Early Withdrawal, cuts from the Watt.

Closing another account. Pulling back to save the fins; 38th and Castles, 7/22/2021.

    It had been a tough day, and a long week. I was pretty sure we were all looking forward to a relaxing evening. Hit the 38th Street and Castles surf break for the first time this year. Endless Summer Surf Shop marked the right turn for parking. Usually a point break at Castles. The local surf report had said thigh to waist high shorebreak. We've always said, "you don't know until you go." In this case...like that rare weather report, it was truthful. The tide was up, which made the break enticing enough to try, but unless the thigh-high swell was caught at the point, it would pass you by. If'in ya caught it, you had to angle parallel, or pull out early...and no one likes early withdrawals. Meanwhile, back on the the beach, LWatt and Target were playing chicken with the rising tide; each break coursing further inland until they'd be forced to move backwards from a position they had just gotten comfortable in. An evening that seemed destined to pull up stakes early, no matter where we were. We all had antsy feelin' when we left.

   Our destination of choice...I'll say it...my choice, of the evening was Crawl Street Tavern on Wicomico and Baltimore. Formerly known as the Pour House, they had the classic rock band "Jacked UP" was to be on stage. Our first sign: upon arrival we had no problem finding parking, however it took LWatt a good 15 minutes to get our location to show up on the very un-user friendly app. Upon crossing the threshold, the brut force of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man slapped us...and thanks to the band's sound man, kept our ear drums ringin'...sign two. Target and I ordered a couple of icy cold Miller Lites...good stuff!

Yet, combining the ear-splitting decibels, LWatt struggling to hold the menu still to read it, and the hint of a dive bar that had been treated for all the smokers' 2nd hand, we decided to make our next early withdrawal...exit, stage right, out the door and up the street towards the Boardwalk and the OC's definitive Cork Bar. Been here before as it has always been touted as the home of the Coldest Beer in Ocean City. We set out to compare to Crawl Street's icy glass. I think after our next two Coors Light's, we agreed...cold $hit! This is how we like our beer. With the ice forming on top and sliding down the sides. It helped that these two bars were owned by the same folks. At this point I will say the Cork Bar with it's perfect combination of modern and classic rock flowing from a digital jukebox, held an atmosphere much more conducive to holding a conversation, which we enjoyed for the balance of the night. The trials of the evening raised our appetites and we put in for a Sack Of Mini-Burger Sliders, Old Bay Wings, and the Tuna Salad Sandwich.

Digging in, we unanimously agreed, the wings- juicy, hot, and Eastern Shore spicy, were among the best Old Bay wings we've had in a long while. The sliders were tender and had a great seasoned taste as well. The tuna sandwich was meh, but came with plenty of fries and we left nothing behind. The Cork Bar is definitely a locals favorite, and it's classic fare, plenty of TVs, pool tables, and good service made this the archetype OC dive. Sometimes, it's best to go with what you know. It makes the Survival Journey more bearable. No withdrawal here. We will be back.

THE RATINGS-

Beer: B+ (CAB-Cold Ass Beer!)

Old Bay Wings: A-

Sack of Burger Sliders: B+

Tuna Salad Sandwich: C

Atmosphere: B

Value: B+

Overall Score = 3.08

Roll Tide, the Target's notes.

Dusk on the Sinepuxent, White Marlin Marina. 7/15/2021

Now I'm just gon' sit, at the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh yeah
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

-Otis Redding

     Is it possible? According to the calendar, summer is half gone. Remember being a little kid and summer just seemed to skip by while a new school year just appeared out of nowhere? Well, after last year's virus-fueled, slimmed down version of summer, we needed an extra long recovery this season. Hence, the Survival Journey. But, like the rolling in or out of the tides, time just keeps ticking away. Speaking of tides and time, if the Watts would roll in on time who knows what great adventures could be accomplished. We may never know. Upon hitting the beach, LWatt and I found ourselves seated among an ample evening crowd as the Watt entered the lineup. A warm, yet breezy night was our stage for a little summer entertainment. A group of middle aged women posted themselves for more than a few selfies, about knee deep in the wash, moving about. Just so happens they were right in Wattman's line...obstructing any attempt at his next ride. Next to his admitting defeat within the argument as to whether or not the water was cold enough to warrant a rubber top (it was not...he got too hot and changed), this had become our best enjoyment of the session. Much to everyone's, especially the Watt and the rest of the lineup's joy, the selfies ended and the line opened back up. This being the half-way point of summer, usually the dead flats take over and there's nothing to ride. Yet, while small...knee-high or so... this was the second week in a row there were semi-clean, rideable waves. Navigating through a scant lineup as the tide rolled in, for the second week in a row the Wattman was able to squeeze out several nice long frontside rides.

