2009 Chincoteague Pony Swim Update

2009 Chincoteague Pony Swim Update

Wow, the excitement on Chincoteague Island is palpable. My friend and partner just called me from the Chincoteague Firemen’s Carnival and the inside buzz is that the Pony Swim is estimated to happen between 9am and 10am. That means that if you want to be in position to see this amazing event, you need to get there early.

The Insider’s partner Larry Warwick is nestled in his beautiful and strategically located vacation rental house complete with a pier to video the Pony Swim. Insider readers will be notified when the edited video will be up on www.ChincoteagueOutlook.com.

So far the weather looks optimal. Have a great day at the Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim!

Chincoteague Pony Swim Tomorrow

Chincoteague Pony Swim Tomorrow
by S. Serio

The following is an article the Insider wrote for an internet article bank called www.EzineArticles.com. The article serves as a good basic introduction to the premier annual event on Chincoteague Island. The Insider has said it before and I’ll now say it again, “every family should experience the Chincoteague Pony Swim at least once in a lifetime.” The Pony Swim, pony penning and pony auction together will form a memory that never fades. It’s that amazing!

If you go to Chincoteague Island during the last week of July, you're probably there for the Pony Penning and Auction, like approximately 50,000 other visitors. You'll be in for an exciting time, but what you won't see is the sort of round-up which takes place on Federal grazing lands in the Western United States. There'll be no helicopters herding exhausted mustangs into waiting trucks from far above.

The 150 ponies of the Chincoteague Island herd are such old hands at being rounded up (they are gathered twice a year for veterinary checkups) that on the Wednesday of the annual four hundred yard Chincoteague Pony Swim from Assateague Island to the Firemen's Carnival grounds, most of them take the exercise "in stride."

The Chincoteague Island Pony Swim has been taking place since 1925, when the first was held to raise funds for the Chincoteague Island Fire Department. Two disastrous fires in the preceding five years had destroyed much of Chincoteague Island's business district, and the Fire Department desperately needed better equipment. They held a Firemen's Carnival that July, featuring the first Pony Swim and Auction. Fifteen pony foals were sold.

Word of the Pony Swim soon reached Virginia's Eastern Shore, and by 1947, when Marguerite Henry published her classic children's book Misty of Chincoteague, the Fire Department had taken ownership of the wild Chincoteague ponies at the southern end of Assateague Island. They assumed responsibility for the ponies' well-being, and still make sure that only the adults and foals strong enough to manage the Chincoteague Pony Swim are herded across the shallows each year.

One condition which can affect the Chincoteague Island mares with foals is hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia causes mares which are nursing older foals to lose muscular control, and in hot weather the condition is aggravated. It's easily preventable, and in some years up to twelve mares have been treated for it and made the Chincoteague Island Pony Swim in perfect health.

Before every Pony Swim the herd is examined by a veterinarian so that both mares in the late stages of pregnancy and those with very young foals are trailered to the carnival grounds. The rest of the herd is rounded up by Chincoteague Island's famous Salt Water Cowboys, who must time their efforts so that the Chincoteague Pony Swim occurs when the tide is lowest.

Occasionally a foal will become separated from its mother during the Chincoteague Pony Swim, but that's a rare occurrence and any stragglers are picked up by patrolling boats. When the entire herd has made it safely to shore, the Salt Water Cowboys drive them to corrals on the Carnival grounds to be examined once more before the next day's auction.

The second leg of the Chincoteague Pony Swim occurs on Friday, when the Salt Water Cowboys herd the stallions and mares whose foals were sold back across the channel to their home on Assateague. Mares with foals too young for the auction are kept on Chincoteague until the fall. In October the Salt Water Cowboys return them to Assateague during the fall roundup when the entire herd receives pre-winter veterinary treatment.

The Chincoteague Pony Swim and Pony Penning are at the heart of life on Chincoteague Island, and those small horses carry that weight with remarkable willingness! http://chincoteagueislandvacations.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S_Serio http://EzineArticles.com/?Chincoteague-Pony-Swim&id=2057999

Chincoteague Kicks Off the Big Week

Greetings from the Chincoteague Insider!

The Insider has been busy the past two days setting up the 22nd Annual Chincoteague Island Blueberry Festival and I can tell you it's going to be a Great One!

