The tiki bar, a short stroll from Ocean House.
The second morning my dear wife Karen and I woke up not in Syracuse, we knew the car would be headed the mile or so down the road to the Atlantic Ocean.
All the car unpacking and grocery shopping and cottage settling in and other-blog-duty-movie-going and neighborhood-walking and Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle-reacclimating had been accomplished quite comfortably the first day.
(Day one bar joint story and back home warning is here.)
The car knew to pull into the lot of the combo Ocean House/tiki bar.
Two steps from my seat at the bar, I clicked the view.
Last year on this annual getaway to Cape Cod, for some reason, we found the restaurant and next-door outdoor bar closed. It was one week later than this, too.
This week, paydirt. We’ll be able to eat in the restaurant with the window looking out over the Atlantic one night very soon.
And we pulled up a couple of white stools and relaxed. Shade or sun?
Karen and Mark, at the tiki bar.
A talkative bartender, the man on the far left in the top photo, told us he just had to grab my phone to take our picture in the sun.
He was just one of an attentive and quite busy wait staff. It looked to me as if they had a dozen black-shirted folks on duty early on a Sunday afternoon. (I wondered to Karen who exactly decided that the wait staff at a hopefully sunny beach place should wear black and our tender/photographer heard me and let out a laugh.)
Many of the sweating staff was trotting boxed lunches from the kitchen to patrons seated at the bar and surrounding white tables.
Two drinks in the shade.
Karen ordered the special, a strawberry lemondade the woman bartender described as “marinating overnight” in the big container pictured in the bar photo. Karen said it was tasty. I went with the basic Blood Mary, which was not basic at all. Mucho horseradish and hot sauce. Within three pulls, I was sweating like the trotting wait staff. But all was good.
Price for one round: $22. Vacation mode.
My California girl.
Karen needed to feel the sand between her toes.
Yes, that’s the moment my California girl needs to experience every year of her life, no matter the coast.
I live to see that look on her face.
Big time resort comfort.
Every year we rent the lovely cottage in Cape Cod from our Central New York friends who own in it and cherish it so dearly, there are serious improvements over the year prior.
On the bulletin we found a parking card for one of the resorts on the beach road. It’s a day pass that allows beach and pool access.
Step one park in the lot. Step two, walk the path between buildings.
Step three, if desired, pull up one of the white lounges and snooze at the water’s edge.
We are welcome here.
We are welcome to walk around and smell these roses.
We are welcome to swim in this pool, which is half indoor, half outdoor.
Today I think we will hit The Pancake Man for breakfast. We like breakfast at The Pancake Man. Vacation is good.
Have you ever had drinks at an outdoor beach bar? Would you have been surprised when you handed the bartender a twenty and were told it wasn’t enough for two drinks? Pool or ocean?
Mark Bialczak 
I agree with Colleen, the picture of you both is extra special and that very cute grin on your lovely wife’s face is priceless!
Very nice ‘digs’ and extra improvements are always so great to find! The pool area is gorgeous, the beach would be my place to read and rest, get hot, dip in the water and repeat processes! Smiles, Robin
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It is a great extra benefit to the cottage, down the road but not too far, Robin. Yes, Karen’s face in the photo makes the picture!
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That picture of the strawberry lemonade drink looks quite tempting. The water looks nice and clear too. Looks like you guys are having a good time.
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Karen rather enjoyed the strawberry lemonade. My one short sip tasted quite memorable. We are having a great time, Kim.
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Your spot is beautiful, but jeez, those drinks are expensive! Ocean, definitely! 😀
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Very expensive. No drinks today. One vote, ocean …
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Have fun!
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I love the couple picture of the two of you, and that picture of your Dear Wife should be framed. 🙂
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Thank you, Colleen. That is a dear picture of my dear wife!
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And a dear picture of a dear couple. 🙂
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$22 ? Those are desert prices.
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I was kind of dry after forking it over, Carl.
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Looks perfect! Smiles all around, too. Keep your California Girl happy, Chum. Her smile looks good on you.
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I will do my darndest, all the way around, Red. You can be certain of that.
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I got angry this weekend when a bartender asked $3.75 for a bottle of Shiner, so I would have gone whackjob crazy at $22 for two! Wow. That would have to be the buzz of a lifetime. The price for paradise, huh? The surroundings look lovely. You realize you’re making everyone salivate at the drinks as well as the locale? Thanks for sharing your pics.
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Karen says it was a pretty good buzz, Kerbey! We love sharing the pics.
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Mark it looks so beautiful there, I hope it refreshes and re-energizes you both! By the way, I love the colour of Karen’s hair!
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Karen says awwww. Thanks, Diana. We are getting re-energized.
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Enjoy your time. I like a mimosa now and then and yes it’s amazing how much they charge for drinks.
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Back down to beer, which we have put some in the cottage fridge. Thanks, Dora.
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i am so happy for the two of you and so jealous! this looks fantastic and makes me crave a beach front bar/restaurant. and the beach. and the sun. and all that goes with it. have a wonderful time, it certainly sounds like you already are making the most of every minute. not a bloody mary fan, but have a cold something for me )!
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Pancakes soon. No other plans. We go informal for the week. But I am thinking maybe Chatham and the seal watching from the pier, and shop strolling in the village could be nice today, Beth. And a cold one toasted toward Ann Arbor in your honor, too.
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What a wonderful place! I would go for the Bloody Mary every time, the hotter the better, just love em! Have a great time you lucky people!!!
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It was a needed getaway, Ali. Thank you! So you like the hot stuff. Cool you!
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Love, love, love Cape Cod. Have you heard from Angie?
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No, I have not, Anne.
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Beautiful Mark.
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It was a gorgeous day, Paul. Today, a little cloudy, a little cooler, I don’t care.
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Beach! Lovely shots…I forgot what the beaches look like on the Cape…very nice flashback..thanks Mark. Have a wonderful time..Your wife is blessed to have such a loving husband. You rock!
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Thanks, Kim. The coast is different up here, for certain. I hope you are well in the south.
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Yes, I grew up in New England, and we went to Marshfield every summer…I remember the rocky beaches well! All is well here, very hot, but good lol
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Ohhhhhhhhhh ….. If YOU knew how much I want to go to the beach! Is there room for ME in your car????????????????? Pretty Pleeeeeezzzze
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Come on over, AmyRose!
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I’m comin’!!! Beachwear is on, flip flops ons, sunscreen in hand, and I am there!! Thanks, Mark!!!! (((HUGS))) Amy
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