I love our meticulously planned travels, when we know where we are going & where we will be sleeping every night, but there is nothing more exciting than the spontaneity of a road trip.
For months, Joseph & I were planning to go up to New York for a few days for a wedding. However, it was not until a few days ago that we decided to leave a day early & make an impromptu trip to Delaware.
The day before we left, I did a little research to find a few places where we would want to stop. We packed our bags late Monday night, & then on Tuesday, with bathing suits on underneath our clothes, we headed out in our van to Rehoboth Beach.
We were lucky to have gone on one of the last warm days of the season. The ocean was cool but not unbearably so. We played in the waves with youthful exuberance, remembering the carefree days of our childhoods spent jumping through the waves. When the sun disappeared behind the clouds & goosebumps arose on our arms, we retired from our game & laid on the beach, toes dug into the warm sand, to dry off.
In our hurry to leave our home, we had not eaten much, so we decided to walk along the boardwalk to find some food. Our first stop was Thrasher‘s, a renowned french fry stand. We ordered a small container of fries to share. Immediately upon receiving our food, cawing seagulls began to swoop down over our heads, getting far too close for my comfort. We walked quickly, shielding our fries from their talons, until we were out of their reach. Then we walked while we munched, searching for our next stop among the many shops & restaurants.
Most of the businesses were closed for the season, but we finally settled on Blackwall at the Beach because it served crab cakes, which we both had a hankering for. We ordered the Trident Broiler to share, which came with a fillet of salmon, a large lump meat crab cake, & two small shrimps, served with a zesty roasted corn salsa & a roasted red pepper slice topped with melted Parmesan cheese. The plate had both our mouths watering as soon as it was set before us, & we finished it within minutes. All of the seafood was cooked to perfection, & each part of the dish paired beautifully with the subtly spicy aioli & refreshing basil pesto that were served alongside.
Our stomachs were full, but we thought we would be remiss to leave the boardwalk we both remembered from our childhood without a reminiscent scoop of ice cream. We perused the shops a little longer, dipped into a bookstore to find a few new interesting titles, & then finally settling on Kilwins for our special icy treat.
The locally owned confectionary did not disappoint. I ordered a scoop of the lemon sorbetto, which was thick & creamy, with just the perfect amount of sweet & sour. Joseph ordered a blended scoop of bitter yet sweet cappuccino chip & Kilwins tracks, which was reminiscent of the chocolate-studded favorite, Moose Tracks. We sat on a bench in the fading sunlight to savor our treats before finally heading back to the van.
We bought the van used from my mom months ago with the idea that it would make a great travel vehicle. It’s not yet as decked out in travel comforts as we would like, but it’s still a large enough space for the two of us to fit comfortably to sleep. Joseph found a local beach that allowed overnight parking, & we drove thirty minutes to the serene spot. In the darkness, we walked up to the sand, gazing up in awe of the stars above our head & watching lightning crackling in distance. In the darkness, we couldn’t see the waves, but the sound of the water crashing on the shore was deafening yet pleasant, like listening to a favorite song turned up all the way on headphones.
The only discomfort were the biting flies that would not cease feasting on any exposed skin they could find. When we couldn’t take the nuisances any longer, we returned to the van, moved all of our bags to the front, & laid out our sleeping bag & pillows in the back of the van.
The distant storm had created a humidity in the air that left water dripping down the windows. Our skin sweaty & hot, we debated whether or not to open the windows & invite the flies to join us. Joseph found a way to secure our beach towels overtop open windows, which may have let in a bit of cool air, but mostly the towels just clogged up the gap & left us just as hot as ever. Uncomfortable but exhausted, we both fell into an uneasy sleep.
The night continued to be one of the longest of my life. First & foremost, even with a sleeping bag, the floor of a van does not make a comfortable mattress. Tossing & turning, I felt like I awoke every 20 minutes to reposition my body in an attempt to find a comfortable spot. Meanwhile, the air, which had been unbearably hot to start, chilled as the night went on. By the middle of the night, we had both covered ourselves with blankets & winter jackets to try to stay warm.
When my alarm finally sounded, I awoke feeling tired but resigned to the knowledge that there was no way I was going to get any more rest anyway. We packed up the van & began the bleary-eyed drive to Lums Pond State Park.
The trail was just shy of seven miles around a peaceful, blue lake. The hike had little elevation, so despite the distance, it was not challenging. We spent the time chatting with ease. Most of the hike was the same view of the lake obscured partly by the trees we were trekking through. However, we did finally reach the swamp that the Swamp Forest Trail earned its name from.
When I heard the hike featured a swamp, I was not expecting much, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. The view was stunning. The green water actually looked clean & inviting. Ripples ran along the surface without a sound, blurring the mirrored images of the trees angled overtop its surface. We stood for a moment, soaking in the view before finally turning to walk the few miles back to the van.
For lunch, we decided to go to Market Street in Wilmington, a bustling street with a main-city feel despite being located in the middle of a city. Part of the street had been closed to allow vendors & food trucks to sell their goods. Despite there being a number of restaurants we had heard about, we decided the best taste of local food would be from these brightly colored trucks, so we perused the selection before finally settling on our favorites. Joseph ordered a surf & turf sandwich, a sub roll stuffed with smoked chicken & shrimp smothered in chipotle sauce & sprinkled with bacon, with a side of creamy bacon mac & cheese from a green food truck down the line. Meanwhile, I visited Zaikka, an Indian food truck, & ordered a pita wrap slathered with creamy hummus & topped with lightly fried falafel, lettuce & peppers. We ate at a picnic table, listening to the music blaring from a nearby tent that obliterated any chance for conversation.
The hour was getting late & we still had a long drive to New York, so we decided to find a coffee shop for a little caffeine kick before bidding Delaware farewell. We stopped at Brew HaHa!, a famous Delaware coffee shop serving up some of the best coffee in the state. I never order my coffee with sweetener of any kind, but despite this, the cold latte with almond milk was smooth & light. Brew HaHa! definitely goes on my list of one of the best coffee shops I have been to.
Our time in Delaware was short, but no less special than all of our travels. In fact, I think the short amount of time, & the amount activities we stuffed into it, made it even more exciting. The lack of sleep, scenic views, & unending search for delicious food & coffee are what road trips are made of. It’s a little taste of adventure in what otherwise would have been a day like any other.
However, I am a strong believer that adventures can be found even in the seemingly mundane moments of life. We are all the writers of our own stories, & we can choose the directions they go, what details we choose to focus on, what plot points & characters we choose to pursue. Any day can become an unexpected adventure if you’re willing to think of it that way, & perhaps venture a little outside of your comfort zone. Perhaps it means doing something spontaneous, like a road trip, or just something uncomfortable, like sleeping on the floor of a van. Or maybe it’s just taking note to & giving a little extra appreciation to the moments you don’t normally pay attention to, like the bittersweet taste of coffee. The morning caffeine run or the new restaurant chosen for after-work drinks can be relished for the little joys they are. Life, & all the moments within it, whether they be full of exciting new adventures or comfortable routines, is meant to be fully noticed, experienced & savored.