Trebuchet

We watched a show on Discovery about Punkin Chunkin featuring the Mythbusters. Who knew there was a world championship for throwing pumpkins? So when Joy found an event listing in a magazine for Punkin Chunkin in nearby Delaware, we snatched tickets from the Internet and set off that weekend on a late night adventure.

I love the idea of a trebuchet. Lifting and lowering of weight produces huge energy changes, and the lever arm converts that potential into motion in a thrilling manner. Even the modest machines hurl their pumpkins hundreds of feet. We got to see the free fire period, where cannons, trebuchets, and centrifugals launched their loads skyward in quick succession.

A Big Party

The size of the festivities surprised me. I couldn’t count the number of cars arrayed in the open field. The scene appeared more like tailgating outside an NFL game than the modest and slightly geeky gathering I expected. There were film crews and safety crews and TV crews rows of food trucks selling barbeque and beer. Everyone seemed in excellent spirits, especially the men seated on a couch perched high above the bed of their truck.

Sunrise on the Ocean

Sunrise over the eastern coast can be a spectacular sight. Walking on the beach at sunrise is my favorite activity at the beach. Ocean City has a wide, soft sand beach that is perfect for walking along. It was a cool clear morning with a light haze of cloud on our last day in Ocean City when we took this walk.

Beaches

Fences surround the dunes at Ocean City to protect them. Barriers also protect the beach.

On The Boardwalk

The Boardwalk is the place to watch people, shop, and get to your place on the beach. Bikes, joggers, and pedestrians travel up and down the boardwalk at all times of the day. Ocean City’s Boardwalk is wood plank, and has a great feel when walking and makes a great sound when riding a bike. The 2 1/2 mile Boardwalk separates the beach from the buildings of the city.

Shops Of The Boardwalk

Our favorite shop on the Boardwalk is Johnson’s Popcorn. The caramel corn is sure tasty! We got a few slices of the floppy thin crust pizza they serve back East and sat on a bench for lunch. When we visited this year, we came before the season so many of the shops were not yet open.

Early Walks

I love the early light, and at 6:00 a.m. few people are about.

Basset Hound Waddle

The 21st Annual Do Dah Parade in Ocean City, New Jersey featured over 400 basset hounds in the Basset Hound Waddle. We got a great seat on the curb in front of the Post Office. These friendly dogs came up to us for a petting as they waddled down the street. I really love basset hounds. They are gentle and mildly comic. They fit right in with the Do Dah Parade.

Little Dogs

The parade route is a long way for dogs with short legs to travel. Even at our point in the parade, the dogs had begun to tire.

Dress Up

Cute costumes are a big part of the fun of the parade. Some of the outfits were very creative.

Long Walks

We moved to the boardwalk to watch the second leg of the parade. Some of the dogs had fallen out. Most of the watchers had gathered on the boardwalk, but I was still able to manuever into position. By the second leg, a lot of dogs were tired. There was help available for pooped pups.