Chincoteague Outing Agenda/Details to follow

[debrown]

This is the schedule we will be following. Depending on interest and weather, we may have possibility of Boat Cruise/Tour Saturday (10am and 6pm). See my email about expression of interest.

The Chincoteague Island Outing is on-track for the weekend of Nov 7 and the time is fast approaching. We are planning activities for Fri afternoon, Sat, Sun, with planned departure for Mon (Tues is a holiday for most):

Tentative Agenda

Fri, 7 Nov 5:30pm: Meet in lobby of Refuge Inn to proceed to Snow Goose Pond
for Sunset Images. Hopefully, the pond will be full of Snow
Geese.
Fri, 7 Nov 8:00pm: Meet at Bill's Seafood Restaurant, 4040 Main St., for Dinner
and sharing.
Saturday, 8 Nov 5:00am: Meet in lobby of Refuge Inn to proceed to Snow Goose
Pond or .... for sunrise images.
Sat, 8 Nov: Pair up and Explore based on interest. I will gather brochures, etc.,
and give to you on Fri evening. Attached to this thread is a scanned
copy of trail information.
Sat, 8 Nov, 8:00pm: Meet at Village Restaurant, 7576 Maddox Blvd, for Dinner
and Sharing.
Sun, 9 Nov: Meet in Lobby of Refuge Inn to proceed to beach area near NPS
Visitor Center for Sunrise and Sand Dune Images.
Sun, 9 Nov: Pair up and Explore...Find the damn ponies!!!!

Sun, 9 Nov: Meet at Etta's Channel Side Restaurant, 7452 E. Side Rd. for Dinner and Sharing at 7:30pm
Mon, 10 Nov: Maybe one more sunrise shoot and back to Charlotte.

[tomdills]

Don -

This sounds like a great trip and well-planned. I really like the sound of the "pair up and explore based on interest" option. Kathy & I are looking forward to the weekend there!

[debrown]

Tom,
Thanks. I will be speaking with the Ranger tomorrow morning to get the latest information on the progress of the Snow Geese and other wintering birds. I think I will also call and speak with the company that offers the boating tours in case someone is interested. THey get good reviews in terms of wildlife spotting, etc.

I am also looking forward to the weekend!!!

[tomdills]

I think a boat tour would be a great option!

[debra.dandro]

Hey Gang! I was so extremely looking forward to this outing, but unfortunately (due to a variety of issues) have to cancel on you guys. Please know that I really wanted to be there and have had the days off from work for some time now but... With everything going on right now, this trip is just not in the cards for me. Please accept my apologies. Take care and hope you all have a wonderful trip and get some awesome shots. Chincoteague is such a great place and I do hope to get back there some day. :)DJGD

[tomdills]

Hey, Don -

I know we talked in a previous conversation about DST vs EST and I'm thinking you might want to confirm your times. Using the sites I use, with Saturday 11/8 as the middle of the days we're there, I'm showing local sunrise to be in the 6:35am range and local sunset to be in the 4:55pm range.

Looking forward to the weekend regardless of what time it is!

[debrown]

Tom:
You are correct. I downloaded the month on Nov from http://www.sunrisessunset.com/calendar.asp and they list the following:

Twilight Sunrise Sunset Twilight
7 Nov 6:05am 6:33am 4:57pm 5:24pm

8 Nov 6:06am 6:34am 4:56pm 5:23pm

9 Nov 6:07am 6:35am 4:55pm 5:22pm

10 Nov 6:08am 6:36am 4:54pm 5:21pm

we will adjust our times as necessary!!!

[epayne]

Ann and I would like to say THANK YOU to Don for his EXCELLENT planning of the Chincoteague weekend. We had a wonderful time, ate well and even got a few good photos. It was wonderful meeting a few new members, Don's family and the other photographers from the two workshops in the area.
Lets do it again next year,
Edgar Payne

[jenniferbrown]

Yes, I agree with you, Edgar. A big THANK YOU to Don for all the planning! Great trip!

[tomdills]

I'd like to add my thanks to Don for an excellent outing. It was a great destination for many reasons and I would vote to make a permanent spot on the calendar for this trip.

