Man versus Nature

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      Last week I began by telling of a sign in our home the reads The Gathering Place. There is a similar one in the summer home we share with Alenda’s brother at the Jersey shore. This home was built in 1933 by Alenda’s great-grandfather, Frank Rode. When he passed away in 1952, his will called for the home to be sold, and for the proceeds to go into his estate. Fortunately for us, Alenda’s grandfather, Howard Rode, one of Frank’s six children, bought the home. Alenda’s mother, Gladys, was Howard Rode’s only child, and eventually the home came to Alenda and her brother, also named Howard. 

     One of the rituals of spring for us is “opening up” the shore house for the warm weather season. Alenda and I, along with Howard and his wife Marie, accomplished this task yesterday. Water must be turned on, outdoor furniture moved out of its winter dwelling space, and general cleaning performed.

     Similar to the one in Orefield, this home is indeed a gathering place for family and friends. Located on an inland waterway, it provides a pleasant view of the water and tidelands. Sunsets are spectacular. A walkway, ramp, and floating docks provide access to the water. Children and grandchildren for generations have loved swimming here, and in the ocean just four blocks away.

      This year we noted what appeared to be an extremely low tide. The photo shows both floating docks sitting on mud as the water receded. I have not seen that happen before in the twenty-five years since these docks were installed. It is likely that the real cause of the docks sitting on mud is that the mud is higher rather than the tide is lower.

      Much of the Jersey shore represents an ongoing battle between man and nature. Millions of people come to this area to enjoy the beaches and the ocean. Every winter, storms and tidal forces take some of the beaches away. Many times we are shocked at how small the beach is compared to how it looked the previous fall.

 Local municipalities and the state of New Jersey restore the beaches by pumping in a mixture of sand and water from the bottom of the ocean, through a rig located about 100 yards or so off shore. The water drains back to the ocean, and eventually a huge pile of sand appears on the beach. Bulldozers spread it around, and eventually the beach is restored. 

     Much less noticeable than the disappearing beach is the rising floor of the inland waterway on which our home is located. The sand swept away from the beach is carried to this location. The present set-up of walkway and docks was created to reach further out into deeper water, because the previous, shorter one no longer provided consistent access to the water for swimming, fishing, and boating. We are wondering how soon that will be needed again. Perhaps not until our children are in possession of the home, but sooner or later it seems inevitable.

     In the meantime, I am grateful for this second gathering place, and for the rich family history behind it. Many happy memories have been generated here, and I expect many more will be in the future. The forces of nature will also continue, providing challenges as well as opportunity.