A lovely horse is always an experience… It is an emotional experience of the kind that is spoiled by words.
~ Beryl Markham
Lulu (my anything-proof, small point & shoot camera) and I finally made it to the beach yesterday. It was hot here at the Wabi-Sabi Ranch, but the breeze coming off the water on Assateague Island was nice and cool. The ocean temperature was a bracing, but bearable (refreshing), 62 degrees (F).
I could show you pictures of dunes.
And pictures of waves.
Or the pretty shells in the sand and water.
There were gulls aplenty as well as other sea and shore birds, along with this marvelous sunbeam.
But I know what you really want to see.
No, not trees.
A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves — strong, powerful, beautiful — and has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.
~ Pam Brown
It wasn’t easy getting a few shots of the horses. There were a lot of people gathered around them, trying to do the same. Many of those people must not have seen all the signs about staying at least 10 feet away from the horses (because the horses will kick, bite, or charge). Some were so oblivious to the idea of wildness that they were trying to pet the horses. I wonder if one or two of them will make an appearance on the posters showing what a horse bite on the back or shoulder or arm looks like. (It looks painful.)
I am looking forward to autumn when there will be fewer people on Assateague Island. I’m sure I’ll have some better shots at capturing the horses (with my camera, of course) on one of those cold and windy days when most (smart) people don’t go wandering around the beach and the marshes. The bugs don’t care for days like that, either. Another bonus in my book.
That’s it from the Eastern Shore and the Wabi-Sabi Ranch for today. It’s hot, humid, and cloudy, with the occasional thunderstorm, and a tornado watch in effect until 10:00 tonight. I think it is supposed to be like that for most of the week (hot, humid, and stormy). The swarms of deerflies and noseeums (aka midges) are horrible right now (so are the ticks and mosquitoes), limiting my walks (which become runs when the insects find me). Insect repellent doesn’t deter the deeflies. I’m thinking of buying some netting, at least for my head/face, something I can wear under a hat or attached to a hat.
Thank you for stopping by. Be good, be kind, be loving. Just Be. 🙂
Yes Robin, this is exacly what this blogging friend has been looking forward to seeing! It’s like a dream seeing such a sight, almost unbelievable and just a figment of someone’s imagination. Have you heard if they go into the water? There’s something extremely powerful and emotional at the thought of seeing a horse galloping through waves (or is it a romantic image?. Not sure….) 🙂
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Your excitement is infectious, Joanne. 😀 I have heard that the horses run in the water, but have not seen it. I’ve seen horses near the bay and the marsh, but not yet by the ocean (although there were signs of them near the ocean — horse tracks and horse poop). I’m hoping that having a chance to visit year-round will help me learn more about where they like to hang out.
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Are you close enough to walk to the ocean???? And how wonderful to live in a place where life changes with every wave. Wow.
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I wish, CM! I wish! We are about 50 miles from Assateague Island. 34 miles from Chincoteague which is in Virginia (I haven’t had a chance to get there yet).
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Yay! You made it to see the ponies! I like your idea about the netting to keep the flies from biting your neck and face. And you’re right about the bug repellent. It does nothing. But seeing those ponies are worth it! I would love to go to pony penning one day, but I hear it is wild in Chincoteague during that time. Some day we will meet in Chincoteague.
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I was looking at the pony swim, Susan, and decided not to go this year. I would love to see the ponies swimming, but most of the websites describing it also describe huge crowds, heat, humidity, and lots of bugs. And yes, some day we will meet in Chincoteague. 🙂
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Just looks like paradise to me.
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I’m pretty sure the beach IS paradise, Terry. 🙂
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I’ve had no time to read. And I want to read. But tonight I did indulge in a quick look at photos from the last several posts. Wonderful. I love your work. Loads. Promise to come back and read. As soon as stuff lightens up around here.
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No need to read, Dawn. Just enjoy the images. They tell stories of their own. I hope life slows down for you soon. 🙂
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fantastic post robin! we have been taking vitamin B1 for three weeks to help make ourselves unpalatable to the midges, but we are using repellant too …. on the boat tomorrow so hope we survive without too many bites!
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I hope the B1 works for you, Christine. Let me know. I don’t like the repellent (gives me a headache), but I’d like Lyme Disease even less so I use it. Have fun on the boat! 🙂
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b1 seems to be working for me but not S, he is still being bitten 😦
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Oh Robin, these pictures are fantastic! I especially love the sea gull in the sunbeam! Assateague Island is so wild and beautiful. But what a nuisance those bugs can be – hope your netted hat idea works out…
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Thank you, Barbara. 🙂 The seagull in the sunbeam was a nice surprise. I didn’t see the beam of light when taking the photo. It could be lens flare too, now that I think about it.
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You are a great photographer, Robin! I love these photos, the quotes and your writing. I have seen the wild horses on Cumberland Island. The bugs are horrible in GA this year. I do not know what they are, but their stings are worse than mosquitos.
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Thank you, Karen. 🙂
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The beach, horse, tree, seashell… all look so fabulous through your lens. What a treat to view these photos. Thank you so much, Robin!
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You’re welcome, Amy. And thank you. 🙂
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Luvvverly, Robin, and the dragon bones?.. Spectacular, ‘cos I knew they existed. I’m sitting and staring at the last photo, the surf is playing with my toes… I am at one with the sea. I am at peace… Sigh!! My toes are digging into the wet sand.. (I remembered to bring along an imaginary towel of course!! 😉 ) and my cup is full to overflowing. . Lovely horsey photo’s too, but one has eyes for only erm… one.. !!! Hugs aplenty,… and happy new trails.. from a sand covered Pen. xxx
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As you know, Lady Pen, the dragons leave us clues all over the place. All we have to do is take the time to look for them. 🙂
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I just bought a hat at Blue Ridge (Mountain Sports??) in Richmond that has the net built into it. Cost $30, but there’s no holes for the flies to get through. The noseums aren’t around Richmond, but they used to drive me nuts when the hubby and I went to the U.P. (Michigan’s Upper Peninsula). You didn’t even know they were snacking until you scratched yourself and got a bloody finger. We got the hats for our trip this week to Bar Harbor, Maine. Today the mosquitoes were officially bad. Not yesterday so much, but definitely so today.
Nancy
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Nancy: The nets make a huge difference, don’t they? I don’t go out without mine now. 🙂
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Beautiful! A couple classic songs come to mind at the mere mention of wild horses. Now I can picture your amazing photos whenever I sing along to these songs. 🙂
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At least one of those songs comes to mind every time I see this post title, Dana. I’ll be singing it all day. 🙂
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For me, it’s the Rolling Stones followed closely by the U2 lyric, “Who’s gonna ride your wild horses?” (At least they’re both good songs, though– I’d be a little miffed if you planted an ear worm of an annoying/terrible song.)
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“There is nothing better for the soul of a man than the outside of a horse.” Politics aside, I agree with Reagan on that point. I’m insanely jealous you get to live where there’s wild horses, they’re wonderful! And the beach looks lovely!!!
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Well, you’ll have to come out for a visit, Meredith. Then other people can be insanely jealous that you have family who live where there are wild horses. 😉
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Wow! I have never been anywhere near a place with wild horses! How cool is that! This is the spot that you were saying is about an hour away from your new home, right?
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Yep. This is the spot, Karma. 🙂
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