Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland

My last days off I headed to the beach. I had researched beaches near DC before coming up here this summer and when I found that there was one I could camp at and had wild ponies, it became my number one choice. However when I started looking at the camping situation closer to time I found that the campground was booked solid! So I decided that I could try backcountry camping or go to a nearby campground off the island. I kept checking availability closer to the days off and I lucked out with two nights opening up so I booked them. I would just need to backcountry camp the first night or see if they had any last minute cancellations when I got there. 

I left Monday, crossed the massive Chesapeake Bay bridge, and hours later arrived on the island. As I was obtaining my backcountry permit they said a camping spot in bayside opened up and I took it. The site wasn't great; I was right beside the bathrooms, with not much of a view of the bay, but that's car camping for you. Also the mosquitoes are in full force this time of year and poses a constant annoyance. I set up, had dinner, and then the ponies came by. A mom and her foal went straight to the picnic table where my coolers were and tried to get in them. Then they knocked some papers off the table and started chewing on them. I tried to get them to go away but they don't scare easily. Rules there say to stay at least 10 feet away if not a bus length. They are wild ponies that bite, kick, and charge, even though they are used to people doesn't mean they are tame. I couldn't get them to go away so I got out my hiking poles cause that's what I use for wildlife out on the trail (clank them together to make noise), but that didn't work either. I was trying to keep my distance while also protecting my stuff. I finally tapped my poles on the cooler and got them to go away but they stayed by my campsite until sunset. The foal keep messing with my tent and even pulled up one of my tent stakes. They eventually wandered on but I awoke at 2AM to them eating grass right beside my tent. 

Ponies first arriving at my bayside campsite

Foal nursing right by my campsite

Caught in the act! I think the foal wanted to move in!

Foal right at home

Bayside at sunset

The next morning I got up early, packed up, and went to join a yoga class on the beach. 

After yoga I laid out on the beach for awhile, then went to check in for my new campsite. I was in a walk-in site on the ocean side. It was not too far of a walk and I set up right on the beach (to get there you have to go through an area where all the mosquitoes are so you run through as fast as possible until you get to where the beach winds drive the mosquitoes away). The other sites were all around so not super private. I tried to make a shade structure using my hiking poles and hammock tarp but the wind was too much and I am no engineer. I found that I didn't want to be so exposed to the sun all the time or I would be burnt to a crisp. All the other sites had nice big tents and canopies but I was making due with what I had, which was a normal rain umbrella and a camping chair. 

Oceanside campsite

Finally got to use my Goal Zero solar panel this summer!

Beach crowd

Eating well at the beach

Beer & books at the beach

I loved jumping in the waves

So the rest of the time I sat on the beach, swam in the Atlantic Ocean, read, and relaxed. I got burnt from the first day so the last two days I wore pants and a long sleeve shirt (also helped with the mosquitoes when I wasn't at the beach) while I sat on the beach when I wasn't swimming. All in all, I had a nice time at the beach and swimming in the ocean-just what I needed. However, I got sunburned, mostly on my back and feet, which made hiking and sleeping in my tent uncomfortable. Also, the mosquitoes were horrible and I didn't have the right equipment to make the beach time as fun as possible. Now I know what to take next time I'm at the beach. 

Ponies on the beach at day's end

Ponies making their beach entrance

After leaving Assateague I drove through Ocean City. I had lunch at Backshore Brewing right on the boardwalk and afterwards I walked down the boardwalk looking at the sights (I chose that brewery cause I saw they had a beer called "Sarah Smile"). Ocean City was starkly different than Assateague. There were so many more people and it was more of a touristy spot, but I enjoyed checking it out.

Ice Cream melting super quick on a hot day on Ocean City boardwalk

Crab Pizza and "Sarah Smile" Razz Hefe @ Backshore Brewing

Next: Last days of ridgerunning on the Appalachian Trail