Midtown Bantams, the Target's notes.

Power for nothin' and your waves for free. Getting the most juice out of each pressed set. Rodeways, 8/23/2018.

Now look at them yo-yos, that's the way you do it                  -Dire Straits

 

   Midtown and Rodeways again, hoping the natural point of this break would make the most of the projected bantam sized surf. I dropped by Chauncey's Surf Shop while I waited for the Watts to arrive. It was apparent from the get go that the shop did not match my memories. Mostly boards and shop logo apparel. Less commercial, but also less for me. A surf shop that did not cater to my expectations; I left quickly before the bad vibes set in. Heading up to the dune pass to do a wave check, five young guns hopped out of Mom's SUV with boards in hand. At this point Wattman arrived and I mentioned to him that while he had no pressure, I believed these guys would own the lineup. As LWatt and I settled into our beach chairs we were attacked by the local militia. This time of year when the winds are right, sand flies rule the beach. But, a late day onshore breeze came to the rescue and provided relief. Wattman was having his own trouble. The pocket combers may have been great for those 50-plus pound young dudes, however they did not generate the power or speed Watt needed to slice into them. The mid-tide did not help. As dusk approached Wattman finally caught a small right that seemed like it might be the only ride of the night. Then it happened once again. Not one, not two, not three, but five backside juicers in a row were hitched and nearly ridden to the shore. Watt would pull into each starting to the right, and almost in slo-mo slide left until finishing almost parallel to the beach only a few feet away. Thus, the night ended on a high note as we headed off for West Ocean City's commercial docks and our appointed reward.  
   Tonight we were surveying Mad Fish Bar & Grill on the water situated on the south side of the harbor. We made our way to the lower level outside bar. Right off the bat (pun intended) LWatt was happy to find the Cubs game on TV. A round of drinks were ordered as Wattman got his craft beer, I was in my glory with my Summer Shandy draft, and LWatt sipped on an Orange Crush. Menu choices included Flounder Tacos, Steamed Shrimp, and a Cajun Shrimp Po' Boy.

While imbibing said beverages I revealed my alias...Sinjin (the Shandy did that). Many associated adventures never revealed. Before we proceeded I just let it sink in. But, I digress. The peel 'n eat shrimp were an instant hit. They were hot, spicy, and well cooked. The meal started out well. The Po'Boy had a fair mount of popcorn shrimp but that was it. Not real spicy nor special about it. just a big bun that was more bread than needed. The real blunder occurred with the two tacos...the meager size of the fish in each. If you were to only glance you would miss what was supposedly the main element of the dish.

While we finished our beverages in plastic cups, we listened to an unwelcome club music mix as we watched the end of the Cubbies game. The final downfall came with the bill. One of the highest of the year despite decent service. Although the view was excellent, the food and prices were no match. Thus, I believe it will be a long time before the Patrol stops by here again especially with Harborside right next door.

THE RATINGS-

Flounder Fish Tacos: C+

Steamed Shrimp: B+

Cajun Shrimp Po'Boy: C

Beer: B-

Atmosphere: B+

Value: C-

Overall Score = 2.54

Out Of The Shadows, the Target's notes.

Left cut, carving what's left from the bare bones. 8/16/2018

Wringing out the rag for just a few drops. 8/16/2018

   It was getting late; late in the season, late in the day. We are now starting to feel the effects of a sun that sets two minutes earlier each evening. Wattman and Wife were burning up said sun as they had not yet arrived. Suddenly I heard a voice from the past. It mentioned that Watt was running late, but I was having a hard time determining where it was coming from. Then, out of the shadows appeared TRoth, an original OCBZ member who now resides in the Deep South. Making his yearly family visit to the Shore, he was joining us for this week's session. I had not seen him since the Watt's wedding almost two years ago, and we spent the time catching up. Watt was delivering a BZ for TR as his extreme life had caught up with his back. Not enough to keep him outta the water though. The Watts arrived and we crossed over to set up on the beach. Small knee high surf, low tide, and a southeast onshore wind were what they faced as TR and Wattman headed into the mid-70s water. The waves were semi-trashy at best and near non-existent for most of the session. Several times both tried for the same wave, and what could have been an epic dual ride picture would end up with a miss. TR would grab it...Watt falling back, next time it would be Wattman getting the ride and TR backing off. With my quick lens reflexes and sharp focus I did manage to snap one of a somewhat decent dual take-off. The conditions didn't give up much. As the sun slipped down over the western horizon, Thom R. slid into a final right needle and shortly thereafter Wattman finished on a short frontside himself. Done-done, we folded up shop and headed back over the dunes.

