Back in December 2015 when Kate and I planned this much needed summer vacation to her beloved Ocean City, Maryland we had no way of knowing that just a few days before were to head out that we would be closing on house. That last week before we left was chaotic with work, kids, moving, and getting ready vacation that the time away was even more appreciated.
We hit the road at 1:55 am on Saturday July 23rd five whole minutes ahead of schedule. A seven miles down the interstate the rain was coming down so heavy and the wind blowing so hard we stopped under and overpass for 15 minutes waiting for the storm to pass because of the horrendous road conditions, an ominous start to say the least. That would be the only delay until we hit traffic heading into ocean city some 12 hours later.
Our first stop for gas and a stretch was after driving 224 miles to the TA on the Rudy Rd, Willington, CT. We fueled up and Wesley boy got a diaper change. We stopped again in New Jersey on the New Jersey Turnpike and then in Middletown, Delaware to fuel up Vanna with some go juice and us with some Chick-Fil-A. We got to Aunt Linda's to get the key to the condo and visit for a spell.
Wesley and Ava were intrigued with each other while Faith had fun playing with both of them.
We hit the road getting stuck on route 50 a few miles out from the bridge into Ocean City. Once we crossed the bridge onto the inlet the traffic started moving much faster. We pulled into the condo about 4:30 pm 672 miles and fourteen and a half hours after the journey began.
But the night wasn't over, we ventured out for dinner going to Dumer's Dairyland who have five locations in Ocean City. The whole place really reminded me of the Deering Ice Cream restaurants chain we had in Maine when I was a kid.
After dinner we hit Food Lion to get some supplies, it was insane! I grabbed a number at the deli and it was over ten away from the number they were on. Wesley was done and he and I waited in the van while Kate cashed out.
The condo is nice with a full bed, twin bed, and pull out couch. The view is amazing with this glorious wrap around window where from twelve stories up you can see both sides of the inlet consisting of Assawoman Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, photo's do not do it justice.
Sunday morning, the 24th, we headed to the Farmers Market for tomato's, wine, and peaches then back to the condo and out to the beach. Kate was not joking when she said it was right on the beach. We set up out spot, filled a small pool for Wesley and proceeded to get sand in every uncomfortable spot we could, but it was well worth it for the boy. After a few hours though he had had enough of the heat and was done so we headed back to the room where he took a four hour nap.
It was nice to relax in the room and consume the first of many delicious home style oven roasted turkey, new york cheddar cheese, fresh cut tomato, and Duke's mayo with salt and pepper on some pretty fantastic bread. Kate had onion on hers. It was by no means a hardship to have several of those through out the week.
We took in the sights of the boardwalk that night playing a few games and I was just really taking it all in. There was a living statue guy, all in gold with a device in his mouth that made everything he "said" come out a squeak. Wesley was a big fan.
We finished the night off with dinner at Carrabba's Italian Grill. Kate used to eat at one in Kentucky and had a craving for their Chicken Bryan. I got the Tuscan Grilled Chicken which was delicious.
Monday the 25th ended up being a busy day for us, after breakfast at Chick-Fil-A we ran a couple errands and then because of the heat decided to go to Assateague Island National Shoreline. The temperature reached pretty near 100 with the heat index being about 115 degrees.
We stopped at the visitors center where we watched a video on the history of Ocean City and the area that was really interesting. They also had a couple small aquarium tanks and the gift shop. Kate said that this was a new visitors center from when she had last been.
Crossing the bridge onto the island we immediately saw three horses at the edge of the water not to far from the main rd. They were there when we left too and Kate stated she had never seen the horses so well before. Inside the National Shoreline park area we stopped at all the spots but the best by far was the old Ferry Landing. The water was shallow there and what started with Wesley just getting his feet wet turn into him just sitting down in the water. The close to an hour he played was well worth going to the Island alone.
We decided to head south and go to the Virginia side of the island, Kate had never been and it was only about an hour fifteen minute drive. The route we took was awesome, old side roads with little traffic. Just the kind of drive we like. On the way to Chincoteague Island we went past the NASA Wallops Flight Facility and they had a Visitor's Center with actual Rockets out front!
The long bridge onto Chincoteauge Island is flanked by numerous billboards evenly spaced apart advertising what is on the the island, many of them appear to be just sitting in the water, we found it comical.
We had lunch on the island at Famous Pizza and Sub Shop, I had a pepperoni pizza, the sauce was amazing, and Kate had the rockfish sandwich special, Wesley and jumbo hotdog.
On Assateague Island we visited the Lighthouse which the walk to it was shorter than I thought, I read 1/4 mile one way, it was round trip. The lighthouse was open for visitors and although I don't regret it now, at the time the decision to walk to the lighthouse was foolish considering how tall the tower was and how hot it was.
I didn't take that into consideration I was thinking cool I can go to the top of this lighthouse and check out the lantern, and I did after climbing all 178 stairs. The trip down was easier but still tiring and I was quite fatigued when I was done and my legs ached for days.
Every year for the last 91 years they have a Chincoteague Island pony swim, you can read about it here, and Kate has always wanted to see it but has never been in the area when it was happening. Ultimately we didn't see the ponies swim this year either but we did got see them in there coral on Assateague.
We did manage to stop at the NASA visitors center about a half hour before they closed. It was marvelous! They had many models inside and artifacts and outside the building several rockets including Little Joe which launched monkeys Sam and Miss Sam from Wallops.
Part 2 to follow
Later readers!
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