Bye Bye LBI

LBI - Long Beach Island, New Jersey was our first destination when we started RVing in 2004, and we try to get back here most every year.  Our friend, Jimmy, has such a great place - right on the bay and just across the street from the ocean.  And, Jim has lots of friends and family here.  We usually try to come in spring or fall because that's the best weather.  This year it just worked out to be July.

It was Hot.

Hey Odie, How hot was it?

A few nights it cooled off a little.  That was mostly because storms came thru.  And, oh boy! do those storms come up fast!

If you're not using the table or chair, they better be stowed because it only takes minutes for serious storms to hit.

We got quite the lightning display

That storm packed gusts to 70mph

A couple of days we beat the heat the old fashioned way - by jumping into the ocean.  Although still chilly at 76 degrees - that's a lot warmer than the ocean normally is here and even I was able to get wet and play in the surf.  I didn't take my camera on those days, but did snap a couple photos on another day.

I got a real kick out of this seagull carrying a bagel.  Is he the beach delivery service?

There are several friends we try to get together with whenever we're "on the island" and Jimmy is generous to let us have a party at his place.  Thankfully he has umbrellas to give a little respite from the heat.

This is the reason we call it a "Corned Ham" party!

Here's the group of Jim's high school buddies.

Tom, Tom, and Jim

Odie loves to run on the sandy beach

Watching sun set as the party winds down

We never get tired of the sunsets here!

Till next time ... Bye Bye LBI!
Thank you sooo much Jimmy!

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Happy Fourth of July Anniversary

The 4th of July is Jim's and my anniversary.  We were married on a water taxi in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on a day that was every bit as hot as this one!  Luckily we saw no need to dress in the formal wedding gown / tuxedo.  I wore a sundress and Jim wore shorts and hawaiian shirt - our guests were in similar attire, and most of us jumped in either the ocean, or the hotel pool when the water taxi ride was over.  Click to see more wedding pictures.

Out to dinner in Philadelphia

Then and Now

Our wedding on a water taxi in Fort Lauderdale

Jim and I share so many things - and that is what makes our marriage such a wonderful partnership.  Computers is what brought us together, scuba diving brought fun and excitement, and our love of travel and learning is what continues to build our relationship.  We are a great team.  Together we have built each other's dream life.  Happy Anniversary Jim!  Marrying you is the best thing I've ever done! I Love You.

We are spending this week parked in the driveway of our good friend, Jimmy Lyon, on Long Beach Island New Jersey.  This is Jim's home town - he lived on Long Beach Island from 1963-85.  You might say he grew up here - but he says he never grew up!  We try to visit here each year.  We usually try to visit in September - better weather, less crowded - but this was the week that worked this year.

We're only an hour or so from Philadelphia, but once you're on the island, you tend to stay on the island.  So, in all our visits, we've never made it over for a sightseeing day in Philadelphia.  I had never seen the Liberty Bell - or anything else in Philly, so I've been known to complain that Jim never takes me to Philadelphia.  We fixed that this time!  July 4 seemed the perfect day to visit the Liberty Bell!

Philadelphia's skyline greets us as we drive over the Delaware river coming from New Jersey

A birthday cake for America, and cupcakes for all of us.

To see the city we took a trolley tour and sat on the upper deck.  It was very hot, but we caught an occasional breeze, and you do get the best views this way.

Wonderful murals all over the city.

New buildings

Very old buildings ... a prison

Proof that I did see the Liberty Bell

Another reason we wanted to go to Philadelphia is for Guld family history.  Jim's sister, Debbie has done some genealogy research and found that their grandfather met their grandmother at a bar here in Philadelphia.  The bar was owned by Jim's grandmother's father - Michael F. Dalton.  That bar still exists and it's called the Handle Bar.  After our trolley tour and Liberty Bell viewing we got our car out of hock at the parking lot ($18!) and drove over to Frankford street.
Oh No!  It was closed.

Jim in front of his Great-Grandfather's bar in Philadelphia

We took a few pictures of the building and the sign, then got back in the car.  I pulled my Droid smartphone out of my pocket, just to see what's new and noticed a Facebook message from our good friend and beer connoisseur, Phil May.  He said, if you're in Philadelphia you must go to Farmers' Cabinet - they have the most amazing selection of beer, and some good food too.
Well ALLRIGHTY then!

We went to the restaurant and had a memorable Anniversary dinner - I found a beer on the menu that was called an Anniversary beer and Jim found one called 'Streakin Roun the Campfire at Mignight'  The were both scrumptious.

Phil wasn't kidding that they had a selection of beers!

After dinner, we decided to try the Handle Bar again - and it was open!

Jim having a beer at the Handle Bar

All in all a VERY memorable 4th of July.  I hope you had a good one too!

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At the Shore

One of our favorite parking places in the country is at our friend, Jimmy Lyon's driveway on Long Beach Island - New Jersey Shore.

We're here for about a week.  It's Hot. We're right across the road from the beach where the chilly Atlantic Ocean is waiting to cool you off.  Jimmy has lived here for a looooong time, and he has lots of friends who come to visit.  Parties are a way of life. Old friends and new friends.  We have a good time.

Why is the Rum Gone?!

Posed picture of Mark and Mary

More natural picture of Mark

Ice Cream?  Where'd they get Ice cream?

Here's Jimmy!

We never tire of the sunset views here.

Harry and Renee go sailing the next morning.

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