The Murden

15 Monday Feb 2021

Posted by Ronald Parks in Assateague, boating, Eastern Shore, engineering, Harbor, ocean city, Road Trips

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Assateague, Corps of Engineers, dredge, inlet, Murden, OC, sand, Thrashers

Headed down to Ocean City, Md. the other day. It was cold and windy but a nice day to be out. We parked at the Inlet Parking Lot after checking to see if Thrasher’s Fries was open. They were not. Off in the distance we saw some sort of ship way down near Assateague.

The ship started to head back towards the Inlet Channel – some rough seas

Suddenly he headed towards the beach adjacent to the fishing pier.

Did a u-turn and we thought he was going to hit the beach.

He straightened himself (or herself) out and then headed into the channel.

Where the seagulls and I could get a good look.

The cars lined up for lunch and the gulls waiting for some Thrashers. Disappointed.

Back in the car with a view one way…

Then the other.

Here is a stock photo of the ship and some info.

The split hull dredger Murden is currently very busy working in and around Ocean City Inlet as part of the Assateague Island Restoration project, conducted in partnership with the Assateague Island National Seashore, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Baltimore District said in its latest announcement. This project involves dredging sand from in and around the Ocean City Inlet navigation channel and beneficially placing it south of the inlet just offshore of Assateague Island. The work is being done to mitigate the impacts on sediment transport and erosion caused by the the inlet and associated jetties. According to USACE, this work generally takes place twice a year. The Murden arrived at Ocean City Inlet at the end of May (2019) and is expected to continue working in the area until mid-June. The USACE’s shallow draft dredger is based out of the the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Wilmington District in North Carolina.

Last Hike 2019

29 Sunday Dec 2019

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

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Assateague, Beach Life, Hiking, nature

It was a beautiful day Saturday, December 28, 2019 and there is nothing better than taking a hike on a beautiful day. If we had known it was going to be as warm as it was, maybe we could have went kayaking instead! Next time. We have a lot of favorite hikes that we do, but sometimes we look for new places. Although we have been to the Assateague area many times, we saw a spot on the map we never have been to – Rackliffe House and trail:

This historic site is behind the visitor center. There are 2 trails that lead there. We chose the wooded one instead of the asphalt.

Across from where Kathy is sitting is a path to Sinepuxent Bay with the Verrazano Bridge in the distance.

A very short beach hike.

Leaving the beach we head towards the house, passing the golf course.

This Geo-cache was hanging in plain site. At first I thought it was a wildlife camera.

Always nice to have a choice in the paths we take in life.

Historic house – from their website:

Rackliffe House, a 1740s merchant-planter’s home overlooking Assateague Island and scenic Sinepuxent Bay. Rackliffe House was constructed in the 1740s by Captain Charles Rackliffe, the merchant-planter grandson of one of the earliest English immigrants to Maryland’s seaside. The large two-story, three-bay Manor House features Flemish bond brickwork with random glazed headers, a steeply pitched gabled roof with kicked eaves, and large windows. Captain Rackliffe intended the house to be seen across the water. He built it on a prominent ridge atop a man-made terrace with expansive views of the water and island.

In its time, Rackliffe House has witnessed marauding Spanish galleons, Barbary pirate ships, and English men-of-war. The house has stood through the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Today, thanks to the restoration efforts of the Rackliffe House Trust and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, historic Rackliffe House now serves as a coastal museum that interprets 18th-century life along Maryland’s seaside.

The second part of the loop includes a pond and a stream

Brave Molly stepped over Kathy’s feet to cross over

I thought all the bugs died off during the last freeze. Termites.

We leave the visitors center and the Rackliffe Loop and head over to the ocean. Always a favorite. And again we sought out an area we have never hiked. North of the Youth Group Areas. We hiked behind the sand dune and saw this. Who they keeping out or in?

Rounding the corner to the beach.

The beach with not a lot of shells, just this small group;

Getting ready for the new year.

Not that we run around nude on the beach a lot, but this sign makes you wonder! Kathy says this use to be an unauthorized nude beach many years ago.

Beautiful day, beautiful hike and beautiful beach! Thanks God for another beauty!

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!

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!

The Beauty of Assateague, other than the ponies

05 Friday Apr 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Eastern Shore, Hiking, National Parks

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Assateague, Beach Life, Hiking, nature, photography

Off to Assateague we go. First the National Park side on the bay and then the State Park. Glad we got passes when we did.

Boardwalk to the bay side.

Molly always enjoys the beach.

Except when she heads onto the grasses. The seaweed wasn’t bad but behind where Kathy is sitting is all sand-burs. Played hell getting them out of her paws.