Chincoteague was great. As a shooting destination I would have to give it high marks due to (a) variety and accessibility of subject matter, (b) proximity to lodging and dining facilities, (c) limited travel once we got there (we could literally be in the gate about 90 seconds from pulling out of the motel parking lot) and (d) relative affordability. Don did a great job with logistics, kept the group together while leaving plenty of time for serendipity. Restaurant choices were great, the motel was good and there was something for everyone.

Kathy & I enjoyed getting to know everyone a little better and had a great time!

[donnaeaton]

Don, you did a great job and thank you soooo much for all your efforts! It was such a great time! :D Chincoteague is a wonderful place with endless photographic opportunities. It's worth the long drive. I came home with wonderful memories of the fellowship & the imagery. Hope to see everyone again soon!

[debrown]

Everyone:

I really enjoyed working on this project. Have been to Chincoteague before but always with my young grandchildren to watch the pony swim and never as just a photography trip. I enjoyed it twice as much as you did for all of the reasons you stated PLUS a chance to see my (now grown) kids and (almost grown) grandkids. I enjoyed it so much that I am going back to Cambridge (1.5 hours north of Chincoteague) for Thanksgiving with my kids and their families!!!

See you next year and we need to investigate spending a day at the Black Water Refuge for Eagle pics!!

[jckegley]

Don, I second all the other comments. Chincoteague is an amazing place, Snow Geese, Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Sika Elk, Black Ducks, Pintails, and Mallards... I was in heaven. I think I will be going next year for sure!

Favorite experiences in order....

1. Listening to the Sika Elk bugle in the mornings, they sound just like the native Elk. Amazing such a small animal can make that kind of sound.

2. The Snow Geese when they would swarm. So amazing that I would sometimes forget to raise the camera or camcorder. I was in total awe.

3. The wild pony that tried to eat my backpack while on the 7.5 mile service road. Never lay down your backback when your have half eaten trail mix in it. It took two loud "No's!" and some faux attacks on my part to get the creature away.

From a Snow Geese photography perspective, I think Chincoteague NWR is much better than Mattamuskeet NWR or Pocosin NWR here in NC. The close quarters of the ponds and the concentration of the geese allow for getting really close to the action.

Thanks Don for sharing your knowledge. I am hooked on Chincoteague now.

[BillE]

I would also like to echo and agree with everyone’s comments. Both Berna and I enjoyed the trip as well as the chance to meet everyone. The private outing to the pony farm was an unexpected perk to staying at the Refuge Inn; thanks for working out those details as well as the rest of the trip Don! Overall the trip was great and very enjoyable. Thanks Don

If a second trip is planned, a group trip up the service road is a must. Hopefully as a group we could dictate our needs and maybe even with and an additional payment extent the trip to include a sunrise or sunset.

Thanks again for organizing the trip Don.

[tomdills]

I had a very productive holiday weekend and have finally processed enough images to post a number of my favorites to my website (http://www.tomdills.com/main.php). I'll add more as I continue to process, but in the mean time would love to have you take a look. Feel free to look over the whole site if you have time, but for the newest images go to www.tomdills.com, click on the "Fall 2008 Highlights" link, then select either the "2008 Fall Color" or the "Chincoteague NWR" gallery.

[jckegley]

I had a very productive holiday weekend and have finally processed enough images to post a number of my favorites to my website (http://www.tomdills.com/main.php). I'll add more as I continue to process, but in the mean time would love to have you take a look. Feel free to look over the whole site if you have time, but for the newest images go to www.tomdills.com, click on the "Fall 2008 Highlights" link, then select either the "2008 Fall Color" or the "Chincoteague NWR" gallery.

Love em Tom. Really liked all of them. I especially like #4 (very intense emotion in the sky and the colors are awesome). Also like # 24 (ocean and sky, that needs to go in someone's beach house kitchen or living room). Number 34 is really good too (I am glad you did that one as a portrait, great colors with the setting sun).

Donna Eaton also has some awesome photos of Chincoteague on flickr.

Between you both, you guys could easily make an outstanding coffee table book for Chincoteague. I wish I could get the photos that you both were able to capture.

[donnaeaton]

Tom, your images are beautiful! I especially like #18 and #35! Nice work! I'm glad I could share the experience! I hope you & Kathy have a wonderful voyage that's coming up!!! ;)

And Joe, thank you! You are so kind! :D

[debrown]

Tom,
Thanks for sharing those!! Really made my evening!! Some great images!!

[bobossler]

Great images Tom! Loved how you captured the light.