Chincoteague, VA (USA)

[we woke up at 0730 and ate breakfast - we packed our bags and left for the Eastern Shore (I-495, US-50) - after crossing the Bay Bridge in heavy traffic, we got off the highway (Cambridge MD) to visit the Harriett Tubman and Underground Railroad National Historic Park - we spent about an hour there and then visited the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge - like at the NHS, we stopped at the Visitors Center - then we drove on a wildlife loop, looking for herons, egrets and fox squirrels - Mollie had borrowed Nicky's fancy & expensive camera and took lots of pictures - we made our way back to US-50 and drove to Salisbury - ate a late lunch (Chick-fil-A) at 1410 - we then got on US-13 and headed toward Pokomoke VA - we got gas in New Church (1530) and continued to Wallops Island, where we checked into our room at the Navy Lodge 1545 - we got cleaned up and drove to Assateague Island National Seashore - at the Visitors Center, we learned that the only pony roundup we could view was going to take place at 1630 (Southern Herd) - we had thought we could watch a roundup on Sunday morning but got lucky that we didn't miss the Saturday one - it was very hot and crowded but we had a great view of the ponies as they entered the corral - Mollie and I then drove to the beach at Tom's Cove and walked on the shore for about 1.5 hours - we found a place with no people (with sea turtle nest) before we turned around - after that (1830), we drove to the Chincoteague Island Volunteer Fire Department Carnival - we ate dinner (burgers, crab cakes, pony fries, fried Twinkie) and enjoyed the live music - when a huge thunderstorm (spectacular lightning show) arrived on the horizon (2030), we drove back to Wallops Island - spent some time reading and watching TV - bed was at 2300]