A Road Trip to Delaware
Girls trip edition
On a dreary Thursday afternoon in March, I texted Emily, a childhood friend, and asked if she had ever been to Delaware because I saw that the Delaware coast was only a two-hour drive from her apartment. She had never been and was up for another adventure. At that point, I didn’t need to hear anything else. We were going.
The next day after work, I drove the six hours from Cleveland to DC and arrived at Emily’s apartment in the middle of the night. We stayed up in bed, discussing our transitions into adulthood, and the whereabouts of people from our past. Having just started our careers in different cities, we don’t get to see each other that often in our lives anymore.
Early the next morning, we were off to Delaware. Sleepless, we blasted early 2000s hits on the radio. We wore athleisure clothing, stocked up on snacks, and reveled in the Mid-Atlantic views. This is true road-trip bliss. On our way, we discovered:
1.I-50E can have some brutal traffic
2. Delaware has no sales tax
3. Delaware is the first state in the US, making it the “OG” of America
In these moments, I realize that I retain far more information from experience than I ever did in school. Wanting to learn more, Emily and I eagerly read state brochures from the visitor center, learning about the state bird (blue hen), the number of counties in Delaware (3), and how long it takes to drive the entire state (~30 minutes). En route, Emily called hotels to book a room for the night. She specifically asked each hotel if they had a pool, eventually stumbling upon the perfect spot for us.
Once in the First State for our spontaneous getaway, we hiked at Lums Pond State Park and connected with lovely fellow hikers. It felt good to stretch our legs after a long drive while feeling the dirt trail underneath our worn out sneakers.
We then devoured my first Mid-Atlantic crab shack experience post-hike, something totally new for me as Emily was familiar with this rite of passage since living in DC. I dove into the sweet and nutty flavors of blue crab while listening to the seagulls circle overhead. The day was filled with new experiences that could be smelled, felt, heard, and tasted.
After our adventure-filled day, we returned to the hotel, very excited to use the pool. When we checked in, we asked for the whereabouts of the pool and the front desk staff informed us that it was closed for the winter season. We immediately started laughing. No sweat. On a spontaneous trip like this, you’ve got to make it work with what you’ve got.
We went to our room and filled the bathtub with warm water and made our own hot tub. After countless belly laughs and full hearts, we helped each other with hair and makeup, making sure that we looked perfect for the evening antics.
We then walked to a local bar and crashed a fraternity reunion… just like the good ‘ole days. We laughed with strangers and shared our life adventures over a couple of drinks. As the night continued, we found ourselves dancing on the run-down cracked tables to Skinny Love by Bon Iver.
Escaping into the moment, we transformed a girls trip to Delaware, a rather mundane place, into something that was new, joyful, and effortlessly fun.
It was one of those good-for-the-soul moments where everything felt right.
“We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.” — Paul Coelho
