Senior Trip, Day 2

Today was long and (for a chaperone anyway) kind of grueling, but a whole lot of fun.

After my bike ride, we gathered up and headed over to a place where, after the ritual application of sunscreen, we rented longboards and kayaks and paddled around the bay for a couple of hours. It was perfect weather- warm with a light breeze, which thankfully was blowing back towards the dock. I stayed back at the dock to watch everyone's stuff for a while, but once I got out it was marvelous.

I paddled out to the edge of the main bay. It was good that I didn't have a kayak and more time because if I did, I'm sure I would have said, "sure, I can make it across that bay (about a mile and a half) and back in time." Which I couldn't have. So instead I laid down on my back and let the wind and current bring me back. I had to steer every once in a while, but no paddling at all. Incredibly relaxing.

Came back and had lunch. Vegetarian. I was okay with it (because it was food and I'm okay with food) but we noticed several people head out and return with Wawa bags presumably full of meat-filled hoagies. To each their own.

Then it was a free afternoon. Spent most of it on the beach. Talked with one of the other teachers for a pretty long time. There was a Wiffle ball game and a soccer ball being kicked around. A small but decent number braved the cold water to body surf. The waves were actually great but it was too cold for my taste. Some people sunbathed or read or just sat around and talked.

The one weird thing that happened was this guy came along and started posing a few of the girls and taking their pictures. I went down and figured that this was fine with them and that I'd take a few shots too as long as they were posed, but he insisted that I not take pictures, that only he was allowed to take pictures because he was licensed by the city. In retrospect, I should have asked to see his license, but I've never encountered anything like this before. I did hover, as did a couple of the guys, because the whole thing seemed sketchy. Eventually he left. I watched to see if he was taking pictures of anyone aside from teenage girls and it did seem that he was at least trying to.

Aside from that it was pretty uneventful. I came up to my room and showered and then it was time for dinner. I've really not had much free time, which isn't unusual, I'm working after all, but it made the day feel very long.

Then came dinner, which was not vegetarian (for everyone) and then we went to the boardwalk. Unlike past times we came here, the town is very busy. A lot of Maryland (and I assume other) high schools have their Senior Weeks here. Us chaperones went for a walk together and at one point everyone else went into an arcade to play skeeball. I love skeeball, but it was so nice out and so noisy in the arcade that I wouldn't go in.

I sat on a bench (with a memorial message on it) and watched people. On one hand, it was a more attractive than usual crowd. On the other, there was an very teenager-like sameness to it all. All the boys were in long, loose shorts, and all the girls in short tight ones. Those looks have been in for a while. I wonder when that'll change. The kids in the school dress like this too. The girls aren't supposed to; it's against something that's referred to as the dress code, but which doesn't seem to actually exist.

Eventually we got back to the hotel for a pool party, which I sat outside of. Too hot and humid and chloriney in there. That was okay. Then upstairs for an hour of shushing people and reminding the boys not to go into the girls' rooms and vice versa. And then at 12:30 a bed check and it was over. A long but good day.