A Hawaiian Ritual You Will Love, Right In The Heart Of A Cape May Sunset
The Unexpected Hawaiian Pu
Many things make Cape May County, NJ special. It is a great vacation destination at the southernmost tip of the state. It stands out with its historic Victorian architecture and gas street lights, its rich arts and music scene, and its wide open protected natural spaces. But there is a lesser-known special thing happening nearly every evening in the county – a traditional native Hawaiian Pu.
Kevin, The Conch Shell Guy
Kevin, The Conch Shell Guy
While my loved ones and I have been visiting and creating family traditions in Cape May County for more than two decades, there is another person with his own very special and unique local tradition. Since I first started taking walks at sunset on the beach on Fern Road in 2015, I have seen Kevin and his conch shell, and I love sharing his great story.
A beautiful beach housd by the bay in Cape May Beach, NJ
Our little beach cottage, Dreams Come True Cottage, is a Cape Cod-style home between the Villas and Town Bank in the Cape May Beach neighborhood. We are 387 steps from the dunes, and THE BEST thing about any visit to this part of Cape May County is the sunset. The sun sets daily over Delaware Bay, with quiet waves lapping against the sandy shores of the west side of the southernmost county of New Jersey. Forget the boardwalks, beach tags, and crowds of the ocean that sit only a few miles away. The bayside beaches are home to the best secret of Cape May County, and this is where Kevin performs his special tradition.
Kevin retired to the county and loved the area as well. Each day, on as many of the 365 days in the year as the weather will allow, Kevin walks to the water’s edge near Fern, Forest, and Hollywood Roads which all run parallel to each other and perpendicular to the beach, ending at sandy paths which lead to the water.
The Great Titan In The Wild
Gathering for The Pu
As the sun lowers each day, you see locals and visitors gather, some on foot and some setting up a blanket or chairs, all with a plan to stay for a spell. You may see children laughing in the distance up the beach north toward the Villas, and maybe some dogs romping along the water’s edge in the southern direction toward the Cape May ferry launch. But the small group that is gathering on this warm summer evening is here for the end-of-day ceremony performed by Kevin nearly every night of the year.
Except on the worst weather days of winter, there are only a few days that Kevin misses, and a few of his most loyal followers join for most sunsets as well. Kevin was trained and has embraced the ancient Hawaiian ritual of blowing on the Conch shell, also known as Pū, pronounced ‘poo’ in Hawaiian. The Pu is seen as a gift from the life-giving waters of the ocean, with a sound that flows across the ‘Aina (land).
The quiet ceremony that Kevin performs each evening is a deep part of Hawaiian culture. While he has performed for many ceremonies, including at the US Capital in Washington DC for dignitaries, what he does each sunset in Cape May Beach, NJ on the sand is a beautiful and respectful way to say goodbye and thanks (Mahalo) to the day.
His voice resonates, and he blows the Pu, taking a turn in each cardinal direction, North, South, East, and West to represent the coagulation of the powers of the na Akua or gods. He begins reciting the native language of respect. Blowing the Pu is a call to the divine and Kevin adheres to a protocol with specific sequence and timing. The blows symbolize the journey of the Ancient Hawaiians as well as our journey in eternal ways.
The Giant Tritan
Kevin’s giant Tritan was a gift from a sailor who found it on his way from Tahiti and Vanuatu islands in the South Pacific Ocean on his way up to Hawaii The shell was passed to someone in Hawaii who knew how great it would be for Kevin to use, and so it was sent to a place in Florida where the conch was tested for its instrumental quality, deemed beautiful, and then fitted with the brass ring mouthpiece.
The Best Sunset In Cape May
… is the one you don’t want to end
The paddleboarder and Kevin appear synchronized with each other and the sun.
The sun continues its fall below the horizon, about the same time that a stand-up paddleboarder crosses the water in front of the orange ball that is shimmering on the water. On many days, Kevin and the unnamed paddleboarder have their traditions synchronized. The ceremony ends, the conch is drawn down to Kevin’s side, and the beach feels immediately cooler and darker. We linger for a while, as do other visitors on this evening of many evenings, not wanting our day to end quite yet.
Providing a sense of peace, community, and appreciation for nature’s gifts, Kevin’s ancient daily ritual enriches the lives of visitors and neighbors in the Cape May Beach neighborhood of Lower Township, NJ. His respectful and enduring performance is impressive, and the contributions he makes to our visits and the end of our day are greatly appreciated. Thank you, Kevin. We will come back again and again in our shared love of this place. We hope to see you again soon.
Start a New Tradition In Cape May
…Visit Kevin The Conch Shell Guy.
The next time you find yourself in Cape May County, perhaps even staying as a guest at Dreams Come True Cottage, pay a visit to the beach at the end of Fern Road at sunset. Say “hello” to Kevin and his beautiful musical instrument.
Zanis – Schmidt Family Cape May Memories With Loved Ones Over The Decades
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The oldest girls, Addie and Christy near Fern Rd
Cape May with friends
Ella as a cutie pie
Ella as a gymnast
Dad and Lorne
Tina and Andrew – the next family iteration of Cape May memories
The beach with our adult kids
Tina and Adalie as a munchkin (she is now 28!)
Digging deep
Abby and Andrew at Cox Hall Creek
Another generation
All the sunsets are beloved
Yeah, this beach body is now in his mid-20s!
All the dogs over the years – this one is Bug
He doesn’t love the sand, but will always oblige my love for it.
Ben eating well on vacation
Waiting for The Pu – Abby and Dad
Kitchen Happy Hour at Dreams Come True Cottage
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“How many feelings can one heart hold?… Infinite, Luna thought. The way the universe is infinite. It is light and dark and endless motion; it is space and time, and space within space, and time within time. And she knew: there is no limit to what the heart can carry.”
This Newberry Medal winning children's book is on my "to-read" list simply because of this beautiful quote.
Today, my dear, sweet husband and I had a special day celebrating Valentine’s Day. As Valentine’s Day is known as a day of celebration for lovers, we made sure we checked off all the boxes today. This day has never been a “huge deal” to me, as it always seemed perhaps a day of love for those that need urging to buy chocolates and flowers or write out a sweet card for their lover. It seems obligatory and contrived – a Hallmark holiday for “amateurs”.
