This is the first in a three-part series on my Memorial Day 2008 camping trip to Assateague Island National Seashore. You can find Part 2 here and Part 3 here.

As I alluded in a previous post, I spent the weekend camping at Assateague Island National Seashore. My sister organized the trip, her fifth-annual Memorial Day camping excursion if I understand the chronology correctly. Her expertise was invaluable: we had the food and beer we needed (which we kept away from the island’s famous horses), and were prepared to do battle with the mosquitoes that swarmed our campsite four days and three nights.

Not a lot of photos from the first day: we had to set up camp, of course, and make a run for firewood (her car was completely packed during the drive out – Kate, Chad and I held supplies between our legs and on our laps). Dinner was incredible (grilled salmon with sweet corn on the cob – what more could you ask for?) and the only thing that went wrong was the wood: it wouldn’t light. The beach is a perfect spot for after-dark bonfires, and like most of the others camping there we headed over the dunes to dig our own pit. We used what kindling we could salvage in the dark, and we basically performed CPR on the fire for an hour, but couldn’t keep a flame burning. That didn’t stop us from making smores though.

The next morning, I woke up to see the sunset sunrise (thanks to Michelle in comments). You’ll have to wait til tomorrow to see those pictures though. Here’s more from the first day: