• About
  • History Writings

Water and Me

Water and Me

Tag Archives: Hiking

Bike, Beach and Drive-by

11 Sunday Aug 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Assateague, chincoteague, Eastern Shore

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Beach, biking, chincoteague, Hiking, kayaking, oysters

Another day trip to Chincoteague. We rode around the wildlife loop and instead of taking the Swan Cove Trail we headed to the service road. This is about a 7 mile road. The road wasn’t bad but the mosquitoes were terrible!

Lots of dead trees.

Headed to the beach via the OSV – Over Sand Vehicles entrance.

This wasn’t a bad road either.

Parked our bikes. Ran into a volunteer ranger and we asked about all the dead birds on Chincoteague Road bridge. 100s of them. She said they were fledgling seagulls, just learning to fly. They come up out of the marshes and because they are young, they can barely get the height they need to get over the bridge. Not to worry she said…there are a lot of them. Ugh!

Lots of birds and other life on the beach.

Ghost crab

Beach and ocean as far as you can see.

Aura around Kathy’s reflection.

Survey marker

Can never have too many seashells from the seashore!

Heading back, need to watch out for the 4 wheelers.

Took a different route home. Usually we take Chincoteague Road (Rte 175) to Rte 679, which turns into Rte 12 in Maryland. We turned on Rte 798 and went past Wallops NASA. Back to 679, turned at Captain’s Cove. This is on the Virginia side and put us in Greenbackville.

Next dinner date!

Left there and headed north to George Island Landing Road.

No windows or doors, but I have 3 boats.
This beach was all shells…
Years of piles upon piles
Everywhere are signs, blocking the scenery…
Might do, but doubt it
Nice launch and not crowded.
Old oyster house
Waiting for the ships to come in
New structure among the ruins.
Lots of shells
I’m looking through you..

Great day trip!

Algonquin on the Pocomoke

09 Friday Aug 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in biking, Eastern Shore, State Parks

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Algonquin, biking, Hiking, nature, Pocomoke

Not too far from the house so we thought it would be a good day for a bike ride. Wrong! This trail is not made for leisure cyclists like us.

We should have heeded the ‘Mountain Bike’ icon and said – Nope!

It would have been a nice ride if not for the sand traps and branches in the path. Not well kept. And rocky.

A pond of some sorts. Not sure why it is red. Kathy suggested because of the reeds around the pond had red flowers on them that fell into the water…

I think she touched the water with her magic shoes…

First time seeing something like this – visitor counter.

Only went a mile and turned back. Did not like this trail at all.

Headed over to Milburn Landing to check the boat launch. Water moving quite fast. Headed home.

Still a very nice day to be out and about.

Chincoteague Bike/Hike

14 Sunday Jul 2019

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

biking, chincoteague, Crabs, Hiking, ocean, ponies, wallops

Kathy and I cannot get enough of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. We did another bike ride through, with a small hike thrown in. As can be seen below, this was our path. According to the brochure, shown at the end of this blog, we only did about 8.3 miles, but with Google Maps we went over 9.7 miles. Either way, it was nice.

When we left the house on this adventure, our intent was to only do the Wildlife Loop and part of the Service Road, but we ended up leaving the Wildlife Loop on Black Duck Trail and headed towards the Woodland Trail. On that trail is a great trail – The Bivalve Trail. Afterwards we went back to the Wildlife Loop and the Swan Cove Trail and eventually the ocean.

Pumping-restoring the marsh
Black Duck Trail
Pony Pens
Woodland Trail
Road less traveled on left
Wishes in waiting
Off-road biking
End of road – off bikes and hike
Looking left
Looking right
What is that?
Getting close
After conferring with a couple of people, Merrill and Phil,
This is a reflector for Wallops Island (NASA)
NASA in distance

Views along this path…

The Fiddler
Who am I?
Long ago puffer
Contemplation
Abandoned

Back to the bikes and onto the Woodland Trail

Pony Pens
Ponies
Swan Cove Trail to ocean
Marshes drying up
Map Paths

Another wonderful adventure! Thanks God

Chincoteague

03 Monday Jun 2019

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Beach, chincoteague, Crabs, Eastern Shore, Hiking, memorial, National Parks, nature

The beach, an island and a memorial.

A bunch of these roaming around.

Holes everywhere.

Plovers.

Horseshoe crab that didn’t make it.

The surf.

Rode through town to the far end of the beach and found a Waterman’s Memorial Park.

People placed pennies and seashells on the marker.

Odd little section of the island. The paths looked to be scrapped up road asphalt.

Nice view though.

Heading back to the car.

C.C. Rider.

Nice day for a mini adventure.

Looking for a Place to Hike

27 Monday May 2019

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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.

