Lower Counties Beaches (aka “Delaware”)

The plesiosaur—arch-nemesis and greatest object of my childhood fascination. Here’s a life-size plesiosaur dry-docked along the coast of the Lower Counties, which fondly refer to themselves as “Delaware.” I do not recognize Delaware’s statehood. The three counties that comprise it were all part of Pennsylvania till the height of the Revolutionary War. They declared their independence while Philadelphia was busy with weightier matters, thus rendering Pennsylvania the only state in the Northeast without a coastline, aside from Vermont (which at the time was still part of New York). My solution to the problem is this: We retake Delaware and grant statehood to Puerto Rico. That way the flag still has 50 stars, since there’s no place to put a new one. Besides, statehood looks ridiculous on the Lower Counties.

By the way, this is Joe Biden’s beach house. I sure hope someone younger and sharper steps up, but if not, a dopey old man is better than an evil one.

 

Dolly Sods, Dunkenbarger Loop Revisited (and Crowded)

 

One of the great glories of the inimitable Dolly Sods Wilderness of West Virginia was the seldom-visited Dunkenbarger Loop. I went there alone about four years ago on the weekend of Thanksgiving, and it was wild and cold and glorious. I had many vast miles of mountains and woodlands all to myself. Not so in June of 2024. This time the place was crowded. My plan was to return with a friend to a beautiful stream side campsite I’d seen on the earlier trip, and though we had it to ourselves on a Thursday night, neighbors moved in just 50 feet away on both sides the following night. I’m thinking Dolly Sods, in all its wonder and beauty, is best reserved for weekdays November thru April, when there are fewer people.