Adventures of Normadillo: September Brings The Horse

In September, Normand joined us on a trip to Assateague Island.

I, for one was really excited. I've been wanting to see Chincoteague and Assateague for years. How awesome is it that wild ponies roam freely over the island.

Normand, being the small 'dillo he is wasn't so sure he wanted to meet these little horses. He took some convincing to join us. He'd seen a horse at the end of August at the county fair and he wasn't convinced that they wouldn't try to eat him.

He did, however, like the idea of going to the beach. So, to the beach he went.

Assateague is a very low lying island off of the Delmarva peninsula. It's full of lovely beaches, salt marshes, and of course ponies. Being low-lying, there are some very interesting features to the island.

The campsites were very flat.

There are trees, but they've adapted to the climate.

Humans, on the other hand, have not adapted nearly so well.

This was a road that existed on the island before a big storm hit in 1962.
There had been plans to turn it into another Hilton Head.
Chunks of pavement like this are all that's left.

Instead, it's now a state and federal park, home to protected wetlands, birds, and of course the horses.

Sandpipers

Egrets

Osprey

Normandillo at the wetlands

The Ponies. Grazing. From afar.

But, the ponies didn't stay afar. They came closer to the campsites.

 And, then, once the sun went down....

They struck.

There's nothin' in this pic-a-nick basket, Boo-Boo!

The rangers warn folks as they come in, but not everyone listens to the warnings. The horses go where they want to. They know people have food. They will raid camps. (They will also bite and kick. Moral of the story, stay away from unfamiliar ponies and keep your coolers in the car....)

Normand enjoyed himself. He even made a few new friends.

Until next time.....

Adventures of Normandillo: August

In August, Normand joined us on a trip to Point Lookout State park. Everything was fine until we passed a house we’d seen the previous year, and as luck would have it, their curious display was still there: Dopey and Tigger tied to posts on either side of the driveway as a warning to any other plushy that they were not welcomed there.

Needless to say, Normand was a little sensitive to the image (Poor little ‘dillo!).

(And for the sake of Normand and any sensitive readers, we are not including that photo.)

Point Lookout State Park is a beautiful stretch of historic woods and waterfront, containing the remains of a civil war prison camp. We've been going with friends for a few years now.

Normand took to camping like a fish to water, or a crab to chicken necks... more on that later....

He even found himself a perfect front row seat!

At the beach, Normand met some unusual new wildlife.

With a name like the "Cowkiller Ant,"
even Normand steered clear of this  1 1/2" long  wingless wasp!

Point Lookout State Park is on a peninsula where the Potomac empties into the Chesapeake Bay. We all enjoyed the view.

 Later, off of a dock in the small brackish marsh, Normand met some of the Maryland State crabs....

S' my chicken neck!! You let it go!!

You got a problem with me??

I am not coming over for dinners!!!

Figuring that the better part of valor was retreat, Normand joined us back at the campsite for a dinner that didn't bite back: hot dogs and s'mores.

So... are the marshmallows supposed to burn like that?

 And on the way home, we took a little side trip off the beaten track to see a piece of American history:

Until next time and the County Fair.....

Tales of Normandillo: July, Part 2

So, we last left the story of our adventuresome 'dillo as we were taking our leave from the lovely wilds of the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain.

What followed were hours in the car with the Navidillo to lead the way:

Luckily, we have an intrepid little friend to help us navigate the wilds:

- Look! A Windmill Pylon!
- Where's Monty Python??

We go THEESE way!!
... I drive?

 We took a detour to show Normand my Alma Mater:

Nestling 'neath the purple shadows/ of the Adirondack hills/ Lies our noble alma mater,/ thoughts of whom our memory fills....

Herring Cole Hall -- Gorgeous and equally as scary to a wee 'dillo as to me.

Yes... the bookstore, where we're both at home.

 And then we were back on the road:

The original home of Life Savers is only a few miles away.

 But soon enough, we were finally there in the great lakes at the 1795 Acorn Inn:

Normand really loved the swanky digs.

 We spent the next day tooling around the area, looking at wineries and lakes.
 

This is a nifty stone in Canandaigua

We were all wondering where this road was....

I wonder where this road goes?

At the end of the day, though, Normand made a new friend: Ruby the Carfox.

Until next time. And Point Lookout State Park.

-OA

Adventures of Normandillo: July, Part 1

Hello Mrs. B.,

Normand reminded me I'm still very behind in telling you about his adventures this summer.

In July, Normand joined my SO and I on a trip northward to visit my family for the 4th of July. Immediately, Normand found the best seat possible.

As we found out, he isn't just an armadillo, he's a navidillo and he insisted on charting our course from the cushy seat of the Garmin's pillow. .

He seemed really excited to go that far north -- within sight of the Canadian border -- as he'd never been. Apparently, he thought there would be snow. He was disappointed, but only briefly. There were too many friends to make, things to see, and exciting things for him to do.

He spent several lovely evenings along Lake Champlain.

Point Au Fer, New York, Lake Champlain

Cumberland Head, New York, Lake Champlain

 With ducks,

Normand with Bill the Duck

New Friend!

 Having drinks,

It's a big glass for a small armadillo.

A tea party

He even saw a small seamonster:

Not Champy. Actually, I think it was a baby otter...

It being the 4th, he got to see how a small town does Independence Day. 

Parades:

Parties:

and Fireworks:

But even with all of this, Normand was still up for more, so he came with us to the Finger Lakes....

To be continued....