Cape May to Edgewater MD, 1/26 - 2/1

Walkabout blog. Feb 6^th 2010 Cape May to Edgewater MD 1/26 - 2/1

Heather & I left home for Cape May on Tuesday, Jan 26^th, to spend a few days at the Jersey Shore, relax and shake down all my new electronic stuff: I Pod Touch, Tom Tom GPS, and cell phone. The electronic stuff is intended to keep me in touch and informed as I travel toward Fairbanks, AK over the next few months..

Our first stop was unplanned at Batsto Village, site of a former bog iron and glass making industrial center ( 1766 – 1897). I noticed a sign for the village on the Garden State Turnpike, and as Heather had never visited …. It was a foundry because bog iron, a stone with a very high percentage of iron, could be picked up all along the Mullica River and barged in 20 ton flat bottom boats to Batsto where it was smelted. Charcoal was manufactured in the surrounding forests and the whole operation required the support of a village.

This ironwork continued ‘til about 1855 when more efficient methods of production came about because of the discovery of coal in PA. Batsto switched to making plate glass using a German method where a man standing on a platform blew and swung the glowing glass into a 24 inch diam. cylinder, about 6’ long. The cylinder was then split one side and the glass flattened to produce quite modern window glass.

At the Visitor Center we were welcomed by Terrie, a friendly lady, who when she heard I was a carver, offered to contact me when her woods were being tidied up; I could have whatever I wanted. Although I didn’t intend to, I bought a super book filled with Campfire songs. A well thought out Museum introduced one to the village and gave detailed Historical information.

First stop was a water driven circular saw mill just south of a small lake and a tumultuous race. A fish ladder allowed wild fish to pass the dam. The air was crisp, clear, sunny with a biting breeze. Then over to the General Store, which primarily served the village residents with groceries, clothing, toys. It became a Post Office in 1852; mail is hand canceled and because of its Historical importance, no zip code is required.

We peeked into the Mansion an imposing 4 storied, solidly built house with 10 foot ceilings and a wrap around veranda. Nice views of the lake and surrounding buildings. Very comfortably furnished.

We asked for directions for lunch, got lost and found a Diner. As always, good food but too much; left with doggie bag, next day’s lunch.

It was falling dusk as we arrived in Cape May. Our efficiency apartment was perfect, clean, spacious, comfortable and in the very center of old Cape May; walk everywhere, no need to drive! Naturally we had to get on the beach to find treasures. When we couldn’t see them anymore, we returned to the apt.

Heather had cleared out my fridge so we had a delicious supper. Out again, bundled up, window shopping the 3 or 4 blocks of quaint stores with beach-y stuff before return to watch Telly.

Wednesday was brilliant and about 26 degrees. We had a hardy breakfast explored the Congress Hall a hotel which has hosted Presidents and was at one time called” Toms Folly” because it was so big and mistaken common intelligence felt it would never be a success. Hottest spot in town for ever so long.

The lighthouse beckoned only 3-4 miles away along a deserted beach which in summer would be writhing with lotioned bodies. ( In fact the town was deserted. We walked down the middle of most streets and rarely saw a car.) Of course we stopped all the way along picking up shells and the occasional “ Cape May Diamond”, a small crystal clear pebble of quartz. I even found a completely wooden, two pulley, tackle, which we hid to pick up on our return.

The Light House was closed however an informative museum at it’s base was warm. It had a large Pine Barren snake, I’d guess 5-6 feet long and similar to one I saw not far from home; striking markings, sadly endangered. We discovered that the necklace-like seaweed was actually whelk babies in waiting.

A wild fowl viewing stand gave us a commanding view over a ½ mile marsh which, even in January had lots of birds. We were surprised to see Swans. Our return skirted the marsh until we found a path through the dunes to the beach and back to the hidden tackle.

After lunch we went into town to check out Cape May Victorians. They’re cheek by jowl in multi-hued colors, with extraordinary, fret work trim. A guy could make a good business with a computer controlled jigsaw supplying replacement patterns.

That evening we dined superbly at the Blue Pig, highly recommended and across the street in the Congress Hall.

Thursday was more or less a repeat; beach walks and town walks but this time North towards Cape May Harbor. In the afternoon we drove to Sunset Beach on the mouth of the Delaware. After a free coffee in a tourist trap store we found an entire beach of Cape May Diamonds. Not one or two spread over 15 feet of sand, but the entire beach; you could gather them by the bucketful. Now we started collecting special, colors, shapes and sizes. We wandered East around a point to find only the normal sand beach ; puzzling, until we talked to two old lads who told us that the beach was constantly being artificially replenished.” Sunset Beach has never been touched and it hasn’t changed in 30 years “

We walked through a neighborhood where a plot, 50 x 100 had an asking price of 1.6 million. At least you could get an old house for that in town !

Friday we came back to Philly via Wheaton Village in Glassboro. There, a museum with 7,000 glass objects , were on display. The history dates back to English times when the British insisted on selling the colonists everything, no manufacturing was allowed. South Jersey has sand and trees forever so it wasn’t long before colonists ignored the rules. In fact in the 1700 some 230 glass shops sprung up in the Pine Barrens making bottles, plates, jugs, window glass etc. and in time, all sorts of decorative glassware. My favorite piece amongst many was a modern technical construction of a transparent cube approximately 16” square, with ever smaller cubes inside until one in it’s center, perhaps 4” square with a diffraction grating, was also clear. From any and every angle, it sparkled differently, flashing light and color; like looking into a fire. Quite amazing.

Dropped Heathie off in Philly about 5pm and headed from home. Lots of things to decide and do before I left ; mainly turning off the house for the next few months. Heat has never been a problem as in 30 years nothing has frozen inside. Now I think about it, I may not have switched off the fuses ? Don’t know can’t remember.

The weekend was spent trying out packing the car with the bicycle, golf clubs, fishing gear and determining which clothes to bring. Hutch was very helpful in the final stage of preparing the I P Touch. He told me how to download pictures, I transferred 2 to the desktop and pushed return; I now have a completely filled file of 1000 pictures, even though many are of Trudy and Larry’s trip to Alaska. Don’t know how to get rid of ones I don’t want.

Sunday Heather & Mark came to help clear out the fridge. We went out to the “Passage to India” and had an excellent meal. Monday they left short of noon, which had been my deadline. Didn’t get away until nearly 4 and so had to put my foot down to cover 175 miles to Edgewater Maryland by 7 pm. At the Delaware Memorial Bridge, which is just down 295, 50 miles , I turned on the TomTom. Took a while to do what I thought it should ( or took me time to figure out what it was doing. ) Taking roads that do no have tolls , TT directed me down 301 through wide open farm spaces. At times I was alone and as the sun fell, skeins of geese traced webs through an azure to pink to purple sky. I could have been flying my trike, car in auto mode, and the dark trees bordering the highway, only difference , I couldn’t feel the wind in my face. After miles of solitude I came across Bay Bridge and bustling humanity. On both sides of the highway cars were approaching, headlights bright in my eyes, cars everywhere turning into and off the road. Sort of like suddenly finding yourself in Disneyland when you’ve been in Indiana.

TT brought me to Peggy’s front door but she was still at work at a nearby bank. I walked through a small shopping center; she had left, walked back, and rang the bell to her condo. Lovely welcome. Went to an excellent steak house for dinner and talked until 2 am.