The boardwalk starts in Atlantic City and runs all the way to Margate. Or, the other way around, depending on your orientation. Today we begin at the edge of Margate and walk to Atlantic City -- and back.
October brings slate gray skies with slicks of sunlight on the water. The surf is rough and rain occasionally spatters us. Tiny sandpipers scurry in front of the froth and the water ebbs and flows with the incoming tide. The beach is deserted in October except for an occasional jogger.
The college kids want to walk to Atlantic City and we set out in the stiff wind. I’ve opted for a scarf and earmuffs though it’s not extremely cold. By the end of the afternoon I will be glad for this choices.
We string out along the boardwalk, conversations gathering into twos and threes and then rubber banding into different groups. We’re here to talk and interact so a walk to Atlantic City (and back) gives great opportunity for extended discussion.
Ventnor is residential, a jumbled mix of old colonial clapboards houses and modern stucco wide-windowed mansions hugging the beach. We walk past neatly trimmed lawns, landscaped and hedged, still blooming in the autumn warmth.
By the time we reach Atlantic City our feet are beginning to feel like lead so we head into the Steel Pier mall and hang out for the fountain/light show and a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Rain is falling in earnest and we linger till the drops cease beating on the windows of the coffee shop. The casinos are bleak and dreary on this rainy Saturday afternoon.
The walk back seemed impossible when we stopped, but coffee fueled, we’re refreshed enough to set off again. Before we leave Atlantic City, there’s a stop for funnel cakes, an absolute necessity of a walk on the boards. The wind that was in our faces has turned, and again it’s at in our faces. Earmuffs feel good. The sun dances and hides. Gulls scream overhead. The salt smell is pungent.
Our home destination is a good three miles or more back the boardwalk, but again, the students string out into conversation groups and the time passes quickly. Rain hits us almost to Ventnor and we increase our speed. Rather footsore we finally reach our street and head back to the houses off the beach. Sated with wind and wet, we burst into the living room of the largest house to the smell of dinner and the warmth of home.
The boardwalk has been conquered again – Atlantic City and back, miles of walking. But the larger goal has been accomplished too. Substantive conversations about life and living.
2 comments:
I can feel the cold in my bones!
We drove north in the same misty, seaside, nor-easter. By Fredericksburg the pelting rain and flying road water made the ensuing hour tedious. We'd been on the road 9 hours . . . the prospect of DC's dense traffic and the deteriorated conditions led us to abandon the journey for the night. The motel was brand new. A fireplace and bring orange, blue and lime green decor were very welcoming. We crashed on the bed to enjoy football and baseball, safely out of the rain.
Sunday dawned clean and bright with the road beckoning. Now we're safely home. The golden glow of autumn all around.
my fear ache again, to think about it. but it reminds me of english camp, in poland, when we go hiking with the students so many times. it is indeed the perfect opportunity to talk about life. thank you for living life with us for a weekend. :)
we even all met up again this evening and had dinner together. i can definitely see fruit already from this invenio weekend.
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