Maple Cove serves as one of the few remaining vestiges of public access to the waterfront and natural shoreline remaining in neighboring Red Bank.

It's also got one heck of a view.

On Monday, a couple of plein air painters took the small path from the entrance of the tiny waterfront open space at the base of Maple Avenue to the shore for a view of the Navesink River.  

With portable easels and trays of acrylic paint, Kathleen Beausoleil, of Fair Haven, and Caroline Klein, of Somerset, and painted views of the shoreline, the river and the sailboats anchored in the middle.

The women, members of the Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast, or PAPJC, regularly take trips to various points throughout the state to fulfill the group's mission of exploring the beauty of the outdoors.

The group will hold an art show and benefit on Aug. 18 at Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club.