Touring the Shore: A look at local advocates who helped guide Clean Ocean Action from Cape May to Montauk

As the official end to summer approaches, and vacationing beach-goers return to where they came from, it is fitting to thank and recognize those who will stay there after this weekend: "the locals" who helped to guide Margo, Sean, and all of the Clean Ocean Action crew from the lighthouse in Cape May to the Lighthouse in Montauk.  When we envisioned this Tour months ago, we set out to activate networks of individuals who knew the local lay of the land, the safest way to travel, and the most effective way to reach hundreds of people with our message of the need to protect the Ocean from harmful industry.

From the local organizers, to the folks who offered a place to stay, to the individuals who joined Margo and Sean in their journey, it was the people we encountered that made this event truly special.

So, rather than just giving their names and saying some nice words, we would like you to see them and meet them as we did on the road and hope that you are as inspired as we are by their dedication and commitment to protecting their environment and taking a stand.

Enjoy!

The Martin Family put us up for two nights in Cape May!  Jeff is a Clean Ocean Action Board  member, and also runs  Aqua Trails Nature Kayak Tours!

Thanks to Zippy's Bike Shop in Wildwood for a quick fix!

Travis Marshall, owner of the Marina at Avalon Anchorage, and his son  sign the Clean Ocean Zone map.  Thanks to the Marshall Family for great food, great views and great hospitality!

Karen and Bill Barlow cycled with Sean on Day 2 from Avalon to Atlantic City!

Tom Forkin of Surfers Environmental Alliance and owner of  Inlet Surf Shop in Gardiner's Basin, Atlantic City helped to plan the events at Scales Grill & Deck Bar.  He also ran out in a thunderstorm to help Margo in safely!

Bros for a Clean Ocean!

South Jersey Surfrider member Krissy Halkes opened her home for Clean Ocean staff to stay.  Thanks Krissy!

LBI Foundation Executive Director, Chris Seiz and the Wnek family made it to Barnegat Light with Sean!  Thanks COA Board member and MATES supervisor, John, Pat, and Chloe!

Clean Ocean Zone supporter and ReClam the Bay President, Rick Bushnell signs the map in Holgate!

FOUR generations of Ocean Lovers!!

Chris Huch of Alliance for a Living Ocean helped to plan all of the  events on LBI for the Tour.  Thanks Chris!

COA law intern Jon Panico speaks with Willie DeCamp of Save Barnegat Bay  ahead of the press conference in Seaside

Commercial fisherman and COA Board Member, Jim Lovgren hosted a rally for the Tour at Fisherman's Dock Coop, and even had a cookout.  Thanks for all of you support and efforts Jimmy!

Cyclists for Day 4!

Surfers from Summertime Surf School, and Ed Lippincott of the Shark River Cleanup Coalition

Thanks to restaurant owner, Marilyn Schlossbach, SEA member Kevin O'Driscoll, Belmar Councilwoman  Nicolay,  and Congressman Frank Pallone for their support of the Clean Ocean Zone!

The Bagwells!  Thanks to Lisa for bringing her amazing art to yet another COA event!

President of COA's Board, Tom Fagan, and some of the most dedicated of COA's volunteerss, the Bennekampers.  We couldn't have done it without you!

Thank you to the wonderful ladies of WATERSPIRIT.  The drum circle you organized was truly inspiring!

Richie Lee of Surfers Environmental Alliance has been on board with the COZ from the start!  Thanks for all that you continue to do and for your help with the Tour in the midst of planning another successful SEA Paddle!

Margo joined on the water by Paul Carluccio and Kathleen Gasienica!

Sean joined by two guys who helped plan and ride the last leg in New Jersey.  John Knodel of Middletown became a part of the crew for three days, and Jim Walsh of Food & Water Watch helped plan two successful events on the 16th on the Bayshore.  Thanks to you both!

Thank you to Joe Reynolds for your amazing presentation and moderation of our panel discussion in Keansburg!

Two COZ supporters in South Beach on Staten Island!

