NJ: Atlantic City

Day 362
NM Today: 39
NM To Date: 6017 (6924 statute miles)

When we docked at South Jersey Marina yesterday afternoon, a dock hand came on board Sea Moss and took care of securing the boat's lines to the two pilings sitting at the bow of our boat - one to port and one to starboard. Although this marina has floating docks, they are actually only long enough to be considered finger piers. We tied our midships and stern lines to the floating dock, but we still needed to have two bow lines attached to rings on the pilings. The ring mechanism allows the lines to move up and down the pilings with the tide.

As we prepared to leave the docks this morning, a different dock hand approached our boat and asked if he could render assistance. With wind and current, the docks at this marina can prove challenging, and so we gladly accepted his offer. He then suggested that he could come on board to help remove the bow lines.

The look on his face was priceless when Clark replied, "If you do that then you'll have to come with us, and then we'll have to find a place to drop you off". Once we drop those lines, Clark goes. There would be no time to dance around waiting for him to disembark. I gathered no one had ever said that to him before.  I also gathered he did not want to come with us for a ride. We gave him the stern line to throw on board at the last possible minute.

We had calm weather through the night and into the morning, but just before I got up this morning, I heard the AGLCA burgee on the bow of the boat flapping like crazy. Uh-oh ... wind! I knew we would be spending the majority of our day on the Atlantic. With wind, I did not know what that would mean in terms of wave action.

When we got out into the ocean, I was surprised to find the water relatively calm even with the wind.

Barely a Ripple at Red CM Marker
for Cape May Entrance in the Atlantic Ocean
(Cape May, NJ in background)

Despite the strong wind, or perhaps because of it, some folks enjoyed some parasailing on the Atlantic.

Parasailing off the Jersey Shore

Surprisingly, after the heat and humidity we suffered on the Chesapeake, we found we needed to wear long-sleeved shirts on the boat today due to a chill in the air. I went further than that even and wrapped myself up in a light blanket to keep my legs warm as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed today's trip up the coast. For once on this trip I recognized what I was looking at without Clark having to tell me or referring to charts!

Amusement Rides in
Wildwood, NJ

Another View of Wildwood, NJ

Besides enjoying the view along the shore, we also saw some marine life on our trip. At one point I saw a group of at least a dozen stingrays traveling together. Later we saw two dolphins frolicking in the sea. We found ourselves mystified by something very large and brown in color in the water. We could not tell if it was some floating, dead grass. I thought perhaps someone had emptied their holding tank, and the contents floated on the top of the water. Clark pointed the bow of the boat away from the discolored water to avoid whatever it might be.

Dark, brownish section of water in Atlantic Ocean
What could it be?

When we got close enough to the brown section of water, and the sun hit it, it began to sparkle with multiple bits of silver color. That is when we figured out that this brown "blob" was actually a school of fish. Clark said, "Well, that is the first time I have ever diverted the boat for a school of fish!" As we traveled up the coast, we encountered several more, similar schools of fish. At least after the first one, we knew what the brown stain on the water was up ahead of us.

The further up the coast we traveled, the rougher the waters became. Where we had little wave action in Cape May, by the time we got to Ocean City, NJ, we were rocking and rolling with waves hitting us head on. Given I expected this type of travel, however, we had no worries. I even made lunch before we left this morning, so I would not have to chase the bread  around the boat trying to make sandwiches while underway.

Nearing Atlantic City, we had a bit more excitement when we realized we would get to see a Coast Guard training drill. As we watched, the helicopter hovered and appeared absolutely motionless above the boat below. Given the windy conditions, we found it amazing how very still and level the pilot maintained his position. Once in position over the boat, he lowered a life-saving line down to the boat simulating a rescue. He raised it back up and lowered it multiple times. For some of the exercises, he had the helicopter much closer to the water than shown in the picture below. We could see the water spraying up from the force of air from the helicopter blades.

Coast Guard Life-Saving Drills

 After more than four hours of traveling the coast, we arrived at Atlantic City.

Atlantic City, NJ

Another View of AC

We turned into the Absecon (ab-see'-con) Inlet and saw a fishing vessel coming out.

Make way - make way! I'm going fishing!

 I pointed out the Absecon Lighthouse to Clark. All around the lighthouse, construction work and cranes took away from the view of the lighthouse.

Absecon Lighthouse

 As I looked at the lighthouse, it appeared insignificant in size compared to the surrounding buildings. Coming upon Atlantic City from the south, the lighthouse cannot even be seen. I guess the buildings now serve as the "aids to navigation", and the lighthouse just stands in memory of its glory days when it served a role vital to the safety of ocean-going vessels.

Looks small compared to the buildings

 On the other side of the inlet, we saw the beach and even though it was mid-day and mid-week, we saw a few sun worshipers taking advantage of the cooler weather.

Atlantic City Beach

Since Clark was busy running around with the camera, I navigated the boat. As we turned to follow the channel around to our marina, a Coast Guard boat full of men came out towards me. I aimed to pass them port-to-port, but as I got closer, they blew "two whistles" which is the signal for passing starboard-to-starboard.

Coast Guard Boat
Which way will they go?

Clark said he almost responded with five blows of our horn, until he realized (as I had done) that the men on board were not signaling us their navigation intent. They were busy waving to a friend of theirs on the shore! Unaware that they had temporarily confused us, they waved cheerily to us as they passed us port-to-port.

