Easter Vacation 2021 Day 3

Today, April 3rd, is the third day of our Easter vacation.

We had visitors today. Our friends, Denise and Nic, drove up from Virginia Beach this morning. They arrived around 10:00 am and left for home around 4:30 pm. The four of us had fun together sightseeing on Assateague Island at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and at the seashore. We went sightseeing in Chincoteague as well.

We walked the Lighthouse Trail at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The Lighthouse Trail is a 0.25 mile loop that takes you through the woods to the historic Assateague Lighthouse.

Denise and Nic at the Assateague Lighthouse.
The lighthouse is 142 feet tall.

We walked the Woodland Trail as well. The Woodland Trail is a 1.6 mile loop that takes you through a beautiful pine forest.

We stopped at the overlook where Chincoteague ponies can sometimes be seen.

My recollection is that we saw one pony way off in the distance, too far away for a decent picture especially with a mobile phone camera.

From the Woodland Trail we drove to the Assateague Island National Seashore.

The four of us at the Assateague Island National Seashore

We visited two parks in Chincoteague–the Robert N Reed Waterfront Park and the Veterans Memorial Park.

The four of us at the Robert N Reed Waterfront Park

These four Adirondack chairs are 10 feet tall and weigh more than 500 pounds. The chairs arrived in Chincoteague in the summer of 2014 and promote the state’s “Virginia is for Lovers” tourism slogan. They had been located at Virginia’s Kiptopeke State Park since May 2012.

Denise and Nic at Robert N Reed Waterfront Park with *Misty of Chincoteague* in the background

Bob and I at Robert N Reed Waterfront Park with Misty of Chincoteague in the background

Veterans Memorial Park Cross; Assateague Lighthouse in the background

From Veterans Memorial Park we returned to our AirBnb, Tranquil Shores. We enjoyed a BBQ lunch –cheeseburgers. potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, chips and salsa and, for dessert, cheesecake.

We ate lunch on our screened-in porch.

After lunch we returned to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and drove the wildlife loop. The 3.25 mile loop trail is open to walkers and bikers all day. Vehicles are permitted to drive the loop from 3:00 pm till dusk.

We spotted an eagle nest, but we didn’t see the eagle.

Two Turtles hanging out on a tuft of grass

We drove back down Beach Rd and saw ponies, lots of ponies, in the marsh. We saw several egrets, too, both along Beach Rd and as we were driving the Wildlife Loop.

We saw the most ponies in one place during Denise and Nic’s visit.

One of several Great Egrets that we saw at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

We had a great visit with Denise and Nic. We are so glad they were able to make the drive up for the day.

Meanwhile, back at home …

Easter Vacation 2021

Today, April 2nd, is Day 2 of our Easter vacation.

We slept in a bit this morning. Our later-than-usual awakening was most likely caused by our early departure from home yesterday and noisy hotel guests who kept us awake. Those guests left sometime in the late evening. Do you find that strange? I do. Perhaps they were asked to leave?

We went downstairs for breakfast a little after 8:00 am. Because of COVID-19 breakfast wasn’t the typical full hot breakfast, served buffet style. Breakfast was still good, though, with selections individually wrapped. I had an egg and bacon sandwich, a banana, cranberry juice, a banana nut muffin, and a cup of tea. Bob picked up similar selections. We carried our breakfast in paper bags to our room and ate there.

We checked out of the hotel around 9:00 am and began the last leg of our drive. Today’s destination is Chincoteague, VA. As was the case yesterday, the GPS is programmed to avoid highways.

Shortly before 11:00 am we stopped for a potty break in Cambridge, MD at the visitor center (Sailwinds Park). It was only 36 degrees. It was a lot warmer during our stop there in late November last year. We enjoyed a walk in the park last year. Today we were happy to hurry to the bathroom and back to the car.

At 12:00 pm we met our friends Tom and Ellen for lunch at Evolution Craft Brewing Company in Salisbury, MD. Bob ordered a brisket sandwich with Sweet Potato fries; Tom ordered a pulled pork sandwich with French fries; I ordered chicken wings and a half order of fries; and Ellen ordered French onion soup and clams. We sat inside and ate our lunch. It was too cold to sit outside to eat, as we did in November. The food was delicious, and we enjoyed our time together. I don’t have a picture of the four of us because I forgot to have one taken!

We departed the brewery at 1:30 pm and arrived on Chincoteague Island around 3:00 pm. We had an hour to kill before the check-in time at our AirBnB. We drove around the island a bit, before heading out to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the Assateague Island National Seashore.

Virginia’s Assateague Island National Seashore

We checked into our AirBnb, Tranquil Shores, at 4:00 pm. We unloaded the car and got settled in.

Meanwhile, back at home….

Wickett’s New Mat

I went to lunch with my friend Valerie C. yesterday. Valerie picked me up at home at 11:30 am, and we went to Applebee’s. We ordered from the lunch menu. I had loaded potato soup and half of a club sandwich. Valerie ordered the loaded potato soup as well and, if I recall correctly, a Crispy Chicken Salad. Our lunch selections were delicious, but the free-flowing conversation between Valerie and me was best. Even though Valerie and I live within a couple miles of each other, we do not see each other often. We do keep in touch via Facebook. Both Valerie and I think lunch once a month is a great idea. I am looking forward to our next lunch date.

Last month I asked Valerie if she could make a catnip mat for me similar to one that I saw on a friend’s Facebook post. Valerie made me two catnip mats! She gave the mats to me right before leaving for Applebee’s.

I placed a couple tablespoons of catnip inside one mat last night.

Wickett was rolling around on the mat, within minutes of laying the mat on our living room couch.

This morning, when I got up, I found Wickett lying on her new mat.

Good morning, Wickett!

The new mat is on the center cushion of our couch, where Wickett usually lies when Bob and I are sitting in the living room.

Wickett’s new catnip mat

The catnip mat should cut back on the amount of cat hair that we have to remove from the couch!

The catnip mat is reversible. This is the design on the other side of the mat.

I am undecided on where to place the second catnip mat.

Introducing Wickett

Bob’s daughter, Stacey, asked Bob and me to come to her house the afternoon of August 26, 2007 to see “something”. The “something” was her kitten, Wickett.

Baby Wickett

Fast forward 9 1/2 years …

Soon after our cat, Patches, passed away earlier this year Stacey asked us to keep in mind Wickett, if we decided to get another cat. Stacey said that our 4-year-old granddaughters and the two other cats in her house caused stress for Wickett. She knew that Wickett would like living with Bob and me, as an only cat, in our quiet, kid free home.

Wickett joined our household on February 26, 2017. It has been almost 48 hours since Wickett arrived in our home. She is slowly acclimating to her new home.

Wickett, looking outside our living room window