30 June-1 July - Atlantic City, Absecon Lighthouse and Monmouth Battlefield State Park

30 June
Off we go to visit Atlantic City.  Our first stop was Absecon Lighthouse.  Construction started in 1855 and the majority of the build was overseen by our Gettysburg Civil War buddy Lt Gen George Meade.  After some cost over runs, it was finished and was first lit in 1857.  It provided navigation assistance for mariners until 1933 when it was decommissioned.   The lighthouse was re-lit in 1968 and completely rejuvenated in 1995.  It is the tallest lighthouse we have climbed at 229 steps

A beautiful lighthouse

The oil house.  

The keepers residence

Walking from the keepers residence to the lighthouse entrance

Up we go!  All 229 steps.  We are very proud of Doreen.  Her knee is holding up very well!

One of the many windows, interesting construction techniques. 

One of the ventilation holes

A view from the top, down Atlantic Avenue

At the top with a smile on her face!!

The web cam.  You can text your family and they can access a web site and see you at the top of the lighthouse.

Our daughter Michelle texted us this picture of us waving at the web cam!

One of the volunteers, 86 years old, climbs the lighthouse each day and greeted us at the top.  He gave us a card that acknowledged our accomplishment of making it to the top.  I did not asked him what he did if he "felt the urge" half way through his shift!!  Man, that is a lot of climbing to use the facilities, if you know what I mean!

After the lighthouse visit we drove downtown Atlantic City and parked in the Bass Pro Shop parking lot.  Much space for our big ol' truck and same price as the rest for the lots $10 for the day.  Seems funny to see a Bass Pro in downtown Atlantic City in the midst of all the casinos!

One of the bucket list items for Doreen was to eat at one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants.  For those of you that do not recognize that name, Gordon Ramsay is the chef that stars in the TV show "Hell's Kitchen".  We watch it religiously.  His "Gordon Ramsay's Pub and Grill" is located in the Atlantic City Caesars Palace Casino.

The winning chef from his Hell's Kitchen season 14 is Meghan Gill is the chef at this restaurant.  Our waitress said she works the evening shift so we missed her, but she routinely comes out and talks with the customers.

Lunch was great, as expected.  Doreen has a fish and chips and I has a lobster and fish pie.  We also sampled his risotto and his own beer brew - was outstanding.

Doreen's fish and chips.  She raved about the fish..

Barley Risotto

My lobster and fish pie.  Was outstanding!

After lunch we took a rickshaw ride down the boardwalk and checked out the beach.  They we headed back to the campgrounds.

Our rickshaw

The boardwalk

Beautiful beach!  Powdery fine sand. 

There she is, Miss America!!  This is a bronze statue of the outgoing Miss America crowning the new Miss America.  It's kind of difficult to see, but you can stand under it as if the crown is being placed on your head.  

1 July
Today we drove to Freehold NJ and visited the Monmouth Battlefield State Park.  Unlike the battlefields around Gettysburg and the Civil War, this one involved Gen George Washington and the Revolutionary War

The entrance to the battlefield.  Surreal we are standing on the ground where these battle actually occurred, the battles that determined our freedoms.

28 June 1778 one of the most important battles was fought right here between the British and the American forces.  After three long years, the war had become a stalemate.  British forces occupied many American cities, including New York and Newport, but George Washington's continental army continues to fight. On a blistering summer day, Washington's soldiers attacked a British column near Monmouth Courthouse.  The resulting battle was one of the largest of the war.     

One of the French cannons used here.

 This battle on 28 June 1778 had a huge impact on the outcome of the war,  

  

The battlefield, a view from the visitor center.