I Love a Dive Bar
Last Saturday I took a long ride on the trike. It was 68 degrees and was probably the last nice day of fall. I sure didn’t want to miss out.
Since I got the Harley, my life has changed a bit. Nothing major, but now I have a fun way to clear my addled brain. Quite literally I can blow the cobwebs out. This doesn’t mean putting my brain in neutral because riding requires constant vigilance. Everything you learned about defensive driving is multiplied by three or four on a bike, mainly because of other drivers who don’t see you or misjudge your speed. Lose your concentration at your peril.
Even though I’m still on my learner’s permit, I’ve been able to put some miles on. Right now, I’ve covered over 500 miles since the end of September.
The weekend before last I rode to West Ocean City, MD with my friend Jim. He’d been looking for a riding partner and I finally decided I was good enough to keep up with him. On this ride we covered about 60 miles. The highlight for me was in Maryland. We traversed The Isle of Wight and turned west onto Route 90 where the vista opens up. And there was the open water of the Assawoman Bay on both sides of the road. My heart leapt!
Last Saturday I rode solo. I had no firm itinerary in mind and at the last minute decided to ride up to the county seat where the DMV has their motorcycle road test laid out. I wanted to practice the test to get my license. After that I rode over to Rehoboth Beach. President Biden wasn’t home, otherwise I’d have stopped to say hello.
One thing I’ve learned about riding is that it dries you out. I guess the wind in your face has something to do with it. Libations and riding can easily go hand in hand.
Now I’m stupid (see I’m a Dumbass), but not stupid enough to ride with even one beer in me. I’m still a novice rider, but even if I was more experienced, I don’t think I’d partake while riding. Some of my friends who ride might have one or two while on the road; I stick to Diet Coke.
So, on this ride, about halfway between Millsboro and Rehoboth Beach and I realized I was parched. It just so happens that one of my favorite places was a short detour from my route.
The Riverside Grill sits just off Pepper Creek, which is part of the Indian River Bay. The Grill has been around for years. Once a hard-core biker bar, it’s cleaned up its image (and clientele) and is a great place to stop. Also, they have the best burgers in Sussex County.
The Grille is located in historic Rosedale Beach, which was once a segregated beach. In the 1940s a hotel, boardwalk and stage were built there and in the pre-Civil Rights era it was a huge attraction and attracted large crowds. Various musical acts performed on stage, including Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles.
I think of The Grill as a “dive bar”. That’s not meant to be negative. I love dive bars. There’s nothing fake or highfalutin about them. It’s my experience that the first time you go into a dive bar it’s like a saloon in the Wild West; the piano player stops and everyone turns to look at you. You walk in confidently, sit at the bar, the patrons give you the once over, decide you’re ok, the music starts and everyone goes back to what they were doing.
The Grill is no different. It’s a very friendly place and when I walked in everyone looked, then turned away to get back to their phones, beer or whatever. The owner gave me a nod and all was well. River, the black lab in residence, stopped by for a scratch behind his ears. I had my two Diet Cokes, a little friendly banter, and left.
I resumed my ride. It was a pleasant day; a bit cool in the shade but nice and comfy in the sun. When you’re riding you need to think of the weatherman’s wind chill factor. 68 degrees feels nice at a stop, but try 68 degrees in 70 MPH winds! It can be a bit chilly.
The Rehoboth town is nice for a leisurely stroll, but that wasn’t for me today. I breezed through and headed up Route 1 over the beautiful Indian River Bridge.
By the time I reached home I’d been out for 65 miles, my longest ride yet.
Time for a beer and a nap!
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“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
— George Washington
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Not Everyone Works in an Office
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