Janes Island

[RGar]

Have any of you stayed at Janes Island State park near Crisfield,Md?
If so,do you have any recommendations for sites? We have a 25' TT and 2 dogs so we need to be in dog sites. Any recommnedations for good places to eat?

[MACK C-85]

I've never been there, but from looking at the website, I would suggest lots of bug spray and a screen room.

The mosquitoes will be flying fighter cover for the squadrons of green headed horse flies.

I have camped at Assateague Island in July and August and they (mosquitoes and horse flies) will carry away everything they don't eat. I came off the beach in my 4x4 and the tires were literally covered with flies! I drove several miles on low tires because I wouldn't get eatten to use the air station at the park.

Any of the wetland areas of the lower Eastern Shore, Bayside or Oceanside, will have this issue.

[Diane]

Dogs are NOT ALLOWED on Janes Island. It is a MD state park and most of the state parks do not allow dogs.

[MACK C-85]

Dogs are NOT ALLOWED on Janes Island. It is a MD state park and most of the state parks do not allow dogs.

From MD Parks Janes Island Website:

Effective July 23, 2007 pets will be permitted in the following designated pet campsites: 2,4,6,8 and 10 in B Loop; and 97,99,101,103 and 104 in C Loop.

Also, you will want to make sure your dogs Heartworm Meds are current. They are very prevalent in this area.

[Honda03842]

We camp at Assateage virtually every year but generally it's in April and October. This wonderful national park is virtually mosquito free during those months.

I know this doesn't help on this outing.

Norm

[MACK C-85]

Norm:

I've been four wheeling on Assateague in mid-June without an issue, but come July lookout The bugs on tire incident I mentioned above was 4th of July week.

Also, should mention a high prevalence of Lyme disease with ticks. My lab came down with it during a trip to Fenwick Island.

I don't want to scare you, but we had a trailer at the beach (Fenwick Island, Del) for almost fifteen years and these are things you need to be aware of with your puppies on the Eastern Shore.

[Honda03842]

I didn't know when the bug season started but in my travel log I continualy mention how nice Maryland parks are and particularly Asseteague. One of my best RV freinds went there one summer and was eaten alive.

We don't have pets, paritally viewing them as little anchors for virtually full time travelers. Also they would be a real hassle in our small trailer.

Ticks seem to be a problem everywhere. My wife was recently bitten and had to have the anti-lyme disease treatment. It raise our consciousness to a new level. There are now more deer in the country then ever before.

Norm

[RGar]

We recently took our first trip to Janes Island. Nice campground under tall pine trees. They have 104 sites, 49 with electric hookups and several water hydrants in each loop. If you have a dog you are limited to 10 sites. 5 in loop B and 5 in loop C. The only place you can walk your dog is in the area behind your site between the 2 loops. It's a fairly large area partly open and partly wooded. The only dog sites with electric are the 5 in loop B. The bath houses could use a little work in the shower areas. Tiles are falling out. They have a small camp store that sells ice cream,sodas and some camping supplies. The staff was very friendly. They do have a beach but it is only accessable by boat. We took our canoe along. They have a canoe launch,something I have never seen before. They have several canoe trails which are color coded. You can take your dog in the canoe but must drive him to the launch site. Crisfield has 2 dollar stores,a small grocery store,several restaraunts and a small musuem. There's a site behind the musuem where you can take a boat trip to Smith Island.[img][/img]

[RGar]

Here's a picture of my wife and our Lab at the beach at Janes Island SP.
This picture was taken before we flipped the canoe.My wife blamed it on the dog but it was really her fault!

[JohnB]

Nice Picture. Thanks for sharing. Looks like a nice place for a paddle.

So you where practicing swamping recovery?? I can hear it now.....

I am a BSA and Red Cross certified flat water canoeing instructor. We break canoeing down to teach at an 11 year old level for the Scouts. It is 40 hours of instruction and 3 days on the water to get through the course. During class we teach all the swapping recoveries, strokes, part of the canoe, paddle, and how to paddle etc. And as we are teaching we use all the stroke commands so the boys get to know them and they become instinct and second nature over time. Everyone knows what draw, sweep etc means.

Well... DW and I where out paddling with my Mad River Explorer at a local lake. This is my "pretty canoe", teak gunnels, cane seats etc. Wife likes the water and the gentle times of paddling and for sure so do I. She never formally learned canoe instruction and between husband and wife teaching is something that is better left to someone else...

It was a beautiful day, a slight wind and we where coming up to a large drain pipe, about 8 feet is diameter. We use this opening to cross under the county road to get to the other side. I was in the stern and DW in the bow. I have been through this cross over many times with the Scouts. There is a good 2 foot plus deep water to float you through no problem.

As we approached the opening I said we need to be centered and we can paddle right through. So far so good. We get about 4 feet from the opening and a wind gust comes up and starts blowing the canoe sideways. Out of instinct I call out "Draw Right!" This is then followed by, "What's draw!" Oh boy...

Needless to say I have a permanent gash in the stem of the canoe from the steel drain tile.... We didn't flip, more of an abrupt stop... followed by a bunch of words being thrown to the guy in the stern...

My bad for letting instinct take over and not doing a hard back stroke to stop. I'm reminded of this every time I polish the front of the canoe... My big older Old Towne has dings all over from kid abuse. I bought it used and cheap and works great for teaching. If I had only taken the old one the wind would of never come up...

Oh well, it's all good. A bad day paddling is still better then a good day at work...

John

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by JohnB

She never formally learned canoe instruction and between husband and wife teaching is something that is better left to someone else...
John

I solved that problem by putting Penny in the bow and keeping my mouth shut, regardless. After hitting the 5th rock she turned around and said, "What am I doing wrong?" This is known in the trade as a "teaching moment." Instuction then commenced with a willing and attentive student.

Teach

[JohnB]

Yes, the "keeping my mouth shut" part works well and is totally under your control. The sooner one learns this the better... After being married for 32 years "I" needed to learn this sooner...

[mainah]

I was born a raised on the shores of the Chesapeake (still miss Maryland crabs and oysters to this day) and have lived in Maine for many years now and I'll put our new England mosquitoes and black flies up against any ones (except maybe Alaska) just try to keep them out of the camper they will drive you nuts at night!