A Rainy Memorial Day At The Jersey Shore
by Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It was pretty much a washout at the Jersey Shore on Monday as the remnants of Tropical Depression Bonnie dumped steady rain on the resorts, prompting many visitors to head home early.
The beach was pretty deserted near the jetty at Ninth Street in Ocean City on Monday. So was the boardwalk as the steady rain and fog descended. But, a few folks managed to get a last bike ride or run in just before the heavy rain came.
Nina and her dad David from the Villanova area spent the weekend and couldn't complain about the nice weather for the unofficial start of summer.
"Some friends came over and we went to the beach a lot and the boardwalk, it was really fun," said Nina.
Mary Ellen Znachko, of Hazelton, spent the weekend down the shore with her family.
"It was very nice. We're disappointed that today is going to be a washout but we definitely enjoyed our time down here," she said.
Andrew DelRossi, of Bell Mawr, and his friend Mark Fallone, of Collingswood, are regular Memorial Day visitors to the resort – at least 25 years that they can remember coming here with family and later just friends. Both say they wouldn't miss it.
"We've done sunrise every day this weekend, and we could not do it today because there was no sun today," said Fallone.
"Friday and Saturday were just great. Hot, too. We got a little toasted out here," commented DelRossi.
Fallone will take home a slightly painful a reminder of his first weekend in the sun.
"I'm a little pink there, actually deep red," he pointed out.
Kathy Varallo, who's lived in the Ocean City area for 30 years, says she liked what she saw this year.
"It was wonderful, the boardwalk was packed, you could see everybody seemed to be having a really good time. We went to see the Sinatra tribute at the music pier. It was fantastic," she said, ""I just came to take a walk, get some fresh air. Get some exercise."
Kathy got about half way down the boardwalk when the raindrops started falling, but ducked for cover in time before the heavier rain started forming puddles.