My husband’s original plan for today included getting up at 4AM, which is something I whole-heartedly promised him I could do. If that’s what he wants every now and then, I’ll get up at 4 AM. “Sure, no problem honey”, I told him (I really meant it).
My husband knows me very well, however. He knows I will not like getting up at 4 AM just to photograph a sunrise in the freezing cold after a two-hour journey. So on Friday evening, he changed the plan to rather than getting there in time to see the sunrise, to leaving around 7:30 just take a walk on the beach when we got there.
And I loved this idea even better.
(Even though I had trouble waking up just to do that.)
Much to my husband’s surprise, we managed to leave the house at 7:30 this morning for our drive to Assateague Island National Seashore on the Maryland coast. We’ve been visiting this spot for around 20-25 years and today the beach was pretty darn cold, let me tellya.
I loved it! I love the smell and sound of the ocean. It is just so wonderful to watch the waves roll in, a repetitive motion that reminds you that no matter what happens in this world, the waves will continue.
I saw the usual things I see when I visit this park.
I saw some wild ponies.
I saw the ocean in all its majesty.
I saw a lot of my husband’s back.
And front.
I saw seagulls.
This one is surveying his territory.
Fishing for something tasty.
And just flying.
We both noticed how different the shoreline looks from when we first began visiting the park when our sons were really young. Every year, my husband’s parents would take our two boys with them to ‘camp’ in their RV for a week at the beach here. In later years when the boys stopped going, my husband and I would go and meet them there for a weekend.
They gave up the RV several years ago and I don’t remember the last time we camped here. But it’s a wonderful place. And in the winter, you practically have it all to yourself.
Thanks for coming along. And hello to all the new visitors. Oh, you think I didn’t see you out there, did you? Well, I do. I have ways, you know . . .
PS ~ I really do have ways to see who visits but I just don’t have the time to investigate. So don’t worry. Your lurking is safe. Honestly. And I don’t mind in the least.
Unless you’re an axe-murderer. Please go away, then.
53 comments:
The ocean is my favorite place to be. A walk on the beach always helps put thing in perspective.
looks like a fun day trip....beautiful photos...thanks for taking us along...I can see why you liked the new time better...
Yea for the winner! Love your pictures...love the wild pony, reminds me of the movie "Misty" from when I was a girl. The ocean looks cold and scary to me, we each see beauty in our world and thats good! come say hi :D
Love your field trips~the sea and wild horses! Makes me sea and horse sick..in a good way! Thanks for the fun pix and know I always enjoy them
Oh Kate, thank you so much for taking us along for the trip! That looks like such a wonderful place to visit. When I was a little girl, I always wanted to go to see the wild ponies! :)
The wild pony is fabulous. Wish we had them on our beach area here where I live...The flat beach there looks like here on the Pacific side further north than where I live. I have a lot of my beach scenes on my facebook account also. Thirty minutes south of Coos Bay is Bandon, where the beautiful huge rocks are. i enjoyed your hike very much.
How fun to spend the day viewing the wild ponies and the ocean. Beautiful ocean shot! Looks like George had a good time too...=)
That wild pony...what face and warm woolly coat! Gorgeous land and seascapes! I just love your Chronicles, Country Girl!
Oh.....and George just made me his friend!!! And my niece too!!! How kewl is that?
Word Verification is
HOILYC:
Holy Border Collies!
I have always wanted to see the wild ponies. Thank you for sharing that beauty. And what's not to love about our dear George. I think we've all adopted him into our hearts. Now where do we send his Milkbones?
Thanks for this wonderful post.
Helen
Dear Kate,
One of my favorite places in the the whole world. My husband and I went down to the pony auction every summer we lived in Maryland. I always considered myself lucky to live in such a beautiful state. Thanks for sharing your trip; the photos are gorgeous.
the beach in the winter is pure and magic with your captures!
We don't take day trips. And I think my George - in this case a husband not a dog - should. The wild ponies must be magnificent!
I love your post...your photos made me feel good. There's something about being around water that just calms the spirit.
I will admit to being a lurker, but not an axe murderer!!! I love your site, I read it everyday and it makes my day. Great photos, and always fun to read
What is this 4AM thing of which you speak? It must be an East coast thing! :)
It's gorgeous. My favorite is the shot of the pony. The mane!
Worked with a girl who swore Assateague was the best place on the planet to camp. Though I've not camped there I have visited and spent a lot of time in nearby Chincoteague, home of Misty.
Great pictures as always, and thanks for taking us on your walk through the park.
Lovely photos, Kate. I felt like I was there. Now my hands are cold..
It looks like you had a wonderful day. So pretty. :)
http://asthefarmturns.wordpress.com/
What a fun day! Those pictures are beautiful, I love the one of your hubby and George from the back, it's all glow-y like! Oh and the pony one of course. Although that wild pony looks a little shaggy and thin, of course that worries me. I imagine good forage is a little tough to come by in the winter. :(
I have alwaaaaays wanted to visit there, so it was great to be taken on this little journey - and I didn't even have to be awake at 7:30am. Or 8:30.
