Today started out as a lazy day with breakfast outside and getting things unpacked and situated for the week ahead. It was nice to relax a little and unwind from the long drive, but it was short lived as we had decided that we wanted to see an old ship that was only in harbor for a short time, and today was the last day. We decided that we would see the ship and then explore the rest of the shoreline, see what natural parks were around, spot a few lighthouses and maybe grab a few geocaches while we were out.
We loaded the kids in the van, poor Elliot protested as I buckled him in, and we were off. We were cutting time close to making it to the ship before the last tour so we were trying to hurry, and then we hit a snag... bumper to bumper traffic... we were not going to make it. It was crazy!! Traffic was backed up for 45 minutes!! I couldn't believe how many cars there were.
Only thing we could think of was that it was the last day of the holiday weekend and everyone was heading back to the city from their relaxing weekend at the beach. Bummer for us, it made us late.
When we to the harbor in Lewes, I jumped out with the kids and we ran to the dock to see if we could make it in time while Derrick found a parking place. Unfortunately, when I arrived on the dock, one of the tour guides told me I was about 10 minutes too late for the last tour, but she did tell us all about the ship from the dock, so it wasn't all a lost cause. We got to get pretty close from the dock, but didn't get to actually get on the ship and look around like I was hoping for in the free tour. Maybe next time.
At home we have been learning all about different early explorers such as Eric the Red, Leif Ericson and Columbus. Ethan thought it was pretty cool just to see the ship in the harbor. I agreed. We walked around a little while we were there and watched as the ferry boat docked, unloaded cars from New Jersey and reloaded for the return trip.
 |
| Cape May-Lewes Ferry Boat |
The harbor in Lewes was near Cape Henlopen State Park and Fort Miles Historic Site, and there was a nature center there too, so we decided to check it out.
 |
| Ethan petting a horseshoe crab. |
After touching and looking we headed outside to explore and see if we could find some cool lighthouses. The kids explored a little on the beach, found a few small crab and lots of dead horseshoe crab and had a good time just running around in the sand.
After exploring we decided to see what the tall cement towers were. We drove over to one, thinking we could go inside, and realized that it was some radio tower or something that they were currently using. So we moved on to find another. We came across one that was available for touring and quickly went up the stairs to explore and get the view from the top.
 |
| Lots, and lots, and lots of stairs!! |
 |
| Looking out the cutouts, you can see the other towers in the distance. |
 |
| Walking around the top made my stomach flip-flop. |
 |
| "Pa Pa" says Elliot |
 |
| The kids loved yelling down to Grandpa Ernie! |
 |
Can you see Grandpa Ernie and Great Grandpa in their
white shirts at the center of the photo? |
 |
| The view from the top! |
 |
| We had to bribe Everett with a snack from the car to get this smile. |
 |
| Ethan cracks me up with the faces he makes sometimes! |
 |
The parts on this on moved slightly, the boys
thought it was a lot of fun! |
After messing around in on the guns and cannons we tried to find the geocache that was hidden in the area. I had a pirate coin trackable (called a Travelbug) that we had picked up in Branson, Missouri. It was time to drop it off.
I grabbed Ethan and Everett and headed in the direction my phone told me the cache was hidden. It wasn't long until I spotted it, and then Everett saw it too!
 |
| Do you see it? |
 |
| The kids love finding large ammo cans like this, they always have lots of treasure! |
 |
| Ethan tried to hide it the way we found it. |
The kids were getting whiny, it was getting close to dinner and we were all pretty sweaty from walking around so we called it a day. The drive back to the beach was less busy and the view of the bridge we crossed was much better too!
