It’s been a week since our arrival in Atlantic City on Tuesday July 9 in fog and light wind. Today marks one month living on Kailoa.
Although we were well out of the path of Hurricane Beryl, on a northern trajectory from Texas to the Great Lakes, we experienced the remnants as a series of wet weather and tropical humidity events during the last several days in Atlantic City. We couldn’t help but take note that Beryl is the earliest (July 3rd) category five hurricane on record. Further evidence that our climate is changing.
Dear friends and family came to visit us the day we arrived at Kailoa’s Golden Nugget berth. First Janet and Mark Ogden, longtime friends from Massachusetts, who happened to be vacationing in Long Beach Island, NJ. It was so stirring to see the excitement they had in sharing our voyage. Janet organized a pre-birthday celebration for Scott and Mark’s (an architect by profession) curiosity was apparent as he viewed the efficient use of space on Kailoa after our dinner at the Chart House.
Our family Hap and Dee (Kim’s brother and sister-in-law) were able to clear their work schedule from the family business and arrived that evening as well, making the landfall feel like a real homecoming. Kim, originally from NJ, spent many summers at her parents and grandparents’ summer homes growing up. Ocean City has been the epicenter for family gatherings for over half a century. Hap and Dee’s summer home in Sommers Point has enabled that tradition to continue.
The next morning Hap and Dee traveled to Kailoa through the inland waterway on their Pursuit named “Roll With It.” We were treated to a boat ride back to their bungalow at Anchorage Point. The nostalgic boat ride evoked many happy memories as we were cooled by the wind and took in the views and the smells as “Roll With It” sped through the narrow salt marsh channels.
We hailed the operator of the railroad bridge to open it for our passage and took in the homes that lined the channel. Iconic views of the Ocean City Ferris Wheel, the Flanders Hotel, and the 9th Street Bridge were juxtaposed with the expansive water resources of the bays and marsh. FANTASTIC! One of the pleasures of the area is the restaurant options that are accessible via pleasure craft. We traveled across the Bay, tied up at the dock where we had lunch at Crabby Jacks.
Upon the return to Anchorage Point Hap and Dee took in the catch from the trap at the end of their dock. It was nice to see their house with the new embellishment of the dockside fence to keep their twin 2.5-year-old grandson’s Crew and Mason safe. Later that day Hap cooked up his signature dish of blue crab and Old Bay. YUM! We spent hours together just hanging out, picking crabs as the conversation flowed from one topic to another. The four of us all noted the precious gift of time together.
The day capped off with a surprise visit from our niece Taylor and her husband Evan, whom we had not seen since before their marriage last October. They are such a beautiful happy couple. We ended up spending the night at Anchorage Point, our first night on land in a month. Jax relished the human attention and air conditioning. The family warmth and cozy home were a welcome change from the rain and humidity on Kailoa. Taylor and Evan thank you for giving up your bed for us.
The reunion continued the next day with breakfast, a land tour of Ocean City, a drive by or our parents’ former home at 5356 Asbury, a stop at the Deauville Inn in Strathmere, a tour of Atlantic City, a stop at Back Bay Ale house and a check of the anchorage at the base of the Brigantine Bridge in the Absecon Inlet.
Our departure uncertainty loomed due to the ever-present passing squalls and driving rain. The situation was compounded by the limited availability of dock space at the Golden Nugget. It turns out we landed at the same time as the “Jimmy Johnson Quest for the Ring Fishing Championship”. The one-million-dollar prize attracted contestants from all over the east coast, some traveling from as far as Florida.
Hap, Dee, Taylor and Evan returned us to the Nugget late Friday night where they took in a tour of Kailoa. During dinner at the Chart House the conversation turned into a lively scientific debate about transport through the blood brain barrier and then quite silly when we took stock of all our inherited tics (sweaty palms, anxiety etc.). The funniest was the inherited trait of harvesting clams with our toes. After dinner we walked the docks lined with multi-million-dollar ocean fishing boats. Honey Fitz, Jackie and JFKs presidential yacht, was just next to Kailoa on the outer doc. Luckily, the bad weather worked in our favor, and we were able to secure one more night of dock space that eliminated the need to spend Saturday night anchored in the Absecon Inlet.
We were treated to another surprise visit from our niece Ally, her husband Brock, their twin sons Mason and Crew Saturday at Anchorage Point.
Question: How do you travel with twin sons? Answer: Bring your vintage camper.
It was fun to see the boys in constant motion. We had a home cooked meal of fresh tomatoes, corn, BBQ chicken, and quinoa salad. Brock hosted a home brew cider tasting and we can’t wait to see where this passion leads him. The night capped off with the twins’ smiles when they tasted their first ice cream cone.
On Sunday morning, we slipped lines and motored to Cape May. The trip was really boring until we received another surprise visit from “Roll With It” one mile off the coast of 34th Street in Ocean City. After a few words and quick pictures to remember the event we watched Hap, Taylor and Evan speed off into the fog. A text message confirmed they arrived home safe.
We realized that it had been decades since we were able to enjoy crisis free time together. There has been a period of fifteen years where one family crisis after another occurred as our parents’ health was declining until they eventually passed away in 2017 and 2020. This was a very dark period for the family. It feels good to be on the other side of that. We feel truly blessed to connect in person and create some new happy memories. Thank you to the New Jersey Groff Clan for a memorable summer reunion and sharing this voyage with us. We will always cherish the memories!!!!!
HOLD FAST
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