2018 03-31 Delaware Seashore State Park, 04-03 Assategue Island National Seashore, 04-06 Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Delaware Seashore State Park - March 31, 2018

Our windswept campsite between Atlantic on the other side of the bridge and the south side of the estuary on the Indian River. The area has many nest platforms for dozens of osprey pairs. 

On one side of the State Park is the bay and on the other is the North Atlantic Ocean which is a great place for a long walk with the dogs. 

Assateague (pronounced here as asa-teak) Island National Seashore - April 3, 2018

First stop was a good breakfast at the popular Breakfast Cafe, where locals eat,  which was on our way to the island. Of course it's popularity is generally during the tourist season which it clearly is not now. There was only one guy there and us. But the breakfast was good and the service was too.  

Before heading over the bridge to the Island we stopped at the Visitor's Center to watch the introduction film about the island and its most popular attraction - the horses. As we drove over the bridge onto the island there was a small band of horses standing about 50 yards from the road. Sadly, there was no place to pull over for a photo or even slow down. There are several pullouts for walking out towards the bay. Not quite the season for much to be happening so we decided to take the dogs for a walk on the beach. 

As we walked onto the beach from the parking lot six of these gorgeous creatures came running up the beach towards us. Thundering through the sands, manes and tails flying in the wind, they ran straight towards all the people and circled around one group. They slowed as they passed and jumped the dune fence heading for the parking lot.  

These horses have shorter legs and stockier bodies than regular horses. There are approximately 80-100 animals on this side of the island (Maryland). The Virginia side has about 150 on their side in Chincoteague Island. Virginia has the roundup each year in July and auctions off the foals to keep the herd size down. Assateague uses reproductive contraception and limits each mare to one foal during her fourth year. 

The band continued through the parking lot and into the brush. We continued to walk down the beach.

As we started back, we noticed this beautiful bachelor wandering the dunes. 

And then his buddy showed up. Bachelors are driven out of their band by the stallion as they become mature. Female foals tend to just wander away from their birth bands and join a bachelor to begin a new band.

As we were driving out, we stopped in a pullout and found more horses. A male and female just standing off the side of the road.

They appeared to be trying to get some nap time. There are signs everywhere, including in the bathrooms, to stay at least 40 feet or one bus length away from them. Two women with four kids approached close enough to touch them. They were very fortunate since every year there are several people bitten or kicked.

A nice walk along a raised platform and we found a horned grebe investigating the banks below us. It's hard to see but he has red eyes. In the breeding season, the beige "horn" behind the eye will be bright yellow.

Dover, Delaware - April 6, 2018

North of Dover Air Force Base, in Smyrna, is the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. We were hoping to find some interesting wildlife. 

Snow geese are still making their way north and are quite a sight when hundreds are circling for a landing. 

Coming in for a landing.

This is one of two Mute Swans we encountered on our drive. 

Many white egrets with the remarkable name of Little Egret. 

As with our campsite, there were dozens of osprey. This one decide to fly right over us. 

Hunting (or egotistical to the max)

Northern shovellers really took over many of the shallows.

While we were on a lookout tower, a local told us to be watchful for a fox with her two kits near the corn crib. This adorable little one was outside a den. 

Kept close to the opening but seemed very comfortable to be alone. 

Dakota was very curious (the fox is just to the right of her ear) and would like to have the opportunity to play. 

On our way home, we stopped in Rehoboth Beach for dinner at THE Henlopen City Oyster House. Dinner included Oysters, Caesar salad, macaroni and cheese and a seriously overstuffed lobster roll. 

2018 03 26 - 03-30 - Washington DC and Alexandria, Virginia

Washington, DC - March 26, 2018

Walking along the Tidal Basin under the not yet flowering cherry trees.
We are planning on returning in a couple of weeks for the full display. 

Wait. Bob found one. Apparently there are certain trees among the 3800 that are indicator trees and bloom sooner than the other ones. 

Jefferson Memorial backgrounded by the Declaration of Independence.

Franklin D Roosevelt with Fala. His right index finger and Fala's ears are very shiny as the patina has been rubbed off by people holding them for pictures.

The Martin Luther King Jr Memorial was dedicated in 2011.
A nearby inscription wall embraces the Mountain of Despair and Stone of Hope featuring quotations from Dr. King.

The Korean War Memorial gave me a very strange feeling...like the soldiers were really out on a patrol. 

The Lincoln Memorial inscribed with his Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address.  

