- Snowfall – the Beginnings of the Snow Storm
Saturday, Jan 30, 2010 brought a VERY RARE visitor to Ocean City MD. SNOW … and lot’s of it. It was very beautiful and a sight to see! Located with warmer ocean and bay water temperatures on both sides, we often get rain due to above freezing temperatures in the winter. This time, Mother Nature shoved some chilly freezing temperatures on us and the result was my guess 8 or 9 inches of soft white snow. The wind was fairly light, so it didn’t drift too much. I did experience drifts of 2 and 3 foot around the house here. The snow shovel (used very rarely) had been retrieved from the storage shed and had been propped up against the outside of the door. Unfortunately the breeze blew it over and now it was somewhere under 2 foot of snow drift. After a minute or two of probing around in the fluffy snow i retrieved the snow shovel from it’s hiding place buried in the snow.
- Street View of Snow Storm in it’s earlier stages Ocean City MD
The street was still quite passable as there were only about 3 or 4 inches of snow at this time of the day. Only a few cars had ventured out on this side street, but the snow was still falling as darkness approached. I wasn’t sure what to expect come morning, but was surely pleased that my schedule didn’t require me to motor about in the car. Temperatures were in the mid twenties and seemed to indicate they would stay in the lower 20 degree range throughout the night as light snow continued to filter down from the sky. I am unsure of whether the streets would be plowed come morning. Fortunately tomorrow is Saturday so there isn’t any demand on residents to get to work.
Snow Laden Evergreen - Ocean City MD
It
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doesn’t get any better than this. Just imagine yourself being in the Swiss Alps ? Everywhere is a Winter Wonderland! It makes one think about a winter fireplace crackling in the corner and a view like this outside your window. So serene and calm a scene. Fodder for an Artist I suppose. Bring your easel and paint brush and let your talents flow. It won’t last long however, so this digital image will provide memories for many many years.
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Walking Path to Car Shoveled Ocean City Md
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Progress has been made with a path now shoveled from the door to the driveway and car door. This beautiful snow isn’t so beautiful when it requires one to move it to enable a clear walking path through it. At least I believe my exercise should be sufficient for the day. Fortunately the snow was light and dry making the task somewhat easier.
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Snow Covered Car in Driveway Ocean City MD
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More snow shoveling to accomplish. A broom took care of sweeping the snow off of the car. The arduous task is ahead in the shoveling of the driveway. The snowplow also heaved MORE SNOW in my path to exit the driveway with the car. I think it’s as much as 2 foot deep in places. Working up a sweat moving the snow but I think that’s good for an old body ? CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
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Beach Cross over - Drifted heavy with snow, Ocean City MD
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Drove to the beach – the dune cross over is fairly well full with drifted snow. I only ventured up to the top and chose not to jump down into a “questionable” down ramp (caused by previous Nor’Easter storm)
. CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE..
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Snowy beach and waves Ocean City MD
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The snow on the Ocean City MD beach wasn’t drifted, but rather wind swept. It still makes for an unusual scene. It’s rather chilly here with the wind blowing in ones face. CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
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Wetlands and Bay View Ocean City MD Snow Storm
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TAKE TIME to photo a view from Ocean City MD bayside overlooking the wetlands and bay – western shore is way in the background. CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW ENLARGED.
Ocean City High rises Sunset Glow, Ocean City MD
Ocean City High rises Sunset Glow, Ocean City MD
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The sun is on the threshhold of setting below the horizon, leaving an orange glow in the sky and enhancing the image of the bay and Ocean City MD highrises.
Winter Sunset West Ocean City MD
Sunset over the wetlands West Ocean City MD
Many Ocean City MD and Coastal Delaware Fishing Enthusiasts have already put away their surf fishing rods and gear for the winter season, but actually the Thanksgiving period each year affords an opportunity to catch the BIG BLUES in the surf and off shore as they swim their way south for the winter. Yes, they (the bluefish) are snow birds .. Hang around the Mid Atlantic and North Atlantic Ocean in the summer and ah .. spend the cold winter down in the warmer waters off of Florida?
The low tide offered the opportunity to wade out onto the sandbars and therefore cast closer to the drop offs .. There was a huge hole just to the south . so it looked like a good place to throw some bait to entice a BLUEFISH.
The surf cast appears to be a good one.. Plenty of distance .. over the waves .. and to settle in with the lead weight to hold it in place for the presentation of the bait to the bluefish. The water temperature is CHILLY now .. actually about 55 degrees .. brrrrrrrrr .. so Alex, the surf guy is wearing chest high WADERS .. which allows him to wade through waist high water, and a light jacket of course . The temperature is about 55 degrees ( fairly warm for this time of the year in Ocean City MD) and the wind is very calm, so it was a pleasant day by all means.
