Friday, May 25, 2018

Memorial Weekend Has Begun!

Mornin'!  It's 63° in Wildwood NJ.  Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  It's sunny with a very light breeze out of the South (2-3mph).  It appears as if everyone's here!  There's not a parking spot to be had on my street at the moment.  At 6a.m. I saw 2 dog-walkers already along with cyclists traversing.  Trust me, that's not the norm for 8 months out of the year. Every house around mine is occupied (this past Wednesday all were empty). I can actually hear the hum of neighboring air conditioners rattling through my opened windows.  It's that time of year when I'm mandated to make the adjustment to "share the shore".  I've got this but it takes major adjusting.  It's the feeling of infiltration and extreme coziness.  Like being asked to move further into the elevator as that last person pushes their way in.
Okay...I'm done my rant.
It'll be another perfect weather day with lots of warmth and sunshine.  Temps will tap the 80° mark again as breezes commence a little later from the SW at 10-12mph.  Tonight...clear and moonlit with temps in the mid-60s and breezes out of the S-SW at 18-20mph.  Tomorrow...pretty much another repeat of this fabulous weather with some clouds thrown in here and there.  By tomorrow evening...the weather shifts a bit with 50% chance of showers and/or thunderstorms as some crapola weather will be sticking around until Monday afternoon I'm sorry to report.
High tide:6:01p.m.
Low tide:11:29a.m.
Ocean temp:60°
Sunset:8:15p.m.
UV Index: high (8-9) pack the sunblock
And, since it's "The Season's" first Friday...I'm posting the ol' Beach Etiquette Checklist" as chances are the beach will no doubt be enjoyed today...
Friday Beach Etiquette tips~
~Never leave trash on the beach and even better yet...pick up any that you see whether it's yours or not.   Note trash and recycle containers situated everywhere as The Wildwoods do recycle.
~Don't forget those cigarette butts...collect and trash them.  Or just don't smoke and pollute the lovely sea air. Never stick them in the sand and leave them...that'll be tomorrow's find for the little kid digging in the sand.  Plus, cigarette filters take years to decompose and could be taken to the ocean by the tides giving sea life harmful/toxic cigarette filter tidbits to swallow. Smoking is banned on the Boardwalk in all the towns by the way.
~Remember to pack headphones (believe it or not no one wants to hear your music blaring from your boom box).  Big, loud boom boxes are not welcomed on the beach.
~Kindly give your neighbors space when selecting your beach site. Courtesy is key. Careful not to plop down in others personal beach space.
~Teach children some beach etiquette. Running (basically "kicking") nearby others and throwing sand is a no-brainer but sometimes you'd never know it.  
~Feeding the seagulls is a big no-no. Eat and snack smartly. Using hands to express emotion when holding your sandwich up or out is a magnet for swooping gulls. Dropping one potato chip thoughtlessly will create seagull havoc. Eat under your umbrella or hooded sand chair as the seagulls are similar to vultures and are eyeing beachgoers constantly trying to find the right opportune moment to swoop down and pluck your lunch right out of your hand or mouth (seen it happen many times).  Seagull havoc then begins as 40 other gulls come in for a food fight of your scattered lunch.  By the way, seagulls know "chip bags" and if they see one sticking out of your unsupervised beach bag, they will think nothing of helping themselves and remove the chips from your bag as well as share your snacks with their gull friends while you're taking a walk or a dip (seen it happen many times).
~Playing ball, frisbee, corn hole, or kite-flying etc is a no-no at the beach.  I mean on the back side of the beach (dune side) or designated areas, not near beachgoers would probably be the best place as the beach patrol will usually stop you anyway if you're in the wrong area.  Playing where folks are camped relaxing and enjoying their beach day is a no-no. 
~shake towels and blankets away from others noting the wind direction.
~observe and follow posted warnings (closed beaches, rip currents, surfboard/boogie board area etc) and always pay attention to lifeguards.  If in doubt...ask the lifeguard (they're terrific people).
~Now, let's all enjoy that beach together! And, live together with kindess and in peace.

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