Our first time on the Ocean in Diamond LilOct 4, 2005
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A picture perfect day on the ocean
Manasquan Inlet leading from Atlantic into the ICW
The Manasquan River, the first 4 1/2 miles of the ICW
SWITCH TO NEW JERSEY MAP
The only part of the entire trip from home down to Florida that requires passage of open water (ie the Atlantic Ocean) is the 26 miles stretch from New York Harbour to the Manasquan Inlet in New Jersey. Luckily we awoke to a gorgeous, calm morning and our first ocean passage was a delight with the surface smooth and a gentle, comfortable swell.
We entered the Manasquan inlet where the Atlantic ICW follows the Manasquan River for 4 1/2 miles to Point Pleasant Canal. I was surprised at the beauty of the New Jersey stretch of the ICW. We've all heard the Jersey jokes and I pictured a place much less beautiful than what we found.
The Point Pleasant Canal connects the Manasquan River to the Barnegat Bay. We followed the Icw for another 50 miles and it was a real eye opener. Thousands of homes backed on to the waterway, all with docks and boats. I had no idea there were so many boats in New Jersey. Even apartment dwellers had boats tied up at the docks provided.
We stopped at the scenic little town of Beach Haven, NJ for the night and our eyes popped out of our heads at the large number of large, expensive fishing boats in the marina.