Instead, I like to think of today as one of spending some simple and special time together, counting blessings, because after all, aren’t all our blessings rooted in love? We decided to jump on the Cape May – Lewes Ferry for a day trip from our beach house in Cape May Beach, New Jersey to Lewes, Delaware! We boarded our special “love boat” mid-morning, where it is docked at the terminal just a couple miles from our house.
It was a beautiful day, so we explored each of the three decks, inside and outside, chatted with fellow travelers, and enjoyed a snack and drink together in the February sunshine. As we lingered at the back of the ferry, we watched the many seagulls swarming, swooping, and “windsurfing” the airflow that followed the vessel. They chirped their happy bird calls, coasted gracefully, and seemed content, just as we were, standing arm-in-arm to keep warm from the wind of travel. It was a lovely start to a special Valentine’s Day, exploring a little town and the many loves in our lives.
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We disembarked the ferry and drove a few minutes into town. It was our plan to walk the streets of the little historic town and enjoy each other’s company. We would visit the shops, gathering up some hand-holding time as we went along. We found a bakery, an antique shop, a used book store, vintage records and gifts, a pet-centric shop, an art gallery, and much more.
The shops and restaurants of Lewes, DE made for a great day trip.
As we strolled the brick sidewalks, we shared Valentine’s Day greetings with store employees, fellow visitors, and even an art student painting in oil. We visited with the “shop dog” resting in the doorway of one store, and happily accepted one shopkeeper’s gift of chocolate candy to celebrate the day. We found a delicious and quaint Italian restaurant for a late lunch and bought some flavored roasted coffee, some dessert to go home, and some other little treasures.
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Touch of Italy was a worthy stop!
This is how the “soup’s made” – both caffeinated and decaf.
Many, MANY flavors at Notting Hill Cofee Brewery and Bakery
A classic and tiny Italian deli with many visitors even in the middle of winter
A late and lovely lunch
A streetside shop – this one for lunch
/worth a visit
As the afternoon sun began lingering lower in the sky, we embarked on the ferry once more and settled in some comfortable seats to complete our little, simple, love adventure. Suddenly, Andy noticed that the motor on the ferry had slowed and our chugging movement across the water was ceasing. Andy thought that perhaps the captain slowed our course because of whales in the area (they had announced sightings earlier in the day). We made our way to the railing at the front of the ferry and there, closer than I imagined it would be, was a whale, showing off for all of us on board.
Amid oohs and aahs, the spout of water could be seen and heard several times. The fin on the back rose in an arch in the water, quickly followed by the flipping and receding tail that followed the beast’s body back into the bay. This little show continued sporadically and fleetingly several times before the magic show of Mother Nature ended and swam back out of our sight. It was spectacular, and I clapped while other travelers quietly cheered, all of us expressing gratitude for the experience. It was as if that whale was sending us his Valentine’s Day love to us all, punctuating the day with a grand finale.
Not our photo (thanks, Pixabay), but this is just about right!
~~~~
Today was the perfect way to walk and chat, tease, plan, cuddle, and dream. Sure, there were flowers and a greeting card, but that isn’t what we found ourselves happy about, for it isn’t at all about the Hallmark “holiday”. Instead, it is the way our lives are filled with so much love. We have each other, a tremendous feat in its own right, but there is so much more love to be discovered with each passing year.
Today we texted or spoke with all six of our kids because they certainly crowd the very top of our list of blessings. We gave messages of love to our mothers whom we are still blessed to have with us and thought quietly of our fathers whom we have loved and lost. These important people were the origin of our love experience and must always be acknowledged on such a love-centric day. I sent good wishes to my living siblings, who will likely be the longest loving relationships I will know in my life, and sent a silent hug and hello to all of our lost loves – grandparents, fathers, aunts, uncle, spouse, sibling – because love is eternal.
We keep our loved ones “near us” – wherever we go!
Far above and beyond all of these blessings of love, there was one tiny Valentine’s treat that was newly treasured by us this year but already has the power to outshine all the others. We have a new, miraculous love in our lives, and it grows larger and stronger every day. As we browsed the used book store, we were reminded of this fresh love in the children’s book section. As we found our seats on the ferry, we felt the pangs of this new love as we watched parents with their weeks-old child. When we strolled and planned our coming travels, we talked about how different life would feel this summer when our hearts were divided yet again by miles of separation from our new love…Because this Valentine’s Day is our first as expectant grandparents!
There is a life growing right now – a little baby girl that we already love immensely and want to know more fully, and yet, we have not yet met. Despite it all, she is our treasure, our future, She is the very definition of the capacity of ever-growing love.
All of the activities of the day played a role in highlighting the importance of reflection. On these special days, I choose to count our blessings and reacquaint myself with the many people and things that give and receive love in my life. I need to sift through them all, smile about them, share them with others, and keep them well. It is when we are good stewards of our gifts of love that we make room for the new and growing love God sends our way.
Little girl, Pop-Pop, and Mormor thought of you a lot today, and we cannot wait to tell you just how much we love you. We will share with you all that we know and love – good food sprinkled with a little shopping, strolls hand-in-hand on a sunny day and rides on the “love boat” to say hello to the gulls and the whales. There is always room for more love in life – you are proof of that – and for me, today was no different. Happy Valentine’s Day, my Sweet.
Safe travels, and may your love grow more lovely each passing year.
Love birds on our “love boat” – Jersey style!
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Traveling to beaches in the off-season can provide great peace and solitude.
Going to the beach can be a different experience for everyone. This is how I love it.
There is no joy for me in sunbathing. The blazing sun from 11 am to 3 pm in the summer months, and sand so hot it hurts my feet are of no interest to me. Sand sticking to my sweating body, and itty bitty bathing suits – both make me uncomfortable.
Busy boardwalks with lights, sounds, and carnival barkers have generally overwhelmed me, and I just feel a bit sad for the little hermit crabs lined up in tiny cages to be sold away from their home. Summer crowds and parking shortages quickly make me wish I was elsewhere.