Having read reasonable reviews on Active Captain, we decided to stay at Kammerman's Marina in Atlantic City. This marina is the small, personal alternative to the main marina in town Farley's State Marina.

View from our dock at Kammerman's Marina

Even after we had Sea Moss docked, the day's adventure just kept getting more and more interesting. As we walked up to check in, we saw not one, not two, but four U.S. Navy sailboat training vessels full-to-overflowing with cadets from the Naval Academy in Annapolis. According to the marina owner, they regularly make runs from Annapolis to Atlantic City, refuel and turn around and return to Annapolis.

Two of Four U.S. Navy Academy Sailboats
(Gallant, Courage, Daring, and Invincible)

The poor woman operating the marina single-handed was overwhelmed. She answered phone calls, grabbed our lines to help us tie up, helped the Naval cadets fuel their boats, and ...

After getting settled in, Clark and I decided to walk to the Atlantic City boardwalk. The marina owner gave us directions, and we went on our way. We did not get very far, very fast; however, as on the other side of the office, we found the Caribean Queen docked at the marina. Of course we had to stop and chat for a while. They had decided not to go as far as their original plans due to the wave action on the ocean.

We left the marina and walked quite a few blocks to reach the boardwalk. The end of the boardwalk near Massachusetts Avenue where we came in has mostly been abandoned and contains many closed businesses. The economy and the opening of other casinos, such as in NYC and Connecticut, have had a negative impact on this city.

Passed Fishing Boats on our way to the AC Boardwalk

Passed a small park named "Fisherman's Park"

Saw the Absecon Lighthouse from the street side

Some of the area before and near the lighthouse had been completely cleared of buildings, other buildings we saw as we walked into the city had been remodeled  / rebuilt and raised above the flood zone. Still others looked more than a bit "worse for wear". Clearly, the city is still recovering from the effects of Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Atlantic City is where Sandy came ashore.

And arrived at a mostly deserted section of the AC Boardwalk

Closed Casino

First signs of life - House of Blues
housing AC's Only Surf Bar

We continued to walk along the boardwalk and the further we walked, the more action we saw.

Taj Mahal Casino

Ad for the Steel Pier in Atlantic City

The Steel Pier Amusement Area

Atlantic City Carousel on the Steel Pier

Helicopter Rides at the Steel Pier

View of the beach at Atlantic City from the pier

Very Noisy Workers on Strike
at the Taj Mahal

In the area of the chanting and banging on buckets of the workers on strike against the Taj Mahal, we found many open businesses and people enjoying what the boardwalk had to offer despite the noise.

A Few More Patrons on the Boardwalk

In the midst of all the stores, restaurants, and casinos, we stumbled across the NJ Korean War Memorial. I did not know this was here.

NJ Korean War Memorial 

 Just down the street we found a Conestoga wagon.

Conestoga Wagon
for The Wild West Casino 

The Wild West Casino
offering Gambling, Poker, and a new Mechanical Bull
(aren't poker and gambling the same thing?)

 At one point I looked up and saw Gordon Ramsey looking down at me from on high.

Ramsey's Pub & Grill

It felt like we had been walking forever and ever when we finally arrived at the Convention Center on the boardwalk famous for The Miss America Pageants.

Atlantic City Convention Center / Auditorium 

Commemorative Plaque Dedicated in 1987
to the city from the Miss America Pageant

"Home of the Miss America Pageant"

Stand under the crown to be crowned Miss America

 Being crowned Miss America by the statue appeared to be quite popular as we had to wait in line to take a picture. Clark refused to stand under the crown while I took his picture. I asked him if he wanted me to take his picture right after I saw another man crowned. He, however, got "crowned" as part of a scavenger hunt challenge he and several others were participating in on the boardwalk. He made the facial expression of a coy and appreciative Miss America.

Before heading back to the marina, Clark selected an ice cream cone from one of the many vendors along the boardwalk. He rejected one because it was soft serve only and another because they sold Breyers ice cream. Finally, he found one that met his criteria.

No "good" ice cream here ... keep looking

 By the time we had walked to the boardwalk and then a good distance down the boardwalk, we had covered about three miles. My legs started to feel like rubber, so we decided to use the Jitney shuttle bus to get most of the way back to the marina. We got a bit longer ride than anticipated as we had a miscommunication with the driver when I asked if he went to the marina on Massachusetts Avenue. He decided I meant Farley State Park Marina on the other side of the water and took off before I could either get off or ask for a clarification.

As I watched Google Maps in dismay, I realized that he would be taking us miles out of our way. I tried to get him to stop at any possible stop to let us off, but all he wanted to do was complain about the error and that we had not gotten off when we should have. Other than jump out of a moving vehicle, I had no choice but to go for a long ride and hope we would eventually end up somewhere that I would not need to hire a cab to get back to the boat.

After a quick trip around the parking lot at Harrah's Casino, he did take us back to Massachusetts Avenue. The walk ended up being further than if we had disembarked the first time he stopped at this street, but certainly a lot closer than walking back from Harrah's (which I do not think would have even been possible).

Well over three miles later ...
Back at the Docks

In time for a late, home-cooked dinner and a
beautiful sunset over Harrah's Casino