Before we moved to Virginia, Jim and I purchased a National Park Passport book. We have enjoyed finding National Parks and getting the stamps in our book. For some time I have been wanting to go to Chincoteague island, you might say it was on my bucket list. When Jim mentioned taking me there for the weekend, it seemed like the perfect plan. The only flaw was that the weather was going to be really cold and that is not how I imagined seeing the ocean. I remember my sister reading the books...
I tried to read them, but I do not remember them very well. I may have to take another look at them! We left early Saturday morning. The forecast mentioned bad weather was on the way...
they were not kidding. We drove into some nasty stuff, started to get a little worried, but soon drove into sunshine.
We drove over the Chesapeake bay...amazing for this farm girl from Iowa.
There were big ships out there! After the bay, we drove further until we found the Island. We drove down Main Street and found the town to be quite quaint! We drove further around the island and found the park. It is 24 degrees outside and extremely windy. The chill went through you, bone chilling, just like wind chill in Iowa. We stopped at the Fish and Wildlife refuge and learned a bit about the park and acquired a map. The staff were very generous with their time and lent me binoculars for our drive. These were the first horses we saw. We drove down the road to Tom's cove, where we had planned to walk out to the beach of the ocean. We went inside and got the National park stamps, and then bundled up the best we could to take the walkway to the beach. There had been a lot of damage done by a Northeaster that had blown through a couple of weeks ago. It was extremely windy...so cold...and the wind almost blew my mittens away when I took them off to take pictures. Jim and I wanted to look for shells but it was way to cold. The clouds in the sky were dancing with the waves of the ocean. My eyes were watering from the cold wind and freezing to my face. This was when we realized we would NOT be doing the hike up the beach or shoreline. I was a bit afraid we would freeze to death just going back to the car. We drove back up the road to the shelter of the woods. We decided to head over to the lighthouse.
We did see some other wildlife. ^Great Egret? The lone black and white stallion? It isn't as windy here as on the beach, but still very cold. The lighthouse was stunning in the brisk blue sky! Okay, time to go back...too cold!
Jim is waiting for me to catch up...so I took my hat off for a quick selfie and we went back to the car. We had packed a picnic lunch but decided to go back to town for a treat.
Jim wanted ice cream...I wanted wifi...neither one was very good, but it had looked so tempting!
We went to the hotel to check in.
Discovered the evacuation route...might be nice to know...
An interesting ad...my goddaughter's name is Joyce Marie...might have to do this if we return in a warmer time!
Found the local new and used bookstore. Adorable! I purchased two cd's.
Fun! After 3:00 we can drive the wildlife loop by car so we went back to the park to do this.
Snow geese and ducks out on the water.
We saw a few more horses.
and the evidence of horses...road apples!
Can you see the Great Blue Heron?
We went to Bill's Prime Seafood and Steaks for dinner and caught the statue of Misty on Main Street.
Marguerite Henry was well loved and adored by this town!
Sunday morning is breakfast at the hotel and Sunday Morning on CBS. When we check out the neighborhood cats come by to say goodbye!
We drove through the park one more time...
We are amazed to see a LOT of ICE in the water this morning.
Great Blue Herons, and then we drove a scenic byway up through Delaware to get to the Maryland part of Assateague Island.
There is a bridge to it for cars and one for walkers...it is not as windy today, but I am not up for a chilly walk...starting to get a cold.
Here we find horses in the parking lot.
We walk over to the ocean seashore...find a few shells, but it is still pretty chilly.
A few more horses on the way out of the park.
Back over the bridge to head over to Berlin Maryland for dinner.
Jim found a place with wood fired pizza and some yummy desserts.
We were right across the street from the Mason's Lodge.
Time to head for home soon, the yarn store was closed on Sunday...bummer!
The bridge over the Chesapeake was cloudy and dreary on the way home.
But we had had a great time on Assateague Island National Seashore. I hope we can go back again!
