The Beach!

Chincoteague and Assateague Islands are both barrier islands just off of the coast of Maryland (just Assateague) and Virginia.  Chincoteague is the smaller of the two and sits at the southern end between Assateague and the mainland.  Assateague is 37 mile long barrier island.  It is long and narrow and comprised of sand, marsh and low forest.  Chincoteague is a small quaint summer community with a family beachside atmosphere.  Our hotel was on Chincoteage and an hour drive around on the mainland from the Maryland end where we had been the night before. 

After leaving Chincoteague early the next morning and heading back up north on the mainland we passed Wallops Flight Facility.  It is a flight facility that is used by NASA, the Navy and various other agencies for rocket launches.  We didn't have the time to stop but as we drove by a plane was taking off.  It was a F-22 fighter.  It was using it thrusters and was incredibly loud!  It made us all jump.  It went down the end of the runway and turned around and headed back for us.  After living around planes for 20 years now, I didn't think much of it.  But, then it reached the end of the runway, did a 90 degree turn and flew straight up!  No casual gain of altitude, just straight up!

After arriving at Assateague we set up camp on the beach. 

There was a strong riptide and so the kids couldn't go in to deep. But they swam, and swam and swam.  Despite sunscreen we have the burns to prove it.