Bronx, NY-Spring Lake Heights, NJ 9/26 90 car miles; 5.4 walking miles

After a scrumptious breakfast of Huevos Rancheros, we left the Bronx at the crack of 10:30. Ryan said it was easy to cross the George Washington Bridge and head down the Jersey Parkway. It may have been if we hadn't had a little mid town turn around. No worries, we righted the ship and headed South on the Jersey Turnpike. Traffic was light and we rolled into Toms River in just under two hours. We checked on the progress of the food truck my cousin is having refurbished by a seriously sketchy dude named Joel whose phone is disconnected and who by chance stopped by his shop while we were there. Another gentleman who has been waiting for his Citroen to be refurbished was also there, but unlike me, he has an expensive dog in the fight. Joel assured us the truck (I don't know what he told the other guy)  would  be finished in two months: doubtful. But these are not my concerns. We then proceeded to Dennis and Susie Pearsall's house where we let ourselves in (They were cheering wildly for their granddaughter, Molly, at her soccer game. While we waited, we walked to the   shore to look for Snooki. Actually, she's a bit further South, and according to Susie, she doesn't really represent Jersey. Oh well, so much for pop reality. We had a lovely rib sticking comfort food dinner and jibber jabbered none stop late into the evening. Dennis and Susie are part of Ed's Jesuit volunteer group from his time at the mission in Omak in the early 70s. The group has remained close over the years, and each one I've met classifies as an example of "best" human. Today, though, was really about a sea change. We've left the noise and vibration of the city to begin meandering along quieter pathways. I must say that the thin gruel is no less nourishing. It just seems that marvelous humans are everywhere, which once again proves that life is good, especially today.

Ready for business in just two months.

Selfie of the day: "Hey, Snooki".

The shore, just an hour from the city by train, is like a sunblock sardine can in the summer.

Susie and Dennis.

The thin gruel continues.

Full disclosure: just my first plate. Gasbutt? Flattbutt, Fatbutt? Like John Boener says, "It probably won't be the last time."