A field trip through rust, relics, and remarkably good spirits
Uncle Dudley decided it was time for an adventure.
Not the kind that required planning.
Not the kind that required packing (which is fortunate—as he doesn’t have anything).
Just… somewhere with character. And the Airplane and Auto Junkyard in Atco, South Jersey, was the perfect place for a fun getaway.
Someplace with Character
He found it almost immediately. A bus with a broken window. “Hello?” Dudley called. No answer. He nodded. “Good. I prefer places where no one asks follow-up questions like ‘Are you okay?’”
Making an Entrance
Getting inside required a bit of maneuvering. “Well,” Dudley said, carefully navigating the jagged glass, “Good thing I travel light.” He paused halfway through. “Also helpful: nothing to snag.”
Out of Service (Allegedly)
Inside, he found another bus. This one had a sign: OUT OF SERVICE. Dudley leaned out the window.
“Out of service?” he said.
“I’ve never been more available.”
Improvisation
Moments later, Dudley appeared out of a rusted barrel.
“Just passing through,” he said, giving a cheerful wave.
It was unclear how long he had been waiting to use that line.
First Class Seating
A stack of barrels offered an upgrade. Dudley climbed up and stretched out.
“Now this,” he said,
“is ergonomic.” He adjusted slightly. “Well… conceptually ergonomic.”
A Different Perspective
Soon, he found himself upside down hanging in the jet cockpit. There was a long pause. “Well,” Dudley said,
“this explains a lot.” Another pause. “I should spend more time looking at things this way.”
A Question of Balance
Naturally, Dudley went higher. Over pipes. Across beams. Into questionable decisions. “Balance,” he said, wobbling slightly,
“has never been my strength.” He steadied himself. “On the bright side, falling apart is more of a rearrangement than a crisis.”
Support Systems
A pile of massive tires provided the next opportunity. Dudley settled in comfortably. “Now this,” he said, “is what I call support.” He sank slightly deeper.
“Finally—something with structure.”
Unexpected Joyride
Dudley considered the horse briefly, then climbed aboard as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “I don’t see why not,” he said. He settled in, or something close to it, and gave a small nod.
“Seems stable,” he added after a pause. “Mostly.”
Expert Opinion
A truck sat nearby with its hood open. Dudley leaned in like a seasoned professional. “Hmmm.” A long pause. “I think I see the problem.” “There’s absolutely nothing inside here.” He nodded. “Relatable.”
Pilot Dudley
Inside the cockpit, Dudley studied the controls. Dials. Switches. Levers. None labeled “obvious.” “…I have no idea what any of these do.” He sat back anyway.
“Pilot Dudley,” he announced. A pause. “We’ll figure it out.”
A Steady Job
Dudley eventually found honest work. He stood beside the garbage truck, studying the controls with quiet confidence. “Well,” he said, “this seems straightforward.” He pressed a button. Nothing happened. “I assume there’s training,” he added. He rested a hand on the metal and nodded. “Still… good benefits, I imagine.” …….“And no dress code.”
Public Service
A fire truck caught his attention. Dudley climbed up and gave a confident wave. “I’ll volunteer,” he said. “I’m excellent under pressure.” A pause. “…structurally optional, but enthusiastic.”
Reflections
In a quieter corner, Uncle Dudley found a typewriter. He tapped thoughtfully at the keys. “Dear diary,” he said aloud,
“today has been productive.” He paused. “No calories burned, but significant mileage.
A New Friend
Uncle Dudley was not expecting company. A face appeared in the window. He raised a hand. “Well,” he said, “this is new.” The creature stared back, unmoved. Dudley nodded. “I like your energy,” he said. “Very direct.”
He was quite happy to make a new friend.
A Proper Ending
At last, Dudley found the perfect place to end the day.
He stretched out and leaned back.
“Now this,” he said,
“is how you unwind.”
A long, contented silence.
“No tension anywhere.”
Nothing But Time
The light softened. The yard grew quiet. Dudley looked around one last time. “Not bad,” he said.
Then he closed his eyes. “I’ve got nothing but time.”
.
We have enjoyed visiting and photographing the Airplane and Auto Graveyard in South Jersey numerous times. And there is a lot more to it than shared here by Uncle Dudley. To see more of the junkyard and all it has to offer, click here.
There were times on our African Safari in Botswana in May 2019 that we felt as if we had stepped into the Lion King movie. There were so many animals in all directions, there was literally more to see than could ever be seen. 
Zazu the hornbill delivered the morning report. 
We met Pumbaa and Timon, although they were not singing Hakuna Matata. Pumbaa lived up to his messy reputation, and seemed always covered in muck. 
Mufasa and Sarabi in the sunset
No specific route was planned. Captain Dennis chose the path each day dependent on the weather, the tides and the currents, to get us to interesting places to explore and to find a safe harbor at night. 
There was no shortage of fantastic food on this excursion. Despite limited kitchen area, head chef Ean managed to prepare exquisite menus and delicious gourmet appetizers during the daily happy hour. A highlight was when we all boarded the dinghys and rowed to a sandy beach for a Down East feast of all-you-can-eat lobsters steamed under seaweed over a driftwood fire. And there were plenty of delicious appetizers and salads (that we each carried in our laps in the boats if we weren’t rowing) and of course s’mores for desert.
The next morning we were greeted with a thick fog which provided a fun photographic challenge to capture the mystery of other windjammers appearing like ghosts in the mist. And in the fog the crew had to lower the top mast (amazing to watch) so the captain could navigate the Angelique through the currents at the right spot to cruise under the Eggemoggin Bridge at low tide. We all held our breath as we glided under the beautiful structure.
We were intrigued as we sailed around Mt. Desert Island and Acadia National Park as it was fun to look at the well-known sights from the water side. Swan Island is a small residential and fishing community. We walked to the beach full of beautiful round rocks that roll in the waves. Jim met some people who worked in a boat shop and they realized they had common friends from the Independence Seaport Boatshop. And Jim enjoyed visiting the classes in progress at Maine’s Wooden Boat School. Historic Castine is one of the oldest communities in North America, rich in history as the former home to several tribes of Native Americans. The quaint town includes magnificent American Elm trees, and we enjoyed the purple and blue lupine that was at its peak as we strolled through the neighborhoods. There were numerous historical markers that detailed the rich history of various occupations, Fort George, and military expeditions.
Hauntingly beautiful describes the mysterious canoe trip we experienced as we paddled among the skeletons of historic shipwrecks. Just a short distance from Washington D.C., sunken in the Potomac River are the remains of more than one hundred wooden and steel-hulled ships dating from the 18th century through mid-20th century. Some of the wrecks are evolving into small islands, providing habitats for birds and fish. 
