Closeout Sale, tales from the Watt.

Close-outs to the left of me, close-outs to the right. Stuck in the middle.
Holidays and 66th, 9/25/2019.

Well I don't know why I came here tonight,
I got the feeling that something ain't right,
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair,
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs,
Clowns to the left of me,
Jokers to the right, here I am,
Stuck in the middle with you.
-Stealers Wheel

   Our season, meaning our surf season, our beach season, is closing out. After last evening's session, we have but five opportunities left to make the most of what the Atlantic gives us. Representative of what was yet to come, the evening's conditions laid out one close-out after another. I felt like no matter how, or where on the wave I started, I couldn't finish. Either I pulled a floater without landing it, or ate it soon after takeoff. Turned back, headed out, and I tried to get position for the next set. Got to say, they were fast. And, folded over almost entirely. Pile on to that the fast setting sun, and I can admit, the scramble got to me. Target was sitting back in his beach chair, enjoying each forced collapse. I think he even counted. After enough thrashings, and darkness setting in, I finally called it a night. I did have someone to blame. I blamed Jerry. Then I felt better.

  Leaving the dunes behind us, we took a right off of 66th, and for the fourth straight session we headed north. The most current destination was the Crab Bag on 130th and Coastal Highway, a place that highlighted eastern shore cuisine and was known for their jumbo wings. Having visited twice previously, in 2011, and the last time back in 2012, the establishment had only been critiqued on it's wings, and was in need of a Crew score update. Let's face it, our expectations have grown, hence their offerings should have grown. No closeouts expected here. Upon arrival we took our seats at a semi-crowded bar and ordered a couple beers. Natty Boh rules here, and I obliged as Target got himself a Miller Lite, and LWatt pulled in a George's Bloody Mary. Not much to choose from...domestics, no crafts... but a major plus was the iced glass our beer was served in.

These days it's hard to find a tavern serving ice cold drafts. Refrigerated or room temp seems to be the governing style. Our barkeep brought us the menus and we placed our orders...Hot Crab Dip, Old Bay Wings, and the "Baconator" Bacon Cheeseburger. At this point I could go into the assessment of our meal, but we're probably still waiting for it. It took a while. Actually the bartender was very good about keeping us informed as to the status of the grub. When all finally arrived, we dove in. The bacon burger...full of bacon...plenty of bacon, nice size (1/3 lb.), well cooked; a good burger. Not great, but a solid good one. The wings were big, plump, juicy, and waaaaay over spiced. The Crab Dip was okay, however definitely over cheesed, and very rich.

This was a crab house, so many around us were surrounded by brown paper bundles of steaming blue crabs. Target even manged to be a bit debonair and helped the damsel in distress next to him to keep her sleeves crab shell free (Target was all too happy to accommodate). Flatscreens dominated the area as this place made no doubt it was sports bar territory. Baseball, football, American Ninja, women's volleyball (Target was even more happy), the Weather Channel; the place was loaded. The music included an eclectic mix of 70s and 80s which met our "classic" requirements. The tab, when it arrived, was tolerable. However, a place that expounded on it's exceptional food, had average bar food with average bar beer. A wave that looked good, but folded....a closeout. A good game was needed. Maybe a surf movie. It would align the karma of the place. Something that would be warranted if our Journey were to ever bring us back by.

THE RATINGS-
Hot Crab Dip: C
Old Bay Wings: C-
"Baconator" Bacon Cheese Burger: B-
Beer: C+
Atmosphere: B
Value: B-
Overall Score = 2.42

Jacked, tales from the Watt

"Paddled out in clean, -HH conditions and broke my leash on a closeout. My board was gone, and I had to swim -200 yards back to the beach. I felt completely weak and helpless without my board. It was a good reminder to never take the ocean for granted, even in easier conditions. Inspect your leash for nicks, and wear before you paddle out. It only takes a minute. I'm also going to learn to body surf"       -G. Shralper, San Francisco.

Good advice. Waist to chest high, bumpy surf jacked my board as well. Post swim 65th Street Break. 9/19/2019  

   It was a short session with no rides. Some point breaks. Mostly closeouts from a passing Hurricane Humberto. Impatience led me to get caught inside. As I dove under a closeout, the force of the roller yanked the board and in the process snapped my leash. Like the quote above, with my board jacked and left for the beachcombers, washed up on the sand, I found myself swimming for shore. Did not have to swim 200 yards...maybe 75. Not so bad, but made me realize how shallow (about waist) the depth was where much of the swell was breaking. Tough break that ended the sesh a tad early. LWatt and Target could sense my annoyance as I walked up. However, as the sun was already settling down beyond the horizon, I am sure they were glad to be moving on.

