Blog of the Starship Doodlebug: New Jersey - Cape May Victorians and Do Wop motels

Sept 23 - 26
Wednesday

Drove to New Jersey thru the Bronx, NYC and over the GW (George Washington) Bridge.

Trucks were on the top deck with the view, but I took a photo anyway and posted to FB.

Bobbie commented "Hands on the wheel!"

Stopped in Clayton, NJ to have lunch with high school friend, Denis.

Clayton is an authentic small town which has not one shop selling tourist crap. And to the best of anyone's knowledge, George Washington did nothing here.

We walked down the block and had lunch at a cafe where we compared colonoscopy stories and had some laughs. We agreed we don't get smarter as we get older, we just run out of stupid things to do. Old friends are the best.

At Gaithersburg, MD near Washington, DC I ran into these folks in the RV park office.

In real life they are much taller than they seem on TV.

But you can tell this isn't recent since O'Bama's hair used to be black and now it's grey.

Crossing the Delaware Memorial Bridge near New Jersey on the way to Cape May.

The village of Cape May, NJ was started by a sea captain named May in 1761 when it became the first seaside resort in America.

Today there are over 600 Victorian homes in this town of 3550 people, and it seems that every other one is a B & B.

There are more B & Bs here than in any other community in the country.

Most were built during the Victorian era of 1837 - 1901 during Queen Victoria's reign.

The town is now a National Historic Landmark.

Downtown main street is a pedestrian mall with all the usual tourist stuff.

Wandering thru the shops waiting for the trolley tour,
I came across another celebrity photo op,
Pope Francis himself!

Couldn't believe my luck!
I thought he wouldn't catch up with me until Philadelphia next week, but here he was.... my piece of the Pope!

If you're jealous, someone said you can download a selfie online with the Pope.

You've seen the skyline of San Francisco, this is the skyline of Cape May.

People just sittin' and "porchin' "

Took the trolley tour and were told this magnificent home was recently converted to several condos which sold for $650K each.

Got off the trolley for some lunch at Tommy's Hot Dogs.

That's Tommy in the hot dog hat.

He wears his hair in a bun.

Goodbye to Cape May and on up the NJ shore two miles to check out Wildwood.

There are three little Atlantic towns - Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and North Wildwood, all on one island if going across a tiny bridge qualifies an island.

When I pulled into a parking lot that said $6 to Park, I asked how long for $6.
The attendant said "All day or until you can't stand it anymore!"

My first stop was the Do Wop Museum which is an old motel.

It's crammed with everything from Memory Lane.

Wonderful old lamps.

This time capsule community is know for its 1950s Do Wop motels spread all over town.

Like the ultra modern Starlux.

These once thought to be tacky motels now have a kind of elegance.

The Star Lux has an added attraction.
For something different you can rent a 50s Airstream travel trailer for your seaside stay.

Everywhere those wonderful signs.

Bill Hayley and the Comets performed
Rock Around the Clock
for the first time at the
Hoffbrau here in Wildwood.

The Caribbean has a Jetsons style overhanging roof which you can reach via a circular outdoor ramp.

Upstairs is a tiki party room where two young girls were watching cartoons.

In a dicey part of any town, a motel called the Pink Champagne would bring thoughts of hourly rates and free cable porn, but here it makes you think of a Sweet 16 party.