Headed East ('cuz I'm Not a Young Man Anymore) - Page 3

Elspode · 10-04-2012, 09:08 PM

I was inordinately pleased to meet Glatt IRL today! It was brief, but awesome. How I wish I could travel more and meet more of you Dwellars. It was a fine time, and we have enjoyed our time in DC beyond all rational belief. Tomorrow AM, we saddle up, and head South down the coast to spend some time at Chincoteague Island.

Clodfobble · 10-04-2012, 09:24 PM

What a great picture! Someday we'll be able to do a Kevin Bacon game of Dwellar photos... Glatt was in a photo with Els, who was in this other photo with wolf, who was in a picture with classic, etc...

Undertoad · 10-04-2012, 09:59 PM

S'awesome!

Griff · 10-05-2012, 06:17 AM

Worlds Collide!

glatt · 10-05-2012, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

Worlds Collide!

Exactly! Kind of weird to finally meet one of you imaginary people in real life, but really cool. I'm so glad I got a chance to meet Elspode and Tree Fae.

As I left them in the museum, I was walking out with one of his friends who now lives in DC and who had also met him for lunch, and found myself trying to explain the Cellar to her and how I had known Splode for around 9 years but had never met him person.

BigV · 10-05-2012, 12:01 PM

Two of my favorite people. Nice, very nice.

Sundae · 10-05-2012, 03:39 PM

Wonderful photo, wish I had been there too.

I can take part in the Cellar Photo Game if you include family.
I have been in a photo (a few) with my Mum. As has Ali.

Otherwise my links come to a dead end in Britain.
Although I have sung a duet with LJ.

Big Sarge · 10-05-2012, 05:44 PM

Great photo guys!

Elspode · 10-05-2012, 10:33 PM

After getting lost in DC one last time, we finally found our way to the right Southbound highway. True to form, we misread a GPS instruction, and ended up cruising about 45 minutes through DelMarVa Penninsula forestland before finding our way back to Virginia Highway 13...an agreeable detour. After a bit longer drive than we'd hoped for, we ended up on Chincoteague Island.

After a quick perusal of a "Four t shirts for $10 emporium", we headed to Chincoteague Harbor (tiny...smaller than many marinas I've seen). We took an *awesome* guided boat tour, just the four of us, Captain Jay, and his apparently new squeeze, Chrissie. $25 a head for about 2.5 hours cruising around Chincoteague, Assateague, and distant views of the Wallops launch facilities! Best value we've gotten for our money for *anything* on this trip so far. At our request, we motored out to the last channel marker, the one that demarcates, for all intents and purposes, the end of the Chincoteague Channel and the beginning of the Atlantic Ocean. You could literally tell the difference between the relatively sheltered channel area and the ever-opening seaway. The winds were much higher, and two foot swells rocked us solidly up and down.

At one point, Cap'n Jay idled us up next to a friend's oyster and clam operation, and then told us the guy also had a restaurant on the island. Needless to say, that's where we had a magnificent, locally produced seafood dinner. Fresh New England clam chowder, home made rolls, locally grown salad, and an assorted fried seafood platter as the main course - scallops, clams, oysters, flounder and shrimp. The breading was barely there...thin and perfect, so that there was no unnecessary retention of the cooking oil. The entire meal was so lightly seasoned as to almost not be there, so confident in the quality of the seafood was the proprietor. Not only the best seafood meal I've ever had, but one of the best meals I've *ever* had.

Despite Chincoteague clearly being a touristy place, it retains its authenticity, right down to it's little barrier island core. I'm sure that it is crammed and irritating during the height of tourist season (I don't even want to think about what it must be like when 50,000 people descend upon it for the pony swim), but today, despite absolutely flawless weather, there were very few tourists besides ourselves in evidence. If you'd ever told me I'd be cruising Chincoteague Channel in a 20 foot pontoon boat in October, I'd have said you were nuts, but it couldn't have been any more superb. We watched cormorants and other birds diving and feeding all afternoon long, egrets stalking the marshy shorelines and sand bars. We saw the path taken during the legendary pony roundup each July, and even got to see the last few yearlings that didn't sell at auction still being kept in the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Service's pen.

