Horses, Harbours and Happenings:Steve and Sue visit Chincoteague and Hilton Head, May 2009! - COMPLETE - Page 5 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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We drove from NASA to Assateague. Garmin showed us the way, and soon, we were pulling in to the Barrier Island Visitor Center. This area of Maryland is sort of sub-divided into two parts, the Assateague State Park and the Assateague National Seashore. You cross the bridge which takes you over Sinupuxent Bay (an offshoot of Chicoteague Bay) and you are in the State Park. A short drive down the road, and you are into the National Park Service property. The horses roam freely through both parks.
I picked up a map, used the facilities and we were on our way. I took a few somewhat blurry shots as we crossed the bridge: (I was driving! )
We arrived at the other side of the bridge and were turning right onto the park service road when I saw.......
HORSES!!!!!!
THIS is what I came to see! A herd of four, a stallion, two mares and a colt, grazing by the side of the road, totally oblivious to the commotion around them:
OMG! They were just standing there, grazing. We were not the only ones that pulled over, needless to say! We started out on the right side of the road, to give them a respectable distance, but finally the photographer in me and the videographer in Steve led us across the road. We still kept our distance. While we were there, another couple stopped and were chatting with us. She seemed very knowledgable, so asked her if she lived here. She and her husband were from Philadelphia, but had a summer/weekend home in Maryland. She described the horses as her "passion" and told me that she went to all the lectures and updates on them, as well as following the herd here in person. She said that the colt was one of 10 born this past winter, and he was really doing well.
While we were talking, a young girl started to approach the horses. Both Steve and the woman we were talking to almost freaked out when we noticed she had a carrot in her hand! Both Steve and this woman rushed over and told her that she wasn't allowed to feed the horses. After all, they are not pets, but feral animals in a wild environment. To her credit, she backed off, and I'm not sure if it was the words "wild animals can hurt you" or the words "$250 fine" that worked. People never cease to amaze me. It is written EVERYWHERE in the park not to feed the wildlife, but there are those that think that is for other people, not them.
After a bit, we got back in the car and drove to the NPS gate, paid our fee, and we were now in the National park.
Area wildlife:
We got to a crossroad. One side was marked "Lifesaving station" and the other was "old ferry landing". Steve wanted to see the lifesaving station. So, for whatever reason, I suggested we drive down the road to see the old ferry landing, then turn around and head back to the lifesaving station. What a great idea this turned out to be...
We parked in the small parking area, left the car top down, the car unlocked, all our wordly possessions in the car, and decided to take a few pictures. I walked over to the little path and could see more horses in the distance:
This was shot with full zoom on my camera:
They were way down the shore, across an inlet on some grassland. There was a second herd on the other side on the inlet. I took some pictures of the area:
And then, I got a brilliant idea....
Other people were walking out towards the horses, I could too! I left Steve behind (he did catch up eventually) and headed out. The walkway only went for so long Steve kept stopping and taking pictures along the way but I was on a mission. Soon, I was ankle high in mud, and still going.
These were from the next island over:
These are from the second herd, which was inaccessible from where we were:
A few more grassy paths, a few more leaps of faith over water, soggier shoes and I was face to face with a lifetime dream come true:
The herd was a stallion (the bay, or dark, colored one), three pinto (spotted) mares, and a colt who was a chip off the old block! I will let the pictures tell the story (there's alot of them....)
O. M. G. Words can't even begin to describe the feeling I got standing inches from these magnificent creatures. Steve had finally caught up to me, not quite as muddy but still a bit water logged. We were joined by about 40 other intrepid hikers, and to a one, no one attempted to touch, pet or feed the horses, and everyone was respectful of them and their environment. Maybe there is some hope left in the world!
How far from the parking lot we were:
The horses began to wander in another direction, and we decided to hike back. I didn't do any better crossing the streams and mud on my way back, and needed to take my soggy socks and shoes off. Our car was still there and still intact. We headed down the road to visit the lifesaving station.
Really though, nothing could top this. :
Next...a shipwreck, the rains come, and Ocean City!
First of all, thanks everyone for your nice comments! This was probably one of the best photo shoots I have ever done!
