55StateParksProject&More

So far, we have vistited and gotten stamps for: 1.Allaire State Park, 2.Washington Crossing, 3.Barnegat Lighthouse, 4.Bass River, 5.Belleplaine, 6.Brendan Byrne, 7.Indian King Tavern, 8.Island Beach State Park, 9.Parvin, and 10.Wharton. Of course, I have visited many many other state parks, but these are the ones we officially visited and got posted in our Passport to Adventure booklets, which makes it all even more fun.
Barnegat was delightful. It was a cool, misty, magical day there. We hiked the nature trail and the concrete walkway on the shoreline. There were many stone circles set up along the beach, I believe, to celebrate the First Day of Spring, March 20th, the day before our visit. I went with my most regular State Park hiking companion, Barb Spector. We have both also joined up as volunteers at the Bayshore Discovery Project - she on the ship the A. J. Meerwald, and me in the Museum. Barb is also a tried and true volunteer for many animal rescue groups including Trap Neuter Release with Pet Savers.
We had a great time hiking in the misty foggy seashore. Off season is a wonderful time to visit the seashore.
The week before, I had the plesure to visit again, the USS New Jersey Battleship in Camden. A group of James and Ann Whitall House volunteers were escorted on a tour of the ship by a fellow volunteer docent who works at both historic sites, Bill Jubb. It is quite a work out going up and down the many levels on those narrow stairs but well worth it to re-visit that momentous period in American history.
This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending another in the Burlington County Historical Society Sunday Lecture Series. This one was on a genealogical mystery. The lecturer tied in her document search with details about the life of an ancestor who was a Civil War veteran of 3 battles, then a deserter sentenced to death, who was later released after efforts by his family and community members to contact President Lincoln on his behalf.
Putting the papers to the person and into the context of such a gripping tale made the family history journey come alive. I'm very much looking forward to the next lecture in April, on Civil War Women.
Hope to see you there!