The Pony Hunt

It’s been a long day that’s for sure. I left DC this morning and drove to Chincoteague, VA by way of the eastern bank of Maryland – lots of farms and small towns. It looked like something that should have been in the mid-west, except the corn and wheat fields were edged in thick trees (one could even say forest). I got down to Chincoteague without a hitch, but getting to Assateague Wildlife Refuge took some patience. I sat on the bridge to get to the island forever – just sat there. Good thing this was my view…


But needless to say, I missed the refuge tour and had to create my own search for the wild ponies. The ranger was very helpful in pointing out places where I might find them. To quote him, “I’ve never been up to the ridge and not seen them.” So I set out on the 2-mile hike to see the ponies. Did I mention it was 100 degrees, well 98 degrees but close enough. I made it about five feet up the trail when I got swarmed by mosquitoes and I mean swarmed. I don’t think if I had bathed in DEET it would have done anything. But I pushed on and made it to the overlook. Apparently the ponies liked the heat as much I did. No wild ponies! I ran all the way back down to my car and jumped in. Unfortunately part of my swarm made it too. I then had a massacre of bugs in my car. You know it’s bad when you slap them and they leave a red streak across your legs. So I drove out to the other side and waded out in the Atlantic Ocean to wash off the blood. No ponies on that side of the island either. I went to another ranger station and asked again. No such luck – apparently the ponies like to hide in the forests and shade when it’s that hot out. I was about to give up – when I spotted this… Yes if you can’t tell, those dots are wild ponies!


I also drove over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. I paid $12 to drive over that bridge – total extortion. But if you ever get a chance to drive over it, pay up. It’s 20 miles of crazy bridge. I couldn’t see land in any direction for most of the drive, but I was on a bridge! And bridges that sink under the water to let boats go over the top rather than rise up so boats go underneath are just cool. Check it out.

I am no longer in New England that’s for sure. The first restaurant I walked into asked if I wanted smoking section or non…and ever since I crossed into Virginia, everyone single person has said hello and have a nice day - from the woman at the visitors center to the teenagers at the gas station.