Wave Watching

Posted 9/26/08
By Jane Kashlak

Cape May, NJ - The first glimpse makes your heart skip a beat.

Huge, rolling mountains of water crash onshore at Cape May's normally tranquil Cove Beach. You look out to sea and the whole ocean is churning with these monster waves.

Power. Immense power. Thousands of gallons of water are being dumped on the shoreline by this semi-tropical storm.

You get a funny feeling in the pit of your stomach. Like, what if the waves got just a teensy bit bigger? What if the storm were a hurricane? What then?

Despite the onslaught of rain and wind, you can't pull yourself away.

Wave watching during a storm is addictive.

Ask any of the soaking wet folks who gather under the meager protection of the Cove Pavilion, watching the waves crash all around.

A police officer tries to find the owner of an illegally parked car. No one pays attention.

Their gazes are fixed on the waves and the crazy surfers who are out there trying to catch the Big One. Chances are a couple of those wave watchers are surfers' mothers or friends.

From the pavilion, you get a close up view not only of the daring surfer antics, but also of sea water engulfing Cove Beach.

Just a month or so ago, this beach is where Cape May held its annual sandcastle contest. The sandcastles would be underwater now.

There will be time to assess the beach damage when things dry out.

For the moment, even the surfers can't help but stand and watch those mighty waves.