We spent the day near Waialua, rising with the cacophony of birds outside our window. The house we are renting is across from Aweoweo Beach Park. We could see waves breaking beyond the palms from the lanai. The summit of Mount Ka’ala at 4,025 feet was shrouded in clouds, but the ridge that juts out into the Pacific forming the westernmost edge of Oahu was brilliant in the morning sun. It is called Kaena Point and considered by ancient Hawaiians as the “jumping off” place to meet their ancestors. It is a remote area, accessible only by a rough unpaved road after Farrington Highway ends a few miles past Dillingham Airfield. For years I’ve marveled at the forbidden looking Kaena Point from places like Sunset Beach and Haliewa Town and never thought I would get there. It looked like the end of the world. In fact this entire trip to Oahu has been filled with new adventures for me for I have never traveled as far west on Oahu as Waialua and the beauty that lay beyond.
This whole area is called “country” by the people of Oahu and it certainly is very rural here. We’re staying in a little development with a cluster of homes near the shore, but soon there is nothing but the road, the ocean and the ominous ridge that ends with Kaena Point. It is just under seven miles from our place in Waialua to the end of the Farrington Road. In fact our hosts said some previous guests stayed with them just so they could be closer to the hiking trails of Kaena Point. It is possible to drive a four-wheel vehicle around, but it is very rough going. A lot walk the 2.5 miles to the tip, where during the winter waves have been known to swell upwards to 50 feet.
We left Au Street and turned onto Waialua Beach Road, which eventually narrowed down to Crozier Drive, and we passed some incredible homes on spectacular lots right on the water, before turning onto Farrington Highway and going to the end. We sighed at every homestead and dreamed, but knew we could never afford to live here; don’t worry we asked and were shocked at the prices.
Kaena Point road
Farrington Road is very isolated. There were a number of ranches, a polo field right on the ocean and a small grouping of homes, but after the Dillingham Airfield there was nothing but windswept views of the Pacific. Here the ridge of Kaena Point nears the road, glowering, huge, its surface gullied and raw. Appropriately, the paved road ends and the untamed track is menacing. We only walked about one mile on the pitched, furrowed road. A couple of four wheelers weaving around huge depressions passed us and we met a number of hikers with walking sticks hats and supplies. We were not as prepared as the hikers; it is highly recommended you bring water if you are going to seriously head out to the point. This is raw land. There are only a few coves with any sand. Mostly the angry waves here crash against volcanic rock. There is no place to swim, although a few people pitched tents and brought in campers to make it a day of near isolation.
near Dillingham Airfield
We drove back to a sandy area right off Farrington Road, right near the end of Dillingham Airfield for some sand gravity. There are no bathrooms at all here and just a few natives and toursits relaxing on this Friday afternoon. The water was clear and surprisingly cool and it got very deep a few feet from the surf line. Dillingham Airfield is a military facility, once integral during WW2, but now mostly used by gliders riding the ridge lift currents off Kaena Point and skydivers, although we also watched a military helicopter land. Gliders sometimes flew directly over us on their landing approach. It is a beautiful spot. The official name for the ridge behind us is Kuaokala Forest Reserve and if so inclined the Kealia Trail begins near Dillingham to get you up onto the ridge.
Popular with windsurfers is Mokuleia Beach Park and we stopped to watch these skilled riders flit along the waves, including a local eccentric named “Top Hat” who wears a top hat as he skirts the waves. Our hosts, Kristin and Billy thinks he’s a trust fund baby because surfing is all he does. What luck Mr. Top Hat walked by us and said hello!
Another place that we did not sadly visit was Makaleha Beach Park/Polo Beach Public Access Path. It wasn’t until later that we learned it was perhaps “clothing optional”. There are no official nude beaches on Oahu, so it’s a proceed-at-your-own-risk endeavor. I understand there is a clothing optional place on Maui called Little Beach.