It an’t the end of the world…

19 Sunday May 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Eastern Shore, nature, Road Trips

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Beach Life, boats, bridges, Chesapeake Bay, Crabs, Hiking, nature, oysters, photography

The one thing I really love about the Eastern Shore is the abundance of new adventures that await Kathy and I. Today we headed to Deal Island. Lots to see here. Starting with a Wildlife Management Area.

We took a gravel road, passing marshes, seeing a gazillion dragon flies. They were feeding on all the mosquitoes. Looking out over the marsh.

We parked and headed across the marsh on foot. This may be duck hunters paradise.

So flat down here. There are water elevation levels throughout the island. Most read at 4″ above sea level.

A boat ramp in the middle of nowhere.

Molly lost track of where Kathy was so she headed into the water…

There she is!

A sandy path.

A place to rest and to meditate/contemplate.

Egg shells and a hole?

Molly needing a break.

And a little attention.

We leave the wildlife area and drive towards the end of Deal Island Road. A group of little communities along the way. Dames Quarters, Chance, Wenona. A couple historical markers.

Where Kathy’s family spent their summers.

Next was Deal Island Marina and beach. Molly has had enough of the water.

Best beach/trail sign ever.

A little windy but some kayakers were out.

Seafood processing – soft crab area?

Tons of oyster shells.

Heading down the road we came upon this church. Someone is trying to restore it. Google maps shows where restoration had once started but it seems to have stopped. The John Wesley Restoration Project.

Not too much further to the end. Another marina of sorts. Crab bushels waiting.

Many abandoned work houses. The water men and their businesses are dying off.

It looks like this bank has been converted into someone’s home.

A gargoyle to protect it.

And then, at the end of the road…

Heading back we decided to take the ferry.

Warning sign.

Ever vigilant.

On the other side of the Wicomico River.

Happy thoughts.

Another great adventure!

Nassawango Iron Furnace

22 Monday Apr 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Hiking, HISTORY

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Hiking, HISTORY, Living History, Nassawango, nature, photography, Printing, Weaving

Sunday has become Kathy and my day of rest time, but since neither of us can sit still for too long – Road Trip! Called the people at Furnace Town and they are open with free admission for Easter.

Here is the History Marker on Rte. 12. 

Two other times we were here it was closed and I had previously posted photos of the visitor center, so I will spare the repetition. The area is about 300 acres, a Living History Village with an old iron furnace and remnants of the town that use to be there, along with some buildings moved there from other locations.

Before hiking over to the furnace itself we were treated to a nice talk and history lesson by Jessica, the director of the Village and Visitor Center. Then onto the various buildings. Being Easter Sunday our first stop was the church.

It was a very simple time back then but I am sure life was somewhat rough. The church was built in 1874 and then relocated to the Village in 1980. Here is an interior view.

Next stop was the wood shop. 

And the interior view.

On to the next building – The Blacksmith’s Shop.

For those who don’t know, a Living History Village has demonstrations and classes on the various trades back then. Here you can learn all about being a blacksmith. The work they do here is scattered throughout the area and some for sale in the visitor center.

Now to where I’ve been waiting to go – the Furnace.

View heading up the ramp. The white placards on the post are names of the donors who contributed to the rebuilding.

The mill race underneath.

A close-up of the water.

Historical plague.

The furnace with a mirror to see downwards from the top.

Underneath.

Side view. Kathy’s photo with a Dandelion.

Different view.

And another.

While down the bottom of the furnace, by the mill race, Kathy ran into this guy.

Moving on, here is the interior of the Weave House.

The Museum Building looks more like a church to me.

A replica of a building that is no longer there.

Then there is this guy.

And who he was…

The Broom House.

And what they made.

Almost finished.

Tools of the trade for hogs.

Sign.

Next was one of my favorites – Print shop.

Kathy checking it out.

Tools of the trade.

Me checking it out.

Some of the things they print up.

And.

And… it looks like some pieces are missing from this one.

Ye Olde Out House.

Gardener’s Shed.

One room school house. Built in 1869 near Whiton Md. Closed in 1931, moved to Snow Hill in 1959, then to the village in 2015.

Simple, basic education.

A shadow of a less complicated time.

But surely still having its fair share of misfits.

This sculpture would be a great idea to be done for the lime kilns at Cromwell Valley Park. If I was more artistic, I would build it.

From here we headed to Chincoteague for some lunch on the beach.

And then a nature loop ride through the preserve.

Another great adventure! Thanks God.

Cypress Park Nature Trail

11 Thursday Apr 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Hiking, nature

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bridges, cypress, Hiking, nature, Parks, photography, Pocomoke City, State Parks

While watching the local news for Delmarva, a segment came on asking for volunteers to help with a small park near Pocomoke City, adjacent to the Pocomoke River. We decided to head down and check it out. It was a short 30+ minute drive to get there. Here is the map. The park is right off of Rte. 13.

