Assateague Island National Seashore
by Lee McQuade

September 14-16, 2007

Assateague Island National Seashore is a barrier island located 8 miles south of Ocean City, Maryland. Assateague has long, even beaches with dunes protecting extensive marshlands along Sinepuxent Bay. There is diverse and rich wildlife including picturesque herds of wild horses and deer.

Over the weekend of September 14-16 2007 a group of paddlers from the HRCKC converged on the island for our annual get together. Several members had arrived earlier on Friday for some kayaking on the bay. Friday evening the island was hit with a storm that challenged us all to stay high and dry. No one ventured out to their cars to escape the wrath of the storm.

On Saturday morning the skies were overcast and the weather report called for “small craft advisories” for the Maryland waters. The decision was made not to venture out back into the bay. Most of the afternoon was spent hanging out on the beach, hiking, and watching Charlie and Chris do some surfing in their whitewater boat.

Our Hospitality Manager Kathy was able to secure a dinner reservation for all of us on Saturday evening in Ocean City at one of the local seafood restaurants. The evening ended with a fantastic fire on the beach. What a place to view the heavens.

Sundays morning sunrise promised an outstanding day ahead.. Before leaving the island some of the members spent time on the three main trails on the island. They caught tiny fiddlers, crabs and saw jelly fish, owls, and many other types of birds. There was also a visit to the nature center.

Seashore camping can be a memory to treasure - or a bad experience for the unprepared. There is limited shade and the mosquitoes can be abundant from mid-May to October. High winds can pull short tent pegs out of the sand. The HRCKC professional camping group overcomes these obstacles most of the time.

We all agreed despite the rain, it was a great trip. We’ll be up for it again next year in September.

Lee