Day 3

May 5

Our first full day in Delaware was very relaxing. .  Fortunately the predicted rain disappeared and we had very pleasant partial clouds and temps in the 60’s.  Having not camped in many months it is still takes us time to adjust to where things are in the van and to decide where to store most convenient items.  

So we decided to go out for breakfast instead of cooking on site and we headed into “Nectars Café and Juice Bar” in Lewes.  We dined there a year ago and being the creatures of habit that we are we ordered exactly the same things. 

I ordered avocado toast, multigrain toast topped with sliced avocado, roasted red pepper sauce, grape tomatoes, feta cheese, sprouts and a poached egg served with a side of sweet potato hash).

Joni had buttered pecan French toast (Thick slices of brioche topped with pecan bourbon sauce and a scoop of butter pecan ice cream.)

After our delicious meal, we did some window shopping along 2nd Street, which is the main commercial road in historic Lewes. My favorite shop is Kids Ketch, perhaps the best toy store I’ve ever perused.  They have an incredible variety of toys.  It was hard to resist buying gifts for our grandsons, Billy & Jack.  Only the fact that they have far more toys than they need kept me from indulging in every grandparents right.

Returning to our campsite we rested briefly and then I went out for a bike ride along the many trails in the state park.  Just before World War II, the U.S. War Department began upgrades of the harbor defenses that protect the Delaware Bay. They built new fortifications here at Cape Henlopen that became known as Fort Miles. Eventually, the fort housed 2,300 soldiers, guns that could fire more than 25 miles out to sea, and the second largest underwater minefield along the east coast of the United States.

This 19" gun makes me think of the guns of Navarone.

During the Cold War the army installed a cable over 100 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. The cable was equipped with sonic devices used to detect the presence of Soviet submarines.

In 1964, the Army gave the first parcel of Fort Miles to the state of Delaware, creating Cape Henlopen State Park. The Army continued to turn over land, with the last parcel coming in 1996. 

My ride was very enjoyable.  Most of the trails are very flat and paved.  The battery in my camera died so my photo taking was limited; the missed opportunity to capture a small turtle was particularly frustrating, nor was I able to record my total distance, which I estimate at about 13 miles.  

After a quick shower at our campground, we returned to Lewes for an early dinner (since we skipped lunch) at Striker Bites, another one of our favorites restaurants in this area.

Bruschetta with roasted squash, sun dried tomatoes, house cheese blend, house bread, basil pesto, balsamic reduction.

Crab bisque with sherry, lump crab, cream, & chef's seasonings.

Lump crab sandwich

After dinner we walked down 2nd Street and indulged ourselves at King’s Homemade Ice Cream.  Joni chose chocolate almond and I opted for salted caramel.  Joni loved her choice, I did not; mine was icy.

Returning to the campsite, we watched the Celts-Knicks game on my laptop and enjoyed our first campfire.  The campfire was great, the game was not.