Beach Time with Rita

Laurel, Delaware
Trap Pond State Park



After the busy reunion weeks, our week in Delaware was supposed to be mostly restful, but a family emergency took Steve to Arizona just after we set up.

Trap Pond State Park

 

Pretty park, not much privacy between sites but hardly any one was here.  Site #A21 with Water/Electric at $31.  The pond is large and kayaking is popular.  There are also walking/biking trails around the park.  It's a very pretty area and I was surprised at how much farming is out here.  Miles of beans, corn and zucchini.  There are farm stands everywhere.

 

 

 

A bit of a heat wave was going through the East Coast and it was HOT and HUMID here all week!  Temps in the upper 80s and 90s with 90% humidity.  Yuck!  Too uncomfortable to be outside actually.  Hurley and I did take a 4 mile hike around the lake but the deer flies tortured us the whole time.  Awful.

Hurley keeping a close eye on the squirrels. It was too hot outside even for the squirrels.

 

Back to our family emergency.  Steve's Dad has been in declining health the past couple of years.  He has Parkinson's as well as some other issues.  We really noticed him going downhill after our visit in March.  I won't go into too much detail, but it can be very stressful to deal with when family cannot agree on what to do and how to handle it.  He really should've been in an assisted living center back in March, but his wife has been somewhat in denial and insisting she can care for him.  Well, of course it got to the point she could not.  The past few months he has been falling more and needing the help of emergency crews/family/friends etc.  His mind is also slipping. All this has put a strain on Steve's stepmom as she is also in her 80s and just can't do it alone anymore.  Things peaked and Steve decided he needed to be there to help get him into some type of care facility.  (As of this writing, he is in a residential care home and it has been, and continues to be, very stressful for all of us).  Dealing with this while being on the road has its positives and negatives.  Steve can always fly back again if necessary and if things take a turn for the worse, we will just turn around and park the rig there if need be.

 

The other reason for being here in southern Delaware is that my sweet friend, Rita, that I met while we lived in New York is just 45 minutes away in Ocean City, MD.  Our second sons were in Kindergarten together, so we've known each other 22 years!  Plus I get to finally meet her boyfriend, Michael.  Both of them are incredibly talented singers and musicians.  They are perfect for each other!

The view out of Rita's apartment.

After dropping Steve off at the airport and dealing with a 3 hour drive back, I arrived at Rita's.  We went to a local bar to see a friend of hers perform.  It was a fun time!

Rita, Michael and Me

 

A little later in the evening :-)

 

Rita singing Black Bird.

 

Rita' second son Sean who went to Kindergarten with our son Shane.  I hadn't seen him since we left, almost 20 years ago.  All grown up now!

After the bar we were all hungry so of course Rita whipped up some sauce and we had a little late night pasta!  She is an amazing cook!  Last year she made us a feast (go to the bottom of the feast link and you'll see the feast!).  Steve was bummed to be out of town and miss out.

Mangia!

Later in the week I drove back to Ocean City so Rita could take me to the boardwalk.  Her sister Antoinette joined us.  I also haven't seen her for many years.

I'm used to much smaller boardwalks in California.  The ones out here go for miles along the beach and have about every type of food you can think of as well as shopping, bars and rides.

Me and Rita

This wooden boardwalk goes on for miles!

Huge, clean beaches too.

Several walks lead from the boardwalk down to the water.

Me, Antoinette & Rita

Me, Rita & Antoinette

Food, food and more food!

 

After the boardwalk they wanted to take me to the famous Seacrets Restaurant/Bar.  One of the highest grossing establishments of its type considering it sees most of its profit in June - Aug.

Goofin off out front.

They just opened up their own distillery.

This place is huge!  There is a large restaurant, several tiki bars, entertainment and more.  The owner is known to replace all the palms and tropical plants each year as they don't grow too well with the cold winters.  He even bought his own palm plantation to grow them.  It's like being in Jamaica!  There are even tables set up IN the water!  It is an amazing place. If you want to read more about it click HERE.

Seating sea-side!

 

 

We had some great salads and drinks before I had to head back to the airport in Baltimore to pick up Steve.  I had a really great time with Rita this week.  She is the sweetest person inside and out!

Once Steve was back we visited 16 Mile Brewery.  It was named after the county seat which was moved to Lewes as it was "16 miles to anywhere".

 

They are also dog friendly.  Meet Winston.

The Rebel Cove Food Truck had the most amazing BBQ.  I had a Pulled Pork sandwich with thin sliced pineapple, green onions and a teriyaki sauce.  Delicious!

One last picture of my beautiful Italian friends!