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| Point Pleasant Canal |
Brian worked out the tide and current data for our departure and arrivals since, according to local knowledge, the inter-coastal channels near then Manasquan and Barnegat Inlets are dramatically affected by the tidal currents. We had to arrive Barnegat Inlet area before Max Ebb and low tide, which was about six hours after Manasquan Inlet’s high tide. If we ran at our economical speed, we’d arrive in the Barneget Inlet six hours later — not good. However, running at 15 knots or over, we’d arrive at Barneget Inlet at Slack Tide reducing the possibility of running aground in the notoriously shallow New Jersey Inter-Coastal Waterway. Leaving Manasquan just after high tide we had to pass through the two mile long, 50 foot wide, Point Pleasant Canal. Before entering the canal we were doing about six knots. In the canal our speed shot up to eleven knots from the current. The water looked like rapids. We’d hate to try to negotiate this channel during Max Flood or Max Ebb. The rest of
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Barnegat
Lighthouse |
the voyage was uneventful and enjoyable despite keeping a close eye on the markers and the sonar. We arrived at High Bar Harbor Yacht Club at 10:10am. It was Slack Tide. This gave us over a foot of water over what could be expected at Low Tide. We
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| St. Peters at the Light |
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Linda & the Brick in front
of the Parish Hall |
learned that High Bar Harbor is a marina; not a yacht club, but a very nice marina. As we walked toward the marina’s office we noticed a boat from Virginia Beach. Bob and Betty Campbell came over to Splash Down to welcome us to their marina (with a wonderful bottle of wine). After Bob and Betty left, we walked up to the road in front of the marina to catch
Long Beach Island free shuttle that services the 18 mile long island called Long Beach. Long Beach has seven boroughs; Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Surf City, Ship Bottom, Beach Haven, High Bar Harbor, and Hogate. We were not told, nor is it in Long Beach Island Shuttle’s map, that there is a north bound and south bound shuttle, AND only the South bound shuttle picks up at the marina. When we got on the shuttle, we did not know we’d be on the bus for two hours to get to the
Barnegat Lighthouse park at the North end of the island. It would have taken us less than 30 minutes if we walked. Never-the-less, we learned more about the island from the shuttle driver. The six boroughs remain independent honoring their original charters. The larger of the six boroughs on the island provide police and fire services to the smaller boroughs. She rumored that Jon Bon Jovi has a house and that Ernest Hemingway once owned a home there. Neither of which Brian could verify independently. It was nice to stretch our legs once we finally arrived at the lighthouse park. The Barnegat Lighthouse was designed by Lt. George G. Meade in 1855. Lt. Meade would later become famous as General Meade during the civil war. The light is the second tallest lighthouse in the United States at 165 feet. It operated as a first-class navigational aid from 1859 to 1927, and a second-class navigational aid until 1944. Brian climbed its 217 steps for some photos. We walked back to Splash Down. One the way we passed by a liquor store for some provisions and took some photos with “the brick” at
St. Peter’s-At-The-Light Episcopal Church. It was a 30-minute walk to get back. Tomorrow we’ll head for Atlantic City.
