The Jewel Is Sparkling!

Mornin'!  It's 62° in Wildwood NJ.  September is sparkling this morning as the Jewel is here!  It's sunny with island breezes (North at 10-12mph) and low humidity (77%).  It feels amazingly cool and refreshing. And, that's both inside and outside my house. All windows are wide open.  This morning's weather has Autumn written all over it.  Yet, I'm still reflecting on how close we came to Ida's wrath and how lucky we are to have not had one destructive incident from it.  So much to be grateful for as our local news coverage continues to show the ruination of neighborhoods just 60 miles away.  It'll be sunny today with a few afternoon clouds filtering in.  Temps will be in the mid-upper 70s with N-NW winds at 10-15mph.  Tonight... generally clear with some cloud cover, low around 61° and Northerly breezes at 5-10mph.  Tomorrow... partly cloudy, temps in the upper 70s and W-NW winds at 5-10mph.  Sunday... partly to mostly cloudy with temps teetering around 80° and S-SW winds at 10-15mph.  Monday... waking to rain with a mostly to partly cloudy, warm day on tap (low-80s).  
High tide: 5:49PM
Low tide: 11:33AM
Ocean temp: 79°
Sunrise: 6:30AM
Sunset: 7:27PM
UV Index: 8
Rip Currents: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,096,791
Corona Virus Death in NJ: 26,918
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 10,798
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 217

And, it's the "LAST" Friday for my Friday Beach Etiquette Tips ...  

~Things I pack for the beach... bottled water, a spray bottle of water for you never know what, a hat, footwear (it's amazing how many folk don't wear something on their feet when trekking the extremely hot, burning sand and even worse forget to put footwear on their children), towel, sunblock, insect repellent (for the West Wind Biting Flies), first aid kit (I include a tiny bottle of vinegar for jelly fish stings), some shade (umbrella or sand chair with lid/canopy), something to read, sanitizing wipes, a small trash bag to collect any trash you may accumulate, and I always bring my crocheting as I love to crochet on the beach.  Some of my best baby blankets are "salty". 
~When going to the beach and deciding where to set camp, kindly give those around you a little extra space as courtesy is key.  Careful not to plop down only inches from someone else's camp.  This one's amazing to me as I see "close proximity plopping" time and time again.  Most beaches (with the exception of North Wildwood) are huge yet folks set up camp only inches from those already there enjoying their quiet beach day.  The fact is, their encampment could have been literally 30 feet away allowing plenty of room between others blankets, chairs and umbrellas, yet it's only inches away!  It happens more often than not.  I have yet to figure it out.  Human connection needed perhaps?  Whatever, it's a very strange phenomenon.
~Setting up your umbrella... be aware of wind direction and wind speed.  If it's windy, take those extra steps to secure your umbrella (sand screws or grabbers) or bungee cord (you can secure your umbrella to your beach cart or cooler etc).  It's common to see how unsecured umbrellas can be as the wind launches them directly toward unknowing folks about to be impaled.  And, remember to open your umbrella into the wind otherwise, those gusts will be blowing your umbrella inside out making it almost impossible to control. 
~Know the time of your tides.  Always check with the lifeguard if unsure.  If the tide is at its highest, you can sit as close to the surf as you want as the tide will be taking the entire day to slip into low tide and the beach grows bigger and bigger.  It takes 6 hours for the tide to go from High to Low.
~Teach children beach etiquette.  Throwing sand is a no-no.  Teach them not to run or chase one another around someone laying on their blanket as the kicked up or thrown sand from the winds scatter over the person lying there peacefully.  I've had families whose little toddlers take off running from their campsite right to mine and onto my blanket before any adult could grab them.  I guess it's cute.  My advice to parents of young toddlers (1-2 year olds)... bring a "pack-n-play" for them as I can assure you that your day will be much more enjoyable with those babes confined.
~Remember when shaking out towels or blankets, be conscious of the wind direction and shake away from those in close proximity of your shaken sands.
~There is "no smoking" on the beach.  That includes pipes, vapes, cigars and marijuana.  Wildwood Crest has a designated smoking area for cigarette smoking.  There's "no smoking" of any kind on the boardwalk too.  As New Jersey has recently legalized Marijuana, you cannot smoke it in these small coastal towns as they've all outlawed it including Wildwood.  It's allowed on private property.
~Dogs are allowed on Wildwood and Wildwood Crest beaches from Oct-May.  Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk at any time.  There are a couple of great beach dog-parks.  One at 3000 Glenwood Ave. at the beach and one in North Wildwood at 24th and the beach.  NW requires a permit and also posts that dogs are not allowed on the beach when lifeguards are present (9:30-5:30).  Dog's must be on a leash at all times when not in the dog parks.
~Never leave trash on the beach.  Better yet, pick up any you see whether it's yours or not.  There are many, many trash and recycle containers on the beach and sidewalks might as well use them. 
~If into music, remember your headphones.  Believe it or not, no one really wants to hear your blasting music drowning out the soothing sounds of the surf.  And, direct that (not too loud) speaker towards you, not to the other folks on the beach.
~Feeding seagulls is a big no-no.  Eat and snack smartly.  Using hands up or out when holding a sandwich to express oneself is a magnet for swooping gulls.  Drop just one potato chip and you'll create seagull havoc.  Eat under your umbrella or chair canopy.  Seagulls are vultures and are endlessly eyeing beach goers eating habits.  They're relentless in trying to find the opportune moment to swoop down and pluck your lunch right out of your hand or mouth (seen it happen many times).  By the way, Seagulls know "chip bags" and if you have an unsupervised blanket or bag with chip bags exposed, they will help themselves to that bag and share their newly acquired beach find with their gull family and friends right there on your beach blanket and surrounding area.
~Playing ball, Frisbee, horseshoes, corn hole, kite-flying, ladder toss, spike ball, paddle ball, volley ball, kan-jam, beach darts, etc., is a no-no where everyone's camped beaching.  The dune or emptier side of the beach is designated for those active beach games.  The beach patrol will probably stop you anyway. But, be mindful of those around you who are not in the game.
~Observe all posted warnings... beach closures, no alcohol or marijuana, rip currents, surfing only etc.  If in doubt, check with the lifeguards.  
~And lastly, be courteous.  Courtesy is key.  Be kind and considerate of everyone enjoying this beautiful moment along with you.  Happy Beaching!