TOP HAT
We spent our last night in Oahu with our hosts and a gathering of their friends for a communal BBQ in the little courtyard of their homes. With the sky afire with the vibrant sunset colors of another successful day in paradise we drank wine and mingled and petted dogs. One friend was a Hawaiian native, everyone else was white. Eric and I spoke for a long while. He actually lived on the 9th “unofficial Hawaiian Island”, Las Vegas, for 13 years. Evidently a lot of Hawaiian natives, lured by the lower cost of living and job prospects gravitate to Vegas, but the allure of Hawaii was too strong to ignore and he eventually had to return with his wife. I envy him.
Honey! I'm home....
I have visited Oahu more than the other islands and on this short three day trip I have had so many new experiences and this little party was the highlight. Appropriately Oahu is nicknamed the Gathering Place probably because of the endeavors of King Kamehameha in the 1800's to unify the islands, but I like to think the name comes from nights like this, where serenity and friendship are all that matters. I hope that I never lose this Aloha Spirit. Mahalo Janet and greg
Our first full day in Hawaii "brimmed" with activity. Still on east coast time we arose early and showered, sighing at the view out our bathroom window. It is of the tallest mountain on Oahu, Mount Ka'ala. There is rich farmland stretching before the mount and this fertile area provides with produce and meat; a macrobiotic heaven.
Speaking of meat, we headed to Kono's in nearby Haleiwa for Kalua pig breakfast bombers and some strong coffee. Janet got a refill. These bombers, or breakfast burritos, were apparently popular with the military as soldiers filled the joint. Good food. I happen to have a fondness for Kalua pig, which is slathered on everything in Hawaii. See Kono's website for a recipe. KONO'S HALEIWA
BREAKFAST BOMBERS KONO'S
Before we had even finished our Kono’s coffee we were driving along route 99 east and passing coffee fields of the Waialua Estate. I had purchased green beans from Waialua for Janet to roast years ago and the rich soil of Oahu provides a strong black cup. Then we stopped at the Green World Farms coffee house where we were introduced to cold drip coffee, which takes hours and hours to brew, but leaves behind a mighty kick with no bitterness.
Now appropriately caffeinated we headed to our first destination of the day; the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor. We were cautioned by our hosts that we needed to arrive early. This somber, sacred American historical site has grown in popularity and tickets to board the launch that takes visitors out to the tomb of nearly 1,000 sailors and marines are quickly given out. It is free. Years ago when I first visited Pearl Harbor visits were less attended and there was rarely a wait. It is good to see this swelling of patriotism.
USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL
The Arizona was sunk during the sneak attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941 when a bomb hit her forward magazines, trapping over 1,000 men. To this day a few drops of oil leaks out of the wreck; they are called the tears of the Arizona. This solemn stop in Oahu includes a stirring film relating the events of that infamous morning. The next stop for us was … more coffee. A stop at the Lion Coffee facility at 1555 Kalani Street was a must. I often buy Christmas gifts of small bags of their coffee for friends and colleagues. We stopped at the airy warehouse, roasting facility, shop and coffee house for YET another cup of Joe. This time Janet had a cold drip hazelnut over ice and I had a “volcano” blend with an extra shot of espresso. By the time we finished our coffee Janet just wanted to run alongside the car for a while. LION COFFEE
Because we were in the Honolulu area we had to visit Waikiki. Often tourists only see this part of Oahu, their airport shuttle deposits them on Kuhio Avenue and eventually picks them up for the return. It’s so different from the slow pace of the North Shore, but the colors of the Pacific, the soft sand, the high rise hotels, the surf boards on display for rent, the glitzy high priced shops and the cheap ABC stores alongside them, and Diamond Head looming majestically all made it worth braving the snarling traffic. It is beautiful, but I’m glad we’re not staying here.