Thank you to John Malizia our Staten Island ambassador, and a man of many fishing and environmental hats!

Students from Ireland and former Greenpeace-rs learn about the Clean Ocean Zone on the Coney Island Boardwalk!

Dan Mundy Jr. of Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers helped us to find Bayview Restaurant to enjoy the best Mojito on the South Shore (according to Margo) with cyclists from the Rockaways!

Thank you Fisherman's Catch!  Great food and Service in Point Lookout!

Speaking with "Year-Rounder" and new friend to COA, Forrest Clock on Fire Island!

One of the best "breakfaxt's" we had!  Thanks to Jimmy's Diner in Mastic!!

A very special thank you to Kate Fullam at Group for the East End for helping to organize  a number of events in the Hampton Bays area!

Eastern Long Island surfers help their fellow Surfrider with her boat as Margo makes landfall in Montauk!

Margo speaks with Montauk natives who were vacationing in Cape May on the 10th when we kicked off!

Without Jay Levine, Margo would have had a lonely reception at Turtle Cove in Montauk.  Thanks Jay and Surfrider Eastern Long Island Chapter for all of your help in spreading the word!

Thank you to April Gornik and the Peconic Baykeeper, Kevin McAllister for your support of the Clean Ocean Zone and planning efforts for the Tour!  It was great seeing you in Montauk!

The Century Riders!!  Special thanks to Andy Sabin, Nancy Wendell and the Sabin Family Foundation for your support!

A very warm and special thanks to Rav Freidel of Concerned Citizens of Montauk for his efforts from start to finish for the Tour for the Shore.  Organizing, networking, and putting up signs don't even come close to describing all that you have done!  Thanks Rav!!

 These photos show only a few of the great people that helped to make this trip such a success.  Many thanks to those above, and many more photos, acknowledgements, and thanks to come!

-Zach

Guest Blogger Margo Pellegrino Tour for the Shore Day 15

So today is the official last day!! Woohoo!! Can't believe it-seems like it was so long ago we left Cape May-so many folks we got to meet, so many wonderful committed organizations and local politicians, and of course the fabulous SEApaddleNYC. Next year I must do that event plus volunteer-it is an amazing thing to be part of.

And now we are at the ritzy East End of LI-going to have a short paddle today-because paddling around the point is a 42 mile endeavor from the mouth of Shinnecock Inlet and because it's best to have the last day's paddle be a "sure thing" no matter the conditions, we opted to have me do the long paddle around yesterday with today being the "sure thing" to combine with the Century Ride to Montauk (from Babylon). So we will be at the lighthouse together!

The paddle started out with a huli at the dock at the press event-heehee, thought that was gonna happen as the boat was way way out from the ladder I had to get to, shoulda grabbed the rope and just lifted myself off the dock-silly me!! I wanted to go for a swim anyway since I was wearing my 3m top to keep me toasty. Total overkill but I wanted to stay warm in the wind around the point, so i kept diving off the boat for swim breaks.

As I paddled by one of the more private beaches a cop SUV came out and parked across from me. It was pretty obvious that someone had made a phone call about me, because there was not a soul on the beach-the only being out was me in my boat. Unless he was going to swim out to me, there wasn't anything he could do...let's just hope these powerful people (one of the Koch brothers has a house somewhere on the beach) don't try to pass some law that restricts mariners of the self-powered kind from a certain distance of the beach... Considering who doles out the money that controls Congress it's totally not inconceivable nor would it be a total surprise as we watch our individual rights slipping away.

One of the highlights of the day was running into stand up paddler and kayaker, Mary from that area-I'd first met her at the Mayor's Cup when she and her partner in a tandem kayak took over for me in helping a capsized paddler during that gnarly race. Later I ran into her again in North Carolina at the Carolina Cup-a total "must do" for any stand up paddler or any paddler, for that matter!! Another highlight was running into Jim Moore of the Hackensack Canoe/Kayak club. He had started out after a night of camping close to the lighthouse and was heading to Shinnecock. He was circumnavigating Long Island-quite an accomplishment and adventure! Know he had current against him going in, wonder how he fared-I had current against me as well and wind at the point, but wow-that poor guy was battling wind probably all the way down. And then that strong inlet current! In a fully loaded kayak, to boot! Yikes! Wish I could've hooked up with him to get him a beer!

