(Note: This post is out of chronological order because we just found the photos again! Enjoy this hint of summer, from last summer.)
![SandyHook2014-9578 SandyHook2014-9578](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/2a4fcbda4518aa37c1b388032e71cfd3/SandyHook2014-9578-900x900.jpg)
I realized yesterday that of all the places I've featured on the blog, the one I've lived the longest is noticeably absent: New Jersey. Although I didn't grow up on the Jersey Shore, I'd thought often about the ease of taking the ferry straight to the beach since we moved to NYC.
As it turned out, our friends invited us to join them to celebrate a birthday last summer and we got a Groupon "deal" for the ferry. In full disclosure, we waited over an hour for a late ferry each direction, so it wasn't quite as easy as our usual summer beach trips on the subway to Rockaway. Once we finally boarded the ferry, it reminded me of a commuter bus.
![SandyHook2014-9458 SandyHook2014-9458](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/a55f3676498e82ba0eafa4fdbd138e7a/SandyHook2014-9458-900x900.jpg)
And I was so tired, that I nearly fell asleep.
![SandyHook2014-9493 SandyHook2014-9493](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/3bf560e3db1d85662840a422bdcb5def/SandyHook2014-9493-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9503 SandyHook2014-9503](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/eb9b2e76bc30d3c9e6f3b67952ff0e68/SandyHook2014-9503-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9514 SandyHook2014-9514](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/3e24f7229478dd8a6621a1d0b37d3108/SandyHook2014-9514-900x900.jpg)
We pulled into Jersey about an hour or so later and our confusion started again with lines for a variety of beaches. Once we committed to beach C and got in the repurposed old school bus supposedly heading there, it turned out our bus driver had never driven the route before and missed our beach. #comedyoferrors
![SandyHook2014-9543 SandyHook2014-9543](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/83dc0670903f80ab3d8d0e10b2b6681c/SandyHook2014-9543-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9545 SandyHook2014-9545](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/f2ab5eb192bcd1dc09308e47fa27919a/SandyHook2014-9545-900x900.jpg)
At last, we made it. Only 3 hours after we'd left home.
![SandyHook2014-9552 SandyHook2014-9552](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d8c010e93f0758f5d9769d65137cb370/SandyHook2014-9552-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9562 SandyHook2014-9562](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/7868f03447bc52af17a759f5a7597dff/SandyHook2014-9562-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9571 SandyHook2014-9571](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/5da2015859b1c2b0a1b061022efd1a5f/SandyHook2014-9571-900x900.jpg)
Since we got up much earlier than a usual Saturday, by 10:30 when we arrived we were already hungry and hot. After a few hours, we finally gave in and rented a beach umbrella which saved the day. Our group of about 15 friends rotated under it while eating lunch.
![SandyHook2014-9594 SandyHook2014-9594](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/928e64925935246d85acb256544b7a56/SandyHook2014-9594-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9593 SandyHook2014-9593](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/7d77826f8973b6c6f9a20546212795e9/SandyHook2014-9593-900x900.jpg)
The beach was empty when we arrived, but by 1pm, was crawling with radios and umbrellas.
![SandyHook2014-9576 SandyHook2014-9576](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/157a49281b1406554ffa511e4ff55041/SandyHook2014-9576-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9581 SandyHook2014-9581](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/192a6a1a069d0722ff4b295fb3cb09c8/SandyHook2014-9581-900x900.jpg)
We traversed back the way we came: Wait for bus. Wait for Ferry. First ferry full. Wait for second ferry.
![SandyHook2014-9631 SandyHook2014-9631](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/6510518a76ff10594fa9b286ca0cdca1/SandyHook2014-9631-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9633 SandyHook2014-9633](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/6b5d949968197360e51aab15d2cf0389/SandyHook2014-9633-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9620 SandyHook2014-9620](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/c98c0dbde5f8c4909c90b43c757afddc/SandyHook2014-9620-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9648 SandyHook2014-9648](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/09615d1e5664c0a451ac1ad2408fa8c7/SandyHook2014-9648-900x900.jpg)
And then took the ferry back under all the bridges to midtown, and then back to downtown.
![SandyHook2014-9667 SandyHook2014-9667](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e476dd7de9665763e768aefd9903f5a0/SandyHook2014-9667-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9671 SandyHook2014-9671](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ec1db036a1e16ed6a3c172ebb26671a6/SandyHook2014-9671-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9675 SandyHook2014-9675](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/fa7a2fcd77290ba776ad4fcd9bfd1ce3/SandyHook2014-9675-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9686 SandyHook2014-9686](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/7f45992bf96b949221d351d2cd61942d/SandyHook2014-9686-900x900.jpg)
![SandyHook2014-9708 SandyHook2014-9708](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/2b846c625a26788c6b89fa805b918f14/SandyHook2014-9708-900x900.jpg)
It lacked the ease we had hoped of hopping on a ferry over to a beach, but we still enjoyed the day with friends, in the sun. Something we are missing right now. Come on, Spring!
![SandyHook2014-9614 SandyHook2014-9614](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/f9f3e2a92eeaea2f632d45ca2376c861/SandyHook2014-9614-900x900.jpg)