Peeling away the layers. Taking opposite directions, south of Holidays at 65th. 8/16/2018

   This evening we went upscale all the way and headed to the Ocean Pines Yacht Club. It must have, at one time, been a ritzy place that only the affluent could find. Without GPS guidance, it would take the average person years to locate the place with all the dark streets and turns required just to get there. Regardless, I made it. The place had recently undergone a major overhaul and it showed. The place really looked good both inside and out. The inside bar had the TV's with football. But, we still had the salt life in our veins.

Taking aim at the outside tiki bar, we grabbed a small table only to discover there was no table service. Two barkeeps, only eight people at the bar; go figure. In addition, the service was not on the speedy side even with us going to the bar ourselves. We finally got our beers while perusing the menu. Had to admit, the offerings looked good and we order the Conch Fritters, Old Bay BBQ Wings, Black and Blue Chicken Flatbread, and a Santa Fe Salad.

 The Conch was the surprise of the night for all of us.  Slightly over-crisped for my tastes, but otherwise very good with a nice remoulade sauce on the side. The wings were slightly above average having a subtle salty- sweet flavor from the Old Bay BBQ. The flatbread was the disappointment to both Watt and myself. While some may like tons of Blue Cheese we both felt it was way out of proportion to the rest of the ingredients. Too "blue-cheesy" as TR put it. Lastly, LWatt enjoyed her salad but I mean it was a salad. How good could it really be? With great weather outside, we enjoyed the conversation, the view of the boats in the harbor and the lights of the OC on the horizon. While the piped music was just average, it added to the over-all experience. So yes, the Patrol would entertain another drive-by. I myself, would return, and I know the Watts (living in the Pines), and TR (parents in the Pines) would return. Still, the Club has a long way to go if they want to be something special.

THE RATINGS-

Conch Fritters: B+

Old Bay BBQ Wings: B-

Black & Blue Chicken Flatbread: C

Santa Fe Salad: B-

Beer: C+ (More plastic)

Atmosphere: B-

Value: B

Overall Score = 2.68

Slow Ride, the Target's notes.

"Sometimes, you have to ride the wave you're given."  -Hansen Surf
Slow ride day, Rodeways on 30. 8/8/2018

   August in our little beach town. Heat, humidity, and pop up rain is the order of each day. We were on a Wednesday this week. We play the weather accordingly. Upon arriving at Rodeways (aka the Econolodge) in the OC the sun was out, however there had been just enough rain to wet-crust the top of the sand. Dry beneath...stir it around and all traces of the cool rain disappeared. A whole lot of nothing worth riding laid out in front of us. This was Watt's challenge, not ours. LWatt and I needed only to find our place and get our chairs set up among the unusually busy crowd along the shoreline. Suddenly, Watt caught a nice little frontside. As this occured a robust lady appeared and stopped directly between the camera and the ocean, thus no picture was possible. As we all know if there was no pic it never really happened, did it? So Watt was shut out in the early going, but continued to battle for a ride. Low key days on the ocean require a level of patience and Watt's was rewarded as a couple of sets appeared on the horizon. Slow rides on tap with limited staying power due to small, knee-high surf and high tide. A few more scores came through as the evening progressed...made the shut-out a distant memory. Nice finish to the session.

   Pulling away from our break and making a left on Ocean Highway, we headed down town to Old Ocean City turning bayside on 1st Street. Six years since our last foray into De Lazy Lizard and it had been somewhat highly rated so we wondered if a repeat was possible. We walked in without being carded as we had been on our last visit (if my memory serves) and we head to the Boat House Bar.

De Lizard is really set up as two halves with one catering to family with a recreation area and the other a more adult vibe. There was no live music tonight and the piped in music only started halfway into the night. There was a nice arrangement of flatscreens to view from our seats at the bar. In fact it was White Marlin Open week, and one was tuned to the ongoing live action so we got a great view without all the hassle of being there. It was a good thing we had the distraction as the bartenders were both jaw-jacking, driving slow when it came to providing us service. Customer service is half of a barkeep's job but these two were clearly missing the boat (pun intended). Done with the slow rides, thirst eventually got the better of Wattman as he was forced to yell to get their attention. With their diversion broken, I got my Summer Shanty and Watt ordered a local brew while LWatt had a crush. As we were kind of outside... again with the plastic cups, and yes I know its safer (and cheaper) for the bar this way. Still a downer. When we were ready to order we once again had to flag down the barkeep. At least they were consistent at poor service. We finally put in for the Bacon Cheddar Burger and the Baja Style Blackened Fish Tacos.