Know he's probably not going to want to go into Jamaica Bay/Broadchannel, but he's missing the best mojitos on the planet if he doesn't. Go to the Bayview Inn an check it out yourself, if you dot believe me!

Am stoked to get to Turtle Cove at the point to cheer in the bikers for the Century!! Hope we have a good crowd out there-the COA team and the partnering organizations have been knocking themselves out!! Rav of Concerned Citizens of Montauk has been getting our signs and message out there-lotsa good folks out here-and I wish I could remember the fabulous groups and people I met yesterday at the press event by the inlet. Loved the homemade signs cheering me on-and cannot forget to mention the family that started chanting "go margo!" at the lighthouse where Cindy had alerted them to what we were doing.

So today is it-and one of the bigger challenges is gonna be traffic! We have lucked out with the weather in the end. What a beautiful day! Woohoo!!

For the Ocean!!

Guest blogger Margo Pellegrino Tour for the Shore Day 12

"Team work and Moriches"

Sean Dixon, Zach McCue, Lindsay McNamara, Emily Hackett, Tavia Danch, John (who left to go back to school) and joined off and on again by Heather Saffert, under the expert eye of  their fearless leader, Cindy Zipf, make up the elite strike team that's been taking over the roads and beaches on our way to Montauk. While I've been paddling, Sean's been biking, and the crew has been blitzing people with info about the Clean Ocean Zone. If you haven't signed the on-line petition, please do so-there is of course a link at cleanoceanzone.org

This is a "lean, mean, green fighting machine" that's sole goal is to protect our ocean- "lock in the progress and lock out the pollution" as Cindy says. This gang gets it, and has become like a well oiled machine-they simply skate over the bumps, dig in when they need to, and get stuff done for our ocean. They've been walking miles of beaches and boardwalks to get support for the COZ. All of us who love and live for the ocean owe this young upcoming crew and their fearless leader a debt of gratitude for working so hard to protect our beaches and ocean not just for us but for our kids and their kids and so on. 

While the team and Cindy have been rallying beach goers, Mary-Beth Thompson maintains the home-front back in Sandy Hook. Fortunately, she checked the on-line comments an reviews about the hotel she had made arrangements for us to stay after hearig how sketchy some of the places we stayed were and discovered they had a bed bug problem!! Thank goodness for on-line reviews! Needless to say, we will be in a different and bed-bug free accommodations tonight-woohoo!!

I've got to backtrack a little-back to the Broad Channel stop at Bay View Inn- truly they serve the BEST mojitos. Definitely will be dragging the family there on the way home. Robert Pisani does an outstanding job with that place and we appreciated immensely that he let us keep the boat at his docks for two nights. While we were lunching there before heading off to the SEApaddleNYC gala, Dan Mundy of Jamaica Bay Eco Watchers joined us. Boy does his organization have its hands full. Seems that the city would rather have signs warning people not to swim, boat, or fish along the bayside of the Rockaways rather than actually clean up the water. Wow. Is that water really gonna stay just in Jamaica Bay? I kinda don't think so...we should be asking the powers that be to clean up Jamaica Bay!!

Paddling on the inside from Oak Beach Community center to Bill and Joann's Moriches Marina, I enjoyed the south side of the bay-something different from the path I traveled back in '07 when Lance Mamiya, Kirk Larsen, when we took the more northern side. The dying eel grass caught in our rudders was just annoying then! 

Bill and Joann and their son William-just a month older than my son are an amazing family-and thank goodness for me Bill was able to give me some good intel about Moriches Inlet-if it looks okay I'm going for it, if not, I'll hang on to the inside route. Won't know until I eyeball it. Woohoo!! And special thanks to John in the ketchup shirt for letting me borrow a big-a** bumper for my boat and for Tony for explaining some of the history of the area. Great folks, up and coming area-hey, being by the water one can never go wrong!

