July 2015 - Assateague Island Trip

At Last!  After 7 months of no break in the action at work or at home, we were finally going to get away to our fun beach destination,... Assateague Island.  The camper has been prepared and packed for about a week or more now, and the van was gone over for tire pressures and all the fluids, so we were ready to start loading things up.  Saturday evening, everything was aligned in the driveway and loaded with exception of the food, which we would add Sunday morning before hitching up.  The girls even did their toes to match for the vacation with blue nail polish and fishies!

Girls Toes for the Vacation

Sunday travel went well, with very light traffic volume it made for a nice relaxing drive once we burned off a little fuel.  I filled the tank and we were loaded up, so even though I had the air bags set at the same 28 psi, the rear end felt quite squishy and caught my attention.  Once we were down below 3/4 tank, it felt better,... or I was just used to towing again.  We arrived a little after the check in rush, and had all our papers in order.  After a few minutes, we were on our way to our campsite for the week!

Can't forget the Camp Cruiser!!!

Once we were setup at the campsite it was time to get out to the beach and explore.  The girls always have a fun reaction to the waters edge the first time we arrive each year, and this year was no different.  Ally jumped the first little wave and splashed her feet right in, while Madie and Bella seemed to be chased by each wave, trying not to get their feet wet.  The water was cold at first, but it was actually quite comfortable and warmer than last year it seemed.

Ally's Leap of faith

Don't get wet!!

Some horses on our way to our campsite

First Ice Run on the Camp Cruiser back to the ranger station

My First Cruisin buddy

Monday morning started off with some drizzle,,... then some heavy rains that soaked our campsite with puddles and made the wind buffet the camper.  Our pupup held strong though, and no leaks anywhere.  So, while the girls stayed inside, I got soaked,... completely soaked, securing the awning and tidying up the items we had outside.  Here is the radar shot....

Well,... looks like a great day to go on the beach!,.. oh,.. maybe later.

Once back inside, we played some games and relaxed waiting out the weather.  My brother Ryan gave the girls these magnetic balls and links which are quite fun to build things with.  It became a challenge to build a tower, which would slip and fall after a few inches in height, and then we tried to build a bridge.  Picking it up, it would just fall apart,... but,... Push in evenly on each end to add some compression while lifting,... and .....

Playing with the magnetic links during the rain

A Little Compression,.. and Wahoo! A bridge

Till one link slipped and it went everywhere!!  haha.  By the time we cleaned things up the weather started to improve and we climbed out of our camper ready to start the day.  Steph, Chris, and Robert came by today and the kids played on the beach for a while before we headed up to the boardwalk for the evening.

Family pic at Ocean City Boardwalk!

Ally catchin almost every wave!

Bella rockin the wave

Boogie Boarding!

Ally Caught a Crab!

After some ice cream on the boardwalk and a short drive back to camp, we were able to view a really great sunset on the horizon.  A nice end to a day that started off sloppy!

Another Great Sunset

 Tuesday was another fun day at the campsite.  Usually it takes a day to get settled in and have the kids get into a rhythm when we go camping.  Bella was a big help around the campsite and helping with dishes,... voluntarily!  Our friends came to spend the day with us again on the beach but had to depart before dinner that evening.  The horses were plentiful again in our area of the campground and northern part of the island, usually in groups of 4 to 6 in an area, just grazing away. 

Quick, everyone take a photo!!  Ooooo AAhhhh

Everyday there are events and activities that are run by the State Park service or the National Park service for the kids.  In the mornings from 9-11am each day there is a Surf-n-Sand club that they attend to do games, crafts, and other activities that is also operated by a church youth group.  Each week has a different theme, and this week it was "Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader",... which was full of fun activities school related to get them back in the mood for school.  They all had fun, and I'm sure they learned something too along the way.

Tuesday evenings are Tie-Dye Tuesdays up at the front parking lot.  The Friends of Assateague Island have shirts, rubber bands, and three colors of dye that they provide for free.  A donation is requested.  We already had our shirts and a bag of rubber bands so we could pre-tie the shirts into designs earlier in the afternoon.  With them in hand, we were ready to go!  This years colors were bright and fresh and would go great together.  Each of the girls picked their color(s) and when all done we bagged them in a ziplock for the night to let the color set.  The next day, we opened them up and Becky rinsed them in the ocean (they told us the cold salt water helps set the color), which got her a few looks by some of the other campers!  They turned out great!  We'll use them for our family photo after they dry.

Tie-Dye Tuesday at the park station

Our Tie-Dye Shirts!  Turned out Great

Ghost Crabbin

 Wednesday's weather was cool in the morning,... but getting HOT quick!!  We needed some respite from the heat and the sand of the beach at this point, plus we needed to restock some of our groceries.  Today was a day that we would go to Ocean City again to get some time in the shops and get some lunch at a Chik-fila that we past the other evening.  First, while the girls were at Surf-n-Sand, Becky and I rode the Camp Cruiser around to spot for horses.  It didn't take long, as the neighbors on the loop behind us has some company last night!!

"Hey Hun,... our neighbors have company for breakfast"

We did go for an evening walk on the beach again after it cooled down a bit,... and seemed to have lost Ally?? !!  Ahh,,,. there she is!

Hmm,.. A Crab or a T-Rex hiding in the sand?

The evening passed, some s'mores were eaten, and the moon was nearly a full moon.  After a minute or two,... what is that? on the Dune...... the camera didn't turn out as nice as it actually looked.  Really cool.

A horse on the dune in the moonlight

 Thursday AM started off with Ally and I going north to Ocean City Airport to meet up with Gary, a long time Pilot friend.  We would like to get together more, but hey,.... one of us has to work right?! Gary took us up in 08R, his very well maintained Sundowner that flies fantastic and solid.  A short loop to the south to see our camping area, and then we turned north to fly over Ocean City and up to the Delaware line.  I had to opportunity to assist the flight again (October 22, 2011 was my last General Aviation Pilot In Command Flight) and I may still have some of the skills to track headings and altitudes.  I threw in a standard rate and steep turn for good measure when we were at the Lewes Ferry, and then we tracked back down the coast to the airport.  Thanks Gary for a great flight!

Our Campsite is down there somewhere!

Ally enjoying the flight with Gary and I

Ocean City from above.

One of the bridges along the coast

The afternoon was short,... a mix of relaxation, bike riding, and packing things up.  As the evening approached we went back out to enjoy the beach for one last time and to build our sand castle.

This year's Sand Castle

Again!  Pardon Me,... Comin Thru,...

Vacation Family Photo.  Last trip with our Popup!

Friday is a packing day.  With the kids off to Surf-n-Sand for the last time, Becky and I can easily pack things up in a fairly organized manner and get everything done.  Since the kids are done at 11am, and we have to be off site then too, it works out great for us to have them away at Surf-n-Sand.  But,... where is Olof?  Madie would be upset if we can't find him........

Olof was catching some rays,... In Sssuummmmmerrrr!

We had a long trip home with the traffic and will likely not travel on Friday again,..... but we got home safe and sound and have the camper all emptied out and cleaned.