Hike #733; Cape May Harbor to Cook's Beach

Hike #733; Cape May Harbor to Cook's Beach

10/20/13 Cape May Harbor (east side) to Cook's Beach with Brandan Jermyn, Daniel Stone, Cynthia Pellicia, and John ?.

The group on the bay side, Cape May

For our next hike in the series to cover the perimeter of NJ, we wouldn't connect with the bottom of Cape May where we last left off, but rather head west along Cape May Canal and begin with the east side. It was getting colder, and I would save the last section of beaches for some warmer weather of the coming Summer. I wanted to cover some of the Cape May Canal anyway, as it would be necessary to do this as well for the perimeter.

We met in the morning at the Cape May Mosquito Commission. It was kind of a good thing we didn't have a huge group because there was no parking, and we'd have no room to fit people. Brandan and I rode down a different way than we previously had, and so we got there early enough to make this discovery and search for an alternative parking. This is how we discovered Cook's Beach. It was a beautiful spot to end a hike, with amazing views that I knew would be perfect at sunset.

We met up with Dan, Cynthia, and John, and together we rode down to park on Schellenger Street along Cape May Harbor. The last perimeter hike down this was we did had Teresa drop us off right across Rt 109 from this spot, so it was perfect.

We crossed the 109 bridge over the Cape May Canal. The other side gave me the irresistible opportunity to climb down along the sloped concrete of the north side of the bridge toward the Cape May Canal. It was steep and very slippery, but all of us took our time and got down without falling. The area is so flat that I couldn't resist this one opportunity to climb on something. At the bottom, we followed a path to the right that led us out to the former highway route, that would have crossed the canal at a much lower level. The busted up concrete road took us to the north from here, and we turned left to follow side streets to the west, on the north side of the canal. We took 8th Ave to a right turn on 11th, then took that to Portsmouth, then followed Chatham Drive to Nantucket Drive. This led us to a path that went across abandoned railroad tracks, which I really want to come back to explore. The path led out to a road along a small park with ball fields, then we crossed Seashore Road to Rt 603, which took us south, then turned hard right to follow near to the shore of Cape May Canal. It changed names to Jonathan Hoffman Road.

We followed this road up to Rt 9 where we found food options. There was a McDonalds right across the way, and it being the easiest thing to reach, we stopped for food.

Brandan and I decided to make a run for the Acme Supermarket to the right while the others were eating. Weirdly, they have the McDonalds separated by way of an extremely annoying chain link fence, which we had to scale to get to the other side. Even worse, when we got to the Acme, although they had a liquor license, they had a pitiful selection that made the Port Colden Mall's despicable excuse for a liquor store look a craft brewery.

I forget what we picked up, but it wasn't anything to be overly excited about as I recall. We continued back to McDonalds, feeling defeated by disappointment with the poor selection we'd found at Acme. It no longer lives up to Looney Tunes standards suffice it to say.

We continued back across Rt 9 and along a mowed swath between a line of trees parallel with the road. We eventually turned to the left into the entrance road to the Cape May Ferry, and when we got into the parking lot cut over to the right, in an opening that led to Beach Drive. We followed this south, and it led to David C. Douglas Sr Memorial Park where there was a great outlook onto the Delaware Bay. The mouth of the Cape May Canal and height of the land on the other side was quite lovely, and the bay was so wide that once could not see land on the other side.

We were soon off following the bay north. This beach was different than the ones on the ocean side. They were much narrower, and had a ridge of sand near the water break. It was a good long stretch we followed, past the large houses of North Cape May, past Lake Champlain development, and Villas, followed by Fishing Creek, then Miami Beach. Homes reached out to touch near to the water, but we were able to walk right by them. The last developed area we came to before we had to leave the beach was Del Haven. Sadly, in this stretch we passed a dead dolphin. There were two officers there standing near it.

We continued on past the last house, and soon came to the Green Creek. The tide was pretty low, but it still wasn't feasible to wade across this section. It might involve a little swimming. It wouldn't be right to put this into a description as perimeter of NJ if we had to swim across it, and I'm sure not everyone would be into it either. This was called Norbury's Landing.

We turned back along a path from where the creek let into the bay, and reached the road again. We followed Millman Blvd to Bayshore Road and continued out to Delsea Drive. We then had to follow the road north. None of the businesses at this intersection were opened, and we could have used a snack. We headed north looking for the next spot we could get to the water, even if it were an out and back.

The next spot we thought we could head out on was Conswell Road at a trailer park on the left. We cut in along what was probably a former entrance and walked back past the trailers. A friendly black cat came to greet us, which we pet for a bit. The last road out of the trailer park was private though, and we had to turn back. We continued north on Delsea again, then tried again at King Nummy Campgrounds, and no luck there either.

By the time we got to Dias Creek, John was way ahead, and Brandan, Dan, and Cynthia were well behind me. The old highway signs were there probably since the sixties at least, and one was busted, designating this Dias Creek. I saw an abandoned building off to the right, and a vague path. I took the opportunity to go over there and check it out. There wasn't much to  it, and the creek had plywood and other cheap wood crap laying out over the muddy edge of Dias Creek for fishing access. I continued on from here to the north to try to catch up with John.

He was far too far out of sight. I then passed the Jessie Creek Winery. This place didn't show up on my google searches for interesting places to visit, and unfortunately they were closing just as we went by. I figured maybe we'd visit on a future hike. It would end up being sooner than I'd thought it would be though. I went across the street to a mini mart for some snacks, then headed back onto the road to the north to wait for the others near the Mosquito Commission.

Along the way, I found lots of signs that read "Michael Clark For Mayor". I remembered my friend Lerch, who's real name is Michael Clark, and figured that I have to grab these to stick on his car. Election Day was over after all.

I got a hold of John, who had gotten back to his truck. As the others were catching up with me, John offered them a ride should they need it. Everyone was keen on finishing the hike, all the way down Cook's Beach Road, so we continued on and bid John farewell. I suppose we could have gotten through by taking Kimbles Beach Road, but there was another creek outlet between there and Cook's Beach and I wasn't sure if we'd be able to get across.

We headed left on Cook's Beach Road, a dirt road which took us far out onto the wetlands and off to the beach.

There was a fire tower on the Mosquito Commission Lands. I wish I could have gotten up into it. Oh well, another time maybe.

Cynthia did really great for her first long hike, and decided not to walk further out, and head out. Even Dan didn't come out too far. Brandan joined me out by the beach. There was the ruins of an old wooden dock area at this point, which I climbed way out onto because it was obviously usually under water. Tide was very low at this time, from what a guy with his kids there told me. He pointed out the next creek up was usually much deeper and higher.

I saw this as an oppotunity. I wanted to walk to the other side just in case on the next trip I can't do it. If it's feasible half the time, then it would be part of the NJ Perimeter and I had to take the opportunity to cross over. I went out to high ground and back.

The sun was setting beautifully. It was one of the most outstanding sunset locations I'd seen in NJ. I had finished the hike at the best place possible, at the best time. We didn't move on out of the parking lot until the sun had just about set.

Dan took Brandan and I back to my car at Cape May Harbor, and the three of us ate some pizza at a little establishment across 109 from where we parked.

I count myself as incredibly lucky to not only have passionate, driven friends who will join me in these amazing experiences, but to have the good fortune to keep meeting more friends with contagious positive attitudes.