I believed the tacos were just Ok mostly because mine was only warm in temperature. I blamed this on how long we had to wait for the food to arrive. But, both Wattman and LWatt thought they were good and had a nice size fish portion. By and by the burger was just a burger to me, however Watt seemed to believe it was one of the better ones he had eaten. Or maybe it was just his hunger talking. We ended the whole affair soon after paying the bill. I thought later we over tipped given the level of service but the Crew is never cheap. As always we dropped the full Monty.  A rerun would certainly be possible. The set up was one of the best in town. But, without any live music and below average service at the bar the rating of this Patrol was much lower than our previous round. Better luck on the next set.

THE RATINGS-

Baja Blackened Fish Tacos: B

Bacon Cheddar Burger: B+

Beer(in plastic, again) : C+ 

Atmosphere: B

Value: C+

Overall Score = 2.75

Tourist Draw, the Target's notes.

"I just enjoy the ride while I have it." - Jorge Garcia
Fast ride through Castles, 38th street.  8/2/2018.

   A return to Castles. The site of the Castle in the Sand hotel; it was a hair crowded. While I waited for my cohorts I had the opportunity to visit one of our local surf shops. It wasn't long however, when the realization set in that the surf shop of my youth was now just another tourist draw. It became all too clear, an excuse for a clothing shop that does not have locals in mind. Soon enough Wattman and LWatt arrived and I focused on a more positive outlook as we marched towards the surf. Along the route it became apparent that Watt needed a 'tude adjustment as well. The workday had gotten in the way of his normal pleasant demeanor and he was craving a release. Tonight he needed a surf. As LWatt and I sat on the beach watching, we continued solving the world's problems. The problem we couldn't provide an answer to was the fact that the wave conditions were blown out, with heavy south by southeast winds knocking down the walls each time a decent set seemed to jack up. The tide coming in did not help Wattman in his endeavors. Due to the state of the Atlantic, the lineup was certainly not drawing any out-of town drop-ins, just a handful of core riders. Despite a strong northern current, Watt finally drifted into position to capture a small, thigh-high right hander. Not much, but enough that now he wanted another. We knew we were in for a wait. About a half hour and a couple short rides later, Watt caught the elusive last wave of the night and we were able to head back over the dune.

Castle on the dune, 8/2/2018.

   Each summer we have made it a point to try and make a stop or two on the Boards to graciously disburse our criticisms. Seems we always forget the amount of trouble it is to park and the hassle of the traffic just getting to our assigned task. We were returning to Hammerheads on 10th Street. Previously reviewed several years ago, this place had tourist attraction plastered all over it. Sell out as much booze as possible in the  original "Shark Tank" decanter was the allure.

The small inside bar at which we sat, had two TVs on opposite sides.  No music except for the boardwalk white noise. At least LWatt had her Bears game. Our barkeep was not the most attentive, but eventually took our order. I ordered the newest in the Budweiser arsonal, Bud Light Orange which came in an ice cold bottle. I have to admit it was quite refreshing and may have been even better if I could had a plastic cup from which to drink it from, as in Wattman's "brewed on premises" IPA from Backshore Brewing next door. The torment here was that Watt had to go next door to get said beer, and he couldn't bring over a flight. Not convenient at all. Although, looking around the place I saw most people drinking, and almost no one eating which I took as a bad sign yet we ordered grub anyhow.

We got the Trio of Sliders all three of which we enjoyed. Our second choice (actually my choice) were the Crabby Tots...tater tots with crab dip on top which were both good and bad at the same time. Tasted fair, but rich and expensive. So, I must take the blame here. However, it was the Shrimp Tacos with "boom boom sauce" that we enjoyed the most. The blackened shrimp were well cooked, not too spicy, but slightly over sauced...had a good taste overall. I believe our impression of the food was a surprise to all of us. A drive-by return for some Patrol members would definitely be possible. Slow service, few TVs, beer transport requirements...I doubted that I would return anytime soon. Bring on the next dark horse.

