Delightful Delaware

Leaving our sunny company and sunny weather in New Jersey, we began to make our way to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, a suggestion made by our chatty/friendly/oversharing (depending on whom in our dinner party you asked) waitress from Dana's birthday dinner.  It was a great suggestion in theory, as we would 1) be able to take a different route to get to the shore of Delaware than the one we'd take on our journey back to Wilmington and then Philadelphia, 2) get to cross the historically significant Delaware Bay, and 3) have the chance to take what is actually the quickest route from the Jersey shore to the Delaware shore while enjoying the ferry.

In the end, these promises were all actually fulfilled.  However, when our initially intended late afternoon arrival would become an early evening arrival in order to take the 4:30 ferry (as the route is only as quick as the ferry schedule works within your overall schedule), and the weather on the first leg of the journey was captured in this snap I sent to Ron, when he asked if we were seeing lots of cool places on our way ---

there was a lot of second-guessing occurring.  Ron gleefully wanted to be a fly on the wall if I flipped out if we were to miss our ferry.  He likely didn't expect it would be Maddie whose ire was raised when she felt we were not taking seriously her request that we reconsider our ferry trip when the blaring flash flood warnings started blasting through each of our phones.  Fun times, indeed :)

Ah, but we would arrive at the ferry terminal well before 4:30, have a half hour to use the facilities, get a drink, try to figure out how the triathalon event that was starting (or finishing?) in this spot was actually going to work, and watch the weather eventually clear.  Things were looking up.  We saw several dolphins on our departure from the port, and we had fun popping around trying to find the warmest spot on the ferry.  Plus, it's always fascinating to try to figure out the lives of the other passengers... are they from Maryland or DC and taking a vacation to the shore?  Are they locals taking a day trip?  Are any of them part of this crazy triathalon, having thought better of it?

Our time in Rehoboth Beach has been far from beach weather, but the rain has been light and sporadic, and we likely weren't going to camp out by the ocean anyway.   Once we finally figured out how to actually pronounce it, we had an  impromptu Bible study on the beach to learn more about the history behind the intriguing name.

we've also figured out that the "live" function on the iPhone translates to videos on the blog in a most annoying way

Despite the less than ideal beach conditions, we've fallen in love with the Delaware shore.  Yesterday, we took a drive down to Dewey and then Bethany Beach.  Each little town has its own charm, with shops, benches, street lights, rental homes, and, especially in Rehoboth, lots of ice cream options.  I guess when you found a town on principals of Christianity, much like in Ocean Grove, NJ, which inspired the Reverand Robert Todd to want to recreate that experience near the shore in Delaware, the citizens need to find a more suitable type of entertainment for their Friday night escapades.

Our first ice cream stop - which we thought was fantastic...

Only to find on day 2 that this was the ice cream not to be missed!

Daniel was all too happy to take their challenge seriously.  He added Snickers, M&M's, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kat's and Oreo pieces.  However, he did opt for a basic vanilla base rather than the African Vanilla he was offered.  The final concoction received a five star review from Daniel, and we were all very happy with our award winning flavors.

Between stops at the many beckoning ice cream shops, we've strolled the boardwalk, dined at some of the fine restaurants that earn Rehoboth Beach the reputation as the beach spot for serious foodies, and enjoyed the flowers.

Our lovely little Avenue Inn, just two blocks off the beach

These benches are very efficient - you can move the back to face either the ocean or the boardwalk

Visions of Big 

After rooting on Spongebob the Musical and Once On This Island (a loser and a winner, respectively) during last night's Tony Awards, this morning we're heading off to Wilmington, with perhaps a stop or two along the way.  

It is clear to see why families return year after year to this town, and we're already spinning plans for how we might do the same.