Once again, I'm going to enlist the support of the "always-on-top-of the-situation" Evelyn Shotwell of the Chincoteague Chamber to brief my readers on this weeks happenings. As it happens that the Insider is smack in the middle of one of those fantastic "happenings" on the beautiful Chincoteague Island and a little bit overwhelmed. So, take it away Evelyn!


From: Evelyn Shotwell
Date: 7/23/2009 4:06:43 PM
To: Evelyn Shotwell
Subject: OUT & ABOUT


Good Afternoon all,

It’s here!!!! 84th Annual Pony Penning is upon us! I hope the list of events and activities below and attached will help you steer your guests and customers to all the fun stuff we have to offer during the next week while out & about. There is something to do at every turn. Stay calm, be nice, and enjoy our visitors as they experience the wonder of the Pony Swim and Auction.



OUT & ABOUT



July 24 & 25: CARNIVAL—7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Food, rides, games, raffles…….

July 27-August 1: CARNIVAL



July 23: CCA Summer Cinema Series—“Step Into Liquid” --9 pm at the Robert Reed Waterfront Park. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a fun evening with family, friends and visitors.



July 24-26: 22nd Annual Chincoteague Island Blueberry Festival at the Chincoteague Center. Call 757-824-3868 for more information. Go to www.chincoteagueblueberryfestival.com for coupons.



July 24: Story by the Sea—1 pm—Meet at Toms Cove Visitor Center on front deck for a story and craft about an animal that calls Assateague home.



July 25: Experience the Lost Village of Assateague Island with Matt Heim—Visit the Assateague Lighthouse from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, then meet at the Herbert H. Bateman Center auditorium for the presentation at 7:00 pm. Refreshments provided by the Oyster & Maritime Museum.



July 25 & 28: Farmer’s Market behind Don’s Seafood Restaurant



July 26: Dinner & A Cruise—Delmarva Discovery Center—Enjoy a true summertime crab feast aboard the Bay Queen cruising along the Pocomoke River. Call 410-957-9933 or email events@delmarvadiscoverycenter.org for more information or to purchase tickets.



July 28: Local musician Bill Troxler in concert at Sundial Books—6 pm-8 pm--Free concert of standard, contemporary and original tunes on hammered dulcimer.



July 28:Hospice Grief Support Program—Hospice Resource Center 6309 Church St.—1:30 pm to 3:00 pm



July 29: ANNUAL PONY SWIM—ESTIMATED TIME FROM THE FIRE COMPANY---AROUND 9:00 AM Carnival opens immediately after swim.



July 29: Chincoteague Island Library hosts Chico the mind-Reading Monkey and Princess the Magic Bunny at 7 pm. Join the free show at the Robert Reed Waterfront Park.



July 30: ANNUAL PONY AUCTION—8 am at Carnival Grounds

Carnival Opens immediately after auction.



July 31: PONIES SWIM BACK TO ASSATEAGUE—Time to be announced Wednesday or Thursday at the carnival grounds



August 1: Chincoteague Island Family Benefit Sunset Cruise aboard Tortuga—Call 757-894-3616 or 757-336-1884 for more info.





*SPECIAL PONY PENNING WEEK DOINGS: SEE THE BEACON FOR MORE

Pony Penning Art by Jan Eichfield, Mark Z, and Joyce Umphlett Reed at Threadgoodes 4211 Main St.

Meet the authors of local books at Sundial Books 4071-4073 Main St.

Book signings at Oyster Museum at 7125 Maddox Blvd. Call 757-336-6117 for times.

Artist Chris Holmes will be at Island Butterfly at 4107 Main St. to sign his latest releases

July 28-31. Call 757-336-6990 for times.

Book Signings and live music at Kite Koop Book Store Pony Penning Week

Equine Extremist Tommie Turvey, professional stuntman and horse trainer, to appear

at Beebe Ranch (3062 Ridge Rd.) on July 28-30.



*ASSATEAGUE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Thursday-Monday --9am to 3pm



*ISLAND HISTORY TROLLEY TOURS: Every Tuesday & Thursday at 2:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Ticket sales and tour departures are at the Chincoteague Center, 6155 Community Drive off Deep Hole



*STORY/CRAFT HOUR AT THE ISLAND LIBRARY: Every Thursday thru August 15 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am for 4-8 year olds (except July 30, it will be held 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm).



