Maryland

Post date: Mar 9, 2015 12:06:49 AM

What a beautiful day today!  

After 3 days of bone chilling cold, snow & ice, the sun came out and the temperature got up in the 60s.  We took a drive out to Assateague Island Nation Seashore.  It used to be one long island, but due to storms & ocean level change the one island is now 3.  The Assateague State Park is Maryland's only oceanfront state park.  There is an abundance of wildlife (including wild horses, ancestors of English mustangs) along the shores & marsh lands.  Walking & biking trails along the shore & marshes, camp grounds and a lighthouse (Chincoteague Island), built in 1860. 

Clams & blue crab are easy harvesting.  There are instruction signs along the shore telling you how to dig for clams with the only limitation of "only take what you can eat" We saw a number of horses, egrets, loons and a hawk allowed Renee to get within 6ft, actually posing for a photo.  

The 50-mile scenic drive took us through small farming communities.  A number of poultry farms, wide open fields waiting for the snow to melt. There were a number of "closed for the season" fruit & vegetable stands waiting for their summer crops. The homes & barns were just as we imagined - big beautiful white painted wooden houses.  But some of the small villages along the road were abandoned, with sad/sagging vacant homes & stores. A beautiful drive and an understanding why people have Country Homes in Maryland.

Our plan to see small-town-USA has been wonderful.

What a perfect day!