Delaware Beaches, continued
I’m one week in, and my feet and mood are improving. These things are directly related. Have you ever heard that line, “If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes”?
It was like that kind of pain, all-consuming, for a while.
I can thank PT, been there twice, and my buddy Reformer. So far, it’s five times, a lot to start, I know. Am I overdoing it? Probably, but it’s all-or-nothing with me, as usual, and Pilates has been reinforcing the PT with lots of calf and foot stretches.
I will confess that PT has never been a favorite. . . the endless appointments and shuttling from one station to the next usually drives me nuts. But I needed help, and I was humble going into it. I got a pedicure to prepare and set off for PT with shiny red toes and a good attitude.
And then, my therapist admired my new Vionics! What more could I ask for? I was really liking him until he started with some deep tissue massage (15 minutes on each leg/foot), a pain that “hurts so good” as they say, I nearly cried. He explained that “plantar fasciitis,” the actual cause behind my pain, is helped by loosening the tendons and fascia (in the foot and leg) that have become tight. Stretching helps to relax muscles. Then he gave me a few new exercises, and a suggestion for sore feet: Rolling a frozen water bottle under the foot. Got home, and he was right; it feels really good. Much better than rolling a ball.
Sadly, I learned this therapist will be gone next week, but booked appointments with someone else. On my second visit, I noticed that there was a Reformer in the PT gym. Never knew a thing about Reformer till last week, and now. . . you know how that goes, I’ll probably start seeing them everywhere.
As to Delaware Beaches, it’s a beautiful area, very flat, of course, and Coastal Highway (Route 1) is the main north-south thoroughfare, lined by that familiar American landscape of big retailers, small stores, eateries, and yes, outlet malls. There are Tanger Outlets on both sides covering at least a mile; 114 stores, I am told. So, yes, the road is busy, though in summer it’s worse, making this a good time to visit.
Even with the traffic, you can be in the country (and I mean farmland) and still get to the beach in 20 minutes (maybe not in rush hour). I was talking to a tour guide at the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, who said that during WWI, Delaware provided the country with a third of its (agricultural) food supply. It’s still a big producer with plenty of acres farmed; corn, soybeans and watermelon top the list.
The Zwaanendael is one of many history museums here, but absolutely struts the most eye-catching architecture. Very Dutch. It was inspired by the town hall in Hoorn, the Netherlands. The museum expands on the maritime history and Dutch settling of the area, which Henry Hudson had a hand in, no surprise there. The Dutch had a real grip here in the 1600s, and I learned that New Netherland included present-day New York, New Jersey and Delaware. Admission and tours are free. History.delaware.gov/museums.
Lovely as Lewes is, Rehoboth Beach was calling to me – for one thing, the weather has been perfect for the beach – sunny, 80s, no humidity. Easy beach access was another. The ocean is just feet away from the boardwalk with short dunes in between. No long treks required. Benches line the boardwalk and because dunes are low, you can get a direct view of the ocean.
Rehoboth and Lewes are only a few miles apart, but with very different vibes. Where Lewes is small, quaint and quiet, Rehoboth is bustling and beachy. The mile-long boardwalk is lined with hotels and restaurants alongside fast food, beach food, arcades and souvenir shops. Rehoboth Avenue, the drive into town, offers much of the same and upscale boutiques, too. I love independent bookstores, and Browseabout Books did not disappoint. Lots of fine gifts, cards and specialty items in addition to a great book selection. “The Book of Magic,” by Alice Hoffman, my favorite author maybe, was on sale before its release date, the perfect October read.
One other thing about Rehoboth Beach: parking meters are everywhere and during the summer season, demand $2 – $3 an hour. After the middle of September, parking is free. Another off-season perk.
Good eats at two places (so far): Egg in Rehoboth Beach (7 a.m. – 1 p.m.) serves breakfast and lunch with cocktails available at 9 a.m. It happens. Had eggs Benedict (the one-egg version), biscuit (no gravy), coffee and orange juice so fresh, you can go inside to watch them squeeze it. Skipped the vodka, and it was still good. No reservations, but worth the wait. Eggrehoboth.com.
Striper Bites, a “nautical bistro,” in Lewes for lunch/dinner. The crab bisque is delicious and seared tuna exceptional. I’ll have to go back and try some more. Also no reservations. Lots of fresh seafood, chicken, steak and salad. Striperbites.com.
With Covid still looming, it’s outdoor dining only for me.
As to my coat, I paid a visit to Funky Lady, and it was there, and still beautiful, and it’s actually a pale muted pink, not exactly beige, but I noticed two stains on the back. I pointed this out to the clerk who offered a small discount. The thing is, I’m not sure it will come clean; this is a handwash item, and I also wonder if it stains easily. More to ponder. Stay tuned.