   Our direction was once again north, Circling onto 138th street, we pulled into the lot of the Fenwick Inn, home of OC360 Eats and Drinks. Target and I had been debating as to whether or not to try 'em out. We had been to this place a few years back (6 years to be exact) as Peaky's Restaurant, and it did alright in our scoring. Still, Target was less than thrilled about heading back up to the top floor tavern. OC360 has been around a couple of years. It scored well on tripadvisor. Not that it matters, but I believe Target changed his mind because he wanted the Truth, and that would only come from his (and the rest of the Crew's) critique. Not a huge clientele this evening as the 2nd season had truly set in. On an upside, we slid in earlier than usual due to the ocean hi-jacking, and were able to take advantage of happy hour. Starting out, LWatt ordered a Grapefruit Crush, while Target and I got ourselves a couple ice cold drafts. In fact, Target got his first Summer Shandy in a long while... perfect for our last session before the Fall Equinox.

We were also able to squeeze in a couple orders of wings, BBQ and Old Bay, as the hour ended. We followed up the wings with an order of BBQ Pork Sliders and a side of Fries.

So, to back up a hair. The drafts were ice cold, which never ceases to make a beer that much better. The wings were smaller, much smaller, that we have been used to. However, both were served hot and the sweet tang of the BBQ combined with the peppery kick of Old Bay made for a tasty match. The pork sliders had a good taste as well, but along with the fries, were on the less than warm side. Overall, a good meal. Our bartender did a nice job, and she was attentive with our orders. The bar area was spacious with plenty of TVs. The music was a poor choice. Actually a little bit like club meets high tech pop... didn't match the place. Also, the A/C was on full power. We weren't sure if that was why our sliders cooled so fast, or our beer glasses were iced. Regardless, our tab made us smile, which we haven't been used to lately. So, alls well that ends well. The Journey could bring us back in the future. Just not the near future. Maybe in another 6 years.

THE RATINGS-

BBQ Wings: B-

Old Bay Wings: B-

Pork Sliders: C+

Beer: B

Atmosphere: C+

Value: B
Overall Score = 2.67

Cruiser, tales from the Watt.

You comb the night 'cause you're a cruiser. And ya you never get enough...  -The Cars, Cruiser.
Twilight frontside cruiser, 66th and Holidays. 9/11/2019

   Crumbs from Dorian. Traces of Gabrielle. The tropical hurricane season had hit giving us sectioning surf last evening. The leftovers from the offshore storms were made for cutting fast cruises across the froth before dying out. Like a street racer that ran outta gas. The rides were brief, and if I didn't jump on 'em quick I'd miss, getting caught up in the mush. If I was indecisive as to direction, there was not enough power to pull through and I'd end up out front in the flats...on empty. I enjoyed it all and suffered through it all to some degree. Like the conditions, the on-shore winds would pick up, and then die down. In their self-imposed stationary posts it appeared that LWatt and Target were content to be relegated to their fixed seats. But, as the winds rose and fell unevenly, the slightest bit of chill settled in. This time of year, the sun drops fast, so water time is fleeting. After a seasonally shortened session, throw in the chill, we wrapped up. Once again, we cruised north for the night's dining critique.

    Leading into Mid-September, we're twelve days from Fall. Our Summer tap had kicked. One of the signs of autumn setting in has been the growing number of corn fields reaped and leveled. So Our Harvest on Ocean Highway and North Fenwick Island, DE, was a nice pick by Target that merged well with our place in the season. Situated in a country-shed style building, paneled in shiplap, their covered front porch-walk was lined with stacked planters of fresh herbs and vegetables. Inside was an eclectic mix of formal and casual; farm tables, plush couches, and leather bar stools with well placed flatscreens on the perimeter. We found a place at the bar and were swiftly attended to by our barkeep, Jake.

