Out and About in Delaware's State Parks

Five years…not a lot of time in the grand scheme of things. It’s funny how the passage of time can be such a relative thing. Sometimes an hour or even a day can seem to last an eternity and other times can race by without our even noticing. Can you remember what you were doing five years ago? I sure can! I was at what was easily the toughest point in my life. I had just recently "come out" officially to family, friends and co-workers. While that was an enormous relief and extremely positive step, I was still very lonely. Kind-hearted co-workers wanted to help and fixed me up on my one and only blind date. The guy was a part of a summer beach house in Rehoboth. He invited me down in early July to spend a day at the beach. I decided to give it a shot. After all, what did I have to lose? I headed for the resorts and got caught up in the lively crowd who shared the residence. My date was a great guy but we really didn’t have much in common. As luck would have it, one guy stopped in to visit friends at the house. There was something about him that caught my attention. He was good-looking, self-confident and quite articulate. He barely paid any attention to me. After all, I was just part of the endless stream of people who wandered in and out of the house. I’m not sure we even spoke that day. For weeks after that fateful day, I kept telling my best friend about this amazing guy I had met that day. His name was Bob. I really never expected to meet him again. After all, I didn’t even know his last name! But, as luck would have it, our paths did cross again several months later. It was an odd set of circumstances that eventually led to our first date. We’ve been together ever since.

That was five very short years ago that Bob and I first met. It’s hard to even conceive of a time when he wasn’t part of my life. We recently decided to commemorate this important "anniversary" by getting rings. To be honest, I really wanted the rings. After a great deal of consideration, Bob "gave in" and agreed. Once on board with the idea, Bob dove "head-first" in to finding the perfect rings. In typical methodical fashion, he researched jewelers in the resort area. His hunt was relentless. As months passed, he decided a custom design was the way to go. In the end, there was only one store that met Bob’s exacting requirements, Elegant Slumming. The owner, Philip Livingston, had been nothing less than professional and courteous on our many visits. His patience was, frankly, amazing. After six lengthy visits, anyone else would have closed their doors when they saw us coming! Philip hung in there with us. As a result, we have very special rings to commemorate a very special time in our lives.

So, there you have it. That’s what Bob and I were doing five years ago. I can’t help but wonder where we’ll be five years from now. For those of you who are sharing a beach house this summer, pay attention! You just might meet your "Mr. Right." I know I certainly did!

Be Alert!
Whenever you participate in outdoor activities, it is always prudent to take reasonable precautions to ensure your personal health and safety. While there are any number of potentially harmful plants and creatures, two of the most common in Delaware are poison ivy and ticks. The following is information from signs the Division has created and posted giving helpful hints on how you can avoid problems from these nuisance species.

Contact with poison ivy may cause severe skin inflammation, itching, and water blisters. Found throughout the state, you may see the plant in shrub or vine forms. Although there are many variations to poison ivy leaves, all have three leaflets. By staying on trails you should be able to avoid contact. While poison ivy may be harmful to most people, it does have benefits. The plant’s berries are enjoyed as winter food by many types of wildlife.

Ticks have been found throughout Delaware. Some ticks may carry diseases including Lyme disease. When outdoors, it is wise to use the following precautions:

• Walk to the center of trails.

• Wear light colored clothing to increase visibility of the tick.

• Tuck pants into socks.

• Wear long sleeve shirts.

• Use tick repellents on clothing and repellent collars on pets.

• Thoroughly check people and pets for ticks.

• Remove a tick by grasping close to the skin with tweezers and pulling steadily and gently until it releases its hold.

• In most cases, ticks feed for hours before transmitting disease. If, following a tick bite, you develop a rash or ring shaped red spot or any flu-like symptoms, contact your physician.

Beach Safety Tips

• Always swim in supervised areas.

• Never swim alone…use the buddy system.

• Check with lifeguards on surf conditions before swimming.

• Never overestimate your swimming ability.

• Judge your ability to participate in beach activities based on your swimming skills alone, not with the assistance of rafts or other floatation devices.

• Never dive into shallow or unknown waters.

• Never swim while intoxicated. Alcohol impairs judgment and unnecessary risks are taken.

• If caught in a rip current, relax and swim toward shore at a 45-degree angle until you are free of the current. If the current is too strong, swim parallel with the shoreline in the same direction as the lateral current is flowing, then swim diagonally toward the shore. If you are not able to swim out of the rip currents, call or wave for help.

• When body surfing, do not ride waves in a straight line toward the shore. Instead, surf at an angle to the waves. Avoid white water in the wave center to avoid going "over the falls."

• Follow the directions of lifeguards. They are there for your health and safety!

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 daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and provides 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:

Ghost Crab Toddle • Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. (through July)
Join us for a walk along the shore of the bay beach in search of these elusive crustaceans of the night. Bring a flashlight to assist you in spotting them as they scurry from side to side in search of their evening meal. Pre-registration is required. Limited to 20 participants. Meet at the kiosk at the fishing pier.

Experience the Nocturnal World • Fridays, 8 p.m.
Embrace the nightlife of Cape Henlopen State Park’s flora and fauna. Hear calls of nighthawks, frogs, and possibly view the flight of bats as you witness the behaviors of these night creatures.

Meet at the campground amphitheater.