Springing Back: The Ol' Sunday Drive

Do you remember the good ol' Sunday drive? It's something that people used to do decades ago — cheap weekend entertainment.

You really don't hear much about it anymore, since gas prices have climbed to crazy new heights and our friendly visitors from up north have descended upon the shore area more and more, making a weekend outing nearly impossible.

Patch writer Dw. Dunphy got out before the visitors descended and took us on a trip back in time to the Sunday drive in Middletown and the surrounding area at the end of spring as a reminder of what township residents have right in their 42-square-mile back yards. Enjoy the tour ...

June 21 was officially the beginning of the summer season, the solstice which is the day with the longest period of sun for the year. It marks the waning hours as days begin to grow shorter.

Several Middletown residents, from all the various regions, took the opportunity to enjoy the last weekend of spring, although it was initially touch-and-go weather-wise. The day was interrupted occasionally by bouts of overcast skies and periods of sprinkles, though no serious rain ever threatened the day.

The air still had a muggy, low-'80s feel about it, so locations featuring water, and lots of it, proved to be popular spots. Fishermen tested their gear off the pier at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth.

Jet-skiers took a spin in the bay just off of Leonardo, with Earle Naval Station looming large to the left. Those looking for more of a concentrated soaking hit the Keansburg Water Park, just across the street from the amusement park, where families were braving the Tilt-A-Whirl and Roller Coaster. Farther along on Main Street, the Keansburg Fire Company hosted a car wash event.

Places that usually buzzed with activity, such as the Middletown Train Station, the fields of high schools North and South, and adjacent parks all seemed to have fallen silent. People seemed more inclined to flock to stores such as Target and Kohl's, both on Route 35, perhaps to get that last-minute Father's Day gift; but, more likely, to avoid the fickle skies that never seemed to decide to either rain or shine.

There were exceptions to the rule. Bodman Park was bumper-to-bumper crowded with attendees to the Little League baseball games that filled every spot on the fields. Farther down Navesink River Road and onto Luffburrow Lane, the Navesink Country Club was host to many members enjoying a day of hitting the links.

A trip out of town, into Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach and Long Branch revealed better where the exodus had led as beach-goers tried out their new seasonal gear.

Middletown residents had it quite lucky this spring in terms of weather. While the township has been seeing warmer, more seasonable days of late, there has been no shortage of rain and the lawns of area homeowners seem healthy enough.

It should be noted that last year, during this same stretch of time, a prolonged and extreme summer weather pattern was already turning the turf brown; a harbinger for what would turn out to be one of New Jersey's hottest summers on record.

If today is an indicator, the sun and storms will work in tandem and offer a more normal three months ahead.

Take a look at the sights from the drive in the photo gallery above.