Sandy Hook and Sea Bright

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Ben

Today we decided to spend some time in New Jersey. Our first stop was to visit a relative in Tom’s River. It was fun to catch up on what’s been going on with all the X cousins Y removed. We stopped for lunch at the Dougie’s in Deal:

When we visit a Dougie’s (there are half a dozen or so throughout the NYC metro area), the kids love drawing on the paper tablecloth. Zayde designed a time machine or warp drive or something:

Next we visited the Sandy Hook unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area. At the northern end of the hook is the Sandy Hook Light. Built in 1764, it’s the oldest operating lighthouse in the US:

We toured the small exhibit space in the visitor center adjacent to the lighthouse, though I’m not sure how much the kids got out of it:

Sandy hook was the home of Fort Hancock, and ruins of coastal fortifications still litter the area:

We walked out to the observation platform on the northern end of the hook:

Looking north, we could see Lower Manhattan across the bay:

The kids received their Junior Ranger badges:

Our next stop was the beach at Sea Bright. I prepared to launch my PPG:

M is practicing his sunbathing. I don’t have the “lay around” gene, so I don’t know where he got it:

Launch of flight #109:

I landed to talk to another local PPG pilot farther up the beach:

I launched my second flight:

Flying by the family pavilion:

I practiced my foot drags:

I landed with the power on and just stood there, the wind holding up the wing:

It was a long but great day!

Lyndhurst and Sunnyside

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Ben

Today we headed across the river to visit the Lyndhurst estate in Tarrytown. It was closed to tours, but we did enjoy walking the grounds:

The showdown:

Looking across the Hudson River:

Our next stop was Sunnyside, the home of Washington Irving. A docent in period dress showed us around:

The lane leading to the home:

Sunnyside:

We were not allowed to photograph in the house, but the tour was very interesting. The tour ended in the back yard:

We enjoyed Mr. Irving’s porch for a bit:

The DeWint House

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Ben

My parents are visiting this week, so we went out to lunch at a new local restaurant:

We made our way down to Tappan, New York to visit the DeWint House:

The DeWint house was built in 1700 and was one of many temporary headquarters of George Washington during the war. It was here that Benedict Arnold’s British accomplice, Major John André, was tried and convicted of being a spy:

Downsizing via the Dump

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Ben

We took a load to the local dump today. This pile was a bit over 9 feet high and weighed about 1700 pounds:

Progress.

One If By Sea, Two If By Air

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Ben

This morning we participated in a public canoe program on Iona Island. I managed to secure all but two spots for our friends:

M and his friends load up:

I was with Trish and Mrs. L:

We rafted up and one of our guides talked about the marsh:

Along the bank, Marsh Mallow was blooming. This plant’s starchy root was the original ingredient used to make marshmallows:

We explored some side passages in the marsh:

In this alcove, our guides told us about the invasive Phragmites grass that has taken over the marsh. Everything from RoundUp to goats have been used to try to control this non-native species:

In another portion of the marsh, the Phragmites has been eliminated. In its place, Cattails grow in the background while Dogbane lines the shore:

Looking north, we can see the Bear Mountain Bridge and the abandoned Naval munitions buildings on Iona Island:

Back on shore, I photographed the marsh from Iona Island:

In the afternoon, I drove down to Sea Bright, the northernmost town on the Jersey Shore, to fly with a few locals. I kited the wing to check the lines: