We got up around 6:00 am on Saturday, April 16th. We watched the sunrise.
Chincoteague Island Sunrise
What a glorious sunrise!
We drove to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and rode our bicycles. We bicycled Wildlife Loop to Black Duck Trail to Woodland Trail, back on Black Duck Trail and finished Wildlife Loop. We rode 7.04 miles.
We saw a Snapping Turtle on a pond, while bicycling the Wildlife Loop.
Woodland Trail This is the boardwalk to the pony overlook.
The highlight of our bicycle ride was ponies, lots of ponies, at the Woodland Trail pony overlook.
I took the next picture, while we were on the Black Duck Trail, returning to the Wildlife Loop.
Bob on Black Duck Trail
We returned to AirBnb “Tranquil Shores” for a light lunch. We watched an episode of “Vera” on BritBox, a new streaming service that we purchased recently. I ended up taking a short nap.
Around 4:00 pm we drove to Ray’s Shanty, where we ate dinner. It was our first time eating dinner there. Bob ordered a prime rib dinner; I ordered a fried shrimp dinner. Both meals were delicious, and the service was excellent.
After dinner, we returned to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. We drove around the Wildlife Loop and then to the seashore and back. We saw egrets, one great blue heron, snapping turtles, and four deer a long ways off. I didn’t take any pictures, as I forgot to insert the memory card in my camera. I had taken the card out to upload pictures onto my iPad that I had taken that morning.
When we left the wildlife refuge, we drove downtown. We stopped briefly at Robert Reed Waterfront Park, where we went for a short walk. We, then, continued down Main Street to Beebe Road and made our way back to “Tranquil Shores” from there.
We watched another episode of “Vera”. It was around 9:15 pm, when that episode ended. We went to bed shortly thereafter.
We spent 5 nights at AirBnb ”Tranquil Shores” in Chincoteague VA. This is the fourth time that we have stayed at “Tranquil Shores”. We plan to return next Spring as well.
We arrived at “Tranquil Shores” around 4:00 pm on Thursday, April 14th. We left Chincoteague to return back home at 7:30 am on Tuesday, April 19th. This blog post and the next few that follow will provide details of and photographs from our Chincoteague vacation.
We got up around 6:00 am on Friday, April 15th. We sat outside on our screened in porch, drinking tea / coffee, listening to the morning bird songs as we awaited the sunrise.
Chincoteague Island Sunrise
We ate a breakfast of eggs, sausage and waffles at “Tranquil Shores”.
This is one of several ponds found on the Wildlife Loop.
After our bicycle ride, we drove to Assateague Beach, stopping at Toms Cove Visitor Center.
Tom Cove Visitor Center
We walked on the boardwalk and, inside the Visitor Center, I got my National Park Passport cancelled with a rubber-stamp ink marking that recorded the name of the park and the date of our visit. I purchased a collectible Passport stamp set for 2022. There are 10 stamps, one National and nine regional.
We are lunch at Metopkin Seafood. We have eaten here a few times over the years. The food is ALWAYS delicious. Bob ordered a crab bites basket. I ordered a fish and fries basket. We added 6 hush puppies to our order.
After lunch we drove to Assateague Island MD. We stopped at the Assateague Island Visitor Center, where I stamped my National Park passport, and we bought a “Night Sky” buff for Bob.
“Night Sky” is new merchandise for the National Parks store.
Before leaving the Visitor Center, we walked the Rackliff House Trail. The main trailhead is located behind the Visitor Center and is about a 1-mile loop. There is a spur off that loop that connects to another trailhead located at the Assateague State Park headquarters. We walked that trail too.
Rackliffe House Trail We really liked how the trees formed a canopy over the trail.
Rackliffe House Trail Looking across to Assateague Island MD
Rackliffe House Trail On the left is the Milk House. Behind the Milk House is Rackliffe House. On the right is the Kitchen Garden.
We were only able to explore the grounds, as the Rackliffe House was closed.
The trail continues from the house to the Assateague State Park Aviary. The birds were outside but behind a fenced enclosure. We were not able to see any of the birds. I haven’t done a lot of bicycling or walking so far this year. I decided to wait at the state park, while Bob walked back to the Visitor Center. He picked up our car and came to get me. We drove onto Assateague Island.
Assateague Pony
More Assateague Ponies
That evening we enjoyed watching the moon rise over Chincoteague Island.
It is really nice that we can see the sunrise and the moonrise from the comfort of “Tranquil Shores”.
On Wednesday, February 16th, We “checked out” of Airbnb ”Seaside Cottage” around 6:30 am and drove to the beach, where we watched the sun rise.
Bob and I at Surfside Beach minutes before the sunrise
Watch along with us, as the sun rises!
Surfside Beach Sunrise
This was the first sunrise on the beach that I saw in the week we were in Surfside Beach. I wasn’t able to get to the beach in time for sunrise the other mornings. A prescription drug that I take with dinner rarely allows me to leave the house before 9:00 am, unless I have the availability of a close by bathroom. Bob saw a beach sunrise the first and last day.
After seeing the sunrise, we began our drive back to Pennsylvania.
We arrived at the Quality Inn New River Gorge (Fayetteville, WV) around 2:00 pm. We checked in and carried our baggage into our room. Soon afterward we walked to Elliott’s Whitewater Bar & Grill, located on the hotel grounds. There was a flurry of excitement, as we entered, I thought there was going to be a bar brawl. The guy cussing was told to “just go”. He did, after a few minutes and more cussing. Someone walked out with him to make sure that he left and didn’t hit anyone’s car! The bar quieted down after that man left. Later we learned that the unruly man had been there for several hours drinking Jägermeister and was saying things he shouldn’t be saying to the underage waitress. The waitress felt so uncomfortable that she asked the manager to come sit in the bar. A couple of the men at the bar, who had been there for only a short while, kicked out the unruly man. By the way, the food and service were excellent. Bob ordered a pork chop with onion rings. I ordered fish sticks with a loaded baked potato. Both meals included a side salad.
Soon after dinner we drove to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, where we viewed the New River Gorge and the New River Gorge Bridge. The Canyon Rim Visitor center is about a mile north of our hotel. We had planned to stop at the visitor center the next morning, but it likely will be raining. So we visited this afternoon.
New River Gorge Bridge, as seen from Canyon Rim Visitor Center Grounds
We have stopped often at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, but we had never seen this particular view of the bridge. As we were crossing the bridge I noticed a man and a woman standing at an overlook. When we arrived at the visitor center, the first thing we did was look for that overlook. The trail shown in the photograph displayed above leads under the bridge. Bob walked down and back up that trail (steep climb!), but was not able to walk under the bridge. The passageway was locked.
New River Gorge Bridge, as seen from Canyon Rim Visitor Center Grounds
We walked down a boardwalk to an overlook of the bridge. We could have walked farther, but neither of us felt like doing steps.
Bob and I at the overlook of the New River Gorge Bridge
We walked behind the Visitor Center, where we saw the New River Gorge.
New River Gorge (photo by Bob)
Around 6:00 pm we lost power at the hotel. We had no electricity until 8:11 pm. We never did find out what caused the outage. The power outage did not affect the hotel only. Nearby businesses lost their power as well. By the way, soon after the power went out, we lied down and fell asleep. The power coming back on awakened me. That is how I knew the time the power came back on.
We departed Quality Inn New River on Thursday, February 17th, shortly before 7:15 am. Before leaving, we enjoyed a complementary breakfast of scrambled egg patties, sausage and biscuits; orange juice and tea/coffee; and muffin/danish. The hot food was served to us. The remaining foods we were free to pick up ourselves. The server told us the way they do breakfast is not COVID related. They do breakfast this way year round.
We reached the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border around 9:30 am. We still had a 3 1/2-hour drive until we would be back home. Up to this point we had avoided the forecasted rain! Ten minutes later, at Masontown exit (exit 14 on I-79), we caught up with the rain. The rain was with us the rest of the way home.
We got off I-79 at the Slippery Rock exit. We were getting tired of interstate travel. The slower pace was welcome.
We stopped for lunch at Eat’n Park in Franklin. Bob ordered a chicken sandwich with cheesy fries. I ordered a turkey club sandwich with a fruit cup. We each ordered pie for dessert.
We were back on the road at 12:35 pm and returned home at 2:00 pm. We drove a total of 1,750.40 miles, since our departure on February 8th.
This was the first time that Bob and I had ever been to the South Carolina coast. We enjoyed our visit very much — so much, in fact, that we are already talking about going back next year.
Bob went for a walk the morning of Thursday, February 10th, leaving the house around 6:30 am. He walked to the beach and back home. Bob saw the sunrise at the beach.
Surfside Beach Sunrise
I saw the sunrise from the front porch of our Airbnb “Seaside Cottage”.
Sunrise, as seen from the front porch of our Airbnb “Seaside Cottage”
We picked up our grocery order at Walmart at 8:00 am. We drove back home and put away the groceries. For breakfast we ate instant oatmeal and fresh fruit. It is a gorgeous sunny morning. I sat on the front porch and enjoyed the sunshine, as well as the heat from the sun, while drinking a cup of tea.
Around 9:15 am we drive to the Surfside Beach library. Bob printed the Erie Insurance auto insurance card from the website. We left the new card at home, and he wanted to be legal.
From the library we drove to the post office, where we mailed Valentines Day cards to our two granddaughters.
We returned home from the post office, where we rested and relaxed until 10:20 am. At that time we drove to our friends Marge and Neil’s condo at One Ocean Place in Garden City Beach.
Marge & Neil on the balcony of their 10th floor condo at One Ocean Place
The view from Marge & Neil’s 10th floor condo at One Ocean Place
You can see the Surfside Beach Pier (under construction) and Myrtle Beach beyond the pier.
The four of us went for a walk on the beach.
Neil, Bob and Marge in front of One Ocean Place
Marge and I We rested before walking back to One Ocean Place.
Marge likes to walk along the water edge.
Seagull, taking flight
Bob, Neil, Marge and I on the beach
Approaching One Ocean Place
After our walk we drove the short distance to River City Cafe in Surfside Beach. All of us rode in Neil and Marge’s car.
River City Cafe is known for their burgers. Burgers is what all four of us ordered for lunch.
The River City Cafe burgers are huge!
After lunch we drove to our Airbnb “Surfside Cottage” to show Marge and Neil where we are staying.
Soon we were back in the car, driving back to One Ocean Place. We parted ways at this time, making plans to possibly get together before the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Here is an interesting tidbit. Back in Pennsylvania it is an approximate 20-minute drive to Marge and Neil’s house from our house. Here in South Carolina we are an 8-minute drive only from each other.
Once we returned to our Airbnb, we were in for rest of the afternoon and evening. We ate dinner at 6:00 pm. Dinner was tuna casserole, green peas, grapes and chocolate pudding.
I got up at 6:00 am this morning. Bob was already up. I made a cup of tea and drank it on the deck, as I watched the sun rise and listened to the birds singing.
Sunrise at our Hudson OH Airbnb
Bob went for a bicycle ride. I didn’t see him leave, as I did yesterday. He rode the same trail as yesterday but in the opposite direction. Bob rode as far as Brandywine Falls (the top of the falls) and back, for a total of 12 miles.
Later in the morning we drove to Kendall Lake in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Kendall Lake is a manmade lake that was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935. It is the largest lake in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. We hiked the 1 mile trail around the lake. The terrain varies with some stairs to climb, however the loop trail was fairly flat and not too challenging.
Kendall Lake
We accessed the Kendall Lake Trail near the parking lot.
Kendall Lake Trail There are several trails at Kendall Lake. The trails are well marked. The lake trail is the right-hand trail.
Kendall Lake Trail
Kendall Lake Trail This portion of the trail was a short uphill climb.
This was our first view of Kendall Lake from the trail.
Kendall Lake Yesterday we ate a picnic lunch in the building across the lake.
Kendall Lake Trail We crossed over a small wooden bridge.
Kendall Lake Trail We climbed up these steps.
Kendall Lake Trail We had a good view of the fishing pier from the top of the steps.
Kendall Lake Trail We climbed down these steps. We were near the end of the trail here.
Kendall Lake We walked to the fishing pier.
Kendall Lake Canadian Geese
Kendall Lake Canadian Geese in a Row
Kendall Lake Canadian Geese Hey! Wait for me!
Kendall Lake Red-Winged Blackbird
Kendall Lake Barn Swallow
Leaving Kendall Lake, we attempted to go to Brandywine Falls but the parking lot was full. A sign said to try again after 5:00 pm. We went to the new Cuyahoga Valley National Park visitor center instead. Stay tuned! I will publish a new blog post soon about our visit to the visitor center.
Today, April 9th, is the 9th (and final) day of our Easter vacation.
The colors painted on the clouds at dawn, as seen from our AirBnB, Tranquil Shores, were very nice.
Red Sky in the Morning …
The car was packed, and we were on our way back home at 6:40 am.
It started raining, as we drove out of Chincoteague, VA.
We stopped for breakfast at Denny’s in Fruitland, MD about an hour later. Bob ordered a Western Omelette. I ordered French Toast, scrambled eggs and bacon.
After drinking tea/coffee and orange juice during breakfast, it was only a matter of time before a bathroom break was necessary. We stopped at the Bay Country Rest Area in Church Hill, MD.
Pretty daffodils were in bloom all around the rest area.
We stopped to stretch at Caledonia State Park in Fayetteville, PA. I photographed a small waterfall and the Caledonia furnace.
The waterfall was located alongside PA Route 233 N near the US Route 30 and PA Route 233 N intersection.
Fayetteville, PA waterfall
Caledonia Furnace, an iron works that dates back to 1837
I began this post with a photograph of the clouds at dawn, with the caption “Red Sky in the Morning …” It rained off and on from Chincoteague to North East, MD. It stayed cloudy, even though the rain had stopped. We did see some sunshine for the last 2 hours or so of our drive. We returned home shortly before 6:30 pm.
Today, April 7th, is the 7th day of our Easter vacation.
We have awakened each morning of our vacation in time to watch the sun rise. Each sunrise that we have witnessed has been beautiful. This morning’s sunset, though, was more than beautiful; it was splendid.
Sunrise, as seen from the upper porch of Tranquil Shores
Sunrise, as seen from the upper porch of Tranquil Shores
We visited downtown Chincoteague this morning. We went window shopping along Main Street. The shops that interested me were closed until later in the day.
We walked back to our car the scenic way.
Robert N Reed Waterfront Park
During our walk, we decided to drive to Cape Charles, VA–a place we had never been. Cape Charles is located about 66 miles south of Chincoteague.
A popular mode of transportation at Cape Charles appears to be golf carts.
We saw this golf cart and its passenger from our car.
Golf Carts provide transportation along the seashore.
We went for a walk alongside the beach and on the fishing pier.
It felt like summer, especially so when we saw people in swimsuits on the beach and in the water. The temperature was 75 degrees at noon!
The LOVEwork is located near the public fishing pier. It reflects the history and community by incorporating materials that represent what Cape Charles is all about. The “L” is made of sea glass and seashells to represent the bayside community. The “O” is a tractor tire to represent agriculture. The “V” is made of kayaks to represent outdoor adventure activities and the “E” is made of crab pots to represent aquaculture.
The “L”
Cape Charles Public Fishing Pier
Bob and I on the Cape Charles Public Fishing Pier
Leaving Cape Charles, we drove to Metopkin Seafood for lunch. Metopkin Seafood is located in Mappsville, VA about 50 miles north of Cape Charles. We were disappointed to find that Metopkin Seafood was still closed for the season. Metopkin Seafood is a favorite place for us to get a seafood platter.
We decided to eat lunch at Maria’s in Chincoteague, VA– our first time to eat there. Bob ordered a crab cake sandwich with French fries. I ordered a small pizza.
Lunch at Maria’s Restaurant
I have leftover pizza for another meal. The food and service were good. We returned to our rental AirBnb, Tranquil Shores, after lunch.
I have more to tell you about our 7th day of vacation, which I will share with you in a future blog post.
The Beauty Around Us 