We found a free parking spot near Kapiolani Park and walked in the surf line along Waikiki, dodging the hordes all the way to the pink Royal Hawaiian hotel. We walked through this beautiful hotel back to the street and weaved around tourists on Kalakaua Avenue. We stopped for a smoothie and a shaved ice at the Waikiki Beachside Bistro, near the Duke Kahanamoku statue to cool off. Duke is considered the father of modern surfing. By the time we were finished with our treats we were ready to leave Waikiki.ROYAL HAWAIIAN HOTEL WAIKIKI
Perhaps the coffee still sloshing through our veins inspired us to climb to the summit of the Diamond Head crater. It is $5 per car load to enter. Of all the trips to Oahu I had never visited Diamond Head and so Janet and I sprinted up the steeply inclined trail to marvel at Honolulu and Hawaii Kai and Koko Head and the blue blue blue Pacific ocean. Glistening with well-earned sweat and broad smiles we leaned into the wind and smiled at our successful day.
Hawaii is paradise, no
doubt. It is a top rated destination for many and for many traveling to this
archipelago would be considered a trip of a lifetime. I am fortunate. Between
work and play I have been to Hawaii six times. This is Janet’s first trip and
although I have frequented Hawaii so often over the years I share her
excitement. I actually pushed for this trip; it has been over a decade since my
last visit.
Well, I can write here
about the pervasive, infectious Aloha Spirit which usually transitions into at
times frustrating Aloha time. I can talk about the swaying palms and incessant
waves and surfing, Honolulu dive bars, Diamond Head vistas, Pearl Harbor,
Waikiki, Kona coffee, Hanaumu Bay,
Waimea Bay, the road to Hana, Haleakala National Park, the Parker Ranch, Moana
Loa, volcanos, white sand, black sand, green sand, macadamia nuts and sea turtles,
but I won’t.
All are brilliant destinations
on the tourist trail, but my two fondest memories of Hawaii from my past visits
are slices of everyday life. Once I rented a house in Lanikai on the windward
side of Oahu and went to a Chinese restaurant and tried to pay the tab with a travelers
check. I offered my ID and was told that wasn’t necessary. They surmised that I
must have just returned from a vacation on the mainland. The other came from
kicking around a Honolulu neighborhood around Christmas time; I was in Honolulu
to run the marathon there; and seeing kids lining up in a playground to sit on
Santa’s knee. Santa wore flip flops and the beard was bit too warm so it had
migrated to his neck.
Lives being lived, families
being tended to, those are my fondest memories of this far flung American
outpost. Since my first visit, courtesy of Sinatra in 1986, until this seventh
excursion I have felt like I belonged here and each time I leave I yearn to
return. Dare I call myself a “kama’aina” a child of the island? That I guess is too high an opinion of myself
and perhaps it may be over reaching. Island fever would probably grip me too; living
here on these islands with no escape, despite the paradise, may eventually lose
its allure.
north shore Oahu
Sadly, for many
residents of Hawaii lives hover near the poverty level. Get away from the glitz
and polish of Waikiki and you have simple folk living normal lives filled with the
same expectations and disappointments found elsewhere. It may be “paradise”,
but you still have to slog through the day. Hawaii too was “stolen” from the
people by American entrepreneurs in a coup in the 1890’s. When the 100th
anniversary of the “annexation” Hawaii came up Senator Daniel Inouye suggested
the state flag at the U.S. Capital be lowered to half-staff.
Yes, a quick read of
Hawaiian history makes one wonder how anyone could smile at all. Native
Hawaiians have endured war, invasion and conquering corporations and to this
day the resentment remains. It is a thread that is just beneath the surface. I
personally have experienced prejudice here. I’ve heard the derogatory term
“haole” launched in my direction. I honestly have never had the desire to visit
the Wainae coast of Oahu because of the native Hawaiian population. Car break-ins
are common in some spots there. I’ve had my rental car keyed at the Waimea Bay
parking lot. But, you know, there are bad people everywhere and in Hawaii it is
the same.
