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Water and Me

Category Archives: State Parks

Assateague Revisited

06 Saturday Jul 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Assateague, Eastern Shore, kayaking, State Parks

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Assateague, kayaking, nature, ponies, State Parks

Return trip to Assateague State Park for some more kayaking. Paddled a little over 2-1/2 miles and were out there for a few hours. Nice day with a slight breeze, enough to keep the bugs off. We put in at the Old Ferry Landing. A few people there. By the time we returned, there were a lot more people. We pretty much went to a couple isolated waterways, opting not to head out on open water to the islands. Mostly hugged the shoreline.

Headed south-east which was a dead end.

Turned and headed north east, passing by the landing, towards the nature trail. Came across this.

Got close to check it out, then climb up on it.

It dead ends. Must have washed up here during a storm.

Taking a picture of Kathy taking my picture.

It was harder getting up and down that thing than it looks. Once I was able to crawl back into my kayak, we headed into a cove.

Then backed out to head to another.

Wind picked up so Kathy made a sail.

Could not find this in my bird book. May be immature and not be fully colored.

Back into another little waterway and as far as we could go.

Although we could only go so far, it was really nice and peaceful back here.

Parked the kayaks to chill in the water some.

Kathy’s pic of me trying to take a photo of a bi-plane flying overhead. Red Baron.

Kathy’s pic. My hands shake to much to get a good shot that far away.

Not only does Kathy do a good Ralph Macchio, she also picks up other people’s trash along the beach.

After some walking around looking at crabs and various shellfish, back into the kayaks for another cove.

Another dead end.

A shortcut on the return.

Lots of people. I think the ranger was giving crabbing lessons.

Nice day on the water and we then run into a traffic jam leaving the park.

Kathy’s photos of the ponies.

A very nice kayak adventure!

Indian Beach Vacation

01 Monday Jul 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Photography, State Parks, vacation

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Beach, Beach Life, boats, Bogue Inlet, dolphins, Fort Macon, North Carolina, tours, turtles

After months of retiring, selling our homes, moving, working on the new house…we finally were able to take a vacation. Kathy’s sister let us stay at her place on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. Thanks Gail and John for a much needed break.

On the drive down we stopped for a rest at the Dismal Swamp Canal. Place has an interesting history. Google it. We also stopped on our way home.

While there, the hydraulic bridge was being moved for a couple of boats to go through. Boats have the right of way.

Raising the bridge

Molly needed a rest area too!

History

The canal

Whatever happened to this guy?

Onto Indian Beach. Some favorite shots.

Portuguese Man-o-War Jellyfish

Replacing dune grasses
50 cent
Turtle Nest
Wave Dancer
Peace

Night time, sun sets.

One night we went for a bike ride.

Bike ride sunset

Emoticons – Emoceans.

Headed over to Beaufort for a boat ride to Shackleford Island.

A beauty amongst the flowers
Putting a boat on a boat
Tour boat
Plane pulling a para-glider
On their own
Duke University lab
Lots of dolphins
Landing site for our adventure
Heading towards the horse paths
Higher than they look
I fell on this one. Saved my camera!
Skate
Fort Macon
Coast Guard yard
Fool

Bogue Inlet Pier

Thanks Gail and John! what a great vacation!

Looking for a Place to Hike

27 Monday May 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Hiking, nature, Road Trips, State Parks

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Hiking, nature, State Parks

Nice day out Sunday so we headed out to go hiking. Our first stop was Trap Pond State Park in Laurel Delaware. They wanted $8 to get in?? They wouldn’t accept our Maryland State Pass nor our National Park Pass. And you would think it being Memorial weekend veterans could get in free! Nope! Not that we didn’t have the money – it was the principal. Maryland has lots of parks we can go to so we headed down Rte 13 to Leonards Mill Park. Their Website says they have a hiking trail – they don’t! It’s more of a visitor information center and park.

Kathy went in to get some info brochures.

I checked out the view.

We knew there is a boat launch in here somewhere, so we looked for that. Nice little bridge. some kids fishing down stream.

Sluice gates need adjusting.

Found the boat ramp. Get in here and head under the bridge to a larger pond. Looking forward to that.

The visitor center folks said we could hike at a park on Naylor Mill Road. So we headed there next. It is called the Henry Parker Sports Complex. Lots of mens slow pitch softball going on here. It has a trail, but it looks more like a mountain bike course.

The trail(s) [multiple switch-backs] were not marked for hiking with hash marks. We just headed towards the opposite area of the ball fields. Below the hill where Kathy is, is Leonard Pond Run. Couldn’t really get to it.

There were a lot of frogs on the trail.

More of the bike course.

Short hike but enjoying nature. Old growth trees.

