Sun sifted through the weave of our RV shades. Crescendos of surf hitting the beach pushed me toward wakefulness. How safe and fresh the sea breeze felt streaming through our open windows and across our semi-sleeping bodies. Nights spent camped on the fringe of Walmart parking lots, next to lawn and garden, tucked against bags of potting soil and cedar bark, never provided the secure sleep of a park campsite.
We saw the dreaded “campground full” sign as we presented our senior pass to the perky young park ranger manning the entry to Assateague National Seashore. She sweetly dashed our hope of a last minute cancellation, but with saccharine sweetness, referred us to Assateague State Park, less than a half mile down the road. The National and State lands are adjacent to each other and what one denied the other generously provided.
Traveling with no itinerary or reservations can sometimes lead to end of day surprises. Two nights ago, after barely negotiating NYC traffic, which included a stop by a highway patrolman for traveling on a highway restricted to cars only, we arrived in NJ only to discover that despite an over abundance of Walmarts, each one flaunting a well lit yellow star of hospitality, none allowed overnight stays. This now seems a common policy around large cities. So, there was nothing to do but keep driving long past cocktail hour which left us both quite grumpy. In the past, I've been known to undo my seat belt, leave the passenger seat, pour myself a glass of wine and relax at home while still remaining less than 10 feet away from Bucky! It wasn't long before a service center on I 95 provided us a “stall” for the night, nestled between two long white lines. The steady rain drummed on the RV roof, mixing with the rumble of diesel engines creating a weary travelers lullaby, Within a day, these sounds were replaced by gull cries and Grackle cackles on Assateague Island, Maryland. We had come to this barrier island and its sister island Chicoteague to see the wild ponies. These horses believed to be descendants of the horses of Spanish explorers are left to run free. The humans who come from far and near to view them, stand aside and let them pass. It's refreshing to see animals have the upper hand.
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As always, birds catch my eye.... a brown thrasher outside the RV and a Boat tailed Grackle |
We settled into our site, mere steps from the ocean beach. If we had known how awesome the state park was, we would have never tried the national park!
Almost as if by design, the ponies appeared, strolling through the parked trailers, sniffing for leftovers around fire pits and nibbling on grass and occasionally on each other. There is a hierarchy here that we humans don't understand. Upon first sight, I was captivated. Now, after two days on the island, I'm in love with these ponies! If you have a son, daughter, grandchild or favorite person who loves horses, tell them to visit.
Our Vermont winter was snowy and although not extremely cold, there was no denying it was long when snow appeared on May 1st. I don't consider myself a beach person after spending the last 10 plus summers in Alaska, but I felt the need for warm sun and white ocean sand. Assateague didn't disappoint!
Bucky took advantage of the sun to try out his new solar panels. We are now able to generate our own power.......to a certain extent. We can even watch TV! Feel free to boo here.
My morning beach stroll was made complete when I saw ponies approaching. At first I thought it was "white saddle" who we named when first arriving on the island, but this was a smaller animal. He/she would soon be known as t-shirt. T-shirt followed a few friends along the surf line as if choosing to walk on the harder sand, just as I had. There was no hesitation in the movement of the small herd up the beach. They paid no attention to humans sharing in their morning stroll. It was very clear the ponies had a destination.
As the ponies walked away, we watched a fishing boat work around a net set earlier that morning. Shore birds worked feverishly as waves crashed depositing a menu of breakfast pleasures. My knowledge of these birds is pitifully limited, but I try to learn a few each time I'm near the ocean.
Least Tern
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