So, why have I returned
so often you may ask? I’ve painted a somewhat grimmer than expected picture of
Hawaii I know. How could this remote volcanic ecosystem be so alluring? Those
two fond memories are just the start. The beauty, the diversity of people and
views and experiences keeps me wanting to return. You can never beat a sunset
in Haleiwa Town; you just have to be aware that although this is “paradise” not
everyone is swaying their hips at the waves and drinking Mai Tai’s all day.
the Chinaman's Hat
We are staying in Waialua
on the North Shore, at Kristin and Billy’s house. We rented a room with them for
three days through a website called Airbnb.com, one of several similar bed and breakfast
access websites. In all the visits to Oahu I have never stayed this far west. Rather than driving the quick way across the island, up H2 directly to Waialua, we drove the long way up the windward side of Oahu.
We stopped at the Chinaman's Hat, Laie Point and the Banzai Pipeline, although in July there aren't any monstrous waves; they come in the winter. We had dinner at one of the many shrimp vendors near the northern apex of Oahu, Kahuku Point, where there are a lot of shrimp farms.
When we drove out of Haleiwa we passed a lush baseball field. Mountains were in
the distance. The ocean was behind us. The colors were shockingly vibrant. There
was a game going on, not an organized, little league game, just a pick-up game.
Younger kids too, not teenagers, just some kids playing around and I remarked
to Janet that this is the Hawaii I love.
This year is the 100th
anniversary of the beginning of World War I. The global conflict raged until
1918, with the United States entering the conflagration in 1917. The world had
never experienced war at this scale before and it left behind a “lost
generation” of dissolute men. Back in the United States towns were urged to
erect some sort of memorial to these brave soldiers, perhaps not only to honor
them, but to soften the blows they had suffered.
A very popular statue from
this time was the Spirit of the American Doughboy sculpted by E.M. Viquesney.
It was a copper plated image of a Doughboy striding forth with a grenade in his
right hand and a bayonetted rifle in his left. Because it was copper plated and
not solid, it was cheaper to produce, and purchase, and Viquesney’s company
claimed to have at least one statue in every state. Today it is estimated there
are approximately 150 Spirit statues remaining and New Jersey has eight of
them.
Vacations From Home has
been traveling around New Jersey seeking out these statues and this is the
fourth in the series. The first three were spread out over a large area, which
in the small state of New Jersey this says a lot about the distances involved.
Team VFH first ventured to Secaucus in Hudson County on the grounds of the
municipal complex. Secaucus is just a couple of miles away from the Lincoln
Tunnel and New York City. Then we visited Frenchtown on the far western side of
the state, near the Delaware River to see the statue that stood in front of the
local grade school. The third statue was in the iron hills of Dover, Morris
County, nestled in the pastoral Hurd Park sitting atop an impressive cairn.
Of the remaining five
memorials, four are relatively close to each other along or near the Jersey
shore. It is quite possible to tool around and see them all in one day.
Hopefully after you get some leads though from this humble blog you’ll want to
take your time and linger in the towns.
Here is the first of our Jersey shore towns....
BELMAR
Belmar
The memorial here in
this shore town, the town of my youth, witness to many a debauched weekend, is
away from the ocean and near an overpass of Route 35. Despite the location the
park is well tended and neat and the statue is in great condition. Names of WWI
battles are etched into the pedestal The Spirit statue was first dedicated in
1930 in front of what was first the American Legion Hall, which then evolved
into the municipal building and community hall
Dedication ceremony 1930
before the statue was refurbished
and when rededicated and moved in 2006 a block or so away to its present site along
West Railroad Avenue between 7th and 8th Avenues. The
names of 102 soldiers are listed on the plaque.
THINKING
of VISITING?
Belmar isn’t quite the
Jersey shore made famous by that MTV reality show, but it is kinda close. I
spent many a day sneaking onto the beach, and dodging the beach patrols and
drinking in the area bars and sleeping in cars to avoid paying for a room.