First impressions are the most lasting, and I gotta say, Jake's knowledge of their brew offerings impressed. When I inquired about the beers on tap, Jake asked a couple questions about my preferences then gave an accurate description and flavor profile of each beer. This may have been the reason the tap handles were blank. It forced the questions, and corresponding answers. The knowledge of the menu was the same. Joined by fellow barkeep Ryan, both guys were well versed in the food offerings and very flexible as to any additions or subtractions we requested. We placed our orders and soon had our choices brought out. LWatt had the Grilled Baby Caesar with grilled romaine and chicken. The lettuce was lightly charred and the chicken well cooked but small portioned. Target and I split the Charred Wagyu Flank Steak, and the Carne Flatbread.

The steak was luke-warm, not charred enough, and also small portioned. The pleasant surprise of the evening was the flatbread. The best we've had all year, it had big slices of wagyu meatballs, house chorizo, fra diavolo sauce for a bit of a bite, and buffalo mozzarella to finish off. Nice! The beer was good, but glasses could have been chilled vs. frig-kept. The barmen were polished and good-natured. Our tab was probably the most expensive we've seen. In fact, it was the most expensive we've seen. Small (and expensive) portions left a void in both our stomachs and pockets. In general, a nice dining experience. The service was very good, but the beer and food, while well thought out, was overpriced. It is hard to say if the ever so busy schedule of our Journey will ever bring the Crew back, but if so...it will have to be after payday. For now, we cruise on.

THE RATINGS-

Grilled Baby Caesar: B

Charred Wagyu Flank Steak: C+

Carne Flatbread: A-

Beer: B

Atmosphere: B

Value: C-

Overall Score = 2.79

When you're cruisin' down the street
And you're takin' off the heat
When you're on the moonlight run
(Cruiser)
Well, you're a cruiser
(Cruiser)
(Cruiser)

-post dedicated to
Ric Ocasek, 1944-2019
The Cars

Eve Of Dorian, tales from the Watt.

Twas the eve before Dorian, no one dared take a shot. Not a surfer was stirring, except bonehead Watt.

Paying the price and getting stirred, 67th and Holidays. 9/5/2019

   Not a good night for the Maytag Repairman. Nor was it a good night to surf. Hurricane Dorian was off the coast of the Carolinas and headed our way. Yet we made the trek. I had to take a shot. Needless to say, I did not fair well. In between sections and an agitated lineup  every attempt to take-off put me in the spin cycle. It was a major exercise to even look for position. The clean-up would occur over the weekend, as Dorian headed north. However, this evening was made up of shattered swell, hard blowing wind, stinging sand, and burning salt...just miserable. Target and LWatt were forced by the conditions to abdicate their usual seated positions. Making an appearance just beyond the dunes, LWatt did a safety check as Target walked across the beach, despite his reluctance, and stood in there to fire a few pics. Give him credit, although I think he was just a little disappointed when I climbed out of the ocean's grasp. "What? Done already?" he asked. Yep, time to grab some supper.

   We headed northward, as in Dorian's track, up to Fenwick Island and Mancini's Brick Oven Pizzeria and Restaurant. Since LWatt (of Italian heritage) joined our Crew we've had good luck with Italian eateries, and upon Target's suggestion we were all in. Nothing like a little Old World comfort food to soothe the soul after a few 'Cane thrashings. With limited seating, we found ourselves waiting a few for the bar to clear, prior to snagging our seats and ordering a couple brews. Ah, our first pinch...no taps, only bottles. But, an okay selection and the glasses were cold as Target had a Stella and I latched on to a Sam's Octoberfest (Hurricane season's here, Fall's 'a comin').

Perusing the menu and after minor debate, we resolved ourselves to the Crabmeat Bruschetta and the Meatball Pizza. Highlighted with big chunks of backfin, the bruschetta was mounded with fragrant marinated diced tomatoes and fresh basil on thick slices of crostini. All agreed it was among the best appetizers we've had all year. The pizza was small, albeit crispy.

Very good crust and the combination of meatball slices and cheese with the smoke of the wood fire oven made for a savory pie. The joint was small, although the rounded shape of our bar allowed for easy conversation without talking over or across each other. Two flatscreens were well situated, much to LWatt's delight, as we had NFL opening day with her beloved Bears teeing off against the hated Packers. Music was low, which I suppose was acceptable considering the game. Tab was a little high...but that seems to be the trend as of late. All in all, an enjoyable experience on the eve of our first major tropical storm. The next day was expected to be rained out. At this point, as spoiler note: Dorian kept heading farther out, and other than expected beach erosion, we were fortunate to be spared any major damage. All were safe for another round.