And yet, despite all these factors, I really do LOVE. THE. BEACH.
Sunset, Tybee Island, GA
The beach is my church. This is especially true now that I am a full-time RVer, having moved away years ago from any traditional church which I have loved. Now, the beach is the place I go to fill up my soul; where I find inspiration, consolation, and yes, even perspiration. It becomes my therapy and the place where I can take calmer, deeper breaths. The beach fills up my soul.
This song captures much of my feelings about the beach.
The best way to attend “beach church” for me, is with early morning walks to watch the sunrise, but any time of day will do. It can be any time of year, but I prefer the “fringe seasons” of spring and fall the most, with milder temperatures and few crowds. This generally involves walking the dog in the shallows. It almost always includes listening to my most inspirational music in my headphones, with sneakers on my feet (but sometimes barefoot). The pace is set by my mood, adjusted for the temperature in the air – and then, into motion I go!
Step by step I feel the fresh air on my face, hear the Sanderlings and Piping Plovers converse, and smell the salty, fishy odors of the aquatic life that abounds around me. The waves lap near my feet and with each and every step, I find my way – refreshed, and into another beautiful day.
Sunrise and sunset – the best times of day for a walk on the beach
Alone time is treasured by me, and another important part of my beach church. When in attendance, it is just me and the Lord, enjoying our time, figuring out life’s puzzles, praying for those with complex needs, and placing specific intentions on those whom I love.
At times, the music is Christian pop or classic church hymns. Oftentimes, I draw strength from music that wouldn’t be found in more traditional churches. The music from Les Miserables is one. Josh Groban is another. A classical symphony is a go-to for me as well. Music is a big part of my special beach church.
Carrabelle Beach, FL – Christmas 2021
The exact place I walk matters less. The most preferable requirement is the softness of the sand and the lapping of water nearby. Bonus points are awarded for walks that can be circular in nature, where I enter the beach in one location, walk to the other end, and am able to circle back to my starting location with a change of scenery (rather tough to find on a linear beach, but it is possible). Ocean beaches and bayside beaches are the best, but in a pinch, I can find similar solace and faith-filled mornings from a large lake, river or water canal.
Cape May Beach, NJ – Sunset on the Delaware Bay
A great benefit of our traveling life is having the ability to steer our travel toward beaches whenever needed. My dear sweet husband finds that HIS place of respite is NOT on any sandy surface, but rather, on some distant mountainside. Yet his generosity and giving nature are always willing to drive me to my next beachfront.
Some of my favorite “beach churches”
Sunset with Bug at the Villas, NJ
Cape May area, NJ – Bayside or oceanside, this beach church has been a recurring theme in my life. When bayside, in the Villas, Cape May Beach, or Townebank neighborhoods, there are two options. Visitors can walk the traditional sandy shores of Delaware Bay, or stroll on Shore Road, which runs parallel to the water, with level sidewalks and a birds-eye view of the sandy shores just below.
If you prefer ocean beaches, Cape May has a two mile paved promenade that provides expansive views of the sea, “America’s first seaside resort”, and spectacular Victorian mansions. Cape May county is at the southernmost tip of New Jersey (affectionately known as Exit 0), so a visit to the beach near Cape May Point can also give you the opportunity for ocean waves, a lighthouse and a beautiful sunsetover the water (Sunset Beach is where the ocean meets the mouth of Delaware Bay). There are multiple nature reserves in the area to provide other unique and beachlike walks, including the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge, and several locations of Cape May Wildlife Management Areas, including Cox Hall Creek and Higbee Beach.
My DH doesn’t love the beach, but he loves me, so off we goooo!
I love this place so much that in 2015, I finally purchased a vacation home that is only 387 steps from the sand! (Insert shameless plug here —> Visit www.DreamsComeTrueCottage.com to find our Villas/Cape May Beach vacation rental. It is rented out to guests year-round for as short as a two-night getaway or for as as many weeks as you would like to stay!).
414 Fern Road, Villas, NJ is even a nice visit in winter – and only 387 steps to the dunes!
There are also a lot of campgrounds available in the area, and we have enjoyed many over the years, but unfortunately, none of them are within walking distance of the beach. Cape May is also well-known for its beautiful, historic Victorian architecture and abundant B&Bs, so your options are quite varied.
Sunset at the mouth of the Savannah River, Thanksgiving 2020
Tybee Island, GA – Tybee Island is near Savannah, and this beach is on an island, with a perfectly placed campground near the transition from the Savannah River (that leads up to Savannah) to the Atlantic Ocean, creating that perfect, circular, extended beach walk. Start out on the north side of the island (the campground is a very short walk to the sandy shores) and walk south until you reach the lighthouse area of the beach, then circle back through town to return to your starting spot at the campground. River’s End Campground is city-owned, and the only campground on the island, and albeit tiny and tight, it is a campground worth visiting (and staff will lead you to your site upon check-in).
Tybee Lighthouse, GA
Carrabelle Beach, FL – The sand here is as fine and as white as any you might find on the most gorgeous Caribbean islands. This area is known as Florida’s Forgotten Coast because it is among the last of the unspoiled, undeveloped shores of Florida’s Gulf of Mexico, and is said to have been slighted for several years in the state’s tourism promotion materials.
We spent our first Christmas as full-time RVers at this location in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, so the isolation and solitude of the area were especially important to us. We enjoyed a visit from our youngest child, Ella, who drove up overnight from college in Gainesville. We woke up Christmas morning to unusually cold temperatures for the area, with frozen, cracked spigots at the campground’s fish cleaning station that spewed water into the air like a frozen fountain. Moving my daily beach walk to the warmer hours of mid-day became an easy choice!
Carrabelle Beach, FL, Christmas Eve, 2020
Carrabelle Beach Campground is just a short walk across the road in Carrabelle Beach that will give you daily, simple access to all the solitude you desire. The campground itself is made up of privately owned lots and an HOA, but many of the sites are available to rent by the public. This campground is also VERY tight, so take your time and be cautious. It is worth all the effort to try to attend this “beach church” on Carrabelle Beach.
