After a “rest” day at my sister’s (with 55km of Jersey suburbs out and back to my mom’s place), I headed across the Pine Barrens to the Jersey Shore. I had canoed in the Pine Barrens when I was a kid, but hadn’t visited since then.
I started out on the official Adventure Cycling route, but really wanted to cut through a more natural area, so found some roads heading more or less in the same direction, which were great. I ran into Russo’s Farm stand and got provisions and some small gifts.
A short dirt segment was very sandy and hard to ride on 700x28s, but heading into Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, there were gravel roads through the park. It would have been nice to do more distance in the park, but all the dirt roads I tried were similarly sandy. I didn’t have a fat bike, so I stayed on the gravel, which was quiet and beautiful. I saw no one except when I rolled through the campground.
The nice riding was over when I hit Highway 70. It was easy to make time on, loud, and not very fun.
Then after crossing Highway 9, traffic got really intense. [Retirement project idea for Bruce: a pet rescue operation called “Sprung From Cages”]. I popped off the highway into the franchise ghettoes, where I was able to make a kilometer or two just connecting the parking lots together. I went into hammer mode to make it through the intersection with the Garden State Parkway.
After crossing the Parkway into the town of Brick, I wound back on city streets, which allowed me to chill out for the end of the ride.
I rode past my destination to Bay Head to get in the water while I was still warm. The surf was very rough, with big waves crashing on the beach, and strong riptides. Maybe the nastiest I’ve ever seen at the shore. I played around in the water for a bit but only at the shorebreak, and came out with a couple extra pounds of sand in my shorts.
Lodging for tonight was was Chris, a Warmshowers host. I stayed in his workshop where he makes wood and epoxy tabletops for beach bars, along with other cool projects. He was very helpful despite being very busy.
Heading out to the boardwalk, I could see a sunset glow blocked by rows of overbuilt beach houses with docks. The back yard I snuck into for a photo turned out to be the only one in the empty town where a dude was out on his back deck grilling. Awkward. Nice photo, though.
The boardwalk, almost all shut down, was a little grim despite the pleasant light.
I found an open restaurant which was fancier than I needed, had a burger and watched the Yanks-Red Sox playoff game.
I got to the last open boardwalk arcade just before it closed. I played some Skee Ball, of course, on a janky, malfunctioning alley, turning in my tickets for a parachute guy, Dum Dums lollipop, a Super Ball and a spinning top. Nostalgia.
Tomorrow will be the last riding day; I’ll head up along the shore, planning to catch the ferry from Highlands to New York City, and ride to my brother’s place in Jersey City from there.