It was time for a pilgrimage to Asbury Park. Along the way, we stopped in Hightstown to go to the Hights Bohemian Cafe where Dr Len ordered the oatmeal drink and I had the Inca Kola in pineapple flavor. The corn meal cakes were followed by the fried sweet plantain which showed better without the flash and then I had my salad and Len had his pork that fueled us for the journey ahead. After getting this picture for the collection, we drove on.

Our first view of Asbury Park was of the last attempt at redevelopment which seems to have failed. While recording the Paramount this truck asked to be recorded as we aimed for the HoJo's and the convention center which still operates and has a boat on top from which closeups can be captured. While Dr Len checked the door I looked down the beach because Howard Johnson's didn't seem open despite the sign that said otherwise. The beach warned about swimming and the beer was probably cold but Howard Johnson's has seen its better days as we looked at the beach and down the boardwalk and even Madam Marie showed no signs of life. The boardwalk didn't seem to need this usage sign but the Stone Pony seemed to be alive as we ambled on to the antique store and then captured pictures of the worn down rotunda as Dr Len demonstrated the 4 foot rule for which he overpaid. Back to the rotunda and adjoining buildings and the old salt water taffy shop by the pizza store none of which gave any sense of life. But, we saw our goal the greatest wall neon anywhere coming into sight.

We recorded the long view and then the windows of the rotunda before getting closer and zooming and getting closer and zooming until we were almost there and could record the size sideways and work our way to head on views from broader angles all of which amused Dr Len who was still happy to have his four foot rule we recorded the local environment and then zoomed in on the major face in this great sign which is no longer an inviting locale possibly because there is no one buying beach badges these days. On the way back to the car, we passed the senior citizen center bid farewell to Madam Marie and the Salt Water Taffy shop before heading downtown to see Sonny's in the midst of a snow covered street scene where Louis Farrakhan is too present and toys and sinks line the sidewalk.

When I got home, Suzanne was knitting as the kids gathered and Daniel Suo promised that he would win in Utah while Ben watched Justin and Ned get the chess game to this situation while Rosie, Kevin (birthday boy) and Stephent watched the basketball game and Jane and Lucy made weird faces and Lucy watched the birthday boy negotiate the crowd as the laptop ran fsck the chess game continued and Jane got up to serve the pizza and brownies and everyone wished Kevin a happy birthday.