THE RATINGS-
Crab Bruschetta: A
Meatball Pizza: B+
Beer: C
Atmosphere: B
Value: B-
Overall Score = 3.00

You WILL return!

State of Kāua (Transition), tales from the Watt.

Convergence; Sail, Surf, Sea, and Stoke. Late evening water-time. 47th Street Break, 8/29/2019.

Summer's end's around the bend just flyin'
The swimmin' suits are on the line just dryin'
I'll meet you there for our conversation
I hope I didn't ruin your whole vacation
-John Prine, Summer's End

   Two weeks ago I spoke of the hint of Summer's end. While I was in denial, and LWatt didn't want it, Target stubbornly clung to his intuition that Autumn was fast approaching. I must admit he was onto it, but in my mind Summer was hanging on, if only by the fingernails. This week however, the signs of Kāua were all around us. Hawaiian for transition, the evidence besieged us. It's that time of year. The beach was quieter; much less crowded as LWatt and Target took their seat at their usual 50 yards (OK, maybe 20 yards) from the barely encroaching water's edge pretty much with an unobstructed view. The OC Beach Patrol had reduced locations as students returned to college. Local business were feeling the effects of schools getting ready to open both in reduced number of tourists and reduced workforce. Hurricane Dorian was strengthening down in the Caribbean, but, it's effects were not yet being felt up our way. Our conditions this night were a bit better than they had been. No hard shore-break. Water still in the lower 70s.  Winds were at 5 knots or so. Waves, about thigh high-ish. Relaxing and pleasant, I found myself drifting in the lineup, staring at the horizon, being grateful for the evening. A last ride as the sun set, then we wrapped up and headed down south.

   Growing up in the area, I remember approaching this time of year. I could feel the anticipation of summer football camp, and the anxiety of the corresponding start of classes a couple of weeks later. At 18/19 years old (legal age for beer at that time), dives like this night's joint were the perfect locale to blow off excess steam. We are no longer 18, but our Crew appreciates where we are in life. Translation: tonight's dive was set for us to grab some comidas and vent the day's stresses with friends. The second of our "Boards" series, the original Guido's Burritos, located on 1st Street and the Boardwalk, was the objective of the evening's critique. Upbeat atmosphere, authentic recipes, intoxicating aromas...as you grow...get older...reality sets in. Or is it a level of doubt? I think the experience leads to the doubt. All was not blue skies over the rainbow. Or, across the border as in this evening's case. Our barkeep, all smiles and service, was ready with our beverages despite the regrettable fact that all taps were out-of-service due to lack of pressure. But, as the night progressed and the number of Millennials grew, so did the scarcity of our barkeep.

Thus our order, which consisted of the Bottomless Chips, Fresh Guacamole, and Handmade Salsa, Chicken Quesadillas, and Old Bay Agave Tijuana Wings, took nearly a millennial to be prepared and brought out to us. When the order arrived, it arrived in intervals, with the wings coming out last. This was not boding well. The chips were... chips; hard to f-up chips. And. they were warm which was good. The salsa and guac were fair. The quesadillas were better than last week, but not by a long stretch.

The wings had a very nice spicy-sweet taste with flecks of cilantro, but were small and as there were only six, small was downright corruptible. LWatt's Margarita was fair, Target's beer was average, my beer was warm. The taps were down. TVs were up, but the Redskins were losing. The music was unrecognizable, almost...Millennial. The tab, just sad. This was an establishment that seemed to be waiting for the Summer to end; a tavern in a state of Kāua. As we walked the Boards taking in the last of the summer upheaval, I could not help but reflect- I for one, would be hesitant to return, and I believe my Crew cohorts would concur. That is the gamble of our Journey. Sometimes we get diamonds. Sometimes we get coal. Or Boardwalk Guidos, whichever the case may be.

THE RATINGS-

Old Bay Agave Tijuana Wings: C+

Bottomless Chips, Salsa, & Guac: C

Chicken Quesadillas: B-

Beer: D+

Atmosphere: C+

Value: D+
Overall Score = 1.96

Someday I'll be eighteen, goin' on fifty-five... -Bryan Adams
End of Summer in the OC