Happy Friday!

Mornin'! Happy Friday!  It's 76° in Wildwood NJ.  Humidity's 93% with a dewpoint of 73°.  Ms Sun's up and the island has that morning golden glow.  It's warm and humid out there.  I just watered the garden and it's quiet and still except for the island birds who seem to be delighted with the warm humidity.  Breezes are out of the S-SW at 1-2mph (if you want to even call that a breeze).  I'll be partly sunny today.  Some clouds and even patchy fog is expected this morning.  Otherwise, a partly sunny day with temps in the low-80s and SW winds at 5-10mph.  Tonight... 30% chance of an isolated shower and/or thunderstorm.  Temps will drop into the low-70s with Southerly breezes at 5-10mph.  Tomorrow... mostly to partly sunny with temps near 80° and light breezes.  There's a 15-20% chance of a shower or two.  Sunday... 60-70% chance of rain with temps in the low-80s.  Sunday night... rain still in the forecast with the possibility of storms.
High Tide: 12:30PM
Low Tide: 6:19PM
Ocean Temp: 74°
Sunrise: 5:43AM
Sunset: 8:44PM
UV Index: 10 (extremely high)
Rip Currents: Low risk today

Here's my First of 2023 

Friday Beach Tips...
*Beach Stuff - what to pack... bottled water, a spray bottle of water for you never know what, a hat, footwear, towel, sunblock, insect repellent (for the "West winds" that bring biting green head flies), first aid kit (I include a tiny bottle of vinegar for jelly fish stings), shade (umbrella, canopy of some type), a bungee cord to secure your umbrella for those windy days, something to read, sanitizing wipes, a small trash bag to collect any trash you accumulate.
*When setting up your spot (campsite) at the beach, give those around you a little courtesy and be kind as to not to set up too close to them.  It's always amazing to watch arriving folk completely unaware of their actions as they begin setting up their umbrella, blanket and chair only inches away from those folks already settled in and believe it or not, there's no one else yet at the beach except you. It often feels like new arrivals seek out others to sit close to.  It happens more often than not and I have yet to figure out this strange phenomenon. Most beaches are huge (with the exception of North Wildwood).  First Avenue beach has become more popular this year as that beach grows while the JFK Blvd beach shrinks.
*Know your "tide" times.  You can always ask the lifeguard as they will know.  If the tide is at its highest when you arrive, you can set up right at the water line and watch the beach grow bigger and bigger as the tide slips into its 6 hour low tide. It takes 6 hours for the tide to go from High to Low and then turn around and begin to go from Low to High (12 hour total).
*Tips for setting up your umbrella: be aware of the wind direction and wind speed.  On a windy day, take those extra steps to secure your umbrella.  Sand screws or sand grabbers are great for securing umbrellas and it's best to dig a hole first before twisting that screw in and packing the sand in.  Also, a bungee cord attaching the umbrella to your cooler or beach cart works wonders. It's not uncommon to see umbrellas launched by the winds and more often than not into unknowing folks who are about to be impaled by an airborne, out of control umbrella. And, while the entire family is in the ocean not realizing that their umbrella is 2 blocks away. I've seen it happen many times.  Oh... when opening your umbrella... always face the wind as this phenomenon never disappoints as most of the time, folks turn their back on the wind and open the umbrella. Thus... you now have an inside out, uncontrolled umbrella on your hands.
*Beach Etiquette.  Walking right next to someone with your flip-flops or sandals on, throws sand all over those in the line of your fire.  Be conscientious of what you're doing. Teach your children courtesy at the beach. Teach them not to run or chase one another around someone else's blanket or chair.  Wildwood sand is light and extremely fine and inevitably is always kicked up and flung. I've seen toddlers who take off running and onto anyone's blanket in their flight path.  Here's a bit of advice for parents of toddlers on the beach (1-2 year olds)... bring a "pack-n-play" for them as I can assure you that your beach day will be much more enjoyable with those babes surrounded with toys and snacks in their little mesh, private encampment.  I recently saw a young couple of a baby not old enough to walk, dig a round trench about 6" deep and place a piece of plastic (much like a shower curtain) over the 2-3' wide hole and fill it with the ocean water so the babe could be entertained and cooled off in their own little pool.
*Phone use... take it somewhere else.  Working from the beach for all of us to enjoy with you sucks.  Phone calls should be taken as far away from all the hordes of people as possible.  Go to the Dunes.  Trust me, no one wants to hear your conversation. 
*If shaking out towels or blankets, be conscious of the wind direction and always shake away from those in the line of your "sand" fire.
*There is "no smoking" of any type on the beach.  Wildwood Crest has a designated smoking area by the dunes.  There's "no smoking" on the boardwalk.  New Jersey has legalized Marijuana and you can smoke it privately on your property but you can't do it in public.  There are no Pot dispensaries in Wildwood. 
*For the pooches, there are two dog parks right on the beach.  At 24th and the Beach in North Wildwood and one in Wildwood between Glenwood and Maple on the Beach.  You can walk your dog on the beach but only prior to lifeguards stationed at their posts.  May I suggest NOT bringing your dog's toys/balls to the dog park. Not a good idea at all as 8 other dogs will inevitably charge for your thrown toy.  Dogs must always be on a leash when not in the dog parks. 
*If you enjoy music on the beach... remember to pack your headphones.  Believe it or not, the majority of beach folk would much rather listen to the sounds of the surf; not the country twang, heavy metal, bass or hip hop profanity blasting next to them from your Bluetooth speakers.  Sorry... but it's something that happens a lot and it sucks.
*Feeding seagulls is a no-no.  Eat and snack smartly.  Using flailing hands when expressing oneself while holding lunch is a magnet for swooping gulls.  Drop just one potato chip and you'll have seagull havoc.  Eat conscientiously under your umbrella or chair canopy.  Seagulls are vultures and are smart and endlessly eyeing beach goers eating habits.  They're relentless in trying to find the opportune moment to swoop down and pluck 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 beach bag with chip bags exposed, they'll think nothing of helping themselves to that bag and will share their newly acquired bag of Lays Chips with all their gulls family and friends while you're in the ocean without a care in the world.
*Playing ball, Frisbee, horseshoes, corn hole, kite-flying, ladder toss, spike ball, paddle ball, volley ball, Kan-jam, beach darts etc. are not allowed to be set up and played where beach-goers are camped.  Play back by the dunes where no one is sitting.
*Observe all posted signs and warnings... Beach closures due to weather, rip currents or storms, surfing only beaches, no alcohol or pot, no dogs or pets.  If in doubt, just ask the lifeguards.
*Never leave trash on the beach.  Better yet, pick up any that you may see whether it's yours or not.  There are many, many trash and recycle containers on the beach and surrounding areas.  You might as well use them rather than let all that trash drift off and fly into the ocean for the fish to eat or get tangled in. Remember... whatever the fish eat, we eat too.  Plastic is an epidemic.  Speaking of plastic... New Jersey no longer has plastic bags at stores and shops.  It's now all about bringing your reusable bags to save the planet from those fly-away plastic ones.
*Lastly, be courteous.  Courtesy is key.  Be kind and considerate of all those enjoying this beautiful moment along with you. Keep the profanity at home.  It's a lot of fun being at the beach.  Let's enjoy together. Happy Beaching!