God is my shepherd
I won't be wanting
I won't be wanting

He makes me rest
In fields of green
With quite streams

Even though I walk
Through the valley
Of death and dying

I will not fear
'Cause you are with me
You are with me

Your shepherd staff
Comforts me

You are my feast
In the presence of enemy

Surely goodness
Follow me
Follow me
In the house of God, forever

“The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.”
--Isak Dinesen

When the waves are big enough to deliver the occasional pounding and you're having so much fun sweat forms on your brow then you know it's a great day at the sea!

The day started with me hoping to catch a glimpse of the sun rise through the cloud covered horizon. To my dismay the quiet wait for sunrise was shared with a long line of fishermen up and down the beach. As fate would have it I walked into the middle of a fishing competition. It turned out the group next to me was a man short for qualification to enter the contest so they kindly adopted me for a couple hours!

Shortly after day break several dolphins swam by about 150 yards from shore. The moment was truly spectacular because in all the mornings at the beach this was the first time I witnessed dolphins swim by.

By afternoon the beach was clear without a trace of the fishing competition. It turned into a stellar afternoon at the beach with so many unexpected blessings that I scarcely can name them.  The weather forecast contained nothing but rain for the entire weekend and despite not bringing my board I found one to borrow for a couple hours (cough). The waves ranged from small breakers to huge rollers and the water temp was just right for leaving my wet suite behind. It was shared with a great crowd (and lifeguards)  from the conference. Fortunately someone had their DSLR at the beach and was kinda enough to send me something to remember one of the better days of summer spent at the beach.

Irene knocked out the power and left me to read by the morning light. The afternoon departure left me with a sunny, windy, and swampy suburban landscape to explore.

And other times the wind masters you...

No victory for the underdog, the wind and the waves were a formidable foe that gave little and demanded much.

The waves were docile and the wind was wrong. A couple grasshoppers were blown to the heat of the beach, along with some flying demons from the pit of hell!

Apparently last year year the weather was in my favor and whenever I went to the beach there were waves. The last two trips proved to be fairly calm so my future trips will be preceded with a check of the surf (not necessarily the forecast).

Thankfully the company at the beach was better than the stable flies and grasshoppers.

Every...

... visit to the beach is line a day in paradise.

... resplendent sunrise over the ocean is amazing.

... safe weekend drive on the Garden State Parkway is like winning a Roman chariot race.

... day at the beach without a sunburn is equivalent to leaving a cave to enjoy the stolen gift of fire from Prometheus, without getting scorched.

The water at Island Beach State park was spectacularly clear. Never have I seen (or could have imagined) the ocean of the New Jersey shore so beautiful. The waves were exciting with intermittent rollers suitable for surfing.

Couldn't play with the Navy in their puddle at Fleet Week so I'll have to go find my own puddle.

Above is the wonderful and lively view of people flocking to celebrate New York Fleet Week 2011. So exciting, can't wait to see the Iwo Jima!

Below we have a picture of what awaited me at the entrance, which unfortunately wasn't as close as I got to getting on board. The end of the line to get to this dude was still 200 people back! Yikes.