*NASA VISITOR CENTER ACTIVITIES:

Saturdays & Sundays—“Puppets in Space”--11:00 a.m.

Sundays—“Humans in Space” – 30 minute program looks at living and working in space.

Wednesdays—“Virginia Space Flight Academy Rocket Launch”—2:30 p.m. Cancelled if raining or winds exceed 18 mph. Rain date: Thursdays at 2:30 p.m.



*PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE: Follow the links below for activities including bird and nature walks, kayaking, surf rescue demonstrations, beach campfires and night hikes. Find schedules on http://www.nps.gov/asis/upload/July%2019-25.pdf.



*CHINCOTEAGUE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ACTIVITIES—check at the Herbert H. Bateman Educational Center for a list of summer events.



*REFUGE WILDLIFE BUS TOURS: Thursday-Sunday 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Call 757-336-3696 or visit www.piping-plover.org.



*“RIDE THE PONY EXPRESS”. We have schedules in the chamber office and you will find it on www.chincoteaguechamber.com.







Evelyn

Evelyn Shotwell

Office Manager

Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce
757-336-6161

Sail on Sailor

Sail on Sailor

Before you decide to tackle sailing the waters of Chincoteague Island on your own, however, you might benefit from the knowledge of the island's charter cruise captains, or from booking a kayaking eco-tour. Either one will allow you to relax and take in the sights during your sail, as you become familiar with the shoreline and the best places to return and view local waterfowl and wildlife.

Short of becoming a Chincoteague waterman, you'll never learn as much about sailing the waters of Chincoteague Island like the watermen do than by experiencing the Coastal Encounter offered by Back Bay Cruises. This is a half-day sail during which you'll be expected to get wet and muddy at the same time you are receiving an education in Chincoteague's water-loving animals and plants.

You'll actually disembark from your boat to explore the island's marshes and mudflats, do some beach combing, learn about clam and oyster aquaculture and harvesting, and perhaps harvest some crabs, mussels, or oysters of your own! You'll also get an earful of Chincoteague's history, including chilling tales of the legendary pirate Blackbeard. The man has yet to be born who sailed the waters of Chincoteague Island any better than he.

Sailing is a way of life on Chincoteague, and you can't say you've really seen this magical place until you've seen it from the water!


Blueberry Festival Alert!

On more of a Landlubber Note, just want ro remind you to preorder your fresh blueberries from the Chincoteageague Blueberry Festival by calling Captain Dick at
703-496-3553. Don't be disappointed and preorder your fresh blueberries, as they always sell out.

To order your to-die-for Ultimate Blueberry Pies please call 757-336-3712.

For more information about the Blueberry Festival, please visit www.ChincoteagueBlueberryFestival.com

And with all due respect to the recently departed Walter Cronkite,

"and that's the way it is."

Chincoteague and Blueberry Health Secrets

Chincoteague and Blueberry Health Secrets

With the 22nd Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival just a couple of weeks away, it’s time to start singing the praises of the blueberry. The Blueberry Festival here on Chincoteague celebrates nature’s tastiest and most healthy of fruits, the blueberry. So, let’s get on with it!

Did you know that the blueberry is one of the most underrated fruits commonly available to us today? It has a long and illustrious history in America but yet the majority of us do not count it amongst our favorite foods. When you look at the health benefits we really should. There’s nothing like a good portion of tasty, juicy blueberries to treat our taste buds and help our bodies to stay as healthy as possible.

In this day and age, there is always going to be press reports about how certain foods are bad for your health, even if it was previously considered to be good for you. Blueberries, on the other hand, you can feel completely safe with. As one of nature’s little gems, it can provide many health benefits that manufactured foods cannot.

The antioxidants found in blueberries actively fight free radicals, the substances that are produced within the body in increasing amounts as we get older and cause irrevocable cell damage as well as affecting our DNA. Both of these side effects of the free radicals may enable diseases such as cancer to occur and spread more easily. However, as the blueberries’ antioxidants neutralize the free radicals within the body, they actually promote health and may go some way to helping our immune system to prevent and fight off such threats.

