Hang On Sloopy

Drone view of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

It has begun, the annual assault onslaught of coastal Sussex County Delaware. Yes folks, our Summertime Visitors are and have arrived with a vengeance.  Of course the 80 degree plus sunny clear skies weather has released this damn dam of summertime visitors. 

I think I see friends there in the upper right corner under the orange beach umbrella!

Hey folks, who am I to complain? We don't make anything here on the east coast of Sussex County.  At least the Sussex County natives who live more inland raise chickens and farm crops for a living.  There are no steel mills (never were) or furniture factories around here.  Back in a previous life, the natives here on the eastern shores of Rehoboth Beach, Lewes and Milton eked out a living fishing and making Mother of Pearl buttons by punching out old oyster shells.  But those days are long gone folks, only to be seen in black and white photos in big picture books at the various historical society buildings in Lewes and Milton which very few people ever enter those doors (Bill and I being the exception).  

Folks, this annual influcks influx of flip flop wearing, tank topped attired, free spending folks from northern Delaware, and the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey (a lot since Hurricane Sandy) and the District of Columbia (we call them "D.C.") IS our economy.  

We are a service orientated economy.  Those folks are our lifeblood.  Without them we would be just another musty, sleepy fishing village with a lot of memories.  

Works for me

Instead, we're a vibrant, traffic congested, over priced restaurants, salt water taffy eating, feed-the-seagulls Thrashers French fries community.  That said, we locals will now stay away from Rehoboth Beach until after Labor Day.  

Touristias?  It's all yours.  Open those wallets and spend freely and try not to hit any of us locals as you speed down Route One towards your hot sands beach destination of the Atlantic Ocean.  

Coffee Shop Pat

My (Canadian) buddy Pat loves coffee.  

Now why do I preface my reference to my pal Pat with "Canadian"?  Heck if I know other than I am proud to have this splendid Canadian (actually he's half American, his Mom was born in Detroit, Michigan) as my friend.  But I digress.

Pat loves coffee.  He loves coffee shops.  In his hometown of Canada there is NOT a day that goes by that he doesn't grace a coffee shop in his hometown of Canada.  Why even this morning he sent me a video while he was having coffee at a fro fro coffee shop in Yorkville (that's the Canadian Beverly Hills, CA to you folks).  

A familiar site in the morning wherever Pat is, getting his morning coffee whether it be at McDonald's, the local Mom and Pop coffee shop or frou frou Forrest Hills in Toronto Canada

Me, I never got into the coffee Thing.  I can drink it and I don't mind a good cup of real java but most coffee I've had in my life taste like colored hot water with an old dishrag left in it.  Starbucks is the exception but their caramel creme latte is more like a dessert isn't it?

Pat has a tradition whenever he visits Lower Slower, we go out in the morning and he treats me to one of these hot sugary confections.  We hit the Starbucks on Route One, towards Rehoboth.  That Starbucks is always bustling and I wouldn't go there unless Pat is visiting.  

Last month while Pat during Pat's annual visit to Casa Tipton-Kelly, he accompanied me to my thrice weekly physical therapy sessions in Milton. I usually have these sessions from 9 AM to 10 AM.  Afterwards Pat was delirious of his morning coffee break.  And you know me, always one to accommodate when someone is kind to me and Pat did accompany me to my PT sessions. 

As we left the physical therapy center I mentioned to Pat "There has to be a coffee place in Milton.  I know Milton is dead but I can't imagine they don't have a place to get coffee."  And lo and behold, viola!  As we were riding down Federal Street in Pat's rented car, there it was, a coffee shop!  Who knew?  In quaint little Milton, an actual coffee shop.

Pat in the Milton coffee shop

Of course we were the only patrons in the shop except for the Town Lech (which I didn't find out about until later).  But what a pleasant interlude, right here in River City Milton.  Actually Milton is a "River City."  The Broadkill River runs right through it and, occasionally, during a heavy nor'easter or a hurricane, downtown Milton does get flooded.

Flooding in downtown Milton DE

While we were at the coffee shop Pat received a phone call from his real estate agent.  She told him he had a buyer for his lot!  So, it looks like this quaint, little coffee shop in downtown Milton won't be Pat's regular coffee hangout after all.  Oh well, Toronto has plenty of coffee shops. 

Bid adieu Pat.

The Bay Leaf Restaurant Milton Delaware

The Bay Leaf Restaurant on Rt. 16 Milton, DE

This evening I had a very pleasant early dinner at the Bay Leaf Restaurant in Milton, Delaware.

I like to dine out occasionally.  However, I've never gotten used to eating alone even though I've been the "lonely guy" many times during my long tenure on this earthly pane.  



