A three hour tour...

No, this wasn't Gilligan's Island. For one thing, the tour was only two hours long, and for another there was no storm and no wreck on a deserted island. And certainly no Gilligan! What we did have was a gorgeous sunny day and calm waters, with great scenery.

In order to get a better look at the wild ponies on Assateague Island, we had reserved spots on an Assateague Explorer boat tour. While the tour seemed a bit pricey, it also appeared to be the best way to get a good view of the wild ponies.

We arrived at the marina at the far southern tip of Chincoteague a little bit early, and made our way aboard the small pontoon boat with the other passengers. There were the four of us, another family of five and a couple, as well as our boat captain and a tour guide. As soon as everyone was settled, and we had paid the captain, we pulled away from the dock and headed across the channel to Assateague.

Along the way, our tour guide pointed out many of the different types of birds that live in the area, and told us to keep our eyes open for dolphins. She also talked about the Chincoteague ponies and answered questions about the annual pony swim and the care the wild horses receive from the fire department. Soon enough, we were pulling close to the shore of Assateague Island, where we could see several dozen of the wild horses grazing in the salt marshes that line the sheltered side of the island. After finding a good viewing spot, the captain dropped anchor, allowing us all plenty of time to watch the ponies. There were several foals and colts in the herd, and they would sometimes prance and play.

Eventually, we moved a bit further up the channel, to the spot where the pony swim takes place. The channel here is only about 300 yards wide, and the swim is timed to take place at slack tide, when the currents are at their weakest. It typically only takes about five minutes for the ponies to swim across the channel. Someday, it might be interesting to come back here in July to witness this event.

Soon it was time to head back to the marina. Along the way, our guide and captain explained how the islands, especially Assateague, are actually growing, as the currents deposit more sand along their shores. We saw an amazing variety of birds, though we were disappointed that we didn't spot any of Assateague's bald eagles.

After a quick stop in town to buy some souvenirs, we headed north to Ocean City. We checked into our hotel, and spent the evening on the beach, and enjoying the carnival atmosphere along the boardwalk.