Out and About in Delaware's State Parks

I’m sitting here at the computer feeling just a bit tired this morning. Ok, to be truthful, I’m feeling A LOT tired this morning! I guess my partner, Bob and I were out a little too late last night. We went to the Purple Parrot to indulge my need to perform at their weekly karaoke. For Bob it’s strictly a social occasion, but he humors me and my desire to take the stage. We ran into friends we had not seen in months and our typically early evening turned into something of a marathon. We didn’t hit our bed until the early morning hours. While I normally don’t need much sleep, I was roused from bed at 6 a.m. by our dogs, Scribbles and Sketches. I had missed their normal wakeup call and they were insistent on getting my attention. Ignoring them is futile. Failure to respond is a certain way to face more dire consequences. That is especially true for Sketches who doesn’t think twice about registering his frustration in very physical ways. Resigned to my fate, I stumbled to the door in a catatonic haze to let the "kids" out. Their obvious pleasure at greeting me only slightly helped my disposition. After letting the dogs back in and feeding them, I tried to sneak back to bed. All of sudden, Sketches comes bounding into the master bedroom barking incessantly. He was energetically running from window to window and hopping up and down like a pogo stick. At this point, Bob was forced to join in on the morning fun. It turned out that Sketches favorite adversary, a squirrel was up on the deck taunting him. This squirrel makes regular visits to our back deck brazenly "baiting" Sketches. It’s normally a humorous exchange between the two animals. The squirrel knows he is perfectly safe and takes great pleasure orchestrating a sort of "cat and mouse" game. My only recourse was to get out of bed and break up the activity. Sketches was quite happy to turn his attention to me…after all, one playmate is as good as another. My fate was sealed…it’s going to be a very, very long day!

It’s a Small World

The past couple years, Bob and I have started a tradition of traveling abroad for the holidays. This year we took off for a week of fun exploring the sites of London. It was my first visit to this exciting city. We normally try to take a tour of new cities to get the lay of the land. In London, we hopped a ride on a traditional double-decker bus and began our exploration of the city. Our guide, an especially witty Scottsman, regaled us with stories of the monarchy and the many historic and cultural resources of London. The tour made several circles around various districts always returning to Trafalgar Square. In what seemed a bit of hyperbole, our guide proudly claimed that in this important hub of London activity "if you sit in Trafalgar Square for twenty minutes you are bound to run into someone you know." It sounded like a quaint local boast and we really didn’t think anything about it. The following day, we returned to the Square to get tickets to one of several West End shows we planned to attend. Bob remained in the Square while I ran off to the nearby ticket booth. As he wandered the area he heard someone calling "Bob" repeatedly. He finally turned around to see who was calling out. To his complete surprise, there stood two of our friends from Rehoboth, George and Michael! I guess it really is a very small world.

Junction & Breakwater Trail Grand Opening

After years of planning and development, December 4 marked the grand opening of the "Junction and Breakwater Trail." With over a hundred eager participants in attendance, state and local politicians cut the ribbon, officially opening the long awaited facility. The hard work of many people made what seemed like a far fetched dream become a reality. For those of you unfamiliar with the project, the Junction and Breakwater Trail is located in Cape Henlopen State Park on the west-side of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. The trail will ultimately serve as a pedestrian and bicycle connection between the two resort communities. Current construction has created a 3.5 mile trail that goes from West Rehoboth northward past Wolfe Neck Road. For easy public access, the project includes a 56-car parking facility constructed adjacent to the historic Wolfe House. Additional parking is available at the overflow parking lot behind the Outlets north of Rehoboth. The trail offers exceptional views across tidal marshes and upland forests in the coastal area. Its level surface makes the trail easily accessible for everyone. I hope you’ll take the time to visit this exceptional facility. It’s an experience you will not want to miss!

New for State Parks in 2004

While 2003 was an exceptionally tight budget year for state government, that hasn’t stopped the planning and development of numerous projects in our resort parks. Among the improvements visitors can look forward to in 2004 is the construction of a large picnic pavilion at the north end of the Gordons Pond parking area. This new structure will give beachgoers a place to get out of the sun and eat their meals in comfort. The pavilion will include tables, grills and other amenities and will be available to rent for parties and outdoor functions. Construction will begin in the spring. At Delaware Seashore State Park, construction has continued on the multi-million dollar renovation of the Indian River Marina. The first set of new docks is already in the water and numerous land based improvements are underway. One highlight of the project is the construction of 12 rental cottages within yards of the Indian River Inlet. These cottages offer exceptional views of the inland bays and unparalleled access to the inlet. If all goes well, the cottages will be available for rent by early summer.

Nature’s Best Bets

If you are looking for fun and exciting ways to spend your spare time, why not check out the Seaside Nature Center at Cape Henlopen State Park? The Center is open year round. During the fall and winter, it is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Center provides public programs designed for individuals and families. A highlight of any visit is viewing the five 1000-gallon aquariums that feature different aquatic habitats. You’ll be glad you took the time to explore this exciting facility.

If you are looking for fun activities, here are a number of "best bets" at the Seaside Nature Center in Cape Henlopen State Park:

Delaware Breakwater Quarantine Station • Sat., Feb. 21, 1 p.m.

At the end of the 19th century thousands of immigrants fled poor economic conditions in Europe by emigrating to America. The Delaware Breakwater Quarantine Station was established in 1884 to protect the cities of Wilmington and Philadelphia from contagion. Come learn about this facility and the trials and tribulations the occupants dealt with while waiting to enter our prosperous land.

What Makes the World Go Round? • Sat., Feb. 28, 1 p.m.

In celebration of Leap Year, we’ll take a look at the physics of tides, waves, and moon cycles. Unravel the mystery of why exactly 2004 has 366 days.

Where Do the Reptiles Go? • Sun., Feb. 29, 1 p.m.

Join naturalist Nathan Zimmerman, and his collection of scaly friends, as he discusses the adaptations reptiles of the Cape undergo during the harsh winter months. Learn about when you can expect to see our scaly friends emerge in the hopes of building a larger family. Limited to 50 participants. $1 per person.

For more information on these and other park programs, contact the Seaside Nature Center at 302-645-6852 or visit www.destateparks.com.