Sigh….what fun and fond memories. Well, that facet of the town remains and let
me tell you it’s not just the Jersey Shore. I once was in Surfer’s Paradise,
Queensland, Australia and during my morning run I saw many kids sleeping in
cars, so, I guess it’s acceptable? Consequently don’t come to this blog for
places to stay, because I’ll say the backseat.
But, the beach is great
here, if expensive; New Jersey towns all charge entrance fees. Even with the
crowds that pour into the town during the summer months there is a family
aspect as well. There are several playgrounds on the beach for kids and
activities like volleyball nets set up for public use as well as events like
sand sculpting competitions. Also for the kids there is a Surfing camp at 3rd
Avenue. Cowabunga indeed. Yes, the surf is strong here. The Beach Boys
mentioned Belmar in their song Surfing USA and there is a part still sectioned
off for surfers which I believe is near 19th Avenue. In September
there is a professional surfing competition. Check the website for details. BELMAR SURFING COMPETITION
The boardwalk is a great
place to run even if you have to slalom around the strollers, and there are a
number of well attended races in town each summer. Go to the town’s website for
races and other events.
This area of the Jersey
Shore is affectionately known as the Irish Riviera. Filled with Benny’s (not
Shoobees) and there are so many places to carouse and eat no list will be
complete. Also, nearby towns like Avon-by-the-Sea and Spring Lake, are also
worth visiting. Here is an incomplete list of places to visit off the beach:
Klein’s
Fish Market and Waterside Cafe
On River Road, just off
the Shark River inlet, the place is loud and crowded and fun. The food is a bit
pricey, but you can’t beat the water view.
Outside of Belmar, and
really a very short drive, are a number of notable places to go for a beer or
food. Just north of Belmar is the laid back town of Avon-by-the-Sea. Compared
to Belmar, Avon is very quiet. The Columns is on Ocean Avenue, just across from
the boardwalk. Get a seat on the lanai and sip your drink and enjoy the view of
the ocean.
A great dive bar in Avon
is the Norwood Inn at 618 Second Avenue. It is stately but worn. Not much of abeer selection, but it’s a
friendly place and the food will carry you along. Thankfully they filled in the
pool that was in the backyard, I guess there were too many unexpected dunks.
There is live music and if you stay late enough maybe you’ll get a room, or at
least stay for brunch.
A (very) short jump away
from Belmar is Kelly’s in Neptune City. I love this place, and have
KELLY'S
been known to
drive out of my way to go here for beers and food. Again, the Irish are well
represented here, with a map of Ireland on the ceiling above the bar, which is
just a couple of feet from the sushi station. Go for the Ham Galway sandwich
and the $15 buckets of beer special during the World Cup matches.
BTW… Jack Nicholson was born in Neptune as
well as Southside Johnny Lyon from Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes!
Arcades
The
SilverBall Museum
No visit to the Jersey
Shore would be complete without a trip to the Arcade. Pinball was always a
favorite pastime for me! If you’re interested in a side trip, just north is
Asbury Park and the SilverBall Museum just a couple of hundred feet from the
famous music venue, The Stone Pony. Purchase an unlimited play pass for $10 from 5
pm until closing.
I could go on and on
here, but your favorite mooch crew is off next to Fair Haven, NJ. I am sure I've missed something. If you feel compelled to add to this list, leave a comment or write us at: greg.dunaj@yahoo.com. If you decide to visit the Jersey Shore you may never want to go home again.
cheers
Janet and greg
Southside Johnny and the asbury jukes w/springsteen 1978
Team
VFH may be cheap, but we know how to travel well. Often we are forced to take
great delight in destinations closer to home as our cheapness rules the day.
