Neptune Avenue heading east, Deal, NJ.
I am lucky enough to live so close to the ocean that on some mornings sea mist tumbles down the streets. It rolls past houses and cars until the sun gets higher, sending iridescent streaks of light through it and, eventually, burns it all away.
Other days are just solid fog, no sun, and it lingers. These are the days when I tuck my point-and-shoot into my pocket and walk straight to the beach.
Bench overlooking the jetty, Allenhurst, NJ.
Days like this, there is no horizon. No ‘you are here: X’ to pinpoint you on Earth’s map. With nearly every reliable view I count on gone, the landscape eerie, the seascape all but vanished, I might as well have been snatched up and plunked down onto another planet.
Fisherman on the jetty, Allenhurst.
Or it’s as if I am in a 1950s B movie.
Jetty and waves, but no horizon.
But I don’t find it terrifying; I find it the opposite of terrifying. To stand on the beach and be utterly disoriented, not to see anything beyond 20 feet in any direction, is fascinating. I grew up here and could walk this beach blindfold—and am. I’m wearing Harry’s loose and misty invisibility cloak, and it extends for miles up the windswept coast.
Wait wait wait…or is it less a cloak than another veil the universe sent me?
If so, it’s the wildest ever. Sold.
Dune and fog.
To get my bearings, I look down and see what the waves and weather have produced.
Skate (a type of ray) egg case.
High tide patterns on the powdery dark lagoon sand.
Taking the veil home with me. Here it is clinging to my black wool pea coat. It’s nice to be enveloped now and again.
Afterward it’s warm-up time. I know, it’s late in the season for hot chocolate.
No, it isn’t.
Wow! Marisa, that’s like living in a gray world. Ours gets like that at times, but I have to close the blinds and surround myself with bright colored yarn then. How do you do it? I’ve seen your photos of bright scenery, so I know you have that, but I think I’m about to go have some hot chocolate myself now.
Hi Angie–I made the shots black and white 🙂 It wasn’t that grey, but it *was* that foggy. Once in a while it’s amazing.
Hi Marisa,
I know all about fog as it comes in a great abundance here in the Bay Area. Can you san Frisco Fog? (even though San Franciscans hate that term “Frisco”) The fog at times can get so thick it’s difficult to see where you are going or your hand in front of your face. Its such a mysterious thing, or is that so because the movies portray it as such so we believe it? Those are great shots. I hope to get back into photography when I retire as I almost made that my profession before my passion grew around food. Here’s tip. Add just a little Kahlua to your hot chocolate. I make Kahlua every holidays and savor it for just such things. Have a great day, I hope it’s not grey but if it is enjoy what if offers.
Hi Roger–Thank you so much; I never thought to take a photography course in school because I was too busy drawing. Sometime I’ll take one, but in the meantime, I’m having fun winging it. 🙂
I have not been to San Francisco but would love to; I am not a city person, but everyone I know who has been says it’s not a basic, helter-skelter city. And I love the fog, yes.
And now since you’ve mentioned it, I’m obliged to ask for your Kahlua recipe. Holy cow, does that sound like fun! Have a great day yourself.
Beautiful city, San Francisco. I bet you would love it, Marisa, at least for a visit. Quality eats, great walking and all those Victorian, pastel colored buildings. Ummmm….sourdough and eye candy. Not to mention, so close to gorgeous wine country.
Hi Marisa,
OK here it is and it is sooooooo simple it’s silly. Much obliged.
4 ounces Yuban instant coffee (make sure it is Yuban, not just any old instant coffee will do).
1 Qt. Water
4 Lbs. Sugar
2 each Vanilla Beans split down the length to create 4 halves
2 Qts. 100 proof Vodka (I only use the 80 proof)
Bring water, coffee and vanilla beans to a boil, add sugar and bring to a boil again to fully dissolve the sugar, cool down to room temperature. Add vodka into a large pot that has a lid. Place in a cool area for one to two months but stir well daily. Once completed, place in bottles and give to those on your Christmas gift list but remember to save some for yourself as its great in your coffee or your hot chocolate on those cold wintery days. Also good to sip over ice or straight up as a cordial. Yields approx. 3 1/2 qts.
Let me know how it comes out Marisa.
Yes, fog is so mystical. (As long as you don’t have to drive in it. Then, yikes!) Thanks for the stroll. Occasionally, even 5 miles from the beach, it rolls in to my neighborhood here, too. Often, I can find it at the beach during those (I loose the term loosely here in Florida) seasonal changes when the weather and water differ on what the temperature range should be.
Hi Trina–Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 Even five miles in? Wow…
I think when it gets foggy here when it is already humid and we have a high dew point it makes for quite the pea soup. It doesn’t roll in this far too often, but it’s a treat (I think) when it does (sans the driving, of course).
…and I am SURE I would love San Fran. Yep, the sourdough would have me for sure!
Lol ‘quite the pea soup.’
Marisa,
I live for the fog in every way you described.
I am more comfortable in the middle of the Monterey Bay in ‘pea soup’ fog with a broken compass than I am crossing the street on foot of where I live and the fog is there too.
Hi Lou–You totally get it. Yes! It’s wonderful, isn’t it?
Roger–This looks insanely good. Maybe I’ve just found my Christmas present recipe! Thank you so much!