By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
They were wearing shorts, T-shirts, flip-flops and bathing suits at a time when most of us are getting ready to rummage through our closets in search of winter clothing.
Where were they, the beaches in Florida? The Caribbean islands?
Not even close. Try Sea Isle City.
“Who would ever think that at the end of October we would be sitting here on the beach in shorts? You can’t beat it. It’s the best weather ever,” exclaimed Diane Nelson, of Ridley Township, Pa.
Diane, her husband, Carl, and their friends, Kathy and Ed Lafferty were among the beachgoers who were savoring some extraordinarily warm weather Saturday at the shore just three days before Halloween.
As the temperatures soared into the low 80s at some spots at the shore, visitors lounged on Sea Isle’s beaches and waded into the ocean for what could very well be the last summer-like day of 2023.
Temperatures are expected to drop into the 60s on Sunday in advance of a cold front and some rain during Halloween week.
Diane and Carl Nelson could hardly believe that the temperature in Sea Isle was 79 degrees before 2 p.m. Saturday. They were already down at the shore for the weekend when they were joined by Kathy and Ed Lafferty. The Laffertys made the 90-minute drive from their home in Pennsylvania.
“We were going to go to Penns Landing today, but I said why should we go to hot Penns Landing when we can go to the beach in Sea Isle instead? He jumped right on board,” Kathy Lafferty said of her husband.
Leelani and Paul Voigtland, of Middletown, N.Y., brought their children, Joe, 12, Everly, 7, and Leo, 4, to Sea Isle for some relaxing beach time with their friend, Janet Peaschek, of Ocean View, and her 10-year-old daughter, Jessica.
“We have some work we have to do at home, but we said it could wait until Monday,” Paul Voigtland said, laughing, about hitting the beach instead of being stuck around the house.
“We can’t miss out on an opportunity to bring the kids to the beach on a beautiful day almost in November,” Leelani Voigtland added.
The kids were digging in the sand with a plastic shovel and sitting in a shallow tidal pool while playing with toy dinosaurs and clam shells.
“We’re having a party,” Leo said, shouting out to be heard above the sound of the waves.
Leo’s big brother, Joe, who is in seventh grade, said the beautiful beach weather would make it difficult for him to go back to school on Monday.
“It’s so warm,” he said. “It’s as nice as August.”
Friends Mary Ann Panco, of Sea Isle, and Jul Martorell, of Springfield, Pa., ventured ankle-deep into the surf while enjoying what was Jul’s very first beach day in Sea Isle.
“I am a Wildwood girl. That’s where I grew up – from diapers until now,” Martorell said of her usual beach spot.
Panco, on the other hand, grew up in Sea Isle “since she was in diapers.”
“I still get butterflies in my stomach when I come over the bridge,” she said of arriving in Sea Isle.
With such a beautiful beach day shaping up Saturday, Panco persuaded Martorell to ditch Wildwood in favor of Sea Isle. The result was that it turned out to be an unforgettable, summer-like day at the shore in late October for both of them.
“I don’t care where I go as long as it’s the beach,” Martorell said as she and Panco headed for the water.
