Assateague State Park

9-10 June 2019

Assateague State Park is Maryland's only oceanfront park. It is located on Assateague Island, a barrier island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.  While there is assorted wildlife in the park, the most famous attraction here is the feral horses.  We arrived on a cold and windy day and it turned out that this was going to be the conditions for our two-night stay.  We saw our first horses entering the park and they were in the campground often during our stay. There are approximately 75 in the Maryland herd and their numbers are controlled by a contraception program. There are warnings everywhere to stay away from these wild horses. They have been known to attack those who get to close.

 I wondered where the horses came from and this is what the state park website says: “Local lore experts theorized the ponies arrived on the island via a shipwrecked vessel in the late 18th or early 19th century. Others attribute their arrival by pirates drawn to the island who ultimately abandoned the animals. A more likely theory is that farmers in colonial times used the island for grazing areas to avoid paying taxes on the land.”  I am betting the last one is right on the money.

This was our second stop in a row that we could say we were actually cold.  In some ways it was nice after the heat of Florida.  We did not bring warm jackets and bought some pullovers at the Cape Henlopen SP, which we used both days here.  Halley surprisingly enjoyed the beach and had fun running around. 

I do not normally comment on bathhouses, but I must say the one in our camp section is without a doubt the very best I have seen anywhere.  Very large, well lit with tile floors and spacious shower stalls.  It appears new and well maintained.

The second day we drove over to the Assateague National Seashore, which is adjacent to the state park to see what they had to offer. They also have about 150 feral horses.  There is a campground and beach area. We walked the boardwalk thru the wetlands area, watching the families fish and attempt to catch crabs. 

Cape Henlopen State Park, DE

6-7 June 2019

After leaving the rally, our next stop was Cape HenlopenState Park in Delaware.  The state park has continued a very long history of public access.  The land that has become Delaware was granted to William Penn after 1682.  At that time Penn provided that the Cape Henlopen area would be available to the citizens of Lewis and Sussex counties for common use and remains so today.

Before leaving home, we made a reservation at the state park, which is along the coast with lots of things to do. When we arrived, we knew the park would be full, but did not know how very short and unlevel most of the sites were. Ours had a steep incline and the only way we could get close to level was pulling into the spot instead of backing in. The sites were also very close together. 

The park has numerous trails surrounding the park and a bike path that also has direct access from the campground.  Along this path you pass thru the site of the WWII Fort Miles.  This was considered a key defense location for the security of the Delaware River and its access for major ports of supply.  You will find supply and ammo bunkers.  Some of the barracks buildings remain with displays of cannons that would have been used in defense of the river entrance.  There are also watch towers, some of which can be climbed for great views of the surrounding area.

Further along the trail you will find the nature center and of course access to the beach area.  You can also see the offshore lighthouse. 

It is a park well worth visiting and a stop midweek would be preferable unless you enjoy large crowds and lots of traffic.

View/Navion rally Cape Charles VA

2-5 June 2019

We arrived at the Cape Charles, VA KOA campground for the View/Navion rally. There were 75 rigs in attendance.  The focus of the rally was to meet and share experiences with one another about our travels and experiences with these motorhomes.   We enjoyed each other’s company individually and at gatherings like the potluck meals.  There was a tech talk once a day at the picnic area where everyone could ask questions and share their experiences. Three or four volunteers were doing repairs and mods for those who wanted them.

The KOAcampground has several hundred sites, many with full hookups.  There is a very large new pool and beach on the bay.  For Floridians, it was very cold water.

A number of tours were offered, and we went on the Chesapeake Bay bridge and tunnel tour to get an inside look at the operations.  It was a very impressive tour. Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed inside the buildings.  

Many of the rally group took a walking tour of the small town of Cape Charles.  Two of the highlights were the wine tasting and art gallery. The artist who owns the gallery creates vivid pictures of the surrounding areas and are etched into steel sheets.  Really beautiful and expensive. He came to the campground and took our group picture.

The last outing was to the Cape Charles Brewing Company, where members of our group put on an Oyster feast.  Anneke had her first raw oysters and loved them.  It was a great evening of food, beer and camaraderie.