Very enjoyable day. Barb, Pat, and I went to the Sugar Mapling van tour in the N.J. Forest Research Center in Jackson. Very informative, especially considering this: Who would believe you could get maple syrup from trees in Jersey? The Park Rangers also elaborated on bee-keeping and Shiitake mushroom growing--very interesting. Only drawback was, we were OUTSIDE most of the time. Good grief, it was cold! Most of the time, we were standing on frozen ground while the lectures were given at various stations where the actual activities went on. When we heard we would next go to the sugar shack, we were thrilled, thinking it was inside and warm.
It wasn't. It was outside and cold. I thought my toes would be frost-bitten and cursed myself for not having the foresight to put on two pairs of socks. Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable day. At about 11:00 (it had started two hours earlier), we went in the toasty warm Visitor's Center, then ate lunch in the van, which the driver heated up. Really a fun day. Barb, Pat, and I have gone on a number of Ocean County van tours and are planning to go on one to "Bartram's Gardens" in Philly and "the Swedish Colony" up north.
Firmed up lunch for Betty and me on Wednesday, with Ellen V. at our usual place, Applebee's in Manahawkin.