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... >>

Grip wrote:> > I lead a trip there for my club, and go at least once a year to surf.

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.>

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 Fereira wrote:>> Drew Cutter <andrewc@wcoil.com>­ wrote: >>

John, how do they enforce the start of the season on the mosquitos?>

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 ?

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.>