Roadtrip, Day 10...A Day in Wildwood

Day 10

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

     In March of last year, I stopped here in Wildwood.  Being off peak, it was like a ghost town.  This time, the official summer shore season started the day before.

    Since I was already up, sunrise beckoned.  Except for a few runners, cleaning crews and some birds, I had the boardwalk to my self.

   

      The northern end of the boardwalk...

     According to Google maps, I had walked a little over a mile and a half at this point.

   From the walk back...

       After lingering on the boardwalk with a coffee, it was time to walk back, shower up and go explore.

     On the southern end of the island  is the Two Mile Beach section of the Cape May National Wildlife preserve.  

    Everything on the beach side is closed until the end of October for nesting season.  That leaves one short trail out to a swamp overlook.

     The weekend revelers seemed to be all gone.  They're sometimes referred to as Bennies by the locals, and not in the best way.   It started as a more northern shore thing.  It refers to the folks from Bayonne, Elizabeth and Newark who come down and disrupt the calm. 

    As for me, I was enjoying the peace.  It did feel a little weird with most of the boardwalk games shut after the weekend.

      Very few people walking around, too.

  Even the folks working the custard stands and pizza places seemed bored.

     

        At one point, a little kid dropped half a slice.  The seagulls swooped in and mayhem ensued.  

    One would try and fly off with it and get pounced.     It was down to about a two inch square when one finally carried it away. 

     The promised rain came and went.  It was only 8:30P.  So, I went back out.  All this walking really felt good.  I don't use a fitness tracker, and have no desire for one.   But today, I'd love to know.  

    No sunset, but that blue...

     It's a mile and a half to the end of the boardwalk.  This was my third trip of the day.

    Before I made that commitment, I asked an officer how late can I walk.

     There's a curfew for kids at 10P.  Then he said, "But, for older people such as yourself, you can walk all night."  Ugh. 

      I realize at 61, I'm not exactly a kid.  But, I'm not ready to be labeled as "older person."