52 Weeks of 2014 - Week 28

Since returning from vacation, I've managed to get way, way behind in my blogging, but I'm committed to getting caught up, starting with an account of our trip to the Jersey Shore and Delaware. I started the trip in an anxious mood because the predicted weather was 70% chance of "drenching thunderstorms" for pretty much the entire time of our stay. Thankfully, the forecast was completely wrong, and we had beautiful sunny weather for most part. In fact, it ended up being one of our best trips yet, as we didn't get lost (Alexandria / D.C. '13) and no one got sick (Me - Wildwood / Deleware '12). I'd call that a roaring success!

This year, we stayed in Wildwood, right at the edge of Wildwood Crest. Although the area we stayed in was very nice and convenient to the boardwalk and restaurants, I still would have preferred to stay in Ocean City, but it's just too expensive this time of year. One reason is that Wildwood's boardwalk is just too trashy for my taste. Here's the second reason:



Here are Lauren and I on the Wildwood boardwalk. See that hazy blue line far, far in the distance? That would be the ocean. I think the walk from the boardwalk to the ocean was a least three times as long as the walk from our motel to the boardwalk. So when in Wildwood we don't spend much time at the beach because it's just not worth the trouble.



Besides, Lauren prefers the pool anyway.



Adjacent to our motel was a bike rental shop where we were surprised to see none other than Aunt Dolly.

 
 I think we would all agree that the best part of our vacation was the time we spent aboard the Thundercat Dolphin Watch tour. Last year, I had read the Thundercat's rave reviews and was anxious to see what the fuss was all about. It did not disappoint.



First, our tour guide bore a striking resemblance to Robin Thicke. We were waiting for him to bust out some verses of "Blurred Lines" at any moment. I think I should have put that in the suggestion box.

Second, the dolphins! Early in the cruise, we saw some dolphins swimming in the distance, but nothing you'd call an "encounter." So we were quickly getting skeptical that we were going to see any dolphins in action.



What we didn't know is that The Thundercat has been giving tours for 17 years, so the local dolphins know the boat very well. Once they spot it, the show begins. They follow behind the boat and jump in and out of its wake.







It was amazing. I will never doubt your word again, Robin Thicke!

 

We also had some up close and personal animal encounters at the Cape May Zoo. No visit is complete unless Mark feeds this goat.



I started to stalk this peacock in hopes that he was spread his feathers because I don't think I've ever seen a peacock do that in person.



Eventually he gave in so I'd leave him alone.



The big deal at the zoo this year is their new baby giraffe.



But not even a cute baby giraffe can top a giant tortoise getting lucky (This is where we could have really used Robin Thicke's talents.). He was so loud about it that you could hear him a few exhibits over. More than one person chuckled and said, "Now that's a once in a lifetime sight!" but apparently it isn't because there are numerous YouTube videos of them.



Now I don't have to regret not taking one of my own.



Next we spent an evening at one of my favorite places on Earth - the Ocean City, NJ boardwalk!

 

Here's Mark waiting while Lauren and I do some shopping. We got Shriver's taffy, Johnson's caramel corn and souvenirs from Old Salt!

 

 





 

Dinner was Manco and Manco pizza, of course. We unanimously decided that we prefer it over Mack's Pizza over in Wildwood.



Here's Lauren looking satisfied with her stuffy haul from Jilly's arcade.



It finally did rain our last night in New Jersey and into the next morning when we left, but it cleared just enough for one last walk on the beach.