Mike and I took a quick trip to Chincoteague Island, VA on Friday, staying over until Saturday. We’d planned this trip around the day off for Veterans Day without consideration of the election being the same week. So nice to get away and turn off the news.

Chincoteague Island been our getaway for a number of years. Most famous for the pony round up and its oysters, this sleepy beach town is a great place to unwind. Ironically, as it is a beach town, we’ve never been in the summer. We’ve gone to ring in the New Year, for Easter, for a September or October getaway but never during its peak season. It’s small town charm, with a number of food and ice cream options as well as opportunities to see the wild ponies and migrating birds, makes it a great place to go.

When we got there on Friday, we got sandwiches and headed to the beach. It was cool but nice in the sun. After we ate we starting walking down the beach and I looked over to see a bald eagle in the trees by the shore. We knew from previous visits they live there but we hadn’t seen them by the beach before. I was also thrilled to see either Amish or Mennonite or “my people” (as I like to called them) , at the beach. I’ve always had a strange obsession with the Amish and in my next life, hope to be one. By that time, I will have cleaned up my language, learned a few skills they need and be ready for the change in lifestyle.

Many birds stop through on the way to their winter location or winter in Chincoteague. The large pond area was pretty dry and outside of the egrets and herons, we didn’t see the snow geese or swans we expected.  We saw a few of the horses at a distance. On the Virginia side of Assateague Island, where Chincoteague is, the horses are out pretty far from view. There are some horses in town, at a hotel next to the McDonald’s and also some near the fairgrounds. In Maryland, they wander more freely close to the road. Of course it is a thrill to see them but then we got stuck behind them when we drove over the Maryland side. I told Mike I feel like they try mess with us humans. They poop on all the pathways. Why? A “screw you” to people? They stand in front of the cars and s-l-o-w-l-y move out of the way. They are still beautiful to see.

Saturday we got up and checked out the wildlife loop again after riding our bikes around it the day before but there wasn’t much there so we headed over the lighthouse and climbed to the top. The views were spectacular and while a bit windy, was worth the hike up the steps. After that, as I mentioned, we drove to the Maryland side of Assateague, about an hour away. We saw a number of ponies there and I loved the one pictured here with the heart on his side. A few people were in the water either surfing or paddle boarding – no brave swimmers though.

If you haven’t been to either side of Assateague, I’d encourage you to go. Such a beautiful place – it makes it easy to forget the rest of the world.