Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I want to go everywhere I haven't been, and back to everywhere I have been.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

BEACH WEEK! LONG BEACH ISLAND PT.2



Read A House With A View: Long Beach Island Part 1 here.



LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

We wake up on our first full day in Long Beach Island to abundant sunshine.
After breakfast, we grab our chairs and umbrellas and head to the beach.
It's a little breezier than I'd like, but tolerable, and we manage to stay till about 3pm. 
The great thing about a house right on the ocean
is that even when you leave the beach, you're still there. 
Heaven, I tell you. 

LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

For dinner, we're in the mood for seafood, 
and settle on Harvey Cedars Shellfish Company, named for the town it's in.
After putting our name on a wait list,
Mr. Goo Shoes decides that for the rest of the week,
the name he will give is Mr. Harvey Cedars.
We're doubled-over with laughter at our cleverness,
although it's hardly likely that we're the first to think of this.

After our meal of soft-shell crabs and swordfish,
I scare the crap out of Mr. GS, when I yell,
"Make a right turn here!"
My direction leads us to the bay beach,
and we are rewarded with a perfect sunset.

LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

We decide to sleep with the windows open 
and be lulled into slumber by the sound of the waves,
but the ocean is just too darn loud.
And to think we used to fall asleep to the roar of cars, buses
and garbage trucks when we lived in New York City.
The windows are shut tight, and the AC goes back on.

I set my alarm for 7:30 a.m. on Day 2, to get up and walk on the beach.
At 10:15 a.m., I drag my weary butt out of bed.


LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

After spending another sunny, breezy day on the beach,  
the big decision of the day is where to eat dinner.
We feel like something casual, and opt for a seafood shack.
My steamed lobster is very good,
but Mr. GS' lobster roll is a bit skimpy.
It's the side order of about nine french fries for $5.99 
that is enough to make us cross this place off our list for good.

My alarm is set for 5:30 a.m., as I'm determined to see a sunrise over the ocean.
Somehow, I manage to wake up without the alarm.
As I step out onto the deck in my bathrobe, I'm overwhelmed. 

LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I've seen endless sunsets in my time,
but comparatively, relatively few sunrises;
fewer still, over the ocean.
I feel such a strong sense of awe, and almost feel moved to tears.
Whoa, didn't expect that reaction.
I stay up way longer than I planned to, snapping tons of photos.
Finally sated with bright orange skies,
I go back to bed.

LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

The good news is, it's another sunny day;
the bad news is -- it's really windy.
Mr. GS manages to anchor our umbrella into the sand,
but I'm paranoid that it will pull out 
and clank the people down wind from us, on their heads.
 I hold on to it for insurance purposes the whole day. 
Watching a guy unsuccessfully try to open his umbrella, 
as it turns inside out and outside in,
is comical enough to make us laugh about it the rest of the week.
Beach entertainment is free, folks. 

Finally, the wind dies down around 4:00p.m., and it is absolutely glorious on the beach.

LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

We decide to forego the restaurants tonight, July 4th, 
as they will surely be jammed prior to the fireworks down in Beach Haven.
We have a great dinner on our deck.......
fresh Jersey tomatoes, cheese, crusty bread, a refreshing bottle of rose,
and what may be the best chicken salad I've ever had, 
from a deli in Harvey Cedars.

For dessert, we sit on the beach, 
 devouring the hues of pinks and lilacs, as sunset falls.
Oh, yeah, and the incredible humongous donuts from the market 
that were marked down to 50 cents apiece at the end of the day.

LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

As darkness falls, fireworks are launched all over the beach,
and we've got front-row seats.
It's a perfect July 4th. 

LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

The weather pattern has changed, and not for the best.
It's three days of clouds and drizzle.
There are only so many ways to pass the time.


We take a ride down to the southern end of the island,
reminiscing about places we went when Junior GS was young.
 "Oh, there's the mini golf place where JGS got a hole in one when he was five."

We take a ride to the northern end of the island.
"Remember when I climbed to the top of the lighthouse with JGS?"

LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

We go to historic Viking Village, 
a small shopping area at the fishing docks in Barnegat Light.

LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


We eat. 
And eat. 

One meal is downright awful........
yep, that would be the burger place with "excellent/very good" reviews,
promising the "best" burgers on the island.
The "best" part is that it doesn't rain while we're eating outside.

As a make-good, on our last night in LBI,
we go to an excellent restaurant called Bisque.
It's the second restaurant this week 
where we've forgotten to BOOB (Bring Our Own Bottle),
so we order a Pinot Grigio from a local vineyard that is quite good.
The restaurant offers a lobster soup of its namesake,
and it is outstanding.....perhaps the best thing we eat all week. 

 When we get back to the house, it's time to pack.
Had the weather been better the last three days, 
I'd probably be sad to leave, but I'm ready to go home. 
I'd like to figure out how to take that view home with me,  
other than just on my camera's memory card.

LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

In the morning, a glorious beach day sticks it's tongue out at us,
saying, "Oh, so sorry you can't stay, now that the sun is shining." 😜
We load up the car, and head out on the highway,
with exit 63 fading quickly in the rear view mirror.

LONG BEACH ISLAND | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes






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7 comments:

  1. I could just picture you two trying not to have your umbrella fly away! lol Btdt

    I hope you're writing reviews (good and bad) about these places...especially the 'best burger' place. Sometimes you wonder what people are thinking. Guess it's the same people who think Olive Garden is authentic Italian food lol.

    xxx

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  2. Yes, it always stinks when your last day is gorgeous weather but I am usually ready to go home anyways. Too bad about the bad restaurants but it sounds like an unforgettable time.

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  3. Hi Amy, it looks like you had a wonderful time in LBI. The restaurants are hit and miss there but most are good. The week you went sounds like so much fun especially to celebrate the 4th of July there. Glad you were able to get to the beach and have fun.
    Julie

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  4. Gorgeous pictures. Breathtaking. I'm so sorry it rained on you.

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  5. The view was amazing. I spent part of my childhood falling asleep to the sound of the waves and even now, it still calms me... But my father always said he couldn't sleep because of the noise!

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  6. That's a fantastic sunset photo, and I'm glad you were able to get up and catch a sunrise. I'd go back to bed afterwards, too, if it were me.

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