Our Avon

My midwives are located in Avon-by-the-Sea. After my appointment this week, we drove out to the beach for the first time since Sandy.

Take a look at the lifeguard station. Completely elevated, removed from the area that was once the boardwalk. At least they were able to save it. From what I can tell in these pictures here, other buildings were completely turned upside down.

The remnants of the boardwalk's structure still remain. I would have to say that they're compromised as well, and will probably need to be removed and have new put in place before horizontal boards can be installed.

If you can believe it, this is where the Avon Pavilion used to stand. A nice outdoor cafe, a walk-up lunch restaurant, and a window-outfitted building where locals used to host yoga parties all used to stand on this part of the boardwalk.

This is looking south. You can see that the drawbridge is in the upright position-- it was like that the entire time we were there.

I used to sit under this pagoda regularly, once Oliver or Trenton fell asleep in the stroller.

 Other startling before and after shots can be found here.

I found this video clip online. Someone took it of the area just as Sandy was beginning to roll in.

There is lots of talk around here about just how safe the beaches will be this summer. Although there are plans to dredge the sand, it is still hard to say what might wash up each morning onto the beach. Millions of nails used to be in those boardwalks... lots of glass in windows... it all has to end up some place.

Favorite Avon memory (Trenton is about one and a half):


Here's hoping that May comes soon, so that we can make a trip out to these beaches-- Bradley, Avon, Ocean Grove, Manasquan, and Belmar-- and decide which one is 'ready' for us this summer.