Tight but lovely campsites at Carrabelle Beach RV ResortThe dunes at Pirateland, Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach, SC – There are several campgrounds in Myrtle Beach that are right on the beach, but the one that we have enjoyed is Pirateland Family Camping Resort. Full disclosure – we have only ever visited this campground in the fringe and off-seasons, but frankly, that is when we believe the beach (and this campground) is best (as well as most affordable). All of the amenities you could ask for are included at this campground, but I go for the beach, of course. With some sites that are right alongside the ocean, just over the sand dunes, you can hear the waves crashing!
Pirateland RV Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC
Even sitting five or ten campsites back, you are steps away from the solitude and peace of a beach walk. Our longest stay in Myrtle Beach was a month in November 2021, when we were joined by friends and nearly all of our adult kids for a wonderful Thanksgiving visit, still mild enough for an outdoor feast and a nighttime campfire. We could hear the waves crashing in the quiet off-season air, and we all walked the beach with much thanks and gratitude. Bonus item of note: Pirateland has a wonderful outdoor chapel along the canal. We attended their Sunday non-denominational service during a fall visit in 2020 and it was casual, simple, lovely, and welcoming, with beautiful music and a pastor and support staff whose words inspired us (in the colder weather they move their service to a warmer enclosed pavilion).
Sunrise, North Beach, St. Augustine, FL, August 2019, Aaaahhhh!
St. Augustine, FL – The North Beach Camp Resort is situated between the North River and the Atlantic Ocean on the north side of St. Augustine. The public beach is direct across Coastal Highway and a brief, easy walk from your campsite. The extra treat in this campground is the private, sandy campsites. The campground is protected and shaded by moss-laden oaks and palmettos down every road and between each campsite, giving you a feeling of privacy that belies the actual closeness of the sites.
We saw protected sea turtle nests in North Beach, FL
We enjoyed our visit here the year before we were full-time RVers, in 2019, as we arrived with our youngest, Ella, on a college-visit tour of several southern US states. There is much to see in the area, including the historic Fountain of Youth, but isn’t a walk on the beach a great way to take a few worries and years off your heart and body?
Mile Creek County Park Campground
Pickens, SC – Mile Creek County Park has a campground that is absolutely, entirely surrounded by water. There is no ocean, and no large expansive beaches to walk for miles, when you walk the narrow point and tiny islands that make up this park and campground, you will see Lake Keowee all around you. This place is home to my reigning FAVORITE CAMPSITE EVER, with a little bit of beach and lapping waves on the shore that I believe qualify it for this list of important inspirational beachy places.
You can’t camp much closer to the water than at Mile Creek Park
I’ve written about this campground before, so to see the photos and read about my private little “beach church” in the rural upcountry of South Carolina, visit here: https://timetravelsandtribulations.com/this-is-the-best-campsite-of-my-camping-life/ If you are staying in the area long enough (and you absolutely should), be sure to take a drive up to Pretty Place, SC, a chapel nestled in the mountains. It is also known as the Fred Symmes Chapel and is part of a YMCA camp, but is open to the public. Pretty Place is an apt name, and this scenic drive is worth the effort.
Beautiful Lake Keowee – less sand, but miles and miles of beauty.
We visited this park in early fall and actually lived through our first severe tropical storm/residual hurricane there. It took half a day before any vehicles could even leave the campground because of all the downed trees, so our visit was partly an adventure I would not like to revisit. The campground, Lake Keowee, and all of upcountry South Carolina, however, are all places I will return to again.
A winter visit to OBX, Camp Hatteras, Rodanthe, NC gave us a campground practically to ourselves
Outer Banks, NC – The most recent beach we visited is beautiful in a different way from all the others. We camped at Camp Hatteras RV Campground the week before Christmas 2022. It is located in the Outer Banks (OBX) in the Village of Rodanthe, known in part, for the 2008 movie Nights In Rodanthe (pronounced Row-DAN-thee by the locals).
The thing that makes the OBX unique is its near-constant battle with Mother Nature. These barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina are wild and natural for many expansive miles, but the pounding oceanfront storms and the associated sound-side flooding leave the land in a constant battle for land.
A large section of the singular north-south state highway 12 is regularly flooded and covered by sand dunes swept away by the wind and rain. As a result, parts of the highway have been rebuilt into big jughandles that veer off into the Pamlico Sound to avoid further destruction on the barrier islands. Left behind, are miles of protected sand dunes, beaches, and waters for recreation and enjoyment. Also left behind, are heavily damaged piers and homes, abandoned after a storm, and left to fall into the ocean, bit by bit with each passing season.
A home that will fall into the sea
A walk on the beach can be difficult in some areas, as the tides roll all the way up to what is left by the protective dunes in some cases, as was the case directly in front of our campground. Nearby, entire beachfront rows of homes have been destroyed or moved to seek protection yards away, leaving the second row of homes to feel Mother Nature’s next wrath.
Digging out a beachfront road after a storm (the ocean is JUST beyond the yellow house)
It is tragic to see the loss of homes and businesses, but the beauty of nature lives on. As I walked the narrow beach and saw the resulting waxing and waning of the land and water, I was moved. It felt as if I was just a little bit closer to God on my walks. He designed a world that is in constant motion and is forever evolving – working to maintain the important ecosystems that are life-sustaining.
If you have some favorite beaches where you find your faith strengthened, and your soul refreshed, let me know. I am always willing to ask Andrew to steer our truck and fifth wheel (and he is always willing to accommodate me!) to discover a new and lovely place of God’s creation.
At peace on the beach, Cape May Beach, NJ
Psalm 139:9-10 says this, “If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me.”
Safe travels, and I hope to see you at any of God’s peaceful, beautiful, wonderful, powerful beaches!
It isn’t always best to be alone and walking at the beach. Sometimes it is nice to just sit quietly in God’s beauty and love.
Summer is nearly two-thirds over already, and we have been very busy “seeing and doing”, despite the fact that we are not doing much traveling right now. It is a staycation summer for us this year, hanging out near most of our family members in Pennsylvania and Maryland instead of launching a high mileage multi-state expedition.
