Another enjoyable trip to False Cape State Park we had last week. We met at Little Island City Park at 9:00 A.M. for the 9 mile bus ride into the park. We had Sandy, Mark, Dewey, Milton, Margaret, and Bruce. The weather was very good for this trip although we did have strong winds from the west, about everyday. On Tuesday night the moon and stars were out and shining bright and the winds were about 50 to 60 M.P.H. coming from the west across the bay and this was enough to wake us up in the middle of the night. The water from the Bay was splashing all the way to the front deck of our building and the tall Pines Trees were being swerved around and I though one may come down at anytime but they all stay upright and as morning came the winds die down and we had another beautiful day.
Packing all our gear into the bus along with the food which everyone brought to eat, there was cheese cake, pumpkin pie, apple cake, and cookies along with some great meals we started our trip in. Passing through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge, Margaret spotted two hogs running through the marsh grasses and I brought the bus to a stop so we all could get a better look at them. They moved away very quickly and disappeared into the grasses and we moved on. As we reached the park entrance gate heading south I stopped at the trail that leads to the South Inlet Platform. One of the information signs that the Friends of False Cape had put up in 1995, there at the platform was unreadable and I had a few weeks earlier had a new one made. This only took about thirty minutes to install and then we were on our way. Reaching the Environmental Education Center we unloaded everything into the building and put away all the food and loaded the refrigerator. We all got back into the bus and drove over to the shop area, where we met Chuck, the Chief Ranger. After we talked with him about our next project we climb into one of their trucks along with the Trail Club Tools that I had brought for us to use and headed for North Carolina. Here at the state line we had a trail that needed trimming back so people could hike to the State Line Monument which was erected in the 1800’s. Here we had our first lunch with one foot in Virginia and the other in North Carolina so to speak. After working till about 1:30 P.M. we drove back to Wash Wood boat dock. Chuck with 3 of his crew members were working on the dock replacing the deck boards. We moved in and they move out to do some other jobs. The water was about 2 ft. deep and I had my Hip Boots with me so I put them on. I had to stand in the water to drill holes in the 4x4’s to holed the 2x10’s stringers, after we put a few of them up we all started nailing and screwing down the deck boards. We did this the rest of the day and then headed back to the E.E.C. for our evening meal that Milton was to prepare for us. After we finish eating and cleanup the kitchen some watched a movie but Sandy, Milton, and Bruce went on a night hike by the light of the moon. We headed out towards the beach stopping at the platform that we built over 2 years ago for a beautiful view of the ocean, and bay and the surrounding landscape. Reaching the beach around 9:00 o’clock the winds had chance and was blowing up from the south but the temperatures were warm so we headed south till we reached a break in the domes and then headed back into the park looking for deer and pigs but none were to be seen. We got back to the E.E.C. around 10:30 and everyone got ready for bed.
Tuesday morning Mark had Omelets in a bag (you had to be there) for all and they were very good. After eating and cleaning up the kitchen we headed back to the boat dock and began working on the deck boards. This we did till lunch time them we drove back to the E.E.C. for lunch. The weather was warm after we finish lunch and we started working on the dock once again. By evening the clouds were moving in so we cleaned up all the tools and put them away, thing that the rain was on its way. We all had a hard day of work so we drove back over to the center, for some R&R. It was Margaret’s and Bruce’s night to fix the meal and we had brought lasagna so we heated up the oven and began preparing our meal. After supper we all stay in and some read books in their room, others went to bed and the rest watch a movie.
The next morning Milton had his Hunger Man Breakfast for all and we all pig out on it. With the strong winds we had that night the water was to high to work on the dock without getting wet, so we found another job to do. Installing a small platform at False Cape Landing campground on the bay side, at the water pump, then rebuilding two picnic tables, and then cutting back one of the trails, this took about all day. We did take a long lunch break at the E.E.C. and had a good ride around the park and up and down the beach looking for deer and pigs. This night Sandy had the meal and what a meal it was, she brought the whole kitchen with her, to many dishes to name, all was very good. I went out alone for a hike and to check out two G.P.S. courses I had for the group to do on Thursday. While walking the course I had the luck to have two 200 Pd hogs and four 15 Pd pigs walk in front of me about 50 feet away. On the way back I saw one deer flash across the trail for about one second. I got back about 11:00 P.M. and everyone was in their bed, so I turn in also and kept my sighting to myself until Thursday morning.
On our last day for breakfast Mark did his Omelets for all and they were better than they were the first morning. Thanks Mark and Milton for your good breakfast each day. After breakfast, we packed everything up and loaded the bus with our gear and clean the E.E.C. somewhat and drove off in the truck to do a hike. I parked the truck off the trail and we got our packs and headed for the beginning of the G.P.S. course. As we reach the area where I had seen the hogs the night before, low and behold, they ran out in front of everyone for all to see. Everyone was excited about seeing the hogs. I divided the group into two teams and gave them the G.P.S. units and they started their trip looking for 6 bottles hiding in the sand. I headed to the end of the course to hide, because for the first team to reach the end had to find me. In the last bottle the note said FIND ME; I AM WITHIN 80 FT.OF YOU. Dewey, Margaret, and Mark got there first and began looking for me. It took Dewey about 10 minutes to locate me hiding in a group of Pine Trees. After this we all went for a hike down to Dudley Island and then back to the truck. Driving out to the beach at the state line we drove north to False Cape Landing Road and here we had a bite to eat. Some walked up and down the beach and we took a few pictures and Milton found a Star Fish on the beach. We were here about an hour then we drove back to the shop and dropped off the truck and walked over to where we left the bus earlier and then left the park. Of course the trip would not be complete without a stop at Pongo Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor. We had pizza and ice cream and then everyone headed home. We all agreed that all had a very good time and got a lot done on this trip.
By Bruce Julian
Click on the link to view Mark pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/mdemarestc/20101115Thru18FalseCapeSPMaintenance?authkey=Gv1sRgCMb-1NOtvLrZRg&feat=email#
Bruce has sent in some very good tiny pictures. Click on the link to view: http://picasaweb.google.com/m.malabad/FalseCapeStatePark1110?authkey=Gv1sRgCISM4Z_U99WXpgE#