My high school friend Ed is down this week from his home in Pennsylvania.  When he's down at his home in Rehoboth, we usually do dinner once or twice.  However, I just didn't feel up to traveling the dangerous Route One to his home in Rehoboth Beach to have dinner at one of those loud, expensive and stressful Rehoboth restaurants.  When I go out to dinner I like it QUIET which is doesn't happen during the Season in Rehoboth.  I remember a time a few years ago when I met my friend Ed for an early dinner and the table next to us was the typical extended family:  Mom and pop, three kids, grandmom and grand pop plus a Baby in a Basket which they placed on the table right next to us.  Oh lovely.  Please don't misunderstand me, those folks are what keeps our economy going but I prefer not to stuff my face with a Chicken Caesar Wrap listening to a two month old baby cry.  Just not my thang, you know?  

I suggested to Ed that we have an early dinner in Milton.  The restaurant is called the Bay Leaf Restaurant.  I've eaten there several times and never been disappointed.  Milton doesn't have a whole lot of restaurants.  Three others that I can think of which will remain unnamed.  I haven't been impressed with the other three.  Been disappointed every time I've eaten in them so I haven't returned.

I was surprised when we went into the Bay Leaf this evening.  There was only one other patron in the restaurant.  A middle aged woman who was eating by herself.  I don't mind so much eating by myself as long as the restaurant isn't crowded and I feel like I'm taking up a whole table and thus depriving the restaurant of paying customers.  However, I prefer to dine with someone.  I like to talk, which should come as no surprise to any of my regular followers.

This evening we had a delightful meal.  My friend Ed had a pasta and spinach dish.  

I had a Chicken Caesar Wrap and fries.  I didn't get a dinner because I just can't eat that much anymore.  I ate half of my wrap and I'll keep the other half for lunch tomorrow.  I splurged and have a Triple Chocolate cake (topped with a cherry) for dessert.  It was licentiously delicious.  I really shouldn't of.....but I did.  Pangs of guilt are sweeping over me now.  As I so often say after Going For The Dessert After the Meal, I'm telling myself "Never again!"  But I will.  

Strawberries Sauvignon - a Bay Leaf Chef Special

After finishing our meal and wrapping up exchanging information on our latest medical adventures, Ed and I checked out.  At the cashier's station the owner asked me "Aren't you the guy with the blog?"  OMG!  You know folks, I'm encountering this situation more and more often.  I've had my blog going on seven years now and apparently I am becoming quite well known in certain quarters.  Of course the first thing I thought of "What did I write in my last blog?"  Even more I thought "What pictures did I post?"  Ah yes!  I did post a picture of Channing Tatum in his, well um....undies.  Oh my.......oh well. 

Lauren - the owner who asked me "Aren't you the guy who blogs?

One of the first things that went through my mind was that she would ask me "Do you practice the gay lifestyle?" as was the question my ignorant, homophobic North Carolina distant cousin asked me when I was on vacation in North Carolina in March and who, when I affirmed I was gay, growled to me "Now get this, if you set foot on my parent's land (I was going to introduce them to another cousin and his wife) you'll have to deal with me, you got that bud!".  Yes folks, I have been permanently scarred by that accusatory question.  I was prepared to be asked not to "set foot" in that restaurant but instead had a very pleasant conversation with Lauren about how slow business was for her restaurant on Monday nights.  I wasn't in Kansas North Carolina anymore folks.  I was in the First State which (mostly) welcomes diversity....and marriage equality.  

Folks, this is a fine restaurant. You want to get away from the traffic, the crowds, the noise of Rehoboth?  Travel six miles north to the historic, quaint town of Milton and the Bay Leaf Restaurant.  They are open for business seen days a week including Mondays!  Comfortable seating, good service, large menu, freshly prepared food, reasonable prices and FREE PARKING.  What's not to like?  

Me in the front of the Bay Leaf Restaurant this evening. Plentiful, free parking folks!

Yes, I do plan to go back on Monday nights.  Now to send out my invitation for dining companions.  Wish me luck! I prefer not to eat under a spotlight.

More Storm Photos From Delaware

The Wharf Restaurant, Lewes, DE - I was supposed to work at a hotel across the street today.  Didn't make it today and won't make it tomorrow either.  

More photos folks from Hurricane Sandy which hasn't even hit us yet here in Lewes, Delaware.  It's bad folks, real bad.  

These photos are from the Cape Gazette, submitted by residents.

A look down Dagsworthy in Dewey Beach. Delaware

Downtown Milton - flooded

Ducks in the backyard

Long Neck Road, Fairfield Complex

For those who want a "water view" with ducks - here you go

House by Route 5

Long Neck residents going out for storm vitals this morning - are you kidding?

Downtown Milton, where Bill and I usually go every day to shop at Food Lion.  Flooded.

Did the mailman come yet?

Hurricane Sandy didn't make landfall yet but here we are - waiting like a sitting ducks.

I have to admit folks, this is scary.  We've already detected three places in our house where water is coming in.  That will need to be fixed when we're out of this nightmare.

Thank God we still have power.  I doubt that we will later when Hurricane Sandy hits the beach in Lewes, when it is dark.  

I expect the hotel is flooded.  I called and I'm not getting an answer.  I hope Robert is all right.  

We will remember this Halloween.