these rocks, waiting for the spray to fly up. I didn’t actually mind the wait at all.
The other selling point of Cape May, at least to me, was the lighthouse. I’ve visited lighthouses from Washington down the Oregon and California coasts, and from Maine to Georgia, so Cape May was a “must see” during our getaway. As it turns out, they are thoroughly modern, hiding a handy ticket machine in an old outhouse building so you can go cashless in paying for entry.
I love the spiral staircases they feature, and it’s a special treat when they allow you to walk all the way up and see the same ocean view the old lighthouse keepers saw a century ago.
It was hella windy that day, but we were both brave and walked around the narrow perch at the top. That’s Karen holding on as she navigated the walkway, and I did too, although I had to let go for a few seconds to take this photo.
Three nights isn’t all that long and before we knew it, suitcases were packed, cars loaded, and it was time to leave our little beachfront hideout. That morning, I took a longer walk on the sand, towards the lighthouse, one last visit with the cold wind and crashing waves to last me till the next time, whenever that may be.
If you need a bit of beach today, here’s a short clip from Cape May. Enjoy!
The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.
Jacques Cousteau
