Day 3 Ocean City to Strathmere

As I woke up with a hoarse voice and it was another windy day, we paddled another short trip between sounds - but only after a salt water gargle at Wawa and some sightseeing to wait out the wind.

All the way back to the start in Cape May, we explored the WWII concrete bunker on the beach and climbed the stairs to the top of the Cape May Lighthouse.

The bunker itself is sealed off in concrete and some of it is supported by wood pilings. Both the off-limits recessed areas and highest areas were covered with graffiti. A bird's egg had fallen at the base of the seaward side and its yolk oozed out on the sand.

The ladies who keep the souvenir shop for the light house were stocking its shelves. Lighthouse keeper Ed Hoffner was sitting on a deep window sill at the base of the lighthouse reading "Three roads to the Alamo." The lighthouse's Fresnel lens is elsewhere but the view on this clear day was spectacular. We could see both a ferris wheel on the Atlantic coast and land across the Delaware Bay.

A stop at the Wetlands Institute almost proved fruitless as it's closed on Mondays. However, the receptionist informed us that the Institute has kayaking! They offer moonlight, sunset and other guided tours with a naturalist. Before leaving the Institute, we took a walk out behind the building and I made this video to illustrate the day's gusty wind. The camera was hand-held and my swaying and at one point I nearly lose my balance.

At the put in under the 34th St. bridge, chosen using Google satellite images, we discovered the Ocean City High School rowing teams. The girls freshmen 8 were just putting away their boat. We commiserated with the coach a bit about the wind on the open water north of the bridge and marveled at the crews' lack of protective clothing or PFD's. Must be nice!

It turned out to be a spectacular paddle. The wind had subsided, the tide was slack and the sun was setting. Around one turn we met Mike Sheehy digging for clams. Around another we found 2 men in lawn chairs fishing. Twice the rowing crews passed us. There were birds everywhere and I found a small, dead skate fish. The water was shallow and except for Mike's tiny, vintage outboard, we saw no other motor boats.

Just as we pulled into the boat ramp to take out, an easterly wind came over the dyke on this narrow section of barrier island and hit us head on and the tide started to come in. Great timing!