The layers just peal away and fall to the ground.

Back to the car and Molly now has her own Yeti Tumbler. Spoiled dog!

Lesson for today – investigate where it is you are going before you go! Still a great day to be out. Thanks God.

Gail’s First Kayak Adventure

23 Thursday May 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Eastern Shore, Family, kayaking, State Parks

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Assateague, kayaking, nature

It was a nice day and with Kathy’s sister Gail visiting from N.C. we thought it would be nice to take her kayaking and for us to try out one of the new inflatable kayaks we bought. We bought 2 for when our kids or others visit.

Off we go. Kathy used the K1 Inflatable. With the skeg attached, Kathy had some trouble paddling in a straight line. She seemed to have to paddle twice as hard as we did.

Heading past Little Egging Island.

On the other side of that island was a bunch of people. Gail checking them out and doing a great job for her first time kayaking.

Here are their kayaks.

Maybe crabbing or clamming.

Now we head across the open water to Great Egging Island. Gail trying her hand at paddling in reverse.

This horseshoe crab looks to have been here for a while – barnacles growing on it.

Dead trees on the island…

And in the water. Some of these look like old pilings. If you look close at this one, you can see the high rises in Ocean City under the Assateague Island Bridge.

Octopus root.

Uh-oh?! What happened to Gail? Pee call??

Nope! Looking for drift wood!

Tried to take a photo of the tuning fork tree but was photo-bombed!

Some sisterly bonding on the high seas!

Drift wood and drift metal.

No clue why this pipe is here.

Bird 1.

Bird 2.

Heading back. It got a little crowded while we were away. Some Boy Scouts and others crabbing.

Here is our map. Under 3 miles but a good trip. Kathy thinks the inflatable kayak should only be used on still waters and not on open waters, which will be fine. There are a lot of rivers and streams around.

Another great adventure!

Shad Landing – Kayaking

01 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in kayaking, State Parks

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bridges, Chesapeake Bay, cypress, kayaking, nature, photography, Pocomoke River, Shad Landing, Snow Hill

What a great day to take a break from doing ‘stuff’! Loaded the kayaks onto the truck and then headed to Shad Landing at the Pocomoke River State Park. Weatherman was calling for 80+ degrees. We did want to do an Assateague Island trip but the wind gust were to be 10-15mph. For our first time out this season we thought a more peaceful, relaxing trip would be better. Here is our map. Not a long distance trip but a fun one of almost 3 miles and 2-1/2 hours. 

There was hardly anyone there. The landing kind of reminded us of Mariner’s Point up in Joppa. Instead of doing the loop west-north then back southeast, we headed off to Rte. 113. Here is Kathy getting everything ready while I park the truck.

From the launch you paddle east, go around the pier and then head southwest. Pass by the lonely canoes on a rack, waiting for adventurers.

We did not see much wildlife, just some signs. Here it looks like a beaver wasn’t paying attention to what had already been gnawed upon.

There were some colorful flowers on shore like these little bells. Kathy knows most of the names for these things. I don’t.

Heading towards the left turn we wanted to make is this marker. Unlike Mariner’s Point, we didn’t have to get out of the way of any crazy boaters that don’t care about wakes.

The whole park seems like a giant swamp. Kathy’s brother Phil had me watch a show about the Pocomoke on Delmarva Life, a TV show down here – Back in the 1930’s-40’s they dredged the river and put the spoils along the shore, unbeknownst to them that the dikes they created stopped mother nature from holding and filtering the water before sending it down stream to the Bay, causing damage to the ecosystem. Right now they are in the process of removing the dikes for nine miles up near Rte. 50, to reverse 80 years of bad planning. Here is what the area should look like.

Lots of cypress.

An odd shaped knee to say the least. Looks like a worn out statue.

So we make our left hand turn and Kathy see’s this sign. It is halfway covered up. She goes in for a closer look and under ‘Canoe Trail’ is an arrow pointing right.

45 minutes later, on our return trip, the water had risen.

The water was high enough to take away the protection of the metal cones that protect the birds from predators. Also, the lily pads had come up, only to be submerged.

We did see a few turtles and one water snake.

Up ahead, Route 113. Water looks a little high but we came this far – 

Kathy wanted me to go through first. She don’t like spiders and snakes.

Kathy took a photo of me contemplating which arch to go thru-

Kathy then made it through safe and sound.

Looking back from the other side of Rte. 113.

Time to paddle back. Marina up ahead.

Leaving the park we headed south on 113 to see the river from up above.

Nice, as were all the fields of flowers on the drive home.

So glad we put a bunch of house stuff to the side for a while, to enjoy this wonderful adventure together. It was a very much needed escape.

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