The antioxidants that blueberries contain have a wide range of other benefits, such as prevention of urinary tract infections and overall memory improvement, but they are not limited to the health properties that the antioxidants promote. 140 grams of blueberries actually only contains 1 gram of fat, and all of it is healthy fat that is used by the body to maintain healthy tissue rather than the saturated fat that the body cannot use.

The blueberry is completely healthy as far as nutritional content is concerned. They contain no salt (listed as sodium on nutritional content tables) or cholesterol, both of which have well documented adverse affects on the collective health of the nation these days and can put our individual health in jeopardy. The 140-gram portion of blueberries also contains 2% of our recommended daily iron intake as well as 15% of the Vitamin C daily recommendation.

The overall health benefits of the blueberry make it one of the most invaluable tools in our personal arsenal in the war against disease. In fact, in terms of long term benefits, blueberries are by far the best fruit, and even food in general, to consume and make an integral part of your diet. After all, can we really afford not to make the most of one of nature’s tastiest and most healthy gifts?

The 22nd Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival begins on July 24th and runs through the 26th, 2009.

The Chincoteague Blueberry Festival celebrates this amazing fruit by featuring fresh blueberries, blueberry ice cream, blueberry pies, blueberry shortcake, and much more. Combined with great music, fine arts and crafts, hot breakfast and lunch and fun for the entire family, this festival is fast becoming one of the island’s summer favorites. To learn more, please visit www.ChincoteagueBlueberryFestival.com

Look for some great blueberry recipes in upcoming posts in the Chincoteague Insider this month as we continue to obsess about blueberries in anticipation of the 22nd Annual Blueberry Festival.

Chincoteague Sport Fishing - Pt.2

Chincoteague Sport Fishing Unreeled – Pt.2.

As cooler spring conditions yield to the warmer days of early June, schools of enormous bluefish introduce the Chincoteague sport fishing offshore season, followed by several species of sharks. While mako sharks are in highest demand, blue, tiger, thresher, bull, and even hammerhead sharks frequent the deep waters around Chincoteague.

Bluefin and yellow tuna also arrive in June, but prefer cooler water and spend most of their time below 20 fathoms, so are caught by trolling. The best game fish arrive with July and the height of Chincoteague's tourist season. Wahoo, which can swim at up to 50 mph; mahi mahi (dolphin fish), which are terrific eating; and marlin now come to join the fray.

White marlin, which normally run between 40 and 60 pounds, blue marlin, which can weigh as much as half a ton, and swordfish converge on the underwater canyons between 40 and 70 miles off Chincoteague Harbor. These canyons are also excellent lobster hunting rounds. Mahi mahi flock to the orange buoys attached to the lobster traps, and marlin flock to the mahi mahi!

One word of caution: it's a nearly universal (and expected) practice of Chincoteague sport fishing to release both blue and white marlin.

The Chincoteague sport fishing trip of a lifetime would be a nighttime excursion in search of the greatest of all game fish, the swordfish. Swordfish have the stamina to fight a line for hours, and commonly grow to weigh several hundred pounds. That's several hundred pounds of truly delicious fish!

During daylight, however, swordfish feed in the deepest waters, approaching the surface only after dark. On overnight swordfish runs, Chincoteague sport fishers cover their bases by setting lines with glow sticks attached to their leaders at several depths. Mackerel and squid are popular baits.

As autumn sets in, Chincoteague's second run of flounder arrive, along with more tautog and sea bass. By late October, it's time for the red drum and striped bass, and the end of the offshore Chincoteague sport fishing season.

The striped bass, however, are kind enough to stick around all winter. Thanks to them, Chincoteague sport fishing is available all year long!

That’s right! If you are a fisherman of any level or stripe, Chincoteague Island has unlimited, year-round opportunities to enjoy this rewarding pastime. Chincoteague is truly a sport fishing paradise!

Chincoteague Sport Fishing Unreeled - Pt.1

Chincoteague Sport Fishing Unreeled – Pt.1

In addition to being Virginia's only resort island, and located right next door to the undeveloped beauty of the Assateague Island National Seashore, Chincoteague Island has long been known as one of the best sport fishing venues on the entire Atlantic Coast!

If you're a newcomer to Chincoteague sport fishing, the first thing you'll notice on arriving on the island is its many marinas and charter boats lined up Chincoteague Bay. The demand for spots on Chincoteague sport fishing charters is always high, because regardless of the season, there are great game fish just waiting to test the skills of their would-be conquerors.

