[Gabz]

This year, it should be next week for the drive down Main Street to the pens for visitors to see and buy some of the overage.

You are correct - it is next Wednesday.

The ponies are technically owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department and the proceeds of the annual auction (on Thursday) provide the fund for the care of the herd and for the VFD itself.

The ponies not sold at the thursday auction are herded back to Assateague at low tide on Friday.

I want to see the return swim on Friday this year - I've never seen that.<P. When we did the Wednesday swim 2 years ago we lucked out and were with only about 15 yards of where they came ashore....it was awesome.

[Mama_Bear]

I would have liked to have visited Chincoteague Island, but there wasn't time when we were there. I remembered your earlier posts about the ponies, Maggie. Would have loved to have seen them.

I love what you both are adding to this thread and I am so pleased to see so many proud Virginians coming today. It makes the long hours of putting the tribute together well worth it. :-)

[LadyX]

Saw your response after I posted the two replies about the roundup!
It's an awesome thing, isn't it?

The Link I gave goes to the explanation of who does it, etc. Check it out.

You proably would recognize the big house I lived in right on Main Street, close to downtown - restored now, with the distinctive - as you face the house - on the upper left - room with a bay window for a clear view of the bay.

There used to be a very small general store across the street and (a 'house or two'?) farther south - on a lip of the shore.

That perhaps is gone now.

There were *TWO* hurricanes that came there when I was there in 1955, and we had to go stay with friends on the Naval Air Station so we would not be isolated or without power, with two babies to care for.

There was only one bridge across then.