SEASHORE FUN

In my previous blog (FAMILY VACATIONS) I wrote about vacation time in Surf City, N. J.

Surf City is, to my mind, an ideal family resort - small enough to be avoided by large building projects, yet complete enough for family enjoyment.
What did we do during our month-long times there? Of course, the ocean beckoned, as it always did. Yet, we were located closer to the bay and its safe-swimming beach. While I was working, the family used the bay. On weekends, we used the ocean beach and its challenges of very large waves and often tidewater that could be dangerous. I was fully aware of this and protected the family accordingly.
What else could we do? There was usually a carnival on the island, which meant weekend rides for the children, followed by cotton candy and ice cream treats. We attended a small Baptist church where a vacation Bible school was held and our children attended.

I enjoyed clamming. With a dollar permit in hand, and in the other hand, a basket fitted inside a car tire tube, I would wade into the bay until about chest high, feel for clams with my toes, then duck under to dislodge them and put them into the basket. This is the way that Native Americans clammed many years before, using reeds for the flotation device. Nothing, absolutely nothing is better than a clam chowder made with fresh-from-the-water-clams. Wow!

More, later.