Camping with the ponies on Assateague

Our latest adventure started with our Spring RV club rally at Triplebrook Campground in Blairstown, NJ, located along the Delaware Water Gap.

We rode the water gap trolley and had lunch at a pie shop, a hot dog and a slice of pie for $2.49, such a deal.

In camp we all enjoyed catching up around the fire. A good time was had by all 14 rigs in attendance. Great job wagon masters Don and Joyce.

Three RV couples continued on to  Assateague Island National Seashore, in Berlin, Maryland to camp with the wild ponies.There are currently 114 ponies on the island.   Here for a week, we had many up close and personal encounters with many ponies.

The Fosters, the Gallos and the Barkers camped in Bayside Loop A, everyday a new adventure filled with laughter. Some at the expense of stupid campers who don't follow the rules. Campers should understand that the ponies live here, this is their island and we are just visitors in their space.  I had to laugh when one camper tried to shoo the ponies way telling them to go home.




Bayside Drive in the National Park of Assateague has 3 camp loops, a boardwalk trail and beach access recreation area. There is also Oceanside camping.  One herd of ponies call this area their territory. Often two or more renegade herds show up, more feisty and animated. 

The incorrigible thief's run into the area and intimidate the other ponies. Sometimes a little kicking and biting took place.
  Camp rules say not to leave food around but some campers just ignore the rules and come back to  their site and find it destroyed.

Other times the ponies sneak up when least expected and clean off a picnic table while you are sitting there. Gone were the grilled ribs of one camper.
There is not much you can do to move them out. They seem to ignore loud noise and other techniques people came up with. Time to call for Ranger assistance :)

We sat around our campfire and watched with laughter all these different interactions. People are funny (stupid) and so weren't the ponies.   Coolers got flipped, soda bottles got crushed, charcoal bags got thrown in the air.  A tent was nearly torn down for what may have been inside.

The key here is to keep your food inside your car. Being in an RV, we didn't have a problem, we just sat around the fire and enjoyed the show.

 

 This is our motor home in the background.

One young colt seemed to fancy Rigley and just kept coming to see him. Rigley went nose to nose a few times but really wasn't interested in playing. Bentley Gallo got nose to nose a couple times too, but little Annie Barker was very nervous and went back to her rig to hide.

Our time on Assateague included walking the beach and the trials and during our stay a new foal was born. We were lucky to see him, 3 days old , along the bike path with his mom. One of the cutest little things I have ever seen.

Austin and I took out our inflatable kayak the Sea Eagle in the marshy coves. A very relaxing way to see the ponies along the shore and many birds and fish jumping in the water. Austin did some crabing and collected mussels that he and Bill share for dinner. Lots to do around here.

Took Rigley to the Dogs Allowed, South Ocean Beach where he body surfed in the big waves. Lots of ponies on the beach but Rigley preferred the water and digging holes . This picture is looking towards North Ocean Beach where the life guards are. Behind us is where many other bathers congregated and beyond that is off road vehicles..

A lot of the ponies, including an 8 month old and the new foal were along the bike path as we departed. We had a great week.

Remember to bring your bug spray, canoe/kayak, bikes, sunscreen and a beach towel and you can enjoy this experience too.