I would love to paddle Assateague island this time of year. Any clubs that paddles this island ? Good places to launch a boat , camping ? Any dangers in paddling this area ?
I would love to paddle Assateague island this time of year. Any clubs that paddles this island ? Good places to launch a boat , camping ? Any dangers in paddling this area ?
I lead a trip there for my club, and go at least once a year to surf. For white water boat surfing, it's one of the few SAFE beaches to use. It has a sand bar offshore where the waves break, so if you get trashed or flipped, you're in deep enough water not to break your neck. We used the State park campgrounds, had a bunch of flat water paddlers who paddled the bay and some in th ocean too. Take bikes too! We usually go in late Sept\early Oct. when the bugs are at a minimum. Best launching area is in the National Park end, although there is a fee. I'm sure any shop within 100 miles will more than likely have canoe trail maps. The only danger is knowing when the tide is low, don't get stuck in the mud! And of course don't take people offshore without proper experience. "Drew Cutter" <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in message news:d6f6qm$6ai$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com...> I would love to paddle Assateague island this time of year. Any clubs> that paddles this island ? Good places to launch a boat , camping ? Any> dangers in paddling this area ?
How is it for the Month May (early part of ) ? Bugs ? What is your club name ? Base in Virgina ? I will be moving to Richmond area soon.
Grip wrote:> I lead a trip there for my club, and go at least once a year to surf. For> white water boat surfing, it's one of the few SAFE beaches to use. It has a> sand bar offshore where the waves break, so if you get trashed or flipped,> you're in deep enough water not to break your neck. We used the State park> campgrounds, had a bunch of flat water paddlers who paddled the bay and some> in th ocean too. Take bikes too! We usually go in late Sept\early Oct. when> the bugs are at a minimum. Best launching area is in the National Park end,> although there is a fee. I'm sure any shop within 100 miles will more than> likely have canoe trail maps. The only danger is knowing when the tide is> low, don't get stuck in the mud! And of course don't take people offshore> without proper experience.> "Drew Cutter" <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in message> news:d6f6qm$6ai$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com...>
I would love to paddle Assateague island this time of year. Any clubs>>that paddles this island ? Good places to launch a boat , camping ? Any>>dangers in paddling this area ?>
Drew Cutter <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in news:d6fohk$m0h$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com:
How is it for the Month May (early part of ) ? Bugs ? What is your club> name ? Base in Virgina ? I will be moving to Richmond area soon.
I've been there in May a couple of times and you'd be there near the beginning of the official mosquito season. A couple of years ago we stayed at a place right on the bay the week before the official start day (something like May 17th) and it wasn't bad. Beware of ticks, however, as they can be found in bushy areas as early as March.
There is a state campground right in Chincoteague and primative camps on Assateague Island that I believe require a permit (perhaps Mike McCrea will chime in as he goes there every year).
Little known secret: There is a restaurant at the Island Motor lodge that serves the best breakfast I've ever had anywhere (we've been there three times). Apparently it's run by a chef that used to run a 4-star restaurant Chincoteague, left for DC for a few years, then came back to Chincoteague. We had a french toast with grand marnier and Baileys Irish Cream that was out of this world.
Grip wrote:>> I lead a trip there for my club, and go at least once a year to surf.>> For white water boat surfing, it's one of the few SAFE beaches to use.>> It has a sand bar offshore where the waves break, so if you get>> trashed or flipped, you're in deep enough water not to break your>> neck. We used the State park campgrounds, had a bunch of flat water>> paddlers who paddled the bay and some in th ocean too. Take bikes too!>> We usually go in late Sept\early Oct. when the bugs are at a minimum.>> Best launching area is in the National Park end, although there is a>> fee. I'm sure any shop within 100 miles will more than likely have>> canoe trail maps. The only danger is knowing when the tide is low,>> don't get stuck in the mud! And of course don't take people offshore >> without proper experience.>> "Drew Cutter" <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in message>> news:d6f6qm$6ai$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com... >>
I would love to paddle Assateague island this time of year. Any clubs>>>that paddles this island ? Good places to launch a boat , camping ?>>>Any dangers in paddling this area ? >>
It's the Conewago Canoe Club in York Pa. They do not spray the area because of the wild ponies, hence bugs when it's warm. Also, the water is warmer in Sept than May. http://www.conewagocanoeclub.org/ "Drew Cutter" <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in message news:d6fohk$m0h$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com...> How is it for the Month May (early part of ) ? Bugs ? What is your club> name ? Base in Virgina ? I will be moving to Richmond area soon.>
Grip wrote:> > I lead a trip there for my club, and go at least once a year to surf.
