Peace is at hand. By the end of September, the population of Ocean City drops to about a third of its summertime census. The great de-camping of freshman fry cooks and sophomore waitresses creates a vacuum quickly filled by a mellower atmosphere, with cooling temperatures that appeal to everyone from the beachcomber and the bicyclist to the bundled book reader on the empty beach. In the fall you can come down here and canoe and kayak on the bay. There's great bird-watching in Assateague and along the whole peninsula.
Loosened regulations add to the easygoing atmosphere.
After Sept. 30, dogs are permitted on the beaches and bicycling hours on the renovated boardwalk are lengthened. Area golf resorts offer special packages to keep the tee times filled. Those hotels that stay open cut prices to lure the weekend trade. One of those, Howard Johnson's, took over the Satellite Motel, many locals' favorite motel and breakfast spot. To their relief, the Satellite Cafe still operates and serves up plates full of pancakes and waffles, even scrapple and grits if you're so inclined.