Ocean City, Rehoboth, Delaware

So this weekend we took a roadtrip, along with 718,000 other Marylanders. I know this number, because a news and travel email pops up on my phone just as we are due to set off. It tells me: “Slightly over 718,000 Marylanders will travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend.That number is down almost 2 percent from last year. And 91 percent of Marylanders are expected to travel by car, rather pay to take a plane or train.”

I sigh inwardly.

However, as luck would have it, the first part of the roadtrip is a breeze, and we head on across the Bay Bridge (Gawd help, me I hate crossing that bridge) to stop 1 – Ocean City.

1. Ocean City – so, a lot of people have told me Ocean City is like the Blackpool of the USA. And they’re not far wrong, but it is still charming and fun, and despite the rain lashing down on the boardwalk when we arrive, it’s a cool place – amusing and full of stuff to look, and, of course, people to watch. And endless amusement arcades. If I never go into an arcade again, I shall not be in the slightest bit sad.

This was totally eye-catching on the boardwalk

Millions of t-shirts like this on display!

A breezy boardwalk

I got me a delicious Reuben sandwich – check that off the to-do list!

Sign after sign….

Love this!

When the sun comes out, so do the people

Ace pic!

The American flag was flying everywhere for Memorial Weekend

No words…..

2. People watching
I delighted in the eclectic mix of people on the beach and the boardwalk. Kids, teenagers, old folk, families – everyone was out and about, and I just snapped away…..

🙂

3. Motel…
We stayed in a motel. I was kind of excited, kind of freaked out, kind of washing my feet before getting into bed. But all said and done, and despite the rigorous night-time activities above us, the revving of motorbikes by the very friendly biker gang and the near-divorce of next door’s couple at 2am, it was a memorable experience!

If you want cheap and cheerful, motels are the way forward 🙂

4. Fake finger
A short story for you.

Harry won a fake finger at one of the arcades and wore it with pride for the next five minutes, until we went into a shop selling all sorts of bits and bobs, including stuff for Senior Week (see no. 10 below). This stuff included shot glasses, beer headgear and bong pipes.
Harry couldn’t help himself and stuck his finger up the bong pipe.
And there it stayed for about 20 minutes, whilst I giggled a lot and took pictures, and the lovely shop assistant tried to get it out.
He did succeed, much to Harry’s delight!

Harry sticks his fake finger up a plastic bong pipe…

There it is!

Harry is totally confused and annoyed…

The shop assistant gets it out! Hooray!

6. Rehoboth
And so on to Rehoboth, and I like A LOT.

It is a beautiful place and feels much more natural in its surroundings than Ocean City.

We stay in abother motel. This one is a gay motel, and there are many men wearing shorter shorts than my Daisy Dukes, which is saying something. And very wonderful they look too (this goes for most of them – some of them should really have actually worn longer shorts…..). In fact my other half commented that his shorts were by far the longest on the beach, and that they were (thankfully)!

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7. Taxes
In Maryland we pay taxes on everything. A man in a restaurant delighted in telling us that in Delaware, they don’t. And it was very noticeable when the bill came.

Apparently Maryland has a rain tax, for big roofs, the man said. I don’t get it….

Anyway, he also said that Ocean City was named ‘Redneck Riviera’, which is a bit mean……. I know Rehoboth is more lovely, but still…

8. Desmond Wynn
Whilst enjoying a pizza in Mama Nicole’s in Rehoboth everyone there was ooing and cooing over a very handsome big chap.

“Who is he?’ I enquired.
“Why he is Desmond Wynn,” was the incredulous response.

I Googled him.

Desmond Wynn is an American football guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He’s like a star!

So, naturally it was picture time…

Me and Des, like buddies now

9. The beach at Rehoboth
The beaches are just stunning in this area. Beautiful state parks with endless, undulating sand dunes.
I am definitely coming back here again….

10. Other stuff we learned on our holibobs
a) Senior Week – this is not a week for old people, as my other half thought, with admiration in his voice (he was definitely making a mental note to return here in his 60s for a weekend of partying).

This is, in fact, a week for teenagers to get totally and utterly wasted….

Be afraid, parents, be very afraid….

b) Go Fish, the British restaurant does the most amazing sticky toffee pudding, as recommended to me by my friend Melissa of SmittenbyBritain. In fact, it was so good, that Harry had two 🙂

c) Brits are everywhere – we met a few on our travels (they heard our accents).

d) The lifeguards on the beach wear red and run up and down like Baywatch – and are fit 🙂

e) I loved America this weekend 🙂 Pictures sometimes speak louder than words, so here are a few more for y’all! The journey back is just as interesting if you don’t take the highway and you do see all sides of the USA. It made my weekend, seeing all this and more.