Delmarva weekend started after yesterday’s run in Rehoboth Beach, my last marathon of 20-14.

Delmarva is a large peninsula occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia.

After my post-race shower at Quality Inn, headed south on Coastal Highway (Delaware 1).  Spent Saturday night in a no-frills Ocean City MD hotel located in town harbor.  Like many beach towns, most store fronts & hotels were closed during winter.

Grabbed an early diner breakfast, then south 30 minutes further to Assateague Island.  Windy winter day but saw sunshine – not the norm for Nov-March on the East Coast…so counted myself lucky 🙂

Assateague Island?

Wild ponies have inhabited Assateague Island for hundreds of years. While some have suggested that the wild ponies on Assateague Island trace their origin to horses released to forage on the Island by early settlers, the circumstantial evidence suggests that they are indeed the descendants of the survivors of a Spanish galleon which wrecked off the coast of Assateague.  A fence along the Virginia/Maryland State line separates Assateague Island’s ponies into two herds. The Maryland herd is owned by the National Park Service.  The Virginia herd is owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.  The US Fish & Wildlife Service allows the Fire Company to maintain a herd of approximately 150 adult ponies on Assateague Island.

Called ahead to secure a pony tour – closed.  Kayaks – closed.  Nothing open & available ‘til next April.  UGH!

Oh well…still great to see the ocean – even in winter.  Would start off on Assateague, then an extra hour to Chincoteague to visit the lighthouse & NASA Visitors Center.  (NASA Visitors Center: closed on Sunday – bad luck, huh?)

Crossed the bridge to Assateague & near swerved off road in excitement – PONY!

Took a tens of pics of the lone pony, thinking this my one opportunity.  Nope.  Not only had the park to ourselves (not a lotta December beachcombers – HA!), but saw several wild ponies grazing near the tree line.  WOW, what luck!

Not sure how wild the ponies are – one came to the car window.  I did not feed but guessing tourists past have broken this rule.  Beautiful animals.  Took rural roads to Chincoteague, short hike to the Lighthouse, more ponies & a beach walk.

Whatta year – grizzly bears in Montana & the wild ponies of Assateague Island.  Crazy blessed life; life is good.

Autobahn’d back to BWI in under 3 hours, crossing the [Chesapeake] Bay Bridge into Baltimore.  Thought I had overcome my fear of high bridges – NOT – spanning almost 5 miles over water, felt white-knuckled near the end.

5 weeks off ‘til marathon season picks up next year in Mississippi.  Fingers crossed — snow on Christmas 🙂