white water boat surfing, it's one of the few SAFE beaches to use. It
has a> > sand bar offshore where the waves break, so if you get trashed or flipped,> > you're in deep enough water not to break your neck. We used the State park> > campgrounds, had a bunch of flat water paddlers who paddled the bay and some> > in th ocean too. Take bikes too! We usually go in late Sept\early Oct. when> > the bugs are at a minimum. Best launching area is in the National Park end,> > although there is a fee. I'm sure any shop within 100 miles will more than> > likely have canoe trail maps. The only danger is knowing when the tide
low, don't get stuck in the mud! And of course don't take people
offshore> > without proper experience.> > "Drew Cutter" <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in message> > news:d6f6qm$6ai$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com...> >
I would love to paddle Assateague island this time of year. Any clubs> >>that paddles this island ? Good places to launch a boat , camping ? Any> >>dangers in paddling this area ?> >
I'm Guessing that camping is out for the most part (during the warmer parts of the year ). Is there a good area to camp (safe from mosquito's) ? What about clothing / guard against ticks , etc ?
John Fereira wrote:> Drew Cutter <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in> news:d6fohk$m0h$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com: >
How is it for the Month May (early part of ) ? Bugs ? What is your club>>name ? Base in Virgina ? I will be moving to Richmond area soon.>
I've been there in May a couple of times and you'd be there near the > beginning of the official mosquito season. A couple of years ago we stayed > at a place right on the bay the week before the official start day > (something like May 17th) and it wasn't bad. Beware of ticks, however, as > they can be found in bushy areas as early as March.>
There is a state campground right in Chincoteague and primative camps on > Assateague Island that I believe require a permit (perhaps Mike McCrea will > chime in as he goes there every year).>
Little known secret: There is a restaurant at the Island Motor lodge that > serves the best breakfast I've ever had anywhere (we've been there three > times). Apparently it's run by a chef that used to run a 4-star restaurant > Chincoteague, left for DC for a few years, then came back to Chincoteague. > We had a french toast with grand marnier and Baileys Irish Cream that was > out of this world.>
Grip wrote:>>
I lead a trip there for my club, and go at least once a year to surf.>>>For white water boat surfing, it's one of the few SAFE beaches to use.>>>It has a sand bar offshore where the waves break, so if you get>>>trashed or flipped, you're in deep enough water not to break your>>>neck. We used the State park campgrounds, had a bunch of flat water>>>paddlers who paddled the bay and some in th ocean too. Take bikes too!>>>We usually go in late Sept\early Oct. when the bugs are at a minimum.>>>Best launching area is in the National Park end, although there is a>>>fee. I'm sure any shop within 100 miles will more than likely have>>>canoe trail maps. The only danger is knowing when the tide is low,>>>don't get stuck in the mud! And of course don't take people offshore >>>without proper experience.>>>"Drew Cutter" <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in message>>>news:d6f6qm$6ai$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com... >>>
I would love to paddle Assateague island this time of year. Any clubs>>>>that paddles this island ? Good places to launch a boat , camping ?>>>>Any dangers in paddling this area ? >>>
John Fereira wrote:> Drew Cutter <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote: >
How is it for the Month May (early part of ) ? Bugs ? What is your club>>name ? Base in Virgina ? I will be moving to Richmond area soon.>
I've been there in May a couple of times and you'd be there near the > beginning of the official mosquito season. A couple of years ago we stayed > at a place right on the bay the week before the official start day > (something like May 17th) and it wasn't bad. Beware of ticks, however, as > they can be found in bushy areas as early as March.
John, how do they enforce the start of the season on the mosquitos?
Steve Cramer <cramersec@charter.net> wrote in news:IZRie.24671$rt1.24228@fe04.lga:
John Fereira wrote:>> Drew Cutter <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote: >>
How is it for the Month May (early part of ) ? Bugs ? What is your>>>club name ? Base in Virgina ? I will be moving to Richmond area soon. >>
I've been there in May a couple of times and you'd be there near the >> beginning of the official mosquito season. A couple of years ago we>> stayed at a place right on the bay the week before the official start>> day (something like May 17th) and it wasn't bad. Beware of ticks,>> however, as they can be found in bushy areas as early as March. >
John, how do they enforce the start of the season on the mosquitos?>
It's quite unenforceble, and the "official" date I read just came off a local island paper. Obviously, the weather will have a lot to do with when mosquitos really start to become a problem. From my experience as a flyfisherman it seems that insects are very temperature sensitive, especially aquatic insects. Mayflies start hatching when the water temperature reaches 50 degrees and different species will hatch at different times of the year as the water warms up.
Drew Cutter <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in news:d6gipq$c75$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com:
I'm Guessing that camping is out for the most part (during the warmer > parts of the year ). Is there a good area to camp> (safe from mosquito's) ? What about clothing / guard against ticks ,> etc ?>
From what I've read bay side camp sites are much worse than ocean side sites. When guarding against mosquitos and ticks generally exposing as little skin as possible helps. For ticks, having a "friend" check places that you can't see (behind the neck) at the end of the day if you've spent any time in the bush is a good idea.
