P.S.

LOD 2013

Part 5

Day 5

Monday

Today I woke at the crack of dawn - literally.  Should I turn over and go back to sleep or get onto the boardwalk to try and catch the sunrise?  Might never get the chance for sunrise again but I can sleep any time so... no - brainer really.

So when I get to the boardwalk there is a solitary bloke fishing. He packs up and heads off home leaving me on my own, strolling up and down, waiting for the sun. A police car drove by at one point and I swear it slowed down to check me out. Probably thought I was mad.

Photos taken I head back to the room and who is helping himself to coffee in the hotel lobby?- non other than Joe Grushecky. We had quite a long chat as I got tea for myself, and coffee to take back to Mike, who was still languishing in bed. This might be a lesson to learn. Just do your own thing and mind your own business and you don’t know who will cross your path. Go out of your way to bump into someone and zilch.

No rush this morning as our lift back to the airport wasn’t picking us up until 6.00pm. We packed cases and set off for a late breakfast at Frank’s Deli. 

After a last wander around Asbury Park and Ocean Grove we headed back to the hotel to relax. The final day of a holiday is always a bit strange don’t you find? A lot of waiting around and wondering whether to go for a last walk, a drink or look around the shops. We opted to wait and read.

Our group were leaving at different times during the afternoon so there were lots of ‘Goodbyes’ and ‘Safe Journeys’. Everyone talked about when they would be back. Never if but when. 

Chatting to the waitress in Frank's this morning we mentioned we were heading home and weren't looking forward to it so much. She told us that whenever she leaves New Jersey she can't wait to get back - can't really argue with that.

MIke and I? Well barring disasters we’ll be on that plane next year. With the Paramount Theatre looking so pretty in the setting sun who could resist?

Epilogue

Remember that feeling I had that 2013 is going to be a good year? Don't know why I ever doubted it. If the rest of the year is anything like the last five days it's going to be amazing.

P.S

LOD 2013

Part 4

Day 4

Sunday

I keep thinking that the weather must break but it's another gorgeous day.

No breakfast for us today. We’ve booked a table at McLoones again for Songwriters by the Sea so we are trying to save ourselves. We eat so little, by rights, we should be as thin as rakes but it doesn’t seem to work that way.

We are keen to go and see Ocean Grove so retrace yesterday’s steps but this time walk on further passed the Casino.

Ocean Grove is an interesting place - well we thought so. I understand it has been through tough times but seems to have come out the other side and appears rather well-to-do now. It’s a dry town set up by a group of Methodists as a sort of summer camp. We researched all this after we came back and it explains why there are beach chalets surrounding the church. 

The streets are full of Victorian houses and newer builds in-the-style-of. Imagine the main street in a Western - Court House, General Store, brothel, that kind of thing - that’s what it reminds me of. It would make sense given the time that the original houses were built.

The boardwalk here seems to have taken a bit of a hit but the houses are apparently OK. 

I’m not sure whether they escaped the worst of Sandy or whether they have already been repaired.

Anyway we meandered around in our usual fashion, with no particular idea of where exactly we were heading, and happened upon the main street. There are a few quaint little shops and cafes but if you want more than a cup of tea or coffee you will be out of luck!

On our way back to the hotel we decided we couldn’t manage all day without food so we stopped off for a coffee and a cake in Cookman Avenue. Free Wi-Fi here and we find out from the UK that there was a wild party in our hotel lobby last night. This internet thingy is pretty impressive - the other side of the World knows what’s happening in our hotel before we do!.

So then onto the music which is after all why we are here. We nipped into the hotel bar for Songwriters by the Sea - Mike in his slippers - did I say we were beginning to feel right at home? This afternoon session was pretty laid back with everyone on stage together taking turns to give us a song.

On to the evening’s Songwriters by the Sea at McLoones. It followed the same format as the afternoon session with all the artists on stage together.Such a good contrast to the previous night. We sat at a table eating our meal and absorbing the atmosphere. Very leisurely and laid back. I’m a big fan of acoustic music so hearing songs, familiar from last night, given a new sound was right up my street.  

We ended with a nod to Bruce again - hearty renditions of Hungry Heart and Twist and Shout.

Mike and I spoke to James Maddock and Joe D’Urso after the show. They were both very gracious, signed the CDs we had just bought and took time to chat. Well, Joe was so chatty we could hardly get away! 

... and a good night was had by all.