Toms River New Jersey

On Saturday we anchored in a little cove off the Ocean Gate Yacht Club about two miles up the Toms River. Sunday we hailed a kayaked who was paddling past Sanderling and after discussing the area he invited us to attend the Commodore's BBQ at the club that evening as his guests. We dinghied ashore and tied up to the bulkhead at the club, then went inside to locate our host. He and his wife were sitting at a large table with their friends and soon made room for two extra people. We bad a great evening of conversation, mostly about boating, sailing and the local area (all of them had lived here many years). They all encouraged us to dinghy up the river to see the beautiful homes, yacht clubs, and marinas. So this morning, after waiting for some quick showers to pass and the sun to appear, we did just that!

We got into the dinghy about 1000 and headed hp the river about three miles to the town of Toms River, past several nice anchorages, many docks and marinas, and waterfront homes. At the headwaters there was a nice park where a ceremony of some sort was obviously about to take place (it was about 1050) and there was a very nice restaurant with docks just across the narrow river with a sign that said "Grand Opening." Judy inquired of a man cleaning an outdoor bar and was told that the restaurant opened at 1130 and that we were welcome to tie up at the docks.

We walked across a bridge and joined a very small group of people celebrating Memorial Day with a submariners memorial service, heard the roll call of submarines lost at sea, and heard a brief patriotic speech by the mayor. By then it was time for the restaurant to open, so we walked back and had lunch. Turned out the restaurant had been closed for 4 months for a major makeover and bad reopened just three weeks ago as Baker's Waterstreet Bar and Grill. An extremely nice place with good food, a nice view over the little harbor, and decent prices. By the time we left about 1245 there were a number of tables being served.

We dinghied back go Sanderling amidst a big wake-induced chop that seemed to run from shore to shore; all the boaters were out in force and going nowhere as fast as they could!

This is a great place to visit and anchor while waiting for good weather on the ocean.

The first photo is of the Memorial Day service; the second photo is of the restaurant and docks.

Tomorrow morning we're departing early to catch high slack tide in the Point Pleasant Canal and Manasquan River leading out to the ocean. Tomorrow night we should be in Great Kills, Staten Island.