Chincoteague Harbor and Ocean City MD are the only two major sport fishing ports for the entire Delmarva Peninsula. Chincoteague fishing charter boats are available for all kinds of sport fishing: inshore, offshore, and fly fishing.

Spring on the mid-Atlantic coast can be a windy affair, but on calm days, it’s the season to angle for sea bass and tautog around the shipwrecks off Chincoteague's coast. Spring is also when the first run of legendary Chincoteague flounder arrives and inshore fishing begins.

The flounder settle along Chincoteague's inlets and creeks, beginning in late March. Their numbers peak during the end of April and beginning of May. Spring also brings gray trout, bluefish, kingfish, rockfish, bluefish, black drum, and red drum to Chincoteague's inshore waters.

Sport fishing in the waters off of Chincoteague Island is a dream come true for many visitors to the island. There are numerous opportunities for all levels of experience and many fishing boat excursions with seasoned Captain’s to guide you . Why not give Chincoteague sport fishing a try!

More Chincoteague fishing information in the next Chincoteague Insider posting.

Until then…

Chincoteague Blueberry Festival Press Release

Chincoteague Blueberry Festival Press Release
July 24, 25 & 26, 2009
Preorder Blueberry Pies and Fresh Blueberries Now!

The 22nd Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival will be held at the beautiful Chincoteague Community Center a t 6155 Community Drive on Chincoteague Island, Virginia on July 24, 25 and 26, 2009. The Blueberry Festival will be held from 9:00 to 4:30 pm rain or shine.

The Blueberry Festival remains the largest Fine Arts and Crafts event on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with exhibitors from 10 states including many excellent local artists. This large Fine Arts and Crafts exhibit brings a unique Christmas in July shopping atmosphere to Chincoteague. The Arts and Crafts exhibits are located both inside the Chincoteague Center building and outside on the green space and parking lot.

The fresh gourmet blueberries will once again be provided by Dick’s Kitchen. These succulent delicacies are a huge favorite of Festival visitor’s and sell out every year. To guarantee yours you should Preorder your fresh blueberries. For fresh blueberry preorders please call Dick Jones at 703- 496-3553 or 540-273-2963.

The Blueberry Festivals’ net profits from the fresh blueberry sales will be donated to the Chincoteague Police Departments ” Ride for Kids” Program to benefit local children.
Buying fresh blueberries at the festival provides not only a tasty and nutritious treat for the family, but helps the kid’s in need as well! Blueberries freeze extremely well and many of the festivals blueberry devotees stock up for the entire year

The Ultimate Blueberry Pies will once again be made and sold by Sugarbakers Bakery. These delicious offerings also sold out last year and should be preordered. To Preorder pies, please call 757-336-3712.

The blueberry confections continue with Blueberry Ice Cream from the Island Creamery, old fashioned blueberry shortcake from Diane James and much more!

Breakfast and Lunch will be served by Pepper Jack Grille. Come hungry! For a complete menu, please visit www.ChincoteagueBlueberryFestival.com.

The musical offerings are expanding for the 2009 Chincoteague Blueberry Festival to include the Celtic Islanders, the Piped Piper, Mountain Faith, Tyler Ringer and Ron Cole and Wayne Young. Musical performances will continue for the entire event. For a complete musical schedule, please visit www.ChincoteagueBlueberryFestival.com.

Some other new attractions for kids include bungee jumping and pony rides from Against the Wind Farms.

To receive a free copy of the Chincoteague Blueberry Festivals publication “ A Healthy Taste for Blueberries” please visit http://www.chincoteagueblueberryfestival.com


For Discount Coupons and additional information please visit www.ChincoteagueBlueberryFestival.com or email samserio@esva.net
.

Chincoteague Camping Continued

Chincoteague Camping Continued

In the last Chincoteague Insider post we discussed a bit of the background to the Chincoteague Island camping experience. Today we will take a brief look at some of the campgrounds on Chincoteague.

At Toms Cove Campground, for instance, three fishing piers and a marina with a private boat ramp give the perfect excuse for a fishing-only camping vacation. The non-fishing members of the family, however, can relax by the pool, entertain themselves with the jukebox and video games at the clubhouse, and shop at the campground store for souvenirs or any camping essentials they forgot!

