In the past, when I thought of drinking on warm beaches, laughing with like-minded people, New Jersey never entered my mind. That has all changed since my first visit to the 6th Annual Hedo Reunion: Sandy Hook, NJ - 8/22-8/24.
Duck and I flew into Newark airport on Thursday the 21st, and were picked up by our good friends, Brett & Christie, and Kris (who had flown in the day prior). The party started well before we made it back to the car. Between jokes about the personalized license plates we were seeing (no Nina for you, no Nina for anybody!), and the mock jealousy about whose friends we were (no MY Hedo people) the ride back to the house seemed much shorter than it really was. After a dinner of some homemade fajitas and many tequila and vodka shots we called it a night and climbed into our various beds with the best of intentions to make an early start out the next morning.
Well, you know what they say about the best of intentions ;) After a leisurely breakfast of bagels and cream cheese, and a last minute run to the grocery store, and a fruitless search for a missing cellphone, we finally made it out to the cars and started on our way. Having never been to the states along the east coast before (other than Florida which really isn't like the rest of the east coast at all) I took the opportunity to look and gawk to my heart's content. What a pretty area! Rolling hills, and lush green vegetation surrounding quaint little towns, all of which George Washington slept in. We rolled into the parking lot of the Fairbanks Resort and Marina around PM. Met up with our pal Dennis, and headed for the beach to get a little suntime in before the forecasted thundershowers hit the beach. Boy am I glad we did too, because those thundershowers completely avoided the beachfront area! How lucky was that!!! The walk out on the beach is a real killer though, especially when you are transporting everything you think you will need for an afternoon or a day. I don't think I'll ever complain about the distance between my room and the beach at Hedo again.
The weather stayed clear and delightful all weekend. Many jello shots, inverted redbull and vodka shots, and other various shots were consumed by all. Silly games were played. Superclubs was gracious enough to send Buffy and Lawrence up to help with the frivolity. Richard Bourke was there, but he is far too famous for me to comfortably talk to, so I didn't. Many of my peeps did though, and they all reported back to me that he seemed like a very genuine, down to earth kind of guy. It was fun to be admiring the way someone was smiling, or dancing, or laughing, and then to have them introduced to me as someone that I have debated or agreed with on the board. And of course it was fabulous to see MY Hedo people well before my next scheduled trip in December.
Stuff that might be of interest to people who are looking to visit Sandy Hook:
* Rooneys had the best lobster bisque I have ever tasted, but they did very poorly serving our group of twelve. I think I would avoid it if I had a large group again, but I would certainly go back once more to see if they do better with smaller groups.
* It's a LONG walk from the parking lot to the beach, and an even LONGER walk from the edge of the beach in to the waters edge. Think carefully about what you will need, and how you will transport it (both in AND out)
* There is no glass allowed on the beach. Before you think "oh, well that doesn't apply to me, I won't break it", just stop right there. There is a good possibility that if you do take it, it will get broken, and there are many bare feet traipsing through the sand. One good slice on the foot could really ruin someone's vacation. Please take the time to pour anything that comes in glass into a plastic container. If you pour vodka into a plastic water bottle, clearly mark the bottle so that no one drinks straight from it when taking medications.
* There is really no shade on the beach unless you bring your own.
* The beach we went to (Gunnison was the name, I think) is a clothing optional beach. There will be clothed folks strolling through and gawking. If you aren't comfortable with that, it is something you should think about. Likewise, since it is a public beach, there are many folks there (including children) who are only there for the nudity, and not any sort of sexuality.
* Please don't feed the wildlife. It only encourages them to see people as food sources, and there are some "not very nice" people who might be willing to poison an animal that is trusting enough to take it. Lets try to keep the wildlife wild and alive ;)
It was a lovely trip with lovely people, and I will definitely consider going again for the lucky number seven reunion.
Kisses to all I know and met, and if we didn't meet, kisses to you too, but you can't get any tongue action until I know your name ;)
Zilla (and Duck)