Delaware Bay, Part I

I took Friday off so Bill and I could go on a photography weekend to the Delaware Bay area. We were lucky to have perfect weather predicted with low humidity. Even the traffic wasn't bad and before too long we had arrived in the Lewes area. We headed straight for the Cape Henlopen State Park and Fort Miles.
Fort Miles was a WWII defense camp watching over the Delaware River since this was an access point to Wilmington or Philadelphia. Heavy guns and searchlights watched over the bay until long range missiles were used, so by 1958 Fort Miles was no longer needed.
It's now part of the park with the buildings and guns still in place for people to explore.

I loved the abandoned atmosphere, the guns still looking formidable as they silently pointed to ghosts of past enemies. Fort Miles was the largest of the East Coast posts with 2500 personnel ready to spring into action, and after the war became a research and development test range for future weapons. It's now being preserved and restored, details can be found on their blog here.
We walked down to the beach at the park, surprised that barely anyone else was there. The air felt still and warm, clouds filled the sky with a bright sun persistently peeking through, so we hoped a beautiful sunset would develop later.

A few dead horseshoe crabs lay on the sand after their recent spawning. It saddened me to see these that hadn't made it back into the water but of course life has its casualties. I had witnessed their annual spawning two years ago at Slaughter Beach and made a mental note to try and come back next year, now that I had a better camera.
Bill set his camera and tripod on the sand to wait for the first colors to creep into the sky. I wandered along the beach and then laid on the warm sand to take photos.

The sky slowly darkened, with yellows and peachy tints softening the horizon and silhouetting the lighthouse out in the water.

We were treated to a spectacular show, the yellows and oranges slowly turning to pinks and reds, with the sun throwing a long line of shimmering firelight hues across the water to the wet sand at our feet. The side of the lighthouse looked as though flames were licking up the walls and the seagulls laughed above us. A few other folks had walked to the beach to also enjoy the show and we all silently watched as the light dimmed, the colors finally fading into a dark night.

The Lights go out at Marshall IGA

If I'd stayed at home over the weekend, rather than going to Baltimore, my plans had been to attend the closing of the IGA store in town, a tragic event for me and I'm sure, many others in the area. They had announced this a couple of months ago, after 57 years in business, and although sad news, it didn't really come as a surprise, since it had fierce competition with Food Lion and the new Walmart in Haymarket.
I remember fondly the first day I visited this store. It looked old fashioned from the outside and remained so inside, with its original shelving, folding tables and dated decor. But I liked the atmosphere immediately. It had an old, unhurried, but solid feel to it and I was drawn in. There was fresh fruit and vegetables from local farmers, eggs from geese and ducks as well as the usual chickens, locally produced meat and bakery products, and a wealth of never seen before food stuffs on the shelves. There were even quite a few British products that I would purchase from here, including Marmite, Oxo cubes, Ryvita and other biscuits. It was quite expensive, which prevented me from shopping here more frequently, but I often popped in, craving food that hadn't been processed.
Since I knew they were closing, and after this article appeared in the local newspaper, I snapped a few photos for the archives, sad that I'd never walk these aisles again.

On my first visit, I had thought this deli to be dingy until I realized the wonders that were produced from behind it. There had been a lunchtime queue of folks, about 10 deep, and I had watched with interest to see what the fuss was all about. I soon noticed that it was the Call of the Fried Chicken. Everyone was ordering the stuff so I followed suit and ordered a couple of pieces myself. The delicious wafts emitting from the box on the front seat of my car had tantalized me all the way home, driving me to a frenzy as I rushed to grab paper towels and plate before I could sit down and open the lid. Kota sat right next to me with his nose and twitching whiskers working overtime.
It had been delicious, a wonderfully crispy and perfectly seasoned coating over tender, tasty, chunky chicken meat. We both looked with yearning at the empty box afterwards, and so our addiction had been born. This was the best fried chicken I'd ever tasted.

The last bakery products for sale, and the butcher's display on the right.

The dairy and egg corner, with the eggs already nearly sold out.

This had once been the pharmacy section. Folks had wondered when this had closed a few weeks previously whether it was the beginning of the end. It had been a great place for cards though, much more of a selection than Food Lion nearby.

This had been a quirky corner, with VA clothing for sale, flip flops, nail polish, some garden and household gadgets, and string.

The one and only IGA poster in the store, hidden at the back.

The frozen food cabinets looking empty and the crackers diminishing.

I bought this last pack of Penguin biscuits, a favorite during my childhood.

And my penultimate grocery shop, with my IGA carrier bags and receipt.

The lunch area where folks would wait for their chicken to be cooked or sit to demolish it, using the utensils, napkins and condiments supplied by IGA.

The delectable chicken itself. Having had the sumptuous pleasure of numerous meals of this perfect poultry, it's been impossible to even contemplate the flavorless, chemical infested offerings from KFC or Popeye's. I've been lamenting about how I would ever find fried chicken that I would enjoy again. Pam, who is the soul creator of this culinary bliss, informed me that she hadn't got the funds to set up on her own once the store was closed, and I left with a heavy heart, unwilling to consider the possibility that this chicken would never be savored again, except by friends and family of Pam.

The last sales pitch on the IGA sign.

Because I was not going to be around on Saturday, I dropped by on Friday evening, hoping to partake in a last supper of fried chicken. I'd even left work early to get here in time. I was pleased to see quite a few cars outside, an indication that the town was rallying round and helping to clear the last goodies from the store's shelves.