Now the wait for a bite ! .. Manage the rod and be attentive to any suspicious tugs on the line. Alex is fishing with cut mullet chunks . Any bites .. usually it will result in the bluefish trying to run away with the bait . It’s up to Alex to determine when to try to set the hook by pulling back quickly. Of course if the fish doesn’t have the entire bait in it’s mouth, then he will likely get away with the bait and the hook will be bare! .. If Alex has patience then pulls hard he probably has a better chance of setting the hook in the fishes mouth. It would be a shame to try to just drag it through the inside water hole and lose it .. There is nothing worse than the ” BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY ” .. really !
Caught one .. reeled in and brought to the sand bar .. it’s a flopping and flipping while Alex gets close to it to determine the best way to bring it back across the water hole and back onto the high beach .. It would be a shame to try to just drag it through the inside water hole and lose it ..
It’s a KEEPER FISH .. bluefish .. about 3 to 4 lbs .. dinner for four ? Shown here bringing it back on to the high and dry part of the beach for temporary storage before heading home to clean and filet this tasty fresh from the Ocean bluefish. Alex had already put one other bluefish about the same size in his catch so it wasn’t a bad day for about 1 1/2 hour of effort. Nor only does the sport fishing activity of surf fishing provide a great way to stay physically active, enjoy the salt air and outdoors, it puts dinner on the table and even more often for the freezer to be enjoyed later in the winter.
Alex poses with the fresh from the Ocean Blue Fish .. An inexpensive hobby .. and fun and hey .. it provides a source of a tasty and good nutrition for meals when cooked properly .. Now it is Dec 1st .. the temperature is colder and while the fish are still there heading south .. the anglers are mostly hunkered in and waiting for SPRING .. These bluefish will return to Ocean City Md next May 2010 . Usually around the 1st or 2nd week of May we see a run of larger bluefish 5 lb range heading north .. So .. maybe it’s time to go catch your dinner instead of the supermarket options .. for fishing tips and to post up any questions you have .. 
This past week, sunshine gave way to overcast skies and eventually the remnants of Ida met with other weather presence and brought what is called a 
This picture illustrates the damage to the dunes, as it seems that some 50 percent of the dunes were gone after the storm left the area. All dune cross overs are 50 percent destroyed as are the components and fencing that surrounded them. I am sure the Corp of Engineers and others will have their work cut out for them to repair the coastal storm damage before the spring of 2010. let us hope we do not have another such storm before as the weakened dunes are rather now minimized in their protective value by 50 percent is my guess! When the spring returns in 2010 there will have been done replenishment work, dune repairs, and more and visitors will likely not realize what work and at significant cost has been expended to return the beach to it’s former state.
It was mostly a hunker in several days for everyone at the beach. Everyone is safe and ok for sure .. ( just glad to be able to get out and enjoy some sunshine today) .. I did manage to get down to the beach areas Saturday (yesterday the 14th of Nov 2009) and took photos. The photos mostly taken from 142nd and 146th St Ocean City MD and South Oceanfront area of Fenwick Island, DE and the Fenwick Island State Park just north of Fenwick Island DE. At the Fenwick Island State Park I encountered a young weak appearing Red Fox .. The poor guy .. I have put up a photo gallery of my activities and you can view them on our photo gallery site 
Now we were ready to begin the challenge on the 1st of the 9 planned hole golf outing. We were situated into a golf cart, I was given proper driving instructions and the golf cart was loaded with 2 golf bags, bottled water, digital camera and of course score cards/pencils and 2 wanna be golfers. Our cart guy ” Nick ” took care of bringing the cart out to us and was quite helpfull, friendly and pleasant (16 years old) ..
We anxiously set up on the first tee! .. It was crunch time and now the experience begins! Swing – MISS – Swing – Miss – and more of that .. FINALLY both Tristan and Dalya hit the ball and got it airborne .. From there we scurried to the balls and more HIT AND MISS swings and finally again success and the little white balls began their journey to the 1st hole! It was fun and surely a challenge for a beginner on a golf course. 
[During our visit on June 2, 2009 to the Assateague National Seashore Park, we found an abundance of photo opportunities of Deer and Assateague Horses ( Ponies ) .. It sort of began with a feeding Deer as we drove down the road towards the entry to the National Park Area .. A Deer feeding on the succulent leaves along the roadside. We stopped and took a photo from the car. The deer just sort of looked at us wondering what we were up to! Be very quiet however with little or no movement as the deer will vanish in a second if they are concerned about you or your encounter on their world!
We passed through the ENTRY GATE of the National Seashore Park - display my senior citizen pass to gain free entry (normally $20 for a pass - good for 7 days) .. and our first stop was at the "Life of the Marsh Trail" - a 1/2 mile loop out over the marshy grasses and water! There are "Placard" stands along the walk explaining about the various types of "creatures" and "plant growth" that inhabit or grow in the marsh areas, such as crabs, minnows, marsh birds, herons, egrets, etc.. 
