Roadtrip, Day 13... Jovi

Day 13

Friday, May 30, 2025

        It wasn't actively raining when I woke up.  But, it was certainly coming.  So, it was up and out for a morning walk before breakfast.

    Surprised to see a little light color on horizon, I wish I had started earlier.

     It's 1.4 miles from the Ocean Grove pier to the end of the Asbury Park Boardwalk.  Great start to the day.  

      

      Checking the weather over breakfast, the forecast rain didn't look like it was going to happen after all. Bonus.  I had no commitments until 1P.  

     So, after clearing out my room and packing up the car, I just started walking with my travel mug of coffee.  I could get used to this.

     Instead of heading north into Asbury Park, this time I walked south into Bradley Beach.  

     The Promenade ends 1.2 miles south from the Ocean Grove Pier.  An easy two and a half miles from the inn.

        Sure, hanging out at the Jersey Shore was just what I needed.  But, it was time to head inland to catch up with some old friends.

     First stop, Red Bank to meet my friend Stacey.  We've known each other since high school band.  She was an electrical engineer until being downsized.  Like me, we're still adjusting to the whole retirement thing.

     Great lunch and great conversation.

      From there. I hit the parkway northbound.  A few years ago, the state started renaming the rest stops for famous Jersey people.  Earlier on the trip, I hit the Frank Sinatra Rest Stop.  This time, it was Jon Bon Jovi.

     I have nothing against the guy.  I even saw him play the Philadelphia Spectrum back in the '80s.  Great show.  I'm just sick of hearing "Living on a Prayer."  One guess what song was playing.  

     With more rain in the forecast, I just continued on to New Providence, my old home town.

     By now, you know I like to just go walk around and see what's changed.  Case in point, this was the headquarters for C.R. Bard back in my day.  They made medical supplies and were innovators in designs for catheters.  By the mid '90s, their sales had topped $1 Billion.  After a string of lawsuits over the next twenty years, the company was sold and the site abandoned.  

   Now it's luxury townhouses.  

    An evening walk by the old high school before the  storm...

     Seen in the motel corridor...

      I did follow the QR code and it went directly to Spotify.  You might think it strange, but I don't actually have an account with them.  Curious who the local artists are.