Winter Shore Trip

 

There was one day last week that was not too cold for an outing, so I headed toward the seashore. First stop was an animal refuge called Popcorn Park in Forked River, NJ. This lovely rescued silver fox is one of the residents. 

There's an appaloosa horse, too. It looks like its temporary outdoor shelter was tailored exactly to fit. Click to enlarge. 

There are lots of goats there, with nice personalities and great faces. 

One of the pleasures of Popcorn Park was feeding popcorn to the animals. It's been paused because of bird flu. Everyone is looking forward to its return. 

It's a short hop from Popcorn Park to the ocean. The first town you come to on the barrier island over the causeway is Seaside Heights -- the very town featured in the television show Jersey Shore. 

It looks very different in winter. The boardwalk was empty. 

Atmospheric, though.  

And a few stores stay open to provide essentials. 

Further south, after several shore towns, is Island Beach State Park. It's a 10-mile-long strip of barrier island, bay on one side, ocean on the other, and narrow enough to walk across. It's famous for a resident population of wild foxes and for scrub-covered dunes. 

A path to the ocean. 

A brief cold look at the water. 

Then a walk to this nice old bird blind on the bay side. 

Where a flock of cedar waxwings came by and posed. It was a very welcome day outside just before the big snowstorm and polar vortex.