They'd done a good job too, there was barely anything left. I grabbed a last 6 pack of beer and walked to the back of the store.

The prep room was still and empty, never to be used again for cutting meat or preparing foods. I remembered one Saturday morning when I popped in for milk and had seen a large crowd in this room and spilling out of the doorway. A butcher was showing those that hunted or were learning to hunt how to dress a deer. You wouldn't see that scene in Walmart!
I walked to the Deli and asked PAm if she had any chicken, nearly collapsing in a sorrowful heap when she replied, 'No.' I couldn't understand the lack of concern in her voice either but had no time to dwell on that as she turned to me and cheerfully told me I could get some on Sunday. She smiled at my perplexed face and explained that she would be working from Nick's Deli at the other end of Main St. I slapped the counter with my hand, overjoyed, and my dismay at not being able to have fried chicken for dinner evaporated. I'd have a bottle of wine instead!
I walked to the register, there really wasn't much else that I could purchase, the shelves were nearly picked clean. The bakery and tinned products sections still had items for sale, but everything that had been unique to this IGA store was gone. I've now got to find another source for my Lapsang Souchong teabags, among many other items.

It was very sad going through the register for the last time but it was made easier when I realized that the staff didn't seem too upset. I had mentioned on a previous visit that I would miss them, but they hadn't seemed too troubled. I guess they were ready to retire. But it's the end of an era, yet another country store with old fashioned values closing its doors, and it's this that will be missed. I wish I could have afforded to shop here more often but I don't necessarily know that more business would have ensured the doors remained open. The Trumbo's deserve their retirement and I'm just very grateful that I was able to enjoy a part of this 'old tired store' 'that had run its course', as Mr Trumbo sadly referred to it,
I shall always think of the IGA as being the gem that fell out of the ring, with the ring being Marshall. Some sparkle left the town on Saturday...

Beer and Baseball in Baltimore

This was going to be a laid back, relaxing weekend for me, with no plans on the horizon,  until Steve called Friday afternoon saying he'd been given 2 tickets, by his company, for the Orioles game on Saturday. That sounded awesome on its own but also, food, beer and a hotel room were included. Fabulous!
So, taking an overnight bag and my G15, we drove to Baltimore. Free parking was also included with the hotel so all we had to pay for was food and drink outside the event. After leaving our bags at reception we walked to the inner harbor and ordered a small lunch at the M&S Grill.

Not wanting to eat too much, we just ordered a couple of appetizers, choosing mussels and also the fiesta pulled pork nachos. Lunch was superb, full of flavor and washed down heartily with good beer. It was lucky we were walking quite a lot so we'd have a chance to work it off. We trailed around the harbor, people watching and stopped to watch a performer.

I couldn't even start to imagine how he was enduring this. Jumping a blazing skipping rope in long pants with the temperature already in the 90's. I was wilting under the fierce sunlight. Oh, but he did have a hat...

Some slick motors parked outside the hotel; mine's on the right!

I loved all the reflections on the hotel's windows, certainly made for some interesting photos...

...and these ladies down in the foyer obviously liked the fire. Really? A fire in July?
Once we'd dumped our bags unceremoniously and had a quick look round the hotel, we trotted off to the park, which was only a couple of blocks away.

What a great fan outfit! Orioles and Ravens in one.
We didn't have to wait long to get inside and because we were part of a party, we were allowed in through a different door. The first 25k fans were presented with a free bobblehead.

If it had been a player then I was going to give it away, but it was a Maryland themed Oriole bird, which I thought was cute, so I kept it.

We had a great view from The Banquet Room if you stood by the window. We managed to get seats on that side but couldn't see while sitting down.

The free beer were domestic brews, boo, but they did have Natty Boh's so we were more than happy with that. The buffet was usual baseball food with burgers, hotdogs and brats, and was pretty good. It was nice to meet some of Steve's work crowd, who were a really friendly bunch, and I have to admit that I realized I missed working with a bigger crowd. I'd always worked in a corporate field in England, and these guys brought it all back. But then Steve started mentioning some of the ups and downs in work relationships and politics, and I came back down to earth. I'd forgotten about that aspect. But it was still a wonderful lunch and we had a lot of laughs with his colleagues, and then someone mentioned the game was starting, so we all grabbed one more beer, then piled outside, eyes squinting in the bright light.

We found our seats and got involved with the game, the Orioles were leading against the Detroit Tigers and playing well. But then we noticed that we couldn't see any of the other guests from Steve's party, they'd disappeared. During the whole of our time watching the game we didn't see one person we recognized. So either we were in the wrong seats or everyone else had left!

As evening progressed our enthusiasm waned a little. The O's were on a winning streak, so trusting they'd finish the game with a sensational score, we left to have a last drink or two back at M&S Grille.

The harbor was pretty with it's water reflecting the lights and we enjoyed the cooler air while supping on our beers. The crowds had also thinned out and folks were quieter than earlier in the day. I had been a little apprehensive since there have been frequent shootings in the city triggered by the death of Freddie Gray back in April. Click here for an article. Apparently though they hadn't ceased for our baseball visit, we heard the following day that there had been another shooting in the north of the city. Thankfully, not a fatality, and thankfully not near us... And the Orioles added the finishing touch to a great weekend with a score of 6 - 2!