Photobucket is acting up a bit, so if you don't see all the pictures, check back, as they seem to disappear and re-appear at random.
We finally meandered up the Lifesaving station road. There was an old lifesaving building, which looked locked up, and something really cool...a shipwreck! This was an old shipwreck. The boat was wooden and you could make out some of the features. According to the sign, sometimes shifting sands or storms unearthed treasures like this that had been hidden for years!
At the bottom towards the center, you can see what we think was part of the anchor:
A few pictures from the area:
We left the park and drove back toward the bridge. The herd of horses that had been on the road earlier was now out on the marsh:
A few parting pictures, and we were on our way to Ocean City, MD!
I stopped at the park headquarters again to use the facilities and to attempt to wash some of the mud off of my sneakers. I got most of it off, but my shoes were still soaked! Oh well, a photographer must sacrifice for the subject!
The drive was about 10 miles or so, and that's where the trouble began. Well, trouble if you are driving a convertible, anyway! I mean, of course, RAIN! Bucket loads of it. Steve reluctantly put the top up and we continued our sojourn. We soon arrived at Ocean City, parked at one of the street lots (only $5! We told the guy he was charging way too little! lol) and we trudged off in the rain to the Boardwalk.
The rain was off and on, you'll see it from time to time in the photos and other times it will be clear.
For some reason, Steve had really wanted to come to Ocean City. It was OK, but not a place I would spend alot of time at. It was way too commercial for me. All that said, we still had a great time and now we can say we have been there!
The first thing we came upon when we entered the Boardwalk was a firefighter's memorial:
This is a piece of steel beam from the World Trade Center. I touched it, and you could feel the ghosts:
Very inspiring!
The beach:
The boardwalk:
We stopped for lunch at Davy Jones locker room:
2 burgers, 2 drinks, one fries = $22.00!
We ate on the boardwalk and then Steve went in the Haunted House!
We walked to the end of the Boardwalk, where there was a nice seating area and a few photo ops:
Right at the end was the Ocean City History and Lifesaving Museum. We decided to check it out, and boy, were we glad we did!
Inside was a museum dedicated to the United States Life Saving Stations, precursor of the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a history in pictures and artifacts of the Boardwalk. The building itself had recently (well, 15 years ago or so) been moved from further down the Boardwalk where it was decaying. It was relocated here, renovated and opened to the public. They are still restoring the watchtower, and that will be open to the public when it is done!
Life saving museum:
Shipwreck artifacts recovered:
The view from the top of the museum:
The watchtower under construction:
Boardwalk history:
Some local species:
We left the museum and did a little shopping. We wandered into a place called Commander Cody's, which was a doggie boutigue! We bought some homemade treats for our guys, and for our grand-dog, Roxy! We also bought a toy for Roxy. It was a horse that galloped and whinnied when you squeezed it!
By now it was getting late and it was raining again. We hiked back up the Boardwalk, retrieved our car and drove back to Chincoteague. The top went up and down three times on the way, until we finally gave up and just left it up!
Sue - I've been putting off reading this TR because I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Chincoteague and Assateague my whole life - well, ever since reading Marguerite Henry's books over and over. (I still have my copies of 'Misty.." and "Stormy...", too!) I knew this TR would make me realize I haven't achieved that goal yet...but we're going to rectify that next summer. I promise.
Your photos are breathtaking - and I know you've had the experience of a lifetime. I am so excited to see how the rest of your trip turns out.
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Both Steve and this woman rushed over and told her that she wasn't allowed to feed the horses. After all, they are not pets, but feral animals in a wild environment. To her credit, she backed off, and I'm not sure if it was the words "wild animals can hurt you" or the words "$250 fine" that worked. 
People never cease to amaze me. It is written EVERYWHERE in the park not to feed the wildlife, but there are those that think that is for other people, not them.
:
I mean, of course, RAIN! Bucket loads of it. Steve reluctantly put the top up and we continued our sojourn. We soon arrived at Ocean City, parked at one of the street lots (only $5! We told the guy he was charging way too little! lol) and we trudged off in the rain to the Boardwalk.
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