For this we are extremely grateful. As world travelers our love for far flung
destinations had caused us to be dismissive of sites that were close to home for
their familiarity offered no alluring reason to visit and explore. Secaucus or
Philadelphia will never be as alluring as Paris or Sydney we thought. How
easily we were able to overlook the joy and beauty that is in our backyard and
this endeavor, now in its fifth year, has given us many more happy experiences
than expected. Too often our travels insulated us from family and friends as we
would just “flit” off to somewhere else, but friendships and familial binds
combined with finely honed mooching skills has given us a great new appreciation
of what we would have considered the “mundane”. We have rediscovered the
radiant beauty of the girl next door.
Aloha
Okay,
are you buying this? I’ve just compared Secaucus to Sydney, Philadelphia to
Paris. Yeah, sure there are things to do or see, like the Dragon Boat races
along the Schuylkill River or renting kayaks to explore the Hackensack as it
meanders through Secaucus. And, truly what did Socrates say? “See one
promontory, and you’ve seen them all.” An old timer engineer at ABC said of the
people of Sarajevo when I was there for the Olympics, “they’re just the same as
us, they just talk funny.”
True
everywhere lives are lived and though the vistas may be more alluring elsewhere,
they all offer something. The best part of all these “cheap” years is we’ve
learned to slow down and see the beauty around us. Rather than having to go
over the next mountain like that bear in the incessant children’s song seemingly
never satisfied, we’ve stopped to explore our neighborhood. But in between all
these lovely little trips to discover nuances of where we live or rediscover
the joys of our neighborhoods Team VFH likes to plan these side trips and we
throw open our pocketbooks and fleece our coffers. This year, we are going to
Hawaii.
We will
visit three islands. We fly into Honolulu mid-July and we will stay on the North
Shore near Haleiwa, Oahu for three days, before a week at a resort in Lahaina, Maui
and then on to Hilo on the Big Island for another week. This is Janet’s first
trip to this beautiful place and my seventh; the last time for me was in 2001
to run the Honolulu Marathon. Everyone should visit this place and I wanted Janet to see its beauty for herself and I, selfish, wanted to return. There are few places in this world that I feel like I belong, that I pine to return. The serenity that is Hawaii, her Aloha spirit calls me. But, you may ask what's all this talk about being cheap? Fear not, we will not go nuts in spending
money. Hawaii can be cheaper than you would expect, that is once you get there. Come back, we'll tell you.
This is the third in the
series of New Jersey towns that feature a once popular statue honoring veterans
from World War I. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the
conflict and the mass produced "Spirit of the American Doughboy" is a
pressed copper statue designed by E.M. Viquesney. Brochures from Viquesney's
company boasted 300 of the Spirit statues were erected during the 1920's and
1930's and that there was at least one in every state although these numbers
are now considered inflated. The Smithsonian has a list of approximately 150
statues still standing and the Garden State has eight of them.
Today's visit is to
Dover in Morris County. So far this is the most picturesque memorial I have
seen in the series. Set in pastoral Hurd Park on the western edge of Dover, the
Spirit of the American Doughboy statue is set up high atop a cairn of roughly
hewn stones accenting its dramatic pose. The memorial is well tended and not an
afterthought or relic. The statue is brilliantly polished and a fence surrounds
the cairn and a stone wall provides a seating area. Lights cut deep crevices on
the Doughboy at night giving him an ethereal, battle-ready appearance. During
the day idyllic hills and cherry blossoms of Hurd Park lend serenity and
soberness to this memorial to our fallen soldiers.
Sadly, despite its
beauty the statue and memorial were victims of many acts of vandalism over the
years. At one point the statue was ripped from its pedestal and thrown into a
nearby creek. Extensive renovations involving the entire community eventually
replaced the statue to its current glory. On the stones forming the pedestal
are 38 bronze plaques, each bearing the name of a soldier from the community
who gave his life in the war.
Hurd Park, Dover, NJ
THINKING of VISITING?
