64th Street Narrows to the Boardwalk Hike 3/19/2013

Fifteen Tuesday Group members gathered in the 64th Street parking lot at First Landing State Park under misty,overcast skies in hopes the weather forecast of clearing and no rain was correct. After introductions and safety tips, as we were getting ready to hit the trail, two State Park Police showed up. Not everyone in the group had posted their passes or parking fee receipts on the dash of their car. One person, who did not have change, had not paid the entrance fee. Potential ticket of $25! But the police were gracious and allowed him to pay on the way out. Having avoided parking fines and with the required pictures by Bill of some of us with hands up with the park Police, we hit the trail.We hiked the Cape Henry Trail for 1 1/2 miles to the entrance of the park, then crossed over Atlantic Avenue and hiked down Ocean Front Avenue between Atlantic and the ocean. The original plan was to hike down Ocean, then down the boardwalk to Neptune Park, with a return walk up the beach. When we stopped at the Buff Garden and walked over to the shore we decided, between the incoming tide and a strong north wind, we would go ahead and do our beach walk down to Neptune Park. On the return trip, a strong north wind greeted us on the boardwalk, but the houses along Ocean Avenue blocked the wind. And, as promised, the sun came out! On both directions on the Cape Henry Trail, we had to stop and watch the osprey gathering in their nests. After retracing our route we moved over to The Narrows, found a spot in the sun and out of the wind where eleven of us sat and enjoyed our lunches. Getting sleepy in the sun, we decided to call it a day. Total length of the hike was 9.44 miles.

Ken

Bill's pictures tell the rest of the story: https://picasaweb.google.com/b.billings/TuesMarch192013NarrowsFirstLanding31stStreetBeach?authkey=Gv1sRgCJzr5Zb8yYSV2QE&feat=email