The "Weekend Date" Story

It was an ordinary day. We just got back from a lunch date to the Chesapeake Bay. Actually we went to Chesapeake City which is located on the C & D Canal. The canal connects the Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware River. Third busiest canal in the world. Only saw one large barge being pushed by a huge tugboat. Weekends are dead usually for canal traffic, except for the pleasure boats and jet skis. Decided in the middle of the week that we deserved a day away so we picked a location, made a reservation and off we went. Takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to CC. Head south out of Lancaster to Quarryville and south again to Oxford, PA and then Elkton, MD. Pass through Elkton on MD RT. 213S for about 6 miles and you head over the tall bridge that crosses the canal. Used to be scared to look down when I crossed the bridge, but now look both ways as I cross to see if I can see any large ships coming from either direction. We made the right hand turn into CC and found a parking spot along the main street. Neat little town with houses built in the early 1800s. Now has a population of 787 people. There are a few restaurants located on the water and we chose the Chesapeake Inn for lunch. Carol had a lobster grilled cheese sandwich and I had lobster mac and cheese. We shared a bowl of crab bisque which was unbelievable. Both our meals were fantastic. Took a walk through town and visited a few stores before we found a shaded bench along the canal and watched the boats and traffic on the bridge. At times, when the large freighters come down the canal, you wonder how they will ever get under the bridge, but they always do. A block off the main street is the Vulcan's Rest, a yarn shop, which sells my photographs as well as a few other artists paintings. Always fun to stop in and say Hi to Margaret, the owner. After sharing a cup of ice cream at a shop along the water, we hop back in the car for the ride home. As we make our way towards Oxford, Carol mentions that the skies to the north look threatening. As soon as we pass through Oxford, the skies open and the rain starts. Really hard rain. Luckily there is someone in front of me and I can follow his taillights. Then, all of a sudden he brakes. I stop also and see why he has stopped. A very large tree has fallen across the road, blocking traffic. We both manage to turn around and I now need to find an alternate route home. Since I know the area pretty well from all our visits to the Chesapeake, I am back on course in about 10 minutes. Not long before we get home and survey the damage the storm has done in Lancaster. Tomorrow will be a day of clean-up around LDub's house, but our date for lunch was thoroughly enjoyable. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - pixs from the top are crossing the C & D Canal Bridge, deck of the Chesapeake Inn, bridge across the canal from below, barge being transported by a tug boat and girls in an Amish buggy trying to stay dry in the storm.