LOCATION
Several highways serve
Dover. Routes 80 and 10 and 46 travel east/west through the city and Route 15’s
southern terminus is in Dover at Route 46. In fact, Hurd Park is right on Route
46 and the statue can be seen from the roadway, but you’ll want to get out and
walk up to the memorial and perhaps stroll the idyllic grounds. You can’t park in front of the memorial. Look
for spots on Park Heights Avenue, West Blackwell Street, or perhaps Princeton
Avenue; just be careful with the latter though because you’ll have to cross
Route 46 to get to the memorial.
HISTORY and ATTRACTIONS
Once a port on the
Morris Canal, an engineering marvel that used water driven inclined planes to
carry coal over the northern New Jersey hills, Dover is around 25 miles west of
Newark. The canal was abandoned in the 1920’s and subsequently filled in,
including the boat basin in the town which is now called JFK Commons Park. There are preserved sections though and it is possible to hike along the canal
in nearby Wharton at Hugh Force Park to glimpse and stroll along a bit of
American commerce history.
On Saturday, August 23rd
the Wharton Canal Day will be held at the park. The well attended event offers
music, arts and crafts, food, fireworks, a Civil War encampment and
blacksmithing demonstrations and free boat and kayak rides on the canal.
Wharton’s Hugh Force Park is a little more than 2 miles north of Hurd Park in
Dover.
Iron ore was once so
plentiful in the area that it could be collected off the ground. In sporadic
operation for nearly 300 years dating from the early 1700’s the mines and
forges in the Dover vicinity once supplied much of the iron used as shot and
ordnance in the American Revolutionary War. The Hibernia mine was the name
given to a series of independently run mines all along the same ore vein and
tons of ore were taken from the earth through mines like: Andover, Beach Glen,
DeCamp and Wharton. If you’re interested in reading more:
It is possible to visit
some of these mines, but if you’re neither a spelunker nor a caver your best
bet is to visit the Sterling Hill Museum in nearby Ogdensburg, NJ about 16
miles north along Route 15. They offer tours. The Sterling Hill Museum was a
must visit during my grammar school days.
There is a military
presence in the area as Picatinny Arsenal is a few miles outside of Dover north
on Route 15. This research facility “specializes in the research, development,
acquisition and lifecycle management of advanced conventional weapon systems
and advanced ammunition.” Begun as a powder depot in the 1880’s, Picatinny
Arsenal has been important to the military effort throughout its history
evolving as needed and was integral in the testing of rocket engine technology. Sadly as civilians
visits to Picatinny are prohibited, although I once camped there as a Boy Scout.
In 1926 there was a devastating explosion that leveled the joint. PICATINNY ARSENAL In February, 1977 I was fortunate to see the Ramones at a joint in Dover called The Showplace. The Ramones only had two albums in their arsenal at the time and we got to hear Sheena is a Punk Rocker, perhaps for the first time as that would not be released until Rockets to Russia in November of 1977. Well, the Showplace is no longer a concert venue, but there is a strip joint as well as a recording studio at the South Salem Street address. The strip joint isn't well received by some; a recent review on google+ said: "Smells like a rotten corpse soaking in tuna blood."
Joey Ramone would be pleased.
FOOD AND DRINK
In the 2000 census over half the
population of Dover was listed as Hispanic, with Mexican, Colombian, Dominican
and Puerto Rican as the prevalent nationalities in the town. Thankfully all of
their tasty cuisines are equally prevalent in town, mostly along the main
business district area of Blackwell Street.
Near Blackwell is a good honest Irish bar with normal fare and beer selections.
The Quiet Man is at 64 East McFarlan Street.
If you don’t mind driving
out of Dover, there are several good places to eat and drink in the nearby
towns of Wharton and Randolph.
On North Main Street in
Wharton is Hot Rods Real Pit BBQ. According to the Star-Ledger and Forbes Hot
Rods has some of the best ribs in NJ and the place also has a respectable list
of craft beers. HOT RODS BBQ, WHARTON, NJ
The Knotty Pine Pub is a
great dive bar in Wharton and serves honest food at great prices. They are up
on Route 15 near the Costo’s.
