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 marshBlack Duck TrailPony PensWoodland TrailRoad less traveled on leftWishes in waitingOff-road bikingEnd of road – off bikes and hikeLooking leftLooking rightWhat is that?Getting closeAfter 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 FiddlerWho am I?Long ago pufferContemplationAbandoned
Back to the bikes and onto the Woodland Trail
Pony PensPoniesSwan Cove Trail to oceanMarshes drying upMap Paths
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.
Water and Me 