It is not as glamorous and exciting as a big several-month itinerary, but sometimes “simpler” is just what we need to do. The timing is right, based on current fuel prices, and being in one general area for an extended period of time allows us to take care of medical appointments, transportation tune-ups, and allows us to spend in-person time with our family members.
But while our travel pace may have eased up, we are still managing to have a lot of fun. Following is a little review of our summer staycation highlights, past and planned by the time the first leaves fall from the trees in a few month.
While roadside farm stands can be found all around the country, I think there may just be a higher per capita number of them in Pennsylvania Amish country than in most other places. There are roadside farm stands at nearly every turn, and with the help of Google Business and Google Maps, farmers have done a good job of helping us find them even when we travel unfamiliar roads.
Farm Stands
High on our shopping list, and what we have missed the most while traveling far and wide is corn and tomatoes! Maryland Sweet Corn and regional summer tomatoes will stand toe-to-toe with any other regions of the United States. Perhaps only the Jersey tomato has ever come close to the flavor and juiciness of what we find in our home states of Maryland and Pennsylvania!
So perhaps once or twice a week, we take a drive through the country where we are camping in south central and south east Pennsylvania – Gettysburg, Lancaster, Manheim, Hershey – and stock up on a variety of vegetables that will put every grocery store produce aisle to shame! Ah yes, it is good to be “home”.
Crabs, Finally!
If my husband had to make a priority list for summer, there might be three things on it – tomatoes, sweet corn and crabs! They are a Maryland tradition and our family roots run deep with all three culinary delights! We grew up with tomatoes out of our garden (and as a kid, I didn’t even like tomatoes!), and it seems like we ate corn weekly from the farm stand a mile down the road from my childhood home in Fallston, MD. But it was the Maryland steamed crabs at our grandparent’s house every summer that is the epitome of being a Marylander in summer!
Our grandfathers (they were neighbors and friends) would go out on Andrew’s grandfather’s boat early in the morning, probably enjoying the quiet time together on the water with some cold beers, catch some bushels of crabs, and then bring them back to be steamed and seasoned in my grandparent’s backyard. The Schmidt and Herming families would gather and a cookout would ensue for the rest of the day!
Since we traveled out west last summer, it had been since July of 2020 that we had a crab feast! So the day arrived, and better still, it was a spontaneous and wonderful discovery in Hanover on a Friday afternoon. Big Mike’s Crabhouse and Grill is far from fancy, but the crabs were larger than expected (advertised as mediums), and absolutely PERFECTLY steamed. Better still, we now know that the place is BYOB, which saves on cost a bit. I have no doubt that before our summer comes to an end, that another trip to the outdoor covered deck for a picnic table full of crabs is a likely event!
Farm and Flea Markets
We have hit one great market this summer and have plans for one pr two more before the season ends. Roots Country Market and Auction in Manheim, PA is held every Tuesday and is a site to behold. There are nine buildings in total, plus acres of outdoor grounds covered in stands with items for sale.
Every trip there should begin early (as early as 6 am before the summer heat sets in), with a stroll through the outdoor flea market. Filled with antiques, bargain household goods, vintage toys, books, clothes, movies and so much more, you will very likely find something you want or need at an affordable price.
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Once you stroll to the farm market side of the road, you will find an endless supply of produce, meats, cheeses, honey, plants, crafts, knick-knacks and much, much more. On our visit there, we spent hours upon hours shopping, and never managed to set foot inside a building!
Next on our list, we may make a Friday road trip to the Green Dragon Farmers Market and Auction in Ephrata, which looks to be similarly expansive in size, both inside and outside.
Let’s Go O’s!
No summer in or near “Bmore” would be complete without a little baseball, and this season, as the Orioles continue to improve, it is an exciting time for baseball! Andrew and his son, Ben, made it to a game last month, that was rained out after some hours of hanging out under the upper deck. Fortunately, they managed some ballpark food and some good visiting time before the game was called, and they will try again at the rescheduled game in mid-August.
My fav ball player EVER – having the time of his life at Camden Yards in 2017 as part of O’s Dream Week
Certainly on our fan future list, is a Ravens game as well. As season ticket holders, it is nice to be in the area and be able to use some of our tickets personally for the first time in a couple seasons!
How is this the ONLY photo they took during the entire night?
Princeton, NJ and Bowman’s Hill Tower, Washington Crossing, PA
They don’t call it the Ivy League for nothin’!
The historic and quaint little city of Princeton, NJ had been on our wish list of places to see for quite some time, and we thought we might swing through the area on our way up to the New England states. We found, however, that NJ is severely lacking in decent campgrounds in that area. Therefore, we thought a day trip from Manheim, PA to Princeton would be just perfect.
We also stopped at nearby Bowman’s Hill Tower in Washington Crossing Historic Park. We climbed the 127 steps to the top of a little known stone tower built in the 1930s. It was built as a memorial to the important historical moments that happened in the area many years earlier.
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The town and the tower is a worthwhile visit for a number of reasons, but our visit is worthy of a separate telling, so stay tuned for more on this little road trip through Andrew’s childhood history.
New Hope, PA and a return to Washington Crossing Historic Park
Knowing there was more fun to be had in the region, we returned several weeks later for another day trip to dig into shopping in historic New Hope, PA. The little town sits along the Delaware River (yes, the same one that George Washington crossed just a few miles away). Filled with little stores, restaurants and the well known Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope has become a destination for shoppers that also enjoy the historic architecture and history on these narrow streets near the Delaware canal.
We returned, yet again, to the Washington Crossing Historic Park to dig into Revolutionary War history and the winter raid by George Washington’s men on Hessian forces across the Delaware River. We would have liked to stay longer and see a bit more, but we found ourselves hampered by some specialty dark chocolate honey mints that we had purchased in New Hope that wouldn’t last long in the hot heat of the day. Perhaps a third attempt some day will render the visit to this historic site fully complete!
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Thrift Shops Galore!
