Abandoned Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area

How have I never been to this place before?! Sandy Hook is part of Gateway, a National Recreation area that spans New York and New Jersey. I’ve explored the New York portions, Staten Island’s Fort Wadsworth, Jamaica Bay’s Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Dead Horse Beach in Queens, but I have apparently overlooked the best unit in Gateway: Sandy Hook.

Sandy Hook is a skinny little peninsula guarding the entrance to New York Harbor. I could say it is guarding me, as standing on the tip of the hook you are facing my humble home in Bay Ridge, as noted by the faint image of my Verrazzano Bridge. You can also see Manhattan further in the distance. So there we are on a gorgeous shoreline under a bright blue sky facing New York City without a soul around us. Perfection. (Ok, there were just a few souls, but pretty far away.) Sure it was off-season, but I was already in love with the place.

It had so many of the things I love. Ocean… abandoned ruins… a lighthouse… wild life… the view of my mighty city… and craft supplies. Wait, craft supplies?! Yes, the beach was covered in perfect seashells. I had a nice collection to take home for the impending mermaid season. Don’t tell anyone. Do they know the street value of this stuff?!

Given the important location, of course Sandy Hook once was a military fort, Fort Hancock. The location was also a coastal weapons testing area, a proving ground. Remains from its former uses are all over the small strip of land. Some buildings are in use and some are useful to me as I like to take pictures of decaying buildings. I was glad to have my good camera with me to continue working on the technical operation of my camera.

I think one of the things I love to photograph the most is contrasting textures.

And what light does, the most persistent traveler around. And this for when you feel broken: “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” — Leonard Cohen

And these big chubby seals were a big draw with folks visiting on this beautiful day. Though they first appeared to be rocks, the rocks yawned and jiggled and had cute faces. [Insert seal emoji that stares at you like “What? What the heck do you want?”]

The Sandy Hook lighthouse is the oldest working lighthouse in the United States! We would climb to the top, endure awkward prolonged mini-lectures in tiny quarters that increased my claustrophobia until I had to excuse myself from the group and hang out in the stairs taking pictures.

There is a light and it never goes out. There is a light and it never goes out.

After I escaped from the group.

More decrepit things aging wildly.

Barracks. Reminds me again of Leonard Cohen. Sing of things of relevance, though the world says “la la la” in oversexualized outfit.

More of the wildlife that stopped cars. These deer had definitely been fed by humans. They were walked right towards us with wanting in their eyes.

A final walk into ruin and we’d be ready for dinner. Such an amazing place surrounded with wonder… I will return. Though I make this threat often, I mean it wholly.