Let's Go Down the Jersey Shore. Alpaca Lunch.

I've mentioned before that I think writing a book is an adventure in and of itself, but when you're writing a guidebook in particular, you're bound to run into plenty more adventures during your research. Such was the case for Jen A. Miller, one of my writing colleagues, who has just published The Jersey Shore; Atlantic City to Cape May: Great Destinations: A Complete Guide: Including the Wildwoods (Great Destinations).

The book is a travel guide to the South Jersey Shore. It tells you where to eat, where to stay, where to play, and so much more. The guide entries are peppered with sidebars of Jersey Shore history and Jen's experiences researching the book, one of which—a trip to an alpaca farm—she's generously sharing with Embrace Adventure readers.

*****

At first, I didn't believe what she's said.

"You're going to see the Alpaca farm, right?" asked Mary Ann Gorrick over breakfast. I was staying at the Inn at the Park, a bed and breakfast in Cape May, N.J., which she runs with her husband, Jay. I was staying there while researching my book The Jersey Shore, Atlantic City to Cape May. The Jersey Shore is known for things like beaches, rides, ice cream and boardwalks, not farm animals, and certainly not alpacas.

"Excuse me?" I asked, almost choking on my pancake.

"Oh, yes, the alpacas. We'll call them and say you're coming over," she said.

Believe it or not, there is an alpaca farm located in Cape May, which is more known for its Victorian buildings than livestock. But as I pulled up to Bay Springs Farm, there they were, these mini llamas, curious as the who the newcomer was.

Fernando, a young, black alpaca (with a champion fleece, so I later learned) bounded right up to the gate to meet me. Warren Nuessle had waved me over and said it was okay to pet Fernando, but only on his back. The other animals gave me the quizzical eye, and I wouldn't dare pet them, but as Barbara Nuessle led me through the farm, they didn't lunge or try to attack (as had been the case with an ostrich farm I later visited in North Jersey for another assignment).

Barbara Nuessle had always been a knitter, and she loved working with the yarn that was spun from alpaca fleece. So when she and Warren were looking what to do when they retired, Alpacas came to the top of the list.

They moved from Bryn Mawr, Pa. to Cape May and now live with the alpacas. Nuessle still makes things from the alpaca fleece, and she spins the yarn herself. The goods are sold in the farmhouse store attached to the farm. They also breed and sell alpacas, and tried to convince me that they make good pets. It's not that I don't believe them, but I can barely have enough space for a 12 pound dog, though I wouldn't mind having my dog go to the bathroom in the same spot all the time, which is what alpacas do.

After I toured the grounds and gave Fernando another pat, I left to continue researching gift shops and restaurants. But that day stuck with me. And why not? It's not every day you get to pet a champion.

*****

Jen shares more of her adventures on her blog, Down the Shore with Jen. To learn more about the book and find out when Jen might be making an appearance near you, visit the book's Web site as well.

Blog of the Day

When she's not writing a book, you can be pretty sure that Jen will be reading one—one a week, in fact! For the last year, she's been reviewing a new book each week on her blog, aptly titled Book a Week with Jen. And I'm just in time in highlighting her blog—the review of book 52 of 52 should be coming out later this week!

(BTW, I'm definitely in awe of this endeavour. One of my goals for 2008 was to read two books a month and let's just say I've got some catching up to do...)

Comments

[Jen A. Miller]

He he. I love that picture. Thanks for having me on the blog!