Jersey marathon weekend.  Blog preview: no Hazmat required, all a myth.

Mobster crime & industrial pollution, their past.  dirty Jersey, the slur.  My holiday? Jersey GREEN, Atlantic Ocean GREY.

Friday post-work flight to Newark.  Eastern Time touchdown, rental car traffic, hotel pillow 1am.  Fast 6 hours later, two mile shake-out run.  Stretch goal met, BIG smile.  Gonna be an AMAZING day 😊

Ivy League START, quiet Saturday morn.  ‘Welcome to Princeton’ settled 1683.  Craftsmen-carved/Revolutionary-era buildings, varsity oars cutting thru Lake Carnegie, bricked clock towers, hushed chapel architecture.  Pitched arch, footstep echoes, stained glass glory.  WOW!

2nd stop: New Hope PENNSYLVANIA.  Parked in downtown Lambertville (New JERSEY).  Pedestrian-crossed the Delaware.  Riverside LUNCHED in PA.  Watched paddleboarders trek UP the river – ski beanie & shorts, chilly water sport day.  Mussel feasted.  Warm broth, crusty bread.  YUM!

History NERD ALERT.  Post-lunch walkabout at Washington Crossing Park.  Yep, that Washington.  General George’s infamous Christmas-crossing of the Delaware.  You’ve seen the painting.  Toured Johnson Ferry House, only original still standing.  After Washington’s icy river crossing, ferryman-Slater moved Washington’s troops, horses & 6 remaining cannons.  Soooo much history!

[Thanks Nat’l Park folks for the private tour, very much appreciated!] 

Tick, tick, tick.  Same state, same day, third destination – the AC: Atlantic City, Jersey’s casino-riddled Monopoly.  Boardwalk, Park Place, all the red properties – that Monopoly.  Inspired HERE.

Bib pick-up at Bally’s, check-in at the Claridge (casino-free sleeps), ocean walk.  Two miles of sunset.  Stared out into the Atlantic, wave hypnotized.  B-I-G, my life.  Dinner: oysters & octopus.

Rethink the slur, folks.  Much to see & do.  America’s secret vacation destination.

 

Princeton University

University Chapel

Crossing the Delaware

Washington Crossing Park

Atlantic City