Ok, I'll shut up now cuz I didn't get to see any ponies today either...
Hi George!
Beautiful pictures! I miss the Atlantic Ocean Coast, so thanks for bringing us along.
...we have some beautiful winter beaches here in RI ...but none with wild horses!....That is amazing that they still exist and you get close enough for such a great shot!
...but my favorite shot is the first...absolutely beautiful...
Thanks for taking us along Kate:)
Just found your blog and I love it! We also have a Border Collie and an English Shepherd and I'm in Maryland too!
Your photographs are beautiful, so glad I found you! P.S. I gave up axe-murdering years ago! ;-)
Kat :)
I've only been to the ocean twice in my life. Those are some of my favorite memories. Your beach is beautiful; I hope to see it someday.
Oh, Kate, these are wonderful images... love the feel, as if I'm right there. I have never been to Assateague, however, I have been a BIG fan of the Misty of Chincoteague book seres since I was alittle horse crazy girl, and it's on my bucket list of places to visit. You've inspired me again..
Thank you for sharing :-)
I'm so glad you enjoyed yourselves. Judging by your gorgeous images I would think it would have been impossible NOT to :)
Lovely photos from your winter visit to the beach!!
Your photos are amazing! Sounds like the perfect place and day.
Thanks for lovely photos - almost like being there yourself - and for the note on new visitors ;-) You enjoy your day!
"what a morning--fresh as if issued to children on a beach."
from the first page of "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf
Your beach looks so clean and empty. It is too cold to be littered by tourists half naked and baking in the sun, or by children running headlong into the surf. I thought of that quote above when I looked at your wonderful photographs. Thank you for taking us along.
Oh thank you Kate on taking us on your visit to the ocean. I loved the walk. Such a peaceful place and I so loved the pictures.
kate...........i love your dog! what a face!
polly
cherubpk@aol.com
Love that first shot of the boardwalk. And, I love horses all furry with their winter coats. They look like equine versions of Bridget Bardot.
I'm always very enthusiastic about getting up the next morning at the crack of dawn. Whoever invented the snooze button should be knighted, is all I'm sayin'...
The ocean is a haven for me. Lovely photos. Wild ponies? Lucky you!
Worth the early alarm;)
Love, your fav axe murderer xoxo
Thank you for the trip to the beach. It's been way too long since I saw the ocean. I love visiting off season when you almost have the beach to yourself, especially in stormy weather. Needless to say the photos are top rate as always.
Congratulations to Lori - you'll love the glasses - I have some.
I see that pony has got his nice thick winter coat on Kate - glad you hd yours on too - the photography makes the place look so beautiful and so airy.
Gorgeous pics of the beach
I love going to mine
Yes, it belongs to me
It even saves me a log to sit on
I try to go at least once a year ..
Well I haven't commented before I don't think, so I guess I have been a lurker ... but I just have to say that when I was a child (eons ago) in sub tropical Queensland Australia, I was given the book *Misty makes a movie* which I cherished (and I still have it!). Your photos took me back to that place.... just love your blog.
Welcome to Wendy. Glad you found me. And to all the newcomers, glad to have you on board today.
Thanks, everyone.
~ C.G.
Beautiful photos! Love the wild pony image and the ones of your husband and dog.
I am a little behind on my comments. Your picturs are wonderful I really like the littls wild horse. Justen Morgan who brought the first Morgan horses to Assateaque Island is some distant relative of mine.
~~Love Hugs and Good Thoughts
Oh my gosh...that beach looks so wild and wonderful...and deserted! Great photos.
No axe murderer this time, just me : )
Kate, that photo of your husband and George looking at each other speaks volumes of their devotion to one another. Something about it almost brings tears to my eyes. Maybe the fragility of their relationship. All I know is you should frame it.
I enjoy the beach in the winter also, just so long as I'm dressed appropriately. Glad you all had such a wonderful day. Wild ponies? Really? What's up with that?
Sharon
stunning shots - i could spend hours there
AWESOME
First lurk today, honest. You can come looking for me, but you'll never get your tongue round the Welsh pronunciations!
LOVELY photos by the way.
Hey you! I have something for you over at my blog. :) xo
I was just about to say how envious I am of the amazing natural beauty you have so close to you. You are very lucky, there is no doubt. But I have to say that I have some great scenery at my disposal at well. I simply have to get out there and take advantage of all the riches it offers to me and my lens. Love your work. I especially love your dog!
Beautiful pictures. The wild pony is my favorite.
I love day tripping on Saturdays too! We took a little road trip up farther north to a town we like to visit every once in a while. There is a wonderful little antique/book store there that we both love and a very friendly bar that we always stop in for lunch.
P.S. I've always wanted to go to Assateague Island. Maybe someday soon we get there.
Now that I've seen this picture I think we're going to try to do this soon - maybe even this weekend. I'd like to take my dogs. Is this beach pretty much empty/desserted to where that wouldn't be a problem?
Oh man do I LOVE the colors in this one!!! I'm such an icy blue and gray person.
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