The Vietnam Memorial is always a busy place with people searching for someone they knew, capturing a picture, making a rubbing or leaving a personal memento. 

The Water Taxi we are going to take down the Potomac to Alexandria. I see a safety issue even before we board. There are no stairs or railing to assist passengers off the boat. Thankfully the river was calm enough to keep the boat close and level. 

We have seen a lot of cobblestone streets but this section is more like river rocks. It's a short section and that's probably a good thing since the cars going down the street were going less than 10 mph to save their suspension. 

Stopped by the gelato shop for a coffee and apple fritter while we checked out the map of the local area attractions. 

Hopped on the trolley to avoid having to walk the 25 minutes uphill to the end of King Street.

Our destination was the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. 

It gave us a wonderful view of Alexandria. 

After returning to the city we found Vola's for a late afternoon, early evening meal and cooling beverage. 

They had quite a selection of oysters with real interesting names. The last time we were only told where they were dug. These have names - Green torpedo, Twin hook and Cannon Cove. All local and delicious.

A dozen - 6 torpedos, 3 cannons and 3 twin hooks. So good we ordered another half dozen. Guess we were actually having dinner. 

Just off the bank of the Potomac a beautiful specimen in almost full bloom.

The blooms look so much like apple blossoms but they have very little scent.

Good for the bees.

Freedom Wall with 4048 gold stars, each representing 100 Americans who died in the war "Here we mark the price of freedom."

Part of the World War II Memorial. We didn't know where to look for the two "Kilroy Was Here" inscriptions which were included to acknowledge the "significance of the symbol to American soldiers" during the war representing their presence and protection wherever it was inscribed. 

Granite pillars arranged in a semicircle around the plaza inscribed with a name of one of the 48 states as well as DC, territories of Alaska and Hawaii, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and Virgin Islands. Bob is in front of the Missouri pillars and had his father and several uncles in the Army or Navy.

This tower shows all the armed forces that participated in the war including the Army Air Forces where my dad served. 

John Paul Jones also has a small memorial and is considered the "Father of the American Navy". One of his quotes is "I have not yet begun to fight!"

Bob found an over-sized chess board at the Prince William Forest RV campground. 

We covered a lot of ground and still did not get to many of the things we wanted to see. After our next trip, we will return for a few days and see if we can be more efficient with our time. And hope we don't miss the cherry blossoms.

2018 03-24 Manassas National Battle Park

Manassas National Battlefield Park, Virginia - March 24, 2018

We like to visit National Parks because it gets us outside and we can take the dogs with us. They like National Parks because it's new experiences and they are not left behind in the RV. 

Standing on the battlefield gives us a better perspective of the extent acres involved with lines of cannon and fields of soldiers maneuvering. The rolling hills allow visualization of the entire battle. On the top of this hill is the Henry House which was used by Confederate sharpshooters to fire on the Union soldiers manning the cannons. The home's owner was Judith Henry, a widow, was bedridden and still residing in the house. She was mortally wounded by Union artillery fire trying to dislodge the sharpshooters and was the only civilian killed during the first battle.  

The Stone House was used by Union troops as a hospital. This house is just visible in the prior picture in the distance to the right of the sign. 

The statue dedicated to Thomas J. Jackson who earned the moniker "Stonewall" during the first battle. Some liberties were taken in this depiction as he is practically bursting out of his uniform, a la Thor. 

Bull Run and the remade Stone Bridge where 22,000 Southern troops awaited the Union soldiers marching from Washington. Both sides heading for the vital railroad junction of Manassas where the Orange & Alexandria Railroad met the Manassa Gap Railroad leading west to the Shenandoah Valley, the key to the Confederate capital in Richmond.

The original bridge was blown up by Confederate soldiers.

The new (1870) Henry House which was rebuilt after the devastation of the Union shelling. 

The tree near the Henry House is a black walnut tree which had dropped it's fruit. Difficult to open but a sturdy pocket knife broke it open.

I have never had black walnut meat. It has a funny flavor compared to the usual walnuts. We would have to spend a lot of time and energy to get enough for a snack.  

Dinner at the local Mexican restaurant, El Paso Grille with margaritas, salsa, queso and fresh warm chips. 

My dinner was carne asada burrito as long as my forearm and bigger around. Half of that came home for lunch tomorrow. 

Bob had Mar-y-tierra burrito, a surf and turf combination of shrimp and carne asada.