LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Leather Beach: A Beach with Room for All |
There is a misinformation campaign going on in Rehoboth Beach and I intend to set the record straight! Some people say that the only place for gay men to go to the beach is Poodle Beach, but this isnt true. There is another great beach part of the state park systemthat welcomes everyone, and has great parking. It is Gordons Pond State Park, just north of Rehoboth Beach. Often misidentified as North Shores, the park is not part of the unincorporated area and its private beach. You do, however, drive through North Shores to reach the park where for a mere $20 a season ($40 for out of state vehicles) you can get a parking pass good for all of the state parks in Delaware. For those who choose to walk or ride a bike, admission is free. Day and weekend passes are also available which allow you to come and go. The North Shores area is easy to get to. Follow Ocean Drivewhich runs parallel to the beach north of Rehobothuntil it dead ends at the Gordons Pond State Park parking lot. I have been visiting Rehoboth for 13 years, and this is by far my favorite beach in Delaware. It has a bit of history, is scenic and beautiful, and people will always smile and say hello. Park at the far north end of the Gordons Pond parking lot and you will find the area where the gay people hang out. I should mention that there are "port-a-potties" in the parking lot to accommodate your bodily needs (always something I like to know when visiting a new place). A sandy path off the parking lot leads to a jetty where youll find a concession stand which rents umbrellas and beach items, and sells snacks. On the right side of the jetty is a guarded beach where hundreds of lesbians (and a few straights) spend the day. To the left of the jetty youll find the majority of bathers are gay menmasculine numbers and bears basking in the sun and frolicking in the wateron the unguarded section of beach. Dogs are welcome to enjoy the hot summer days, and you will see just about any breed imaginable, and some you wouldnt ordinarily imagine. If you bring your pooch, however, remember to keep him on a 6 leash or face a nasty ticket. Beyond the swimming area, youll find surf fishersmany gayparked in their four wheel drives with their poles out in all their splendor. You need to be actively fishing to get a permit to drive on the beach and pay an additional fee. What I like most about this beach is that people are friendly, and someone will always talk to me. Even when I felt less than pretty, guys there were warm and courteous. I have been to other gay beaches where if you arent young, in Olympian shape, and have a shaved body, you dont exist. Perhaps youve been to beaches like that, where it looked as if it would kill someone to return a smile. Too bad, because smiles are free and should be given ungrudgingly. At Gordons Pond, people do not look at you as if you are from another world if you smile at them. Gay fathers feel comfortable bringing their kids, and not a single derogatory remark will be heard from the children. If you think that the sight of two men kissing or holding hands is likely to upset your family members, however, it is probably better to consider one of the straight beaches. And what of the history I mentioned? There are two concrete towers, like those found all along the Delaware coast, which were constructed to keep lookout against German submarines during World War II. They have held up better than many contemporary structures but not well enough to be open to the public. It is a shame that the state hasnt restored these grand structures, as they did in Lewes. They would command a splendid view. I love the towers and always point them out to visitors. I remember one of my friends was so impressed that he ran up to the southern most tower and, with a gleeful smile, gave it a bear hug as though it were some tremendous phallus. Wild life find refuge in the park, too. There is an area cordoned off in the early summer past the northernmost tower where endangered seabirds nest and raise their young. Surf fishing is not allowed in the area because the four wheel drive vehicles were running over the nests and killing the chicks. Late in the summer, when the chicks have left the nests, the barrier comes down and you can walk all the way to Lewes among the gulls and sand pipers dodging the surf. You can sometimes spot a flock of pelicans flying low over the surf, or dolphins bobbing in and out of the water near the beach. Why do the bears and leather guys hang out here? Because of the sense of camaraderie the place inspires. Bears are especially known for being themselves and for their lack of attitude. The state park by North Shores is a place where they can go and enjoy themselveswithout listening to comments about bodiesand meet great people. They proudly display their unshaved chests, bodies, and faces, surrounded by warm smiling faces. For all you gay men, leathermen, bears, pet lovers, and lesbians, Gordons Pond State Park has a charm all its own and something for each of you. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 7, June 18, 1999 |