The thirty-seven yellow pine-covered acres of the Pine Grove Campground are ideal for a woodland Chincoteague camping adventure. Six ponds providing refuge for a wide range of ducks, swans, and other waterfowl species will captivate wildlife enthusiasts. If you’d like to boil up a traditional Eastern Shore dinner, the town crabbing dock is just a short stroll away. You'll also be camping in within a stone's throw of Assateague Island and the Chincoteague ponies.

Even closer to Assateague is the Maddox Family Campground, with all the amenities to make you feel right at home during your Chincoteague camping vacation. The playground and swimming pool will keep the kids happy in between family outings. Hot showers and a laundry room will handle sand and dirt accumulated from outdoor fun, and the campground store as everything from groceries and RV supplies to gifts for the folks back home.

Peak Chincoteague camping season extends from June until Labor Day, and the peak of the peak occurs during Pony Penning week at the end of July. If you're planning a camping vacation during Pony Penning week, you'd be well-advised to reserve your campsite a full year in advance. During the summer, Chincoteague's campgrounds are consistently between 70 and 80% full, so deciding to go camping to get away from it all might be best left to the spring or autumn.

If you'd really like to get away from it all, backcountry camping is available on the Maryland side of Assateague Island. Count on backpacking or canoeing your gear anywhere from 2 1/2 to 13 miles to reach one of the backcountry sites, and be sure to bring an adequate amount of fresh water with you because none will be available at your campsite.

Water, woods, wildlife, and world-class seafood-- they're all waiting when you decide to go Chincoteague camping!

Chincoteague Camping - a Natural Choice

Chincoteague Camping - a Natural Choice

Getting back to nature on Chincoteague Island is as simple as booking a stay at one of the island’s campgrounds, packing up the RV, camper, or tent, and making sure to include plenty of mosquito repellent and sunscreen along with the swimsuits and marshmallow toasting sticks!

Now, don’t get me wrong modern camping on Chincoteague Island looks quite a bit different than it did in 1925 when the first Chincoteague Pony Swim took place. It even has progressed considerably beyond the camping rigors that were common when Marguerite Henri’s classic children’s book “Misty of Chincoteague” launched Chincoteague into world famous status. Modern camping on Chincoteague Island brings with it most of the comforts of home, but just a little bit closer to nature Chincoteague style.

There are many families for whom the tradition of Chincoteague camping goes back generations, simply because of the multi-generational attractions of this unspoiled island with its small-town charm. One of the common island sights during peak camping season is that of families of bike-mounted campers traveling in single file along the island’s roads, just like the families of ducks paddling along the island waterways they pass.

When they aren’t biking (and the flat terrain of Chincoteague is perfect for biking!) they can swim, fish, sail, kayak, surf, hike, hunt for crabs, oysters, or clams, comb the beach and the shops of Chincoteague for souvenirs, or simply enjoy the amenities of Chincoteague’s outstanding campgrounds.

With this bit of background on Chincoteague Camping we can get into some specific camping opportunities in the next Chincoteague Insider Post.

I look forward to it! Until later…

Pony Swim on Chincoteague- right around the corner

Pony Swim on Chincoteague Island- right around the corner

Most of the year, Chincoteague Island is a relatively quiet place. The majority of visitors to this resort island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia enjoy laid back activities such as boating, fishing, crabbing, enjoying the beautiful beach on Assateague Island and of course shopping at the various and sundry gift shops, bookstores, boutiques, art galleries and the like.

The last week of July brings out an entirely different side of this fascinating place. This is when Chincoteague pays tribute to the legacy of Misty the spotted gold and white pony that has become Chincoteague’s icon.

Misty is the star of the children’s literary masterpiece from the pen of Marguerite Henri. Ms. Henri’s classic masterpiece, written in 1947 changed the worlds perception of Chincoteague Island forever. The Chincoteague Pony Swim which initially and for more than a decade after it’s creation was pretty much a local happening. A highly anticipated celebration for Chincoteaguers’ and a small group of outsiders. All that changed after the release of Misty of Chincoteague.

To this day Ms. Henris’s book still manages to fly off the shelves of bookstores everywhere and entertain legions of eager young readers of every stripe.

