MFI and I enclosed a 2-sided postcard in our 2019 Christmas card to family and friends. The purposes were to inform recipients of our next plan for retirement, and solicit projects with which we could help them during our visits.
We received a fair number of cards indicating “no help required” but open to a visit, and only four postcards identified projects. One came from our son Jon (see The Bunner-Hearty Project List – Richardson, TX), and another from our daughter (see The Gomez Family Project List – Hollywood, FL and The Gomez Family Project List – Part 2). The third card came from my cousin Cheryl and husband Rick, who asked whether we could construct a swimming pool, then checked “Bunner/Wittmack who?” We haven’t responded to them yet one way or the other. The fourth came from Barry and Beth Muller. I worked 14 years with Barry when he and I audited for ERM CVS. MFI and I attended their beautiful wedding in 2017 and consider them dear, close friends. They were our next stop after the Ranch.
We only got as far as Greensboro, NC because of a late departure from the ranch. We were greeted by our second rainbow of the trip and stuck with our interpretation of it being a good luck sign. Using The Wizard, we found the local KOA and got assigned a nice spot near the entrance. A photo of the park shows the impact of COVID-19 on RVing.
The second day was a long haul to New Jersey, so we arrived just after dark. MFI bravely attempted to back into their relatively steep driveway; however, our monstrous hitch kept scrapping on the paving stones. We parked along Lake Drive at the bottom of their property, but couldn’t generate enough energy to move into their spare bedroom, and ended up spending the night in Arthur after a glass of wine. We opened the windows and really enjoyed a peaceful night with cool waterfront breezes.
They have a beautiful hillside home overlooking a double marina along the mouth of Toms River where it flows into Barnegut Bay. The bay is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by one more barrier island as part of the Jersey Shore. Barry’s neighbor had a near empty parking lot at the bottom of their property, so Barry asked if we could park Sid and Arthur there during our stay. They graciously said yes. We were there for a week. It was like Airstream Convienence Parking only way better.
Barry and Beth were very familiar with our project abilities. We had stayed at their rental home in Wildwood, NJ before they sold it and completed a number of neat little projects for them. Nonetheless, they only had one project for our visit: repair the two stairways down the hill below their deck and make them safe. We knew the potential project scope because Barry had sent pictures, but when we proposed replacing everything, Barry walked back and suggested we go with a more minimalist approach. So, if a stair tread looked bad but was otherwise solid, then we wouldn’t replace it. If it could be reused just by flipping it, then that’s what we did. These pictures describe the scope.
Barry was a huge help throughout. While we began demolition, he pressure washed the stairs and cleared the soil and mulch away from the step treads and stringers. We treated any remaining areas of rot with a chemical wood hardener. The top-step erosion would worsen if not addressed, so MFI, ever the problem solver and head sweater, came up with a solution. Barry was particularly grateful for this as he had not previously recognized the extent of the problem. She proposed excavating a veritcal area behind the top steps to accommodate two open-celled 4″ x 8″ x 16″ CMU blocks positioned end to end and held in place with a 2″ x 4″ brace screwed between the stringers. We filled the cells with a powdered cement and soil mixture. Brilliant!
Before getting too deep into the project, I noticed there was an in-ground bee’s nest beneath and behind the top step of the lower section. Only an entrance hole was visible, but there was a steady stream of bees coming and going. Barry found a can of wasp insecticide, and he coated the entrance area several times. While this didn’t seem to kill them outright, it slowed the traffic significantly and gave us the confidence to continue. No one was stung!
MFI began excavating behind the top step of the lower section while I finished applying the wood hardener. Suddenly, I heard a scream and looked up to see Barry lurch backwards and fall to the ground rolling onto his stomach. MFI had been excavating with a garden trowel and was using it to pry up a rock. Barry had leaned over to see what was going on when the trowel released and sliced into his forehead. We rushed to him to assess the damage. What we both knew was that Barry has been on blood thinners for a number of years having suffered from several bouts of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis). He runs a risk of bleeding out if not attended to promptly. Fortunately, he clotted quickly and was none the worse for wear. Phew!
Here are a few photos of how we demolished the stairs, replaced the bad steps, repaired those still good, and painted the entire kit and caboodle.
With only one project, we now had time to spend with Beth and Barry, and these two are always great, fun hosts. They took us first to visit the famous Jersey Shore town of Ocean Grove (population 3,057). Methodist clergymen, led by Ellwood H. Stokes, expanded on the religious camp meetings, which were occurring in the US in the early 19th century. In 1870, they established the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, incorporated the community, purchased land, and divided it into roadways and tent lots, which could be leased for up to 99 years. That year, nine potable water wells were drilled, tents were erected, and an open-air wooden shelter for camp speakers was built. The location instantly became a hugely popular summer destination requiring auditoriums be constructed to support the growing crowds. In 1894, the 4th and present-day Great Auditorium was finished and accommodated 10,000 worshipers. Today it seats 6,500 in comfortable upholstered seats and remains the prominent city attraction and focal point for the Camp Meeting Association summer programs.
At its height in the early 20th century, Ocean Grove became known as the “Queen of Religious Resorts” and played host annually to millions of vacationing visitors and celebrities . After WW I however, interest in camp meetings, and its associated harsh laws, dwindled steadily until Ocean Grove was little more than an aging time capsule of late victorian and early 20th century architecture in serious disrepair and referred to as “Ocean Grave.” Then in 1981, the municipal authority was integrated into Neptune County, and for 16 years between 1990 and 2006, good planning and money brought a resurgence to the city. We did a walking tour of the architectural district designated a State and National Historic District with our country’s largest collection of late victorian and early 20th century architecture.
One hundred-fourteen original lots remain with on-lot tents available for lease through the still active Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. In fact, tent homes can be leased for the summer at $2,000 per month. But you really have to want it. Leasees have to be interviewed and approved by the association before even being placed on a 10-year waiting list. Sheds were constructed behind each tent to provide a kitchen, a bathroom, and winter storage space when tents get disassembled.
We continued our walk through the district to take in the historic architecture. Before leaving, we drove to the beach for a further taste of the “Shaw.”
Barry and Beth were new owners of a speed boat, docked below the house in Cozy Cove. Beth could hardly wait for us to finish the project so they could take us out on the water. We finally had the chance one beautiful evening to go for an enjoyable tour of the river and the bay with Beth at the helm and Barry joining us as passengers.
Barry and I lounged in the back seats while Beth and MFI sat up front. The water was calm and our captain showed us some speed heading into the bay and along the barrier island. Our route gave us a a great view of the Seaside Park skyline.
We had a marvelous time with our friends and appreciated their having a great project for us. So happy to help them. Knowing we work for food, we dined like royalty and enjoyed great red wines. Thank you Barry and Beth! We’re already looking forward to our next visit. The sunsets alone are reason enough to go back.