We left just after sunset, and headed to the bitter end of the DelMarva, and across Chesapeake Bay via the extraordinary construct known as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, and landed in Virginia Beach. And here I sit now, comfortably ensconced in a beachfront, but cheapass ($70 for four people!) Travelodge. In the morning, we'll get up and do a bit of beachcombing, then head West, seeing what we can along the way.

I promise to share more nerdgasm pics when I get home and have time, but in the meantime, enjoy these two from today. Sunset across Chincoteague Channel, and your intrepid travelers, with The Assateague Light in the background.

glatt · 10-06-2012, 06:36 AM

Very nice. Quite the contrast from downtown DC.

BigV · 10-08-2012, 05:48 PM

so nice. great travelogue, please continue.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-12-2012, 01:02 AM

For the life of me I can't figure out why our Elspode isn't a rich and famous author... at least notorious.

It's really strange that from all the pictures and TV, most of us have a pretty good notion of what the biggies in DC look like, but seeing them in person is so very different. An experience you described so well.

Reading your reaction to the Eastern Shore, the Atlantic, the fresh seafood, et al, got me thinking about the first time, actually the first couple of times, I drove cross country through the great wide open where you live. When I got home I laughed at how many times I panned my Super 8 Bell & Howell from horizon to horizon. So damn big!

Oh, you're right about Chincoteague in the summer. A few years ago my foreman retired and I volunteered to help him move from DE to his place on Chincoteague Island. Hot as hell July day, we just finished loading and the sumbitch has a heart attack on us. They take him to the hospital and his son-in-law and I are left to take the trucks to Chincoteague and unload. Driving from Wilmington, DE, down to where rte 175 cuts off 13, was faster than from there onto the island.

Griff · 10-12-2012, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

For the life of me I can't figure out why our Elspode isn't a rich and famous author... at least notorious.

This. F'in great writer our Spode.

Elspode · 10-12-2012, 08:06 PM

As always, you're all much too kind. There will be more posted about this amazing trip soon, but tomorrow I am to wed, so I will be busy for a bit.

Lamplighter · 10-13-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

As always, you're all much too kind. There will be more posted about this amazing trip soon, but tomorrow I am to wed, so I will be busy for a bit.

Pics and prose... or it didn't happen !

10-04-2012, 09:08 PM	#31
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	I was inordinately pleased to meet Glatt IRL today! It was brief, but awesome. How I wish I could travel more and meet more of you Dwellars. It was a fine time, and we have enjoyed our time in DC beyond all rational belief. Tomorrow AM, we saddle up, and head South down the coast to spend some time at Chincoteague Island. Attached Images __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

10-04-2012, 09:24 PM	#32
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	What a great picture! Someday we'll be able to do a Kevin Bacon game of Dwellar photos... Glatt was in a photo with Els, who was in this other photo with wolf, who was in a picture with classic, etc... __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

10-05-2012, 06:17 AM	#34
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Worlds Collide! __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

10-05-2012, 12:01 PM	#36
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Two of my favorite people. Nice, very nice. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

10-05-2012, 03:39 PM	#37
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Wonderful photo, wish I had been there too. I can take part in the Cellar Photo Game if you include family. I have been in a photo (a few) with my Mum. As has Ali. Otherwise my links come to a dead end in Britain. Although I have sung a duet with LJ. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-04-2012, 09:59 PM	#33
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	S'awesome!

