Last week, 7/11-7/16, my girlfriend and I went to beautiful Ocean City. I meant to get more photos of the actual town, but I ended up with a lot of sunset and sunrise photos. I'm fine with that.

 

Here's a nice balearic tune to go with all of these shots:

Novocaine (Mark Otten Remix) Unmixed

 

Enjoy.

 

This old cement plant is right behind the apartment we stayed in. When I was little, the place was still in operation and it was noisy as hell. There were plans to develop the property into condos but nothing has happened and this year the for sale signs have been removed:

 

The Harry W. Kelly Memorial Bridge, at left, is over 50 years old. There are plans to replace it, but nothing is happening any time soon. I have fond childhood memories of that bridge, so I don't mind if the project takes time:

 

I love the old downtown Ocean City grit. Sadly, many of the historic victorian buildings have been razed over the years to make way for gleaming condos and hotels. I love this part of OC, but it's becoming too sterile:

 

Hoopers Crab House. Mmmmmm:

 

Scenic:

 

 

Isle of Wight Bay:

 

Spent many hours fishing off this bridge when I was younger:

 

Hundreds going into OC, not many leaving:

 

7/14/2011 5:16 AM

We decided to catch the sunrise over the ocean. I have never seen a sunrise in my life, and this was one of the most gorgeous things I have ever seen in my life.

 

 

It was so strange to see the boardwalk shuttered and empty:

 

 

 

I thought it was funny how the OC Police could drive on the boardwalk. My whole life I have been used to seeing the boardwalk filled with people shoulder to shoulder:

 

 

Boardwalk hotels and condos:

 

That building is a prime example of what has been taking over the old downtown area. Although this one is the largest development south of 5th street so far, many many condo and apartment buildings like these are popping up everywhere in all shapes and sizes:

 

 

5:49 AM

 

 

 

And later that evening, we went on a sunset cruise aboard the Angler. It took us out in the bay along the western shore of Assateague, and then out in the ocean and up the beach.

 

 

 

 

 

Full moon:

 

 

The Judith M returning from a similar cruise:

 

Mansions with views of the Inlet and just silhouettes against the sunset:

 

Moon over Assateague:

 

The Inlet:

 

West Ocean City

 

Heading out the Inlet into the ocean:

 

 

At this point the water was so choppy it was a miracle that I got any sharp photos at all. It was almost a chore to stand up. And I did not have my tripod with me:

 

 

 

Goodnight Moon

Awesome.  Haven't been there in years but it still (kinda) looks the same!

Orion, you had never seen a sunrise before? Not even when you were a little kid? Never partied all night to dance music? Perhaps it's a typo. Great shots of an interesting area that I knew little about.

^Haha I know. I know. I may have when I was younger, but I have never been one to wake up that early lol. And I still have yet to go to an all night beach dance party haha.

Beautiful photos; I've always been a morning person, and sunrise still is my favorite time of day.

 

In the 1960s I didn't often get beyond the Rehoboth area, but occasionally I got as far as Ocean City. It wasn't built up anything like it is today; I don't remember any high-rise chain hotels/resorts, and off-season it was completely desolate, the whole area almost completely shut down. We used to go over to Assateague sometimes and almost the only way to get around there without a 4WD vehicle and flotation tires was to walk, which we did for miles.

It's funny that you mention the 4-wheel-drive vehicles on Assateague. You can get a permit and take your Jeep or whatever else is 4-wheel-drive all the way down the island to the Virginia line where they have a fence. It's an awesome ride. I remember one year there were a few 4x4 camping clubs and they set up little cities. The main route acted like their main street and they actually had little "streets" made by intentional spacing of their rigs. It was awesome. Pack a lunch and some blankets, take a beautiful ride down the beach, and you could have a beautiful quiet day at the Virginia line.

 

The post has been updated with the rest of the Ocean City photos.

I had a Jeep Wagoneer 4x4, and when summer came I took off the snow tires and put on a set of oversized highway-tread tires that I kept mounted on an extra set of wheels. I never took it to Assateague, but I took it to the southern Delaware beaches a few times. I'd let the air down to about 15 pounds and I could go out on the sand with no problem. I saw people drive out with regular sedans with ordinary tires at full inflation and usually they were OK so long as they kept moving. If they stopped, as soon as they'd try to start up, the wheels would slip and dig in and they'd need help from a lot of bystanders to get moving again.

We have a Jeep Wrangler, so my dad does it every year. We had to pull someone who had an older Honda CRV one time. I'm not sure why she got stuck because she deflated the tires and everything. We definitely saw our fair share of people getting stuck though. It was definitely fun though.