July 8 - 10, 2014 Solomons MD

Had a long way to travel today, 51 miles, so up at 5:00 and out smoothly at 6:00. The first half of the trip was a little rough with 1-2 foot waves and 3-4 foot swells, but all calmed down as soon as we got north of the Potomac and into MD waters.

Light House with "Out House".

Tall ship headed south, we were headed north.

That afternoon we washed the boat and rested up a little. Mike and Lois had been at Solomon's while we had family time and so we had dinner on R Island and got caught up. Ger fixed chicken breasts on the grill and Judie made rice and snow peas. A bottle of wine finished us off.

 

Next day we did some laundry in the morning and launched the dingy. In the afternoon we motored over to the Calvert Maritime Museum and spent several hours learning about the Calvert Cliffs that line the western shore of the Bay for about 30 miles going north. They had mockups of the cliffs, videos/movies explaining the geological shifts and the ebb and flow of ice ages and global warming millions of years ago, and the formation of the Bay as we know it today. Simply Amazing!! Some really cool skeletons also, one being one of only two in the world of a 50 foot shark.

Even the camera is shaking just looking at it

The museum also had a nice collection of recent boats and a light house that had been moved there after retiring from active service. It was completely restored and the living quarters looked comfortable - a nice small apartment.

Later that afternoon we went for a nice ride in the dingy ride looking at all the boats. There are about 8 marina's at Solomons and all were very full and busy. Wanted to go out to dinner, but a storm warning was issued so we ate on the boat and called it an early evening. Good thing we did as we got 4" of water in the dingy and I had to borrow a pump to get it out. Never thought of having something to bail out water..... Next day was off and on rain, so we caught a ride to the grocery store and did some chores around the boat. Next morning we fueled up and headed for St. Michaels MD. We are getting about 3.7 miles per gal.  - which feels good until you see it in print! Mike took our photo leaving - Ger at the upper helm station and Judie tending to lines on the starboard side.



June 26 - July 7, 2014 Some Family Time (Revised ending)

We left Crisfield on Thursday headed for Reedville VA to meet up with our son Gary and our grandsons Gavin and Jonas. Sometimes it takes a few side trips. The wind and the waves we both high and from the wrong direction so we ducked back into Onancock Creek and anchored just short of the marina in a quiet cove across from green marker 37. Had a quiet afternoon and evening.

One sailboat joined us in our anchorage.

Next day, Friday, we headed to Deltaville to re-supply as there is no easy grocery store to get to in Reedville. Same wind and waves. Stayed at Dozier's Regatta Point Marina, barrowed a courtesy car, stopped at the IGA and the seafood shop, and had a nice Saturday getting the boat ready for company. Sunday we got up early, did our customary pump of the waste system and headed north. Arrived at Buzzards Point Marina in Reedville about 11:00 and found out that we were in "technology hell". The wifi was very weak and only worked if you were sitting up at a picnic table  on a small hill near the office. One bar on the cell phone and definitely no TV. The closest restaurant was 5 miles away, no loaner car, and nothing was open on Monday and Tuesday. "This is Reedville folks  - we're pretty laid back here.." was the dockmaster's explanation.

The gang arrived about 1:30 on Monday. Gary brought all the fixings for grilled sausage and salads, so we fired up the grill and ate till we were stuffed. The boys really like sausage! We called it "lupper", as it served as lunch and supper. Later we watched the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie and hit the sack.

Our first large ship on the Bay - a car carrier headed to Baltimore.

Fishing boats at the fish oil and "other products" plant at Reedville.

The picnic table on the grassy hill for wifi.

On Tuesday, it was up early (for Gavin), and we caught the 10:00 ferry for a 90 minute ride to Tangier. Tangier is an old waterman town on Tangier Island in the middle of the Bay. In 1960 the population was about 1500, and as the waterman's plight continues downward, the current population is about 500. They have a volunteer fire dept., medical facilities, small airport, and several restaurants and souvenir shops for tourists. We had great crab cakes at the