Forward ho, away we go!! Completely stuffed and fueled with the wonderful breakfast that a patron, Joe, who overheard us talking, bought us at Jimmy's Diner-a fantastic little breakfast and lunch spot and obviously another place I have to bring the family to. What an awesome generous surprise! For the ocean!!

Tour for the Shore: New Jersey Leg

To help raise public awareness and participation for the Clean Ocean Zone, traveling by outrigger canoe and bicycle at the peak of the summer season, Margo Pellegrino and Sean Dixon have been traveling concurrently from Cape May, New Jersey to Montauk, New York since August 10 and until August 24 on the "Tour for the Shore." Here is what has happened in the last 6 days, while we journeyed through New Jersey.

Day 1

We weathered through the storm in Cape May at our launch and made it for drinks to the Marina at Anchorage in Avalon by the end of the night.  Special thanks to our board member, Jeff Martin for letting us stay with him in the Cape.

Day 2 

As Sean and Margo made their way from Avalon to Gardner's Basin in Atlantic City, COA staff went to the Ocean Kayak Festival in Strathmere and spread the word about the COZ through town. Sean was joined by Team Barlow's Bikes. It was another stormy day, but everybody stayed safe!  Ocean advocates enjoyed food and drink at Scales Grill and Bar in AC that night.

Day 3

Margo and Sean had a great launch from Atlantic City and made their way to Barnegat Light by the end of the day.  COA staff joined forces with Alliance for a Living Ocean for a rally in South Long Beach during the day.  Sean was joined by a family of cyclists who had seen Margo go by on her paddle from Seattle to San Diego on their wedding day!!

Day 4

Margo and Sean traveled from Barnegat Light to Pt. Pleasant Beach on Day 4, stopping for a press conference with local officials in Seaside Heights mid-day.  Day 4 also brought some COA staffers to the Joint Legislative Environments Committee Hearing.  That night, ocean advocates met in Pt. Pleasant Beach for a press conference and BBQ.  The press conference at the Fisherman’s Dock Co-Op was memorable to say the least.  Jimmy, one of the fisher’s from the co-op, put together a wonderful BBQ including fresh scallops, hot dogs, hamburgers, and veggie burgers.  Located directly on the docks with the trawlers of the co-op as a backdrop, the press release featured testimonials from Sean Dixon and Margo Pellegrino sharing their experiences on bike and canoe.  Cindy Zipf, the Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action, gave a brief talk to the crowd as well.

Environment and Solid Waste Assembly Chair Grace Spencer and Senator Bob Smith with COA 

 

 

 Day 5

The Tour’s visit to Belmar included a wide variety of activities for everyone involved, including a drum circle with WATERSPIRIT in Elberon and a large press conference with various organizations and Senator Frank Pallone, Jr., among other local officials.  Sean Dixon had a large group of volunteers that joined him for a bicycle ride coming up from Point Pleasant.  As an added bonus for them, all of the cyclists were given the chance to ride the SUPZILLA!  As Margo Pellegrino came up along the shore with her own volunteers paddling with her Clean Ocean Action staff, volunteers, and Belmar lifeguards all paddled out to greet Margo as she prepared to land on the beach.  Day 5 concluded with a large party at the Seagull's Nest in Sandy Hook, New Jersey.  The "Evening Oceanfest" had vendors selling eco-friendly goods and artwork, local honey, treats for pets and more!

 Day 6 

The Tour's last day in New Jersey was as rainy as the first, but luckily everyone once again stayed safe.  Margo and Sean launched from Sandy Hook and made it to Keansburg for a press event and rally.  The day concluded with the Monmouth County Bayshore Environmental Summit.  Sean was joined by a few bikers and Margo paddled with two other canoers, including the wife of one of our board members.  Panelists from COA, Food and Water Watch, NY/NJ Baykeeper and American Littoral Society discussed the need for the Clean Ocean Zone.