July 4, 2010 in Chincoteague

Thursday   July 1, 2010   Drive to Chincoteague

Having returned from Bike Virginia late yesterday, I am hustling to unpack and repack for Chincoteague. I have packed my 1996 Mazda 626 with my kayak, cooler, food, clothes and beach gear so it is ready to go. Anne is co-coordinator for her boss' retirement party at Howard Community College. We have loaded Anne's car with stuff and have to be there at 3:30 to help set up. We returned home about 8:00 and packed our granddog staying with us for two weeks into the Mazda and drove off at 8:35.

We drove 168 miles in the night arriving at Anne's cousin Ted and Charlotte's place in Chincoteague, Virginia about 11:45 pm. After a brief greeting, we all went to bed.

Friday   July 2, 2010   Sugarbaker & Beach

Because of our late arrival and the blistering heat I slept in skipping my daily run. We greeted and reunited our granddog with his family staying in the nearby Sea Hawk Motel. Most of us walked a few blocks to the Sugarbaker where I treated everyone to some sweet bake goods which we consumed in the nearby park.

We checked into the Oyster Watch II with Kevin and Lorraine early in the afternoon and began unpacking. Kara, Jason and family arrived late afternoon. Lorraine cooked a great meal of tacos, salads, beans, etc which was enjoyed very much. Uncle Ted and Charlotte hung out with us including our nightly ice cream run which tonight is Mr Whippy's.

July 3, 2010   Saturday   Run, Bike Beach & Fireworks

I'm up at 6:00 running out the beach road across the bridge onto Assateague Island and around the nature trail then back to the beach house. I ride my bike on the same route I just ran to measure the distance which is 7.38 miles. It took 34:43 minutes averaging 12.6 mph while reaching a maximum speed of 20.5 mph. On my way back I see my family driving to the beach. I then biked 5.44 miles round trip to Fresh Pride for bagels, orange juice, milk, cream cheese and strawberry jam for $9.56. Anne bought me a sub for lunch so I biked across the bridge, starting around the nature trail before taking the beach trail to the beach. I walked and rode the bike a long way south along the waters edge to where the family was located. I'm not a beach person so after a little over an hour I biked back to the house completing a 10.04 mile circuit.

Everyone is crabbing from the pier and they are coming fast and furious. Most are too small except 3 or 4 which we keep and steam for supper. We are listening to music on MP3, playing wiffle ball and throwing the football. I gave grandson Logan a 9 foot kayak as an early birthday present. Jason launched him in his kayak and he took to it like a duck to water. He had good control and even turned into the wake of a passing boat. Jason and Kelsey were tracking him in another kayak until they felt he was okay.

Supper is Maryland style steamed crab with corn on the cob, potato chips, salad and beer. Tonight is Chincoteague fireworks so we arrive at Mullers for ice cream about 9:30 and watch the fireworks from their lawn at 10:00. Probably because of budget constraints, the fireworks are not as spectacular, as many and with longer gaps between each burst as in past years.

July 4, 2010   Sunday   Run, Kayak & Fireworks

I'm up at 5:30 and out for my 7.38 mile run around the nature trail. After devotions and a bagel breakfast I put my West River 164 wooden kayak in the water and paddle a little over an hour around the point past the city dock into Oyster Bay and return.

Grandson Sean is not feeling well so we stayed at the house while everyone else headed for the beach. I used the time to clean up the house, restore everything where we found it and take the trash (crab shells) and recycleables to the center.

When the family returned from the beach the kids started crabbing again catching many with a handfull of keepers which we steamed. Some went swimming off the pier. Logan was out in his kayak again with others in the sea kayak.

Since it is July 4th we grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken for supper. We played wiffle ball for baseball and Sean hit 4 onto the upper deck. After dark the kids ran around with sparklers. We could see Roman candles and other small fireworks on neighboring piers along the water. Everyone is on our pier except Anne and I with Kaitlin who doesn't like fireworks. We are on the upper deck enjoying the cool pleasant breeze with no bugs. The next pier up the bay began a series of fireworks that were better than the town's fireworks that lasted at least a half hour. We had a perfect view and the family really enjoyed them.

July 5, 2010   Monday   Move and Evening Beach Swim with Dinner

Today is check out day. I'm up at 6:00 but don't have time to run.I start the day reading my guide book the Bible followed by breakfast. I put the roof rack on the car then load the kayak. I clean out all the recycleables and trash and take it to the center. The trunk is packed with beach chairs, a large cooler and asundry bags of sheets, towels, clothes, food, etc. We don't have cleaning service so we go through the house cleaning, closing and turning off everything.The bike rack is installed on the trunk lid and the bike strapped to it. Granddaughter Kelsey is going home with us so her stuff is loaded in the car. We manage to make the 10:00 check out time by returning the sheets and keys to the real estate office.

Kevin and Lorraine head for Richmond while Kara and Jason head for Shepherdstown. Anne, Kelsey and I drive a few blocks to Ted and Charlotte's house.

It is blistering hot as we go to lunch at Don's Seafood Restaurant. We browse through a new book store and buy some fresh seafood for supper.

About 6:00 it is cooling down so we head for the ocean beach on Assateague Island. There is a nice breeze as we take a refreshing dip in the Atlantic. We feast on Charlotte's fantastic crab dip, steamed shrimp with cocktail sauce, macaroni salad, chips and salad.

As it is getting gray we return to the Neely's house in Chincoteague. It is dark as we walk to the busy Island Creamery (aka Mr Chocolate) before it closees at 10:00 for some great homemade ice cream.

July 6, 2010   Tuesday   Breakfast at Bill's and Drive to Columbia

I'm up at 6:00 and run 7.5 miles around the nature trail. I repack the car as Ted and Charlotte close up their house. About 8:15 we head for breakfast at Bill's Restaurant. Ted and Charlotte head for Connecticut at 9:30 as we drive over the old steel bridge into Chincoteague for the last time at Kelsey's request. It will be torn down soon after 100 years of service. Contented we drive through Snow Hill on MD-12 to Salisbury and then US-50 home. Family time is special.