THE RATINGS - 

Trio of Sliders: C+

Crabby Tots: C+

Blackened Shrimp Tacos: B+

Beer: B-

Atmosphere: C+

Value: B-

Overall Score = 2.58

Heavy Return, the Target's notes.

So trade that typical for something colorful. If it's crazy, live a little crazy.

You can play it sensible, a king of conventional. Or you can risk it all and see.    -the Greatest Showman

Finding the calm in the chaos. Long ride starting, Holiday's and 66th. 7/26/2018

   Company had left town. It was a return to just the Crew this week. Wattman, LWatt, and myself once again headed to Holidays. The original break. With high tide and strong south by southwest winds, the conditions were good for whales and kites, but not the best for anyone getting in the water. Kite Day for the Believe In Tomorrow House by the Sea also located on our 67th break locale. A respite home for the Children's Foundation, this organization has been over the top, providing rest and hope for families of critically ill kids. The spectacle provided a respite for us as well should Wattman get his clock rung.

As we set chairs in place, Watt fought past the foaming break and into the lone lineup. After several attempts to catch anything close to rideable one wondered if this was going to be a scoreless week. Heavy chest high walls combined  with unstable to semi-clean swell made the sets difficult to read. Taking a beating in the surf can be exhausting. Add to that a strong northerly current and Wattman was walking blocks south to reset his luck. He would sit on the beach studying the surf, watching the rip to plan his next assault. So he claimed. Those of us who know Mother Ocean knew this was not the case. He was staring out to sea seeking to find the answer to the question we all seek to find. But, only the worthy can comprehend the sea's answer. Thus he waited; the sea slowly churned from a white capped turbulent mess to calm waves as Watt bounced passed the boil riding a rip back out into the lineup. Being at the right place at the right time can be especially fortuitous out on the water. Wattman must had found favor, as a building right hander appeared and there was Watt in position. Slowly the wave formed, picked up the board, and at just the right moment both wave and rider were one in motion, and kept going for more than two blocks before coming out the other side. While it may not have been the largest or fastest ride, it would certainly go down as the longest ride in memory.

High end jumbos...go get a loan Son!

   With session's end, we cruised to Victoria's Crab House on 15th and Ocean Highway. It had replaced the original English's Family Restaurant exchanging English's famous fried chicken for Maryland's famous blue crabs. Upon arriving I noticed not much had changed on the exterior décor during the change over other than a giant crab for the English's sign. This was saying something since it had been near 40 years since I had last been to the place. So, by now it was 9pm as we walked through the almost empty main restaurant side headed towards a little dive called the Crab Trap Bar on the other side.

While the main side had air conditioning, the dive on the "other side" had open doors that let to a screened in dining porch as well as an open area behind the bar that led to the kitchen...and you could feel the heat at times. But our barkeep was perky and that was a good thing. She had the bar and tables all to herself. Soon enough, she had cold brews in front of us even though in a plastic cup. They were out of wings (yes, I know...this was not a good sign). Thus, we went with a Seafood Pizza , Fish Tacos, and a Pulled Pork BBQ sandwich. The Seafood Pizza was the highlight. It was basically a crab dip spread with grilled shrimp on a pizza crust. Very affordable price, and very good.

The tacos had a small amount of fish but they had a good taste...decent I guess. Both LWatt and Wattman seemed to enjoy theirs. The BBQ was the disappointment. Not pulled, more like burnt tips of the meat that were very tough. Some of mine were so hard I could not chew them at all. Watt thought the taste was okay, but he usually cleans up what is left at the end anyway. While the food was going down, our barkeep added the music. She ran the playlist from her phone and we got 60's, 70's, and some country classics to listen to all night.  A well placed flat-screen had the O's game going. But this was a crab house. As the price of super jumbos were at $119 for a dozen, I for one would not be ordering crabs any time soon.

A classic dive bar. A Newbie that was perfect for the Patrol. But the competition is thick for crabs. It may be a while before we return and the question that looms over this and all the newbies heads...will they still be around when we do.

 THE RATINGS-

Pulled Pork BBQ: C-

Fish Tacos: B-

Seafood Pizza: B+

Beer: C+ (Cold, but lose the plastic)

Atmosphere: B

Value: B

Overall Score = 2.67