May is still pretty much "off season" in that area so motels are often at reduced prices and vacant. Depending on your budget there are also a lot of vacation houses that can be rented by the week and some for as little as 3 days. As I wrote earlier we rented a place that was right on the water. It was about 3-4 houses away from the bridge that goes from Chincoteague to Assateague. At night the light from the lighthouse would wash across the second floor deck. It was a great location.
John have you done any camping around assateague ? Would a hammock and portable stand work , against Sand fleas , mosquitoes ? Rain storms and bivy , good idea or go with a tent ?
John Fereira wrote:> Drew Cutter <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in> news:d6gipq$c75$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com: >
I'm Guessing that camping is out for the most part (during the warmer >>parts of the year ). Is there a good area to camp>>(safe from mosquito's) ? What about clothing / guard against ticks ,>>etc ?>>
From what I've read bay side camp sites are much worse than ocean side > sites. When guarding against mosquitos and ticks generally exposing as > little skin as possible helps. For ticks, having a "friend" check places > that you can't see (behind the neck) at the end of the day if you've spent > any time in the bush is a good idea.>
May is still pretty much "off season" in that area so motels are often at > reduced prices and vacant. Depending on your budget there are also a lot of > vacation houses that can be rented by the week and some for as little as 3 > days. As I wrote earlier we rented a place that was right on the water. It > was about 3-4 houses away from the bridge that goes from Chincoteague to > Assateague. At night the light from the lighthouse would wash across the > second floor deck. It was a great location.>
Drew Cutter wrote:> I would love to paddle Assateague island this time of year. Any clubs > that paddles this island ? Good places to launch a boat , camping ? Any > dangers in paddling this area ?
Club from Pittsburgh Pa area. Open to anyone. Trip goes next weekend May 27 to May 31. I don't know if they are full yet. Give the number on the site a call. They answer most evenings. I can't believe I'm tied up again. I have wanted to do this trip for 2 years. If you can't make the trip give them a call anyway and I'm sure Mark will fill you in on any pitfalls of the area. - At the very least he will know where the ice cream is.
Drew Cutter wrote:> I would love to paddle Assateague island this time of year. Any clubs> that paddles this island ? Good places to launch a boat , camping ? Any> dangers in paddling this area ? I Just wait till bout mid September to go the weather still kinda nicew and the bugs aren't so bad. Other than that just be prepared for bugs any real camper will know how to deal with them. The National park has some backcountry campsites that are only accesible by boat.
Drew Cutter <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in news:d6j4p5$co7$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com:
John have you done any camping around assateague ? Would a hammock and > portable stand work , against Sand fleas , mosquitoes ? Rain storms> and bivy , good idea or go with a tent ?
I haven't actually done any camping around Assateague but I'd definitely bring a tent.
You can tell that i don't live near a ocean or large body of water , yet. When i was going to school in Minnesota the bugs weren't really bad. Worse than here in ohio. The portable hammock i found weight around 20 lbs. , ok for a weekend trip. The hammock comes with its own stand . . I won't know what kind of tent that would work the best , secure it to the ground. From article i read , this may not be a problem (designated camp grounds ).
John Fereira wrote:> Drew Cutter <andrewc@wcoil.com> wrote in> news:d6j4p5$co7$0$65.17.128.14@wcoil.com: >
John have you done any camping around assateague ? Would a hammock and >>portable stand work , against Sand fleas , mosquitoes ? Rain storms>>and bivy , good idea or go with a tent ?>
I haven't actually done any camping around Assateague but I'd definitely > bring a tent.
You can tell that i don't live near a ocean or large body of water , > yet. When i was going to school in Minnesota the bugs weren't really > bad. Worse than here in ohio. The portable hammock i found weight around > 20 lbs. , ok for a weekend trip. The hammock comes with its own stand . > . I won't know what kind of tent that would work the best , secure > it to the ground. From article i read , this may not be a problem > (designated camp grounds ).
We camped on the ocean side and found that the main issue was the strong wind combined with just having sand to secure the tent stakes. On our first trip back to town we bought some larger stakes and supplemented them with sticks tied to rope and buried in the sand. We didn't have any problems with our tent but saw a few others blowing across the beach. The horses sometimes wandered through camp and brushed up against tents and other things.
You can tell that i don't live near a ocean or large body of water , >> yet. When i was going to school in Minnesota the bugs weren't really >> bad. Worse than here in ohio. The portable hammock i found weight >> around 20 lbs. , ok for a weekend trip. The hammock comes with its own >> stand . . I won't know what kind of tent that would work the best >> , secure it to the ground. From article i read , this may not be a >> problem (designated camp grounds ).>
We camped on the ocean side and found that the main issue was the strong > wind combined with just having sand to secure the tent stakes. On our > first trip back to town we bought some larger stakes and supplemented > them with sticks tied to rope and buried in the sand. We didn't have > any problems with our tent but saw a few others blowing across the beach.> The horses sometimes wandered through camp and brushed up against tents > and other things.>