As much as I dislike retail shopping, there are some narrow circumstances in which I really enjoy shopping. One of those is in pursuit of the perennial bargain, and one of my favorite ways to bargain hunt is to visit thrift stores in any little town we may visit. One great discovery of this region of Pennsylvania has been that it is replete with thrift shops!
There are the usual shops – Salvation Army and Goodwill, some non-profit and faith-based shops as well as for-profit small businesses. The common theme in Lancaster and Lebanon counties is that they are MANY in number and overall, of a quite nice quality.
One of my favorites this summer was the Humane Society of Lebanon County Thrift Shop. It was neat, organized and affordable. Best of all, it is completely run by volunteers and therefore, all proceeds benefit animals in need.
If clothing is your goal, then stop by Ali Witman Consignment in Lititz! This place is huge and the quality and orderly arrangement of the products makes shopping easy and pleasant.
We have visited many others (and I hope to hit some more before the summer is over, fair warning, DH!). I recommend using your Google Map skills and scratch out a little travel plan for your next shopping spree – you don’t have to go too far to hit several stores close by.
Air Supply and Farm-to-Table Dinner
A red wine flight and a Harvest Peach Old Fashion
For our slightly early wedding anniversary celebration, we donned the biggest 80s hair we could muster, and headed over to the American Music Theatre in Lancaster to see Air Supply in concert. This 1,600 seat venue is new to us, but has been around for decades. It was a musical trip down memory lane, for sure, and filled our love tanks with romantic ballads that we have enjoyed since the 1970s!
Two Less Lonely People In The World – one of my favs (which grammatically, should be “fewer”, but that wouldn’t sound nearly as grood!
As part of our date night, Andrew arranged for what was a delicious meal at Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar. He knew immediately that this restaurant was totally in my foodie lane, filled with a creative menu of food that was beautifully presented and equally delicious. I cannot recommend this place enough – thoughtful and kind service, impeccable presentation, a clean and stylish building with a variety of seating options, and a menu that is healthy, varied (terrific Vegan options that even this non-Vegan loved), well curated cocktails, and amazing ingredients! With most menu items under 500 calories, you won’t leave feeling disgusted by too much salt, unhealthy oils or a frozen or processed meal. This is fresh and amazing – your body deserves this kind of food at every meal!
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With more than a month remaining in the summer of 2022, our RV Staycation still has a lot for us to look forward to!
Hershey Spa
My pre-wedding Hershey Spa day with my sis and SIL in 2015; There is nothing like lunch and cocktails in a soft bath robe!
There is a gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket (a gift from my DH several years ago that I didn’t fully spend), so I will surely plan a day for us to visit my favorite day spa ever – The Hershey Spa, since we are in the area. I plan a morning yoga class, use of the sauna, indoor pool and hot tub in the morning (all complimentary amenities when you schedule a spa service). Then Andrew and I will wait in the aromatherapy room in our robes, until our names are called for a pair of luxurious facials! It is quite a day!
Hershey Gardens
A magical date at Hershey Gardens in 2014 (and my first selfie with a boy, lol!)
Hershey is a great Pennsylvania town, and we would like to make a return visit to Hershey Gardens before the growing season is over. This is the place where our second chance began in 2014, with a “second first date” almost exactly 30 years after our actual first date. It was a magical date that lasted more than a dozen hours before it was all said and done. We love to stroll the beautiful gardens that sit below the historic and equally beautiful Hershey Hotel. It is also a joy to visit the butterfly atrium where we can feed, hold and look with wonder at the lovely little creatures that live an all too brief life spreading cheer and love wherever they flutter.
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Revisiting a special place in 2016
The butterfly atrium is now larger than in 2014
“Flutterbys” landing lovingly
A winter beauty visit
Fountains and flowers galore.
Be careful to not make any sudden moves!
Our 2022 RV Staycation plans will continue to grow as the weeks meander their way through the hazy heat of summer. We will make the most of our time in the area, visiting with family and friends, but it isn’t all just adventure and day trips. Despite perceptions to the contrary, the RVing life is not just a perpetual vacation, but surely, that is what I like to plan for, experience and record in this little digital journal.
There is still plenty of laundry to do, bills to pay, meals to prepare, groceries to buy, dishes to wash (and no dishwasher, yikes!), a little business to run and other projects to complete. But what is the fun in writing and remembering the mundane in life? Instead, we are in relentless pursuit of the fullness of life – companions on our journey.
Safe travels wishes from Tina and Stencil!
Safe travels, and may your journey, both the vacation time and the mundane alike, be enjoyed deeply.
OUTTAKES:
There has been much more to this “stationary” or “less traveling” phase of our live on wheels. Here is some of the other stuff we’ve been keeping busy with:
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A SC roadtrip with friends to see the Eagles (they still got it!)
Abby graduates from Towson University!
Proud Omi and Abby
Omi rides an ATV!
Sending out Easter love packages to family that we miss at Easter
A simple Easter (picnic) table
A friend visits our campsite in Manheim PA
An Easter feast for two in Jackson Springs, SC
It isn’t Easter without a ham
Grammy’s bittersweet chocolate covered cream eggs
My forever weding date at our nephew’s weeding in March
Wedding reception
Dear old Bug always loved his walks.
Happy Easter, y’all, from Sycamore Lodge Resort in SC!
A TT campground on our way north to PA/MD
A sure sign of spring
Beautiful Sycamore Lodge Resort is part of our new Coast To Coast membership
A dog jam on travel day (why does he do this?!)
March snow in PA
We haven’t seen snow in three winters!
Stencil gets a break from the crate on travel day
The Eagles
Dad and Ben in their fancy duds (fancy as compared to RV living, that is)
Wedding date night smiles
Movie date (Top Gun)
A simple Easter (picnic) table
One of the most meaningful weddings I have ever attended – Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan and Madison Schmidt
When your son gets a motorcycle
Calvin wants to join the graduation party meal
Ella fishing at “The Mill”
Family visits to celebrate Abby
Ella gets on her “country girl”
Mom leads, Christy takes it slow and steady
Eagles awesomeness
Congratulations Grad!
Abby and Diego roll out
Vince Gill has been on tour with the Eagles!
