Labor Day in NJ

Sunday morning I went to church while Tom did a 50 mile bike ride then we packed up to head to NJ for a couple of days.  Taylor's friend Max was wrapping up his visit and we thought a trip to the beach would be nice.  He's had a flexible schedule so was able to stay for 18 days.  Taylor, Max and another friend shared a house that Max's parents owned in SLC while we were in AL.  Max took a 3 day bus ride to get to DC but he's a pilot so he's spent some time trying to hitch a ride through a private pilot network to get back West.  The best offer he got would only get him as far as Chicago so he decided to extend, do the trip to NJ with us then just bus it back home.  He's spent a lot of time at the Air and Space Museum when Taylor was working though and they've done a lot of riding bikes around the city as well checking out the monuments. He's been a good house guest and Taylor loved having a friend from home here as well.

Headed to Ocean City for ice cream on the boardwalk Sunday night....

Had to have photo with a monkey.  

Monday morning was rainy so it was looking like a beach trip wasn't going to happen.  We got the boys up and headed to Victor's Museum.  Victor is also a pilot so we knew he and Max would have lots to talk about and there's plenty to see there as well.  Taylor hadn't been there since he was very small either....

Victor just loves when others get enjoyment out of his toys!

                                                    Max loved the Indian motorcycles.......

Taylor gave the civil war bugle a go but couldn't get the lip action quite right.  He played trombone in jr. high and has a coronet that Victor gave him many years ago.

Victor plays clarinet in a band that plays big band music around town and gave us a nice revelry!

Cool player piano!

Lots of airplane talk but none of it made much sense to the rest of us.  Lots of engine sizes, types, etc.  But it was fun to listen in......

Weather was still crappy so we headed over to Kathy and Denny's new house they had just closed on a couple of days earlier.  We decided a good way to spend labor day was engaged in some labor so we helped get all the rooms taped for painting and the boys helped haul stuff from the attic to the trash. A couple of hours later and with nutritional sustainment from some NJ subs, we headed back to Marie's.

Started to clear late afternoon so we decided to brave the beach, even if we had to swim in the rain.

By the time we got there we had blue sky and Tom and I ventured in to do a half mile swim as part of our training.  One swam (with the easily seen white swim cap) while the other spotted from the beach.  We used the GPS to figure out the distance so we could swim parallel to the shore.  I went first but didn't get out far enough so was tossed around when waves would break over me.  I moved out further but would be brought back with the current.  Still managed to muscle through it and did the half mile in about 25 minutes.  Tom went next but over compensated for my staying close to the shore by going out too far.  He didn't have his prescription goggles either so I wasn't sure he could even see me on the beach trying to keep him on track.  He couldn't.  A lifeguard stopped me to ask who I was watching.  I told him and he asked if he was training for the tri that's coming up in a few weeks.  I told him he was and he let us keep going.  However, on Tom's way back, another lifeguard started blowing his whistle. I wasn't sure what he was doing as he was motioning people to get out of the water but then packed up his stand and boat and went away.  We think it must have been the end of their shift (about 6:30 pm) In the meantime, Tom had heard him and came in before he needed to.

Marie and Victor were leaving the next morning to drive to Lancaster, PA to buy some Amish made furniture.  Tom did a couple of things around the house for her while I went for a run.  Afterwards we got the boys up for another trip to the beach.

 Taylor and Max headed closer to the boardwalk to swim and walk around.  Apparently they were standing in the water and Taylor was messing with what he thought was a piece of metal in the water.  Turns out it was a horseshoe crab!  Yikes!  It was still alive so he brought it down where we were to show us.  Sheesh, that thing had a blade sticking out of it!

 Tom decided to try the swim again and did much better.  His eyesight is a real problem out there though as the only thing he can see for spotting are giant buildings!  He was better at staying on track though and did it in less time than I did.  But he always does.

Had to make one more stop as we headed out through Margate so we could see Lucy the Elephant.  Our kids always love to see Lucy so thought we should at least get the boys in a quick photo.

 

Picked up Marie's car which was being serviced, had quick showers and cleaned up our mess before heading out.  Another quick stop at Vic's for cheesesteaks then it was back to DC!