Every year Cody and I look forward to our September trip to Belmar and Aunt Mary Beth and Uncle Walter with just us guys. And every year, improbably, it seems to get more awesome.
This year's trip began, as it always does, with us pulling out of Woodbridge on Friday morning at zero dark thirty. We got up above Baltimore and stopped for breakfast at Chic-fil-a. (Obviously.) Shannon and King Snake opted to join us inside the restaurant. (Obviously.)
Once we made it to Belmar, Cody and I did a quick lunch at 606 6th Avenue (an address he now has committed to memory) and then went down to the beach. It was too cold for surfing, which was a shame, because the waves were pretty gnarly. But not too cold for digging in the sand.
The next morning we were at Belmar Bagels just before 6:00 a.m. Which was a problem, since they don't open until 6:30. After waiting for them to open, we took breakfast down to the 16th Ave. beach to watch the surfers get ready for the first day of the Belmar Pro Open.
Turns out we were there before most of the surfers, too.
However, we amused ourselves on the new--and insanely great--beach playground. Which has the greatest pirate ship ever.
Also, a dolphin.
Later on, we went to the aquarium in Point Pleasant and then to the boardwalk for skee ball, where Uncle Walter demonstrated his mastery, much to Cody's delight. And to the rides. Which were amazing.
Cody started out on the roller coaster "The Tornado." He didn't really like it all that much. Midway through the ride, as we were being pulled up the hill, he turned to me and asked calmly, "Dad, how much longer will this ride be?"
He was much, much more excited about the planes.
And the helicopters.
And the boats.
And motorcycles.
And best of all, the carousel, with all four of us riding together.
Capping the entire adventure was a Sunday morning visit to Atlantic Farms where Cody got to commune with a pony. Which had a blaze.
Heaven.
Mary Beth and Walter made this entire weekend happen for him and he loved every minute. They're the best.