Frontside echo- enough rides to go 'round and 'round. 47th St. Break, 7/15/2021.

     Floating on a self-induce high, we called it an early night and sailed back over the dunes. This evening we headed to an old favorite in a new location. The Frog Bar lost the lease at the inlet and took the opportunity to move down the street to a much larger bayfront/dockside scene. I must say, this locale was a large step up in appearance, and while the view may never be as good as the inlet and it's traffic, it was pretty chill overseeing the reflection of the bridge and passing boat lights while "sittin' on the dock of the bay, watchin' the tide roll away." Another cause and effect of the pandemic has been the employment issues and resulting limited staff that has plagued Ocean City this summer. Tables that were closest to the bar were self serve from the bar. So, we went for the best view and got the bar service. The brew order- I got a my first Leinie Summer Shandy draft of the summer, Watt got his IPA. All was well, except...plastic cups...this could have been a great start, yet thanks to plastic, the beer was only cool not cold. Yeah, we were outside, on a deck, not sand, or the ground. Why not glass? From the menu we moved to the Kickin' BBQ Wings, the Frog Bar Burger with Bacon, and LWatt got a Mixed Greens Salad with Ahi Tuna.

The wings were large, and well cooked with a honey barbeque flavor that had a nice spice kick on the back end, but their temperature could have been warmer. The burger was kind of a disappointment. While large, it was bland...

no seasoning or bite to set it apart. The salad greens were just just that...mixed green lettuce. The Ahi however, was cooked just right. No TV's as on the deck we're there for the view. Our bartender was attentive. He even brought food out to us instead of just placing on the bar for pick-up. Two small speakers behind the bar provided the music. We did discover an indoor bar and dining area (not yet open) upstairs, and that area also packs quite the view. We were sad to see the old location close, however in the off-season, the new Frog Bar may definitely be worth a return check-in. Our recovery continues...

THE RATINGS-

Beer: B- (Plastic)

Kickin' Honey BBQ Wings: B+

Frog Bar Burger: C

Mixed Greens with Ahi Tuna: B

Atmosphere: B (the View!)

Value: C-

Overall Score = 2.63

Fun Little Summer Stuff, cuts from The Watt

"Oh no. A hurricane. A novel hurricane. We'd had better shut down for 6 months
to flatten the hurricane curve." -N. Nicholas
Elsa's track from the Gulf, crossing Florida into the Atlantic, 7/7/2021.

      A little summer churn greeted us this week courtesy of Elsa, our first Hurricane of the season. Though she was down in Florida and still a day away, and more like a spinning tropical storm-depression, she was our reason for moving to Wednesday this week. The conditions featured semi-clean to light chopped swell that created some irregular sections. Ocean temps continue to hang in the 68-70F range. Despite the name calling from Target and LWatt who were trying to trigger my pride, I had the rubber top on and I gotta say, I was comfortable. Comfort equals rides, and though difficult to escape the slush, I still managed to scrape up a few knee to thigh cuts. Fun little summer stuff that was sorely needed.

Into the shallows, 66th and Holidays. 7/7/2021

However, my fun was a bit at the expense of LWatt and Target as they were forced to once again endure high winds and dropping air temps across the shoreline. Finishing up on the last wave of the evening, respite was found on the other side of the dunes, by our vehicles. It had to be a good eight to ten degrees difference, especially with the windbreak of the surrounding buildings. Our relief (possibly their survival which, pardon the pun, fed into the Journey's theme) would be further sustained by our meal-ticket destination of choice.

   Our spot for the evening may very well have been the same one we had the last time the Crew had come calling nine years ago...right on the corner of the indoor bar of Big Peckers Bar & Grille on 73rd and Coastal. We were fortunate to get our seats as the place was inundated with families...kids everywhere.