10-05-2012, 05:44 PM	#38
Big Sarge Werepandas - lurking in your shadows Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: In the Deep South Posts: 3,408	Great photo guys! __________________ Give a man a match, & he'll be warm for 20 seconds. But toss that man a white phosphorus grenade and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

10-05-2012, 10:33 PM	#39
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	After getting lost in DC one last time, we finally found our way to the right Southbound highway. True to form, we misread a GPS instruction, and ended up cruising about 45 minutes through DelMarVa Penninsula forestland before finding our way back to Virginia Highway 13...an agreeable detour. After a bit longer drive than we'd hoped for, we ended up on Chincoteague Island. After a quick perusal of a "Four t shirts for $10 emporium", we headed to Chincoteague Harbor (tiny...smaller than many marinas I've seen). We took an awesome guided boat tour, just the four of us, Captain Jay, and his apparently new squeeze, Chrissie. $25 a head for about 2.5 hours cruising around Chincoteague, Assateague, and distant views of the Wallops launch facilities! Best value we've gotten for our money for anything on this trip so far. At our request, we motored out to the last channel marker, the one that demarcates, for all intents and purposes, the end of the Chincoteague Channel and the beginning of the Atlantic Ocean. You could literally tell the difference between the relatively sheltered channel area and the ever-opening seaway. The winds were much higher, and two foot swells rocked us solidly up and down. At one point, Cap'n Jay idled us up next to a friend's oyster and clam operation, and then told us the guy also had a restaurant on the island. Needless to say, that's where we had a magnificent, locally produced seafood dinner. Fresh New England clam chowder, home made rolls, locally grown salad, and an assorted fried seafood platter as the main course - scallops, clams, oysters, flounder and shrimp. The breading was barely there...thin and perfect, so that there was no unnecessary retention of the cooking oil. The entire meal was so lightly seasoned as to almost not be there, so confident in the quality of the seafood was the proprietor. Not only the best seafood meal I've ever had, but one of the best meals I've ever had. Despite Chincoteague clearly being a touristy place, it retains its authenticity, right down to it's little barrier island core. I'm sure that it is crammed and irritating during the height of tourist season (I don't even want to think about what it must be like when 50,000 people descend upon it for the pony swim), but today, despite absolutely flawless weather, there were very few tourists besides ourselves in evidence. If you'd ever told me I'd be cruising Chincoteague Channel in a 20 foot pontoon boat in October, I'd have said you were nuts, but it couldn't have been any more superb. We watched cormorants and other birds diving and feeding all afternoon long, egrets stalking the marshy shorelines and sand bars. We saw the path taken during the legendary pony roundup each July, and even got to see the last few yearlings that didn't sell at auction still being kept in the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Service's pen. We left just after sunset, and headed to the bitter end of the DelMarva, and across Chesapeake Bay via the extraordinary construct known as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, and landed in Virginia Beach. And here I sit now, comfortably ensconced in a beachfront, but cheapass ($70 for four people!) Travelodge. In the morning, we'll get up and do a bit of beachcombing, then head West, seeing what we can along the way. I promise to share more nerdgasm pics when I get home and have time, but in the meantime, enjoy these two from today. Sunset across Chincoteague Channel, and your intrepid travelers, with The Assateague Light in the background. Attached Images __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

10-06-2012, 06:36 AM	#40
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Very nice. Quite the contrast from downtown DC.

10-08-2012, 05:48 PM	#41
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	so nice. great travelogue, please continue. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

10-12-2012, 01:02 AM	#42
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	For the life of me I can't figure out why our Elspode isn't a rich and famous author... at least notorious. It's really strange that from all the pictures and TV, most of us have a pretty good notion of what the biggies in DC look like, but seeing them in person is so very different. An experience you described so well. Reading your reaction to the Eastern Shore, the Atlantic, the fresh seafood, et al, got me thinking about the first time, actually the first couple of times, I drove cross country through the great wide open where you live. When I got home I laughed at how many times I panned my Super 8 Bell & Howell from horizon to horizon. So damn big! Oh, you're right about Chincoteague in the summer. A few years ago my foreman retired and I volunteered to help him move from DE to his place on Chincoteague Island. Hot as hell July day, we just finished loading and the sumbitch has a heart attack on us. They take him to the hospital and his son-in-law and I are left to take the trucks to Chincoteague and unload. Driving from Wilmington, DE, down to where rte 175 cuts off 13, was faster than from there onto the island. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-12-2012, 08:06 PM	#44
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	As always, you're all much too kind. There will be more posted about this amazing trip soon, but tomorrow I am to wed, so I will be busy for a bit. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

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