In
Randolph along Route 10, but less than 10 miles away from Hurd Park are two
destination-worthy places, at least for beer. Both offer food at “normal”
prices. Go for the beer and perhaps the small plate selections.
The
Morris Tap and Grill offers a dazzling array of beers, foreign and domestic and Nicole’s Ten boasts
100+ craft beer, mostly in bottles. THE MORRIS TAP AND GRILL
Thanks for reading. I hope you find this interesting and informative. Feel free to leave a comment here or send me an email perhaps detailing your travels and if you send pictures of your visit to any of our suggested destinations we'll try to include them in our future entries at VACATIONS FROM HOME. And, always remember to like us on Facebook!
love greg and Janet
While I was growing up
the Bald Eagle, symbol of America, was on the endangered list for extinction. This
majestic raptor was once very common throughout the United States, but their
numbers steadily dwindled from loss of habitat and competition for food from
human westward expansion. By the late 1800’s their numbers were already in
sharp decline, but then were further decimated with the use of DDT and other
pesticides. This weakened their eggshells which were often crushed during
incubation. On the Fourth of July, 1976, our country’s bicentennial anniversary, the Bald Eagle was officially placed on the endangered list by the US
Fish and Wildlife Service.
For a kid growing up in
New Jersey the Bald Eagle was truly just a symbol and not a “sighting”. Unless
I visited a zoo, or traveled out west somewhere or got up to Alaska, where most
of the Bald Eagle population now resides, I had no hope of seeing one.
That has changed. The
Bald Eagle’s numbers have risen since the banning of DDT in 1972 and Federal
and State conservation laws protecting the animal and its habitat. Once down to
under 500 nesting pairs in the continental U.S. the numbers have risen to over
10,000 nesting pairs. In 1995 the US Fish and
Wildlife Service upgraded the Bald Eagle’s status to “threatened” and in 2007
removed from the endangered species list. Seeing a Bald Eagle in the area is now
plausible. Although not as plentiful as they were before the European invasion of
North America, when they may have numbered up to half a million, the Bald Eagle
population is coming back. Readers of this blog may remember a trip Team VFH
made this past January to the Conowingo Dam in northern Maryland. Large numbers of Bald Eagles winter there
feeding on fish that get sucked through the turbines on this Susquehanna River
edifice. But now it is possible to see Bald
Eagles and not have to leave New Jersey!
At the northern end of
my hometown of Lambertville, NJ there is currently a nesting pair of Bald
Eagles. There is at least one eaglet. They have made their aerie on a power
line tower near the Route 202 bridge. Walk along the towpath and right where
the canal passes over the Alexauken Creek you can see the nest in the tower to
the west. Bring a chair and enjoy this wonderful display and sigh with pleasure
knowing that few animals ever make it back from the very brink of extinction.
(c) 2014 Deborah Faust
In deference to this
nesting pair the 14th annual Civil War re-enactment weekend at the
Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead Museum, just north of the power line aerie, will NOT be firing
off their cannons. The eaglets will not be disturbed. Please note because of
this event there is no free parking usually found in the area beside the 202
bridge. You can still park for free in town and enter the towpath at Elm Street
and head north.
If you’re interested in
getting something to eat and still want to see the eagles, visit Ed and
Debbie at the
Homestead Farm Market. The market is on Main Street in Lambertville. At the
Homestead you can buy lunch, fresh produce, drinks, some of the best apple pie
on this earth and flowers and then ask if you can look through their telescope
aimed right at the nest. It’s free and although supposedly only out Tuesday
through Saturday, if you ask Ed in a nice way he’ll set it up for you.
If you can’t make it to Lambertville or you need a daily fix of Bald Eagle antics there are several
webcams on the internet, most notably, for me, is the Duke Farms Eagle cam. In
operation since 2008, 8 million viewers have watched the male and female return
every year to the same nest.
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