He reminds me of my dad…if Dad could be a rock-n-roll star
This is our new rig, part of our very busy Phase II season! Does anyone have a name for her?
One of the best things about RVing, and full-time RVing in particular, is that there are endless different ways to do it! Common terms you may see are “full-time stationary”, “snowbird”, “weekend warrior” and even “full-time traveling”. They each describe the approach that camper(s) have taken for their RVing life. Within each traveling style, there are additional descriptors, such as “retired”, “remote employed”, “work-kamper”, “volunteer RVer” and more!
RVers, including full-time RVers, come in all shapes, sizes and groups! In our travels, we meet retired folks like my husband, part-time small business operators like me, families with children, young singles and even single travelers of a “certain age”! There is as much diversity among RVers as there is in all of society! What is most remarkable to me are the many people we meet that had little or no experience with camping before they launched their travels (like my DH).
It has been two years on the road – When will it end?
My dear husband and I are cautious planners, so we developed our full-time RVing plans over a number of years, researching the perfect rig (there is none!), the right tow vehicle (you don’t wanna get this wrong!) and developing our camping style (boondockers, state and federal parks, membership camping, etc).
All of this camping diversity is important to know about so that if you have ever dreamed about FT RVing, you also know that it can be done in a wide variety of ways! Just don’t end up with the “shoulda, coulda, wouldas” and fail to ever take those first exploratory steps or set a concrete goal. If you fail to set a goal and make a plan to get there, you will miss your FT RVing target every time.
We recently celebrated our 2nd FT RVing anniversary, and like last year, we took some time to reflect upon our lifestyle and touched base with each other to see “how we are doing”. The consensus – two years in and we aren’t yet ready to come in off the road.
So today I thought it might be good to share our “state of the RV union”, so to speak, looking at how our travels seem to have changed from our original vision, and how our traveling life has made its way through different phases, giving us contentment in our nomadic lifestyle.
Phase I – “Pandemic-Modified Plans”
We launched our FT RVing adventure in July of 2020, in the middle of the infamous worldwide pandemic, so whatever plans we had made for travel, needed to be modified before we ever left our driveway. Our campground membership with Thousand Trails saved us a lot of money and gave us a reliable place to stay that first fall and winter, since sightseeing was highly restricted and many campgrounds had limitations as well. While we had planned to explore Florida and the southeast during those first months to stay closer to my youngest child, Ella, who had just left our nest after high school, we instead found ourselves “hanging out” in central Florida most of the time with limited sightseeing because of our Covid cautiousness (thankfully, we stayed safe and well!).
Our Thanksgiving and Christmas campsites were close enough to Ella that she had a holiday place to visit (a goal of mine for those first holidays), and we decided to postpone our first big “kid visit” to Disney that January and instead, made a quieter visit with just the two of us. As the pandemic took its course, we felt most comfortable remaining in this Phase I hiatus until the vaccine became available. It was a great time to shake out our nerves and plan for Phase II.
Look here for our months of memories during Phase I:
A little open air roadside shopping for our next visit to MD
I guess he should fish more often
A happy, modest, Thanksgiving table
A beautiful Tybee Island Thanksgiving
Christmas on the FL panhandle
Dog on a beach is certainly Covid safe!
Disney lost a little sparkle b/c of Covid
We missed the kids on our first visit together! (but we will solve that problem!)
VA historic triangle was lovely
Phase II – The “Honeymoon”
Phase II began in spring 2021 as we emerged from the worst of the pandemic, drove north and swung by the PA/MD area to visit our family members before heading west on a summer adventure. It took weeks to make all the reservations and build our itinerary, because as our country re-opened, RVers were ready to move once again!
This is the romantic side of FT RVing that we all dream about – seeing amazing sights and having tremendous experiences of a lifetime. We traveled across the midwest through Illinois, Indana, Missouri and Kansas, out to Colorado, and then circled up into Wyoming, Idaho and Montana before making our way back east in October of 2021.
Throughout the extended summer season, Andrew’s adult children took us up on our invitation to visit, along with his brother and family and his best friend, Steve!
Another state, anotherfriendto visit
Mining history remembers
Not just passingthrough, but exporing
Colorado beauty
Resting atGarden of the Gods
More Garden of th Gods
Surprising fun days in the midwest
Kansas dress ups for fun
Mountaintop achievements and sibling time
Love is in the air at Glacier NP
Glacier NP beauty
A CO hike in the woods for two
Our first official bison sighting…
…was a herd in Kansas
Morning beauty out west.
We loved Denver!
That CO hike was gorgeous!
Ahhh, what a summer.
Phase II continued with a great visit to Myrtle Beach for Thanksgiving, where we were blessed to be able to entice five of our six children to visit, followed by a return to Florida where we celebrated a quiet Christmas and ramped up for a big visit to Walt Disney World in January 2022. We spent ten days preparing for, hosting and recovering from visits from five of our six kids and our future SIL as well.
A little Disney magic returned on our 2nd pandemic visit
Awwwww!
A return to Disney – this time with “kids” in tow!
Myrtle Beach, SC in November
The sibling tree of life
Holiday decorating is easier in an RV – but fun!
A Thanksgiving feast for ten
Step-sisters hanging out
Some moments are iconic
Just to keep us on our toes in Phase II, we managed to stumble upon a new Grand Design Solitude fifth wheel layout that we fell in love with (Solitude 346fls), which we ordered in August while in Montana and picked up in February in Missouri. Finally, the honeymoon was over, and we slowly headed back east and into what we now call our Phase III of our FT RVing adventure in March 2022. Look here for our memoirs from our months in the honeymoon phase:
With many new state stickers on our travel map and a brand new RV in our possession, we initially thought that the time we had in the spring of 2022 would be spent planning our next big summer adventure (who doesn’t want a second honeymoon?!). But we found that doing too much “go-go-go” may not be the best approach. As we looked at our calendar, where we had already scheduled a summer exploration of the New England states, it became apparent that it was time to make another adjustment.
Our Phase II “honeymoon” really fille up our map – but there is sooo much more we want to see!