Similarly, the Chincoteague Pony Swim still attracts up to 50,000 eager spectators annually. Every family should attend this amazing spectacle at least once. The experience is unforgettable and will forge a memory that every family will treasure forever.

The Chincoteague Insider is proud to announce a new feature at http://www.chincoteagueoutlook.com

Introducing the new Local Books Blog by Jane Richstein co-owner of Sundial Books and a good friend of The Chincoteague Insider. Read Ms. Richstein’s review of the seminal literary work, Misty of Chincoteague as it’s the subject of her Premier Blog entry. Be sure to read it at http://www.chincoteagueoutlook.com and while you’re there, read Jon Richstein’s Music Blog as well. Both will contribute weekly Blogs and we are thrilled to have them onboard.

When in Chincoteague, pay a visit to Jan and Jon at Sundial Books and get to know two hardworking and very knowledgable Chincoteague Main Street Merchants.

Until later...

Chincoteague Summer Rules Part.2

Chincoteague Summer Rules Part 2



The Big Event of the Chincoteague Island summer, the yearly Chincoteague Pony Swim and Pony Auction, is held on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July. Crowds in excess of 40,000 people come to the Island, outnumbering the locals by a ratio of 10:1! Finding a good shoreline spot from which to view the ponies swimming the channel has become more difficult each year. On hazy days, seeing them may be impossible from the shore.

Why not do the smart thing and reserve a seat on one of the Pony Swim Charters (you’ll have to book one well in advance) for a guaranteed close-up of the ponies? You’ll also have guaranteed access to a restroom while you wait for the action to begin?

The second most famous residents of Chincoteague and Assateague are the blue crabs, and Chincoteague Island summers are peak crabbing season! Head for the Chincoteague Veteran’s Memorial Park Waterfront with some chicken necks secured to fishing lines and a net to secure your catch. Simply drag your lines across the channel floor and wait for some bites.

One of the most magical experiences you can have during a Chincoteague Island summers is the after-dark Assateague Island ranger-led campfire and marshmallow roast. As the Atlantic surf pounds in the darkness, your ranger will tell of the exploits of Blackbeard. The legendary pirate said to have hidden in the waters off Chincoteague, and with flaming ropes entwined in his beard, leapt with his crew onto passing ships and seized them.

Assateague Island is constantly being reshaped by the sea, and the Assateague Lighthouse which once stood on the shore, with its beacon warning approaching ships of the offshore reefs, is now in the middle of a field. Nothing stays forever on these enchanting islands, except the fun and adventure!

Chincoteaue Vacation Tip and more

Chincoteague Insider Vacation Tip

Greetings from Chincoteague Island! With Memorial weekend only one week away marking the official start of the vacation season; the time for procrastination is over. I'm talking about making the accomodations for your family vacation. Chincoteague has a wide range of great hotels, motels, campgrounds, B&B's, cabins, cottages and vacation rental homes to suit any budget , so visit www.chincoteagueislandvacations.com for a sampler of fine accomodations or call the Chincoteague Chamber for a comprehensive list at 757-336-0614.

2nd Saturday Art Stroll
If you missed this months stroll, you missed a good one! To avoid a disappointment like this next month , I urge you to visit www.chincoteagueculturalalliance.org and get up to speed with all of their happenings. And speaking of happenings of the musical stripe, the CCA will be presenting Will Kimbrough in concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Center on Church St. Mr. Kimbrough blends interesting lyrics and skillfull guitar into a folk,rock,country and bluegrass stew that is a real crowd pleaser. There are lots of places to get tickets in advance, notably Sundial Books and the Kite Koop. You can also get tickets at the door.
Also, the CCA will begin their Music at the Dock series of Free concerts at Robert Reed Park on May 24th. Bob Zentz gets the music started at 5pm with a wonderful menu of sea chanteys, folks songs and his own original songs. All you need to do is show up and enjoy!

An Insider thumbs up to Chincoteague's Mayor Jack Tarr for signing the National Safe Boating Proclamation. NSBW runs from May16-23 and encourages all boaters to wear life jackets and promotes safe boating education.

Be sure to check out the new videos at www.chincoteagueoutlook.com. This week we posted a video on the Seafood Festival, an interview with Jeff Davis of the ESVA Chamber and a few other surprises as well.
Until the next time...