The Long Adventures

The kids and I were invited to come along on an excursion last week and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get out again and explore. A fellow ortho wife had offered to take maternity photos for another ortho wife. I came along to help out with the former’s toddler, who’s a month younger than Theodore. Funny enough, her name is Thea and our husbands are co-residents (residents that are the same year). Completely unplanned and just overall a fun coincidence.

Our pregnant friend chose Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge as the location for her maternity shoot. We did a preliminary scan of the parking and hours details before heading out. So we were confused as to why the gate was closed at 6 p.m. when the website states the closing times were much later. Much to our luck, a caretaker happened to come to the gates. We chatted with her and she explained that numerous people had been trespassing during later hours so the gates were being closed by 6 p.m. for now during COVID-19 times. We asked if she could just let us in to take maternity photos and she generously agreed. Parking fees weren’t collected. There are portapotties available for use. The permanent bathroom buildings were locked.

I was curious to see how photos would come out with the darker weather. After examining the ones I took on the first day, I can say I’d be open to going out more often on dreary days. This is part of the path to the shoreline. The way the sunshine light up the trees ahead made me stop and snap this photo.

We wound up visiting Target Rock twice that week. The first time the weather was dark and moody and punctuated with drizzle spells. I was a little hesitant about going but decided to bite the bullet because I’d already committed and didn’t want to flake on my friends. I’ve never really ventured out to the beach during such weather. It was surprisingly enjoyable and haunting in some ways with the sound of the bell on the buoy in the distance ringing, the horn of the Port Jefferson ferry sounding off and its engine humming, and the mist slowly rolling onshore.

Posted above are more photos from the first day where it was overcast and gloomy. Below left is Theodore from the first day we visited and below right is Ava during the second day, which was bright and sunny. I actually enjoyed the first day more because we discovered quickly that the clear, hot weather brought out biting flies that loved nibbling on us.

I’d heartily recommend Target Rock to anyone who enjoys a substantial walk to a shoreline. The terrain was easy enough that we were able to push a wagon through the second time. If you stay after sunset like we did, I’d strongly recommend packing flashlights for the trek back to the car because the woods are pitch black. We didn’t know this and stumbled through it with just the light from my cellphone the first time around.

When we moved to Michigan as a young family with a tight medical student and stay-at-home parent budget, one thing we really enjoyed doing was just exploring the outdoors. It was generally free and tons of fun to be outside. With the move to New York and the beginning of residency and Ava attending school, I think we kind of lost this habit of seeking nature. Shelter in place mandates forced us to slow down and whet our appetites to go on adventures once more.

Mitchell finally got a weekend off and we decided to make the most of it. I asked a fellow residency wife for hiking suggestions and one on her list was Garvies Point Museum and Preserve. The museum itself is still closed right now. New York is in the process of opening back up slowly and the museum is poised to open during later phases. The trails are open though. We made our way to behind the museum and spied several trails. We opted to take one marked by several big boulders and followed signs that pointed to the shoreline.

It was the kids’ first time stepping out of the car beyond our neighborhood since mid-March when everything first closed down. They’ve accompanied me to drive ups at Target and various drive thrus for french fries but they never physically got out of the car. So today was extra special for all of us.

Once we reached the shoreline, we begun exploring in earnest. There are natural clay deposits that you can find here and there. Mitchell and Ava found three different colors of clay. It was fun to just squish and mold. Since Garvies Point is a preserve, we made sure to not pick any foliage or bring anything back with us.

The shoreline was rocky enough that it wasn’t very pleasant on bare feet. We’d worn our socks and sneakers though and the temptation of dipping our feet into the soft, lapping water was hard to resist. For future visits, I’d be comfortable with the kids wearing their saltwater sandals since the trails aren’t strenuous by any means (at least for us). Then we wouldn’t have to fuss with wet feet, sand, and sneakers. I’m sure any sort of water shoes would work well too. We’re still not completely used to the often rocky shorelines of Long Island.

Shaded areas were ample when we visited around 11 a.m. I’d probably pack a blanket to sit on and lunch for future visits. The water in Hempstead Bay was generally quite gentle and the kids had fun exploring the water independently.

We saw a pair of turtles, numerous horseshoe crab exoskeletons strewn about the beach, and even had a lone horseshoe crab swim up to us in the most shallow parts of the water. I’d say Garvies Point is a great place to go with young children. The trails are short enough so that it’s not miserable for the most novice walkers and yet there’s still so much to see and do. Best of all, it’s free!