Booze Cruise 2004?
Last summer Kochanski had an amazing idea. "Let's drink on a boat!!!" This really isn't a foreign idea to me. Living on the Chesapeake Bay most of my life, this is a common occurrence. Not to sound like a snob, but it is part of our summer, spring, and fall. Granted, Kochanski is from a suburb of Philadelphia. Being on a boat, let along drinking on a boat, is not so common place. Enough explanation. He made it all happen. It was so much fun. Of course, he tried to setup the party for a second year in a row. We all had fingers crossed till late in the afternoon on Saturday. All of South Jersey was feeling the affects of Hurricane Charley.
In order to pass the time before the final decision, everyone in Sea Isle was planning on hitting the beach. Again, this blasted Hurricane had another idea. I was even feeling pretty good once noon reared it's head. I did eat some excedrin and water for breakfast. That had to help. Rob, Herczeg, Jeff, and I were sitting on the deck talking with Heather. We started playing some music and tried to remeber the night before. The weather was kinda holding out, but the sky was grey. Everyone inside was watching the Olympics. We stepped inside for a few to catch some beach volley ball and swimming.
At 1:45pm, we found ourselves back outside on the deck. How can you not be drawn to the outside at the beach even if the weather is eh? It was at this exact time, the last beers in the fridge were consumed. First of the day, last in the stash. It was such a shame. Rob had thrown in a funky and cool mix. 78 minutes to something something... he titled it. A silly little thing like no more beer wouldn't stop us. We decided to walk to Wawa for food, then to the beer store.
Down at Wawa, I was lucky enough get a free sandwich. They guy who made it was quiting that day. It was his last sandwich. I told him that I use to work at Wawa so, he hooked me up. Good deal. During all this nonsense, the girls sent us a text from the La Costa tiki bar. It was on......
We walked down the street, now in the pouring rain, to La Costa. The booze cruise had now been cancelled. Such a down right shame, but Kochanski was working on an open bar. The bad news would not get in our way. We gladly joined the girls for margaritas at the bar. Everyone else was getting half way wet, but I was dry as a whistle. I was wearing the top of my West Marine. Actually, my dad let me borrow it. Either way, I was digging being dry.
This little adventure was such a fantastic time. First of all, it was completely unplanned. The girls just suprised us. Secondly, the acoustic duo in the back was not bad. Even after they finished, the tiki bar played lots of U2. Third, we saw one of the most amazing looking girls ever. She was bartending, and we couldn't even order. She asked us if we wanted anything else, and we all just drooled. Gina and Heather were just laughing at us. I didn't know what to do. Finally, we had fun cutting up and talking. Plus, what else can you do at the beach in the rain????
This continued on till around 4pm. Did we go home at this point??? Of course we didn't. We walked across the street to the OD for "No Shower Happy Hour" from 4 till ?? Inside, the outside looked sunny. It was so dark inside for an afternoon. I guess I didn't remeber this place has absolutely no windows. We continued to have a great time. McCartan and a few of his buddies joined us. To tell you the truth, the whole place was like a La Salle reunion. I saw so many random kids. It was enjoyable, but I was pumped. The word came in that Kochan secured an Open Bar in Avalon. It took some convincing, but we convinced Heather, Gina, and Anna to come down with us. We went back to their condo around 7pm to get ready.
Back at their place, everyone waited for their turn to take a shower. I started playing some music while I waited. I started blasting Oasis and DMB. It was fun to see Herczeg back into DMB. Who wouldn't be excited to a live Best of What's Around??? Surprisingly enough, both girls and guys finished up around 8pm. The Open Bar was from 8-10, I believe. We split up into a few cars, and drove south to Avalon.
Indeed, what a fun ride it was. Everyone in the car rocked out to "Everything's Not Lost." I was dancing so hard, I couldn't believe I was driving. What a great great song. Gina had to call us to get us to go the right way. I don't think anyone really cared. Our final destination was the Rocking Chair in Avalon. I knew we would get their eventually. She guided us over to Dune Drive, and we parked down the street from the bar.
The place was much larger inside then I imagined. There was a dance floor, a long double sided bar, finger food station, tables, and stage for a band. We received bracelets at the door, and moved toward the bar. I taught the bar tender to mix up a matador, and started to say hello to all the people in attendance. It was really cool to see Lynch, Krista, Stacey, Diane, and all those girls. I stopped by McCartan to make fun of him. I didn't get a chance to earlier in the day. I also talked to Kochanski. I had to say thank you for hooking everything up on such short notice. Hopefully, there will be a boat next year. After making some rounds, I found Herczeg, Rob, Gina, and Heather at the bar. The drinks were ordered 4, 5, or 6 at a time. I don't remeber what the first song was that got us dancing, but we had no qualms about getting ill right next to the bar. Then some moron started river dancing around us. What a loser he was. Then, the sweetest song played - Summertime. I love love that organ lick. Rob, Herczeg, and I had a revelation. We jumped out on the dance floor. It was funny. Everyone was starring at us. Who cares???? I never really do. There were two girls out there, but no one was in the mood like us. Then the bar played Snoop and Dre. From there, people started to join us on the floor.
While all this was going on, a band was setting up on the stage. I was skeptical, but I spoke with a random roadie. "We're a basic horn band." I guess the guy was being self conscious because; they rocked! The full horn section was stepping to some dance moves while belting out some funk. The singer was goofy as all can be, and the percussion section laid it down over some sweet organ. It was such a nice change from the cheesey cover bands down in Sea Isle. They covered some Bruce and tore up Mustang Sally. I was dancing my face off up front, and so was everyone else!!! What a great time.
Sometime after the Open Bar closed up, a few of us traversed back toward Sea Isle. Herczeg and Rob stayed behind for whatever reason. They even called me when I was on the bridge. I wasn't turning around in the torrential downpour. The shore was getting bombarded with Charley after effects. The girls and I did make it safely back, and we went back to the OD. It was really that great of a time. We were soaked, and it was really crowded. Appearently, the best part was Rob pole dancing at the bar.
We called it a night around 130pm. I was dissappointed to come to this realization the next morning. We almost almost made it a full twelve hours!!! Yea Marathon!!! We really might have problems, but it is so much fun. I didn't have a late night snack that night. I was lucky again, and Anna let me have part of the bed. For the second night in a row, no one could figure out my air mattress. Hehehehe. It is the shore. You go to sleep where you can find a spot.