There was no one there except for Kathy, Molly and myself. And as will be seen in later photographs, the park/trail is in need of some TLC from volunteers! The path is made up of woods and boardwalks.

Kathy and Molly checking out the boards. The overall length of the hike is about 1/2 mile. Nice day for a walk, but beware – Ticks are out in full force!

After a walk along the water, the trail heads into the woods. This is looking back towards the pond.

Then lo and behold what do we see?

A bridge. A foot bridge.

And there we go.

The feed to the pond is from the Pocomoke River. Up river a ways, at Snow Hill, Kathy and I kayaked. Deep dark waters.

This next section of the trail could really use some help.

The cypress off-spring (Cypress knee) are covered with all sorts of growth.

And take many shapes.

Freshly gnawed beaver tree, toppled over.

Kathy getting a close-up view…

…of beautiful tree markings. Do you think it is a dogwood? No. How can you tell? By its bark! woof-woof. Molly thought it was funny.

Across another little stream to the opposite side of the pond. This puts you right next to Rte. 13, headed towards a cemetery.

Stay to the left to remain on the trail.

Bird holes or a screaming tree? It is your imagination to do with as you please.

Kind of early for this to be blooming out here in the woods don’t you think? It’s an artificial flower, probably blown over here from the cemetery. Oh! duh!

Well, this one is real!

Heading back to the parking lot.

Looking over at the foot bridge, two of four geese on the pond. Not much wildlife around.The silence was actually nice.

i won’t even go there, about mustache rides!

Mushroom condo.

Not a long hike so from here we headed to Ocean City for some Thrasher Fries.

The Beauty of Assateague, other than the ponies

05 Friday Apr 2019

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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.

Crushed shells.

The beauty of drift wood.

The shoreline at one time was full of cacti. It is slowly eroding away.

Like pulling mussels from a shell…

A petrified snapping turtle eating a thorn stem…well, that’s what it looks like to me!

We will always miss our little house at #Cromwellvalleypark, but we now have the Naturalist Shack!

Egret off in the distance. A couple seagulls landed on his/her little island. Hope they don’t try snatching any eggs!

No prompting from us – I think it helped soothe her sore feet.

Oh jeez Molly!! Glad we brought a lot of poop bags!!

Love retirement!!

Ocean side of the parks, before the crowds.

Ocean City in the far off distance.

Another day doing what we love. Did see some ponies but we enjoy ALL that nature and life has to offer!!

Thanks God.

Early March Hike

03 Sunday Mar 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Eastern Shore, Hiking, nature, Photography

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bridges, Dams, Eagles, Hiking, nature, Pemberton, photography

Retirement has been hard work and it seems like forever since we have been able to find the time to enjoy a really nice hike. It was really cold and windy when we hiked Chincoteague a couple of weeks ago. Today did not seem like a good day to hike with the impending storm on the way, but we said the hell with it. We need to get out!

So off we went. We decided on somewhere local in case the weather took a turn for the worse. Pemberton Historical Park is just southwest of Salisbury and just a few minute drive from home. Here is the historical marker as you enter the park.

Sme more history can be found on their website. Very interesting. The trail map below. We hiked the Bell Island, Osprey and History trails, along with part of the Handy Hall Trail.

Entering the park is a nice fence…

A man-made fence vs. a fence Mother Nature is making…

The trail head consists of various older buildings. Including this restroom.

This looks to be an old bunker/storage building of some sorts.

A nice theater.

And a rounded dam. I can almost picture years ago this being made of wood and then maybe stone. 

A little island picnic area.

Kathy taking a photo of me…

taking one of her.

 

Dreary yet some nice colors.

Boardwalks 

and bird boxes.

Molly hears it…

I see it.

And kathy sees it.

An eagle on the top of the lone tree dead center

Hard to get a good shot this far away. (I do not carry a bunch of lenses and stuff with me when hiking)

More colors.

This was in the path. nicely strange. Kathy took this one.

When one tree fell, I guess it took the other one with it.

Dead center and this thing was humming.

Lone growth up in the trees.

A beaver house.

As I walk away…

A penny for your thoughts (I’m thinking – Don’t touch it! It looks like a booby-trap!)

A wonderful adventure in our new neck of the woods!!

Thanks God.

https://www.pembertonpark.org/pemberton-park/index.htm

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Blogroll

  • Flouride Action Network
  • lulu
  • My Book
  • WordPress.com
  • WordPress.org

Recent Posts

  • In Search of The Skipjack Ada Mae
  • Trap Pond Kayak
  • Pusey Trail and Cemeteries
  • Chandler Tract (White Trail) 4 3 21
  • Oyster Fritters, Antiques, a Hike (and a bad sign)

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • Water and Me
    • Join 228 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Water and Me
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...