No fish for the Crew!

The pandemic has certainly been given the boot in this beach town! No taps running this evening, however our barkeep was attentive and quick to place a couple of very cold brews with iced glasses in front of Target and I. We made our menu choices and at this point I will say that the seafood our Eastern Shore is known for has been missing from our diets over the last couple of sessions including this one. We ordered the Old Bay Boneless (no misprint) Wings, and the Oh My Bacon Back Burger...this place was known for it's "Bodacious Burgers," and LWatt put in for a Spinach Salad with Chicken. The boneless wings were juicy, tender and plentiful. Our only advice would have been to back off the Old Bay a tad (beer helped with that).

The burger was big and well cooked, even so it was a basic with bacon...missing the "bodaciousness." The salad was average, no real seasoning on the chicken- not impressive. We're hard...our critiques, rigid. If we're impressed, it was impressive. But again, we had plenty of food, the beer was ice cold, and the music (although low volume) as well as our service was well received. Our bar tab brought no surprises to our wallets- always a plus. The place was set up as a sports bar...a very dated, yet popular sports bar, which also places Big Peckers among the iconic dives of the OC. We enjoyed each others banter through the evening concluding it was worth the return. And we survived, which is assuredly important as we planned next week's port of call.

THE RATINGS-

Beer: B

Old Bay Boneless Wings: B

Bacon Burger: B-

Spinach and Chicken Salad: C

Atmosphere: C+

Value: B-

Overall Score: 2.63

Live Doesn't Make It Good, the Target's notes.

 

Skimming the frontsides. Ya take what you can get. 66th Street and Holidays, 6/30/2021

    I made an emergency call to change this week's schedule. The Watt was not watching the weather. Being the dedicated Crewman that I am, I stepped in to save us from being washed out due to a thunderstorm filled Thursday. Moving to Wednesday with no time change needed, I expected the Wattman and LWatt would show up late and they did not disappoint. But, it finally feels like summer on the beach.  The heat is on and we no longer need hoodies near the water. However, that damn beachside windstorm was still blowing. The warmer temps attracted the shorefront crowds of the year. LWatt and I settled into the beach chairs while Watt headed out to find a wave. Usually in early summer some of the best waves of the year can be found around low tide, yet tonight was not such a night. With only small waves and a south wind, Wattman spent more time drifting than anything else. As the sun set he did manage a couple of rides to end the night on a positive note. As we sat on the beach LWatt decided to check up on Watt's first dinner choice for the  night and as expected, it was a fail. So, with surprisingly quick agreement we turned to a previous establishment in  a new location. 

     Bourbon Street On The Beach is now located in the old Abby Burger Bistro location. We'd been to both. As we rolled into the parking lot the cars numbered more than I expected. That was just the first of many surprises.  The place was packed. Elderly drunk people listening to live music. I use that term lightly, since most of 'em were our age. Shhhh! The Crew has always stated no venue can score an A in atmosphere without live music. But, just because it's live music does not make it good music. Though loud at times and not impressive, with a little alcohol in the patrons systems, the band could hold their own. Did I mention they were loud? Bourbon Street had done some rehab on the building and extended the bar. We grabbed a table in back to help deaden the sound. The service was friendly and while a wide selection of brew was available at some point, several were tapped out. I got my norm and Watt got his craft,  both which were severed in room temp glasses. For our meal we gambled on BBQ Wings at $1.20 per wing. One would think for that price the wings were huge, yet these were on the smallish size and no way near a pound in weight. They had a nice flavor but not the sauce we were expecting. Our main meal was the Grilled Chicken Quesadillas.

While the chicken had a nice favor there were no fixings of any kind. So it was just a chicken and cheese wrap to me. And LWatt's salad looked like she could've bought it a supermarket. Overall, the fare was disappointing. So yes, we had a band. Yes, at some point they had numerous craft beers. And yes, the new venue has potential. However, we called it as we saw it. In the summer jungle, survival is about stability and consistency. Performance must meet the Crew's par. The Survival Journey carries on.

THE RATINGS-

Beer: C

BBQ Wings: B-

Grilled Chicken Quesadillas: C

Southwest Chicken Salad: C-

Atmosphere: B-

Value: C+

Overall Score = 2.25