Our nephew, Jonathan, was getting married in March. Andrew’s youngest child, Abby, was graduating from college in May, my brother, Mike, was set to celebrate retirement from a 25 year career in law enforcement (good riddance!) in July, and our favorite future son-in-law, Chris, was scheduled to become part of the family in early September. At the same time, we found good reasons to visit our mothers and children for a while, helping where we can and reconnecting in a way that is best done with more regular in-person visits and fewer video calls.
So we took advantage of our best asset as FT RVers – we can be extremely FLEXIBLE. The New England plans were canceled and we made reservations for the entire summer via our Thousand Trails Membership and our recently acquired Coast To Coast membership. As we pass our “two-year mark” and head into the fall, we change campgrounds every two to three weeks, sticking in the Gettysburg/Hershey/Lancaster region of Pennsylvania. In doing so, we eliminated nearly all campsite fees for the summer (C2C costs us $10 per night, TT is free).
We have used this time that is sort-of stationary, to schedule dental cleanings, wedding-prep shopping, health check-ups and oil changes, dinners with the kids, visits to our moms and day trips to Princeton, NJ, New Hope, PA and every farm market and thrift shop I can shake a stick at (there are soooo many of both in this Amish/Mennonite/tourist parts of the Keystone state).
One part of our FT RVing life that gives us an advantage is our vacation rental business. We have two properties that can give us some travel downtime if we need it occasionally. But it wasn’t until this summer that we first came off the road for a week and stayed at our rural Pennsylvania cottage (www.CloversCottage.com), where we hosted Abby’s graduation party with family and friends. It was nice to have some time to spread out a bit, take care of some property maintenance, and most of all – TAKE A BATH in our antique claw-footed bathtub (perhaps the thing that I miss the most because of life in an RV).
Before our Reality Reset Phase III is complete, we will also visit our Cape May Beach cottage for a combined maintenance and fun stay. When complete, and as the autumn leaves flutter to the ground, we will wrap up our visit to the area and move on to wherever we decide is next! In the coming weeks, my stories of our new semi-stationary reality will be posted as well! In the meantime, here are some photos:
Fun with fam
ATV R&R
Rural PA getaway
Day trip to Princeton – recognizing the enslaved in their history
Ivy league beauty
Flea Market bargains
Wedding prep purchases
New Hope PA roadtrip
Celebrating family
cloverscottage.com
Doggo loving a yard
A farm to table dinner date in Lancaster
Love is in the “Air Supply”
My girls at our relaxin’ place
Another roadtrip!!
Phase IV – To Be Determined
As we look ahead to this fall and winter, we are still deciding where the road will take us. Where do we want to visit? How close to Mom should we be? When is our next medical appointment? How much cold weather do we want to face? How will we next be able to see the kids? Will we finally make it to New England next summer?
No matter our direction or destination, we have learned that the journey will be special and our time together will be treasured. I have my love by my side and though the plans will vary, and we must be willing to make adjustments for the challenges in life, we know we are blessed to live this life and can make it through to the end of the road, wherever that may be.
Beauty and serenity can be found in many ways in your RV life.
POSTSCRIPT
We often get questions about “where or when does it end”. For us, we went into FT RVing with a general exit strategy in mind, but we had no preconceived notions about how long it may last. There was always the possibility that we could hastily return to “sticks and bricks” living after only six weeks on the road, but we also knew that it was quite possible that this lifestyle could be open-ended.
There will come a time when FT RVing is no longer our first choice, but we envision a hybrid in our future, while our health permits it, where we can both travel and have a “sticks and bricks” home base. We dream of a nice little mountain plot of land out west with RV hookups or a lakeside cottage on the east coast that may be big enough for family to visit. I would like to once again find a community that we can really feel a part of, with a little church family where we feel like we are a part of something bigger than just our little home on wheels. We don’t yet know how our story ends, but we welcome the journey every day.
Safe travels, and be sure to make all your RV dreams come true!
Find out all that Dreams Come True Cottage has in store for avid readers.
Curl up with a book on your next vacation to make it an even greater escape!
Without a doubt, one of my favorite pastimes has always been reading. The healthy habit of reading is made even better when you are at the beach! At Dreams Come True Cottage, in Cape May Beach/Villas, NJ, the best places to curl up and read a book are on the back yard hammock, the living room sofa by the gas fireplace or on a chair on the beach! No matter the season, books are better at the beach!
Yep, reading on a blanket on the beach is where I like to be!
If your family includes children, we offer a very special collection of children’s books as well. There are hundreds of children’s books from our personal collection, some of which have been enjoyed over three generations of our family’s children. We hang onto them for our guests to enjoy, and with the hope that one day, my husband and I will be blessed to hold a grandchild or two on our laps and read to them from the same special books I enjoyed as a child (Cindy Bakes A Funny Cake, Little Bear, or any of the many Little Golden Books I have collected over the decades).
We also provide a small and varied collection of books for adults. Bring your own book or enjoy one of ours. Whether it be children books or books for grown-up, you will find them scattered around the cottage, in bedside stands and on living room shelves.
This is a part of our children’s book collection at Dreams Come True Cottage.
But the GREATEST new addition to book lovers in our neighborhood is the Fern Road Free Library. Located only five houses down from our front door near the corner of Fern Road and Bay Drive, this little “library” is a beautiful wooden box with a window, mounted on four wooden legs, and with a little key to open up and access the treasures within! On the day I discovered the Fern Road Free Library, there were even some crayons and bubbles for children to enjoy on their next visit. The concept is simple. “Borrow, Return or Replace. But most of all, ENJOY!”
Awww, isn’t just the cutest little free library you’ve ever seen?!
Yes, we sure love books at Dreams Come True Cottage, and we love to host families that share our joy for the worlds that can open up for those that make reading an important part of their lives.
Safe travels, whether that travel be by plane, train, automobile or by BOOK!
Morfar (Swedish for “Mother’s Father” (AKA my dad), began reading to my daughter, Adalie, at an early age. She is now a great lover of books and many of her favorites sit on the shelves at Dreams Come True Cottage.
