By the third full day of our long weekend away, we had discovered we preferred to visit the island later in the day when the majority of visitors had departed. That way we didn’t have to wait in long lines to enter the park. Plus, there was something magical about being here when the sun was lower in the sky…
For this evening visit, we drove a short way down the road to the bay side area, and made a left into a parking area for one of the trails. Stormy was nearing completion of her booklet for her junior ranger badge, but still needed to hike one of the trails. My bestie suggested the Life of the Marsh trail, so that is what we tried. It was the perfect choice! The entire trail is on raised boardwalks looking down into the marsh. We saw a family herd of ponies, an egret, and so many crabs!
When we finished the short hike, it was less than a mile altogether, we piled into our cars and drove over to the ocean-side parking lot. My hubby had yet to see the kids playing in the surf, and I couldn’t wait to show him the kids facing down the waves! We had boogie boards with us this time too. Stormy couldn’t wait to try out the boards!
The water was cold, and we didn’t think the girls would last long, but we were surprised…. the girls were having so much fun, they lasted a long time! Stormy spent a lot of time getting the hang of boogie boarding. Pebble held my hand or hubby’s, and jumped up and down when the waves came in. Rainbow held a face-off with the waves, trying to jump them as they rolled onto shore.
Little did we know the treat we were in for! A herd of ponies came down on the sand near the water’s edge, and walked down the beach past us! It was amazing to be so close to these animals! We had seen them from the car, and from a distance when on the trail, and we always maintained a bus length between us, per island rules. Tonight, that was impossible. The ponies go where they choose, it is their island, and we are just visitors…
FYI, if you bring food to the beach, keep it zipped up or in a cooler. One member of this herd made a detour! A couple lost an entire bag of chips, plus we saw the horse lift a drink from a cup holder on one of their chairs!
After raiding the couple’s food bags, the horse continued down the beach toward my family. I picked up Pebble and moved toward the surf where her sisters and friends were playing. Sure enough, the pony stopped at our bags and took a good long sniff! Fortunately, we had no food with us! For days, after watching this encounter, Pebble would find the backpack, and drag it over to show friends and family, telling them how the pony smelled the bag! It made a big impression on her!
After watching the herd meander down the sand, we continued to play for a bit. Pebble was starting to tank, though, and we made the decision to head home, start a campfire, and roast some s’mores. It was the best beach visit we had the entire trip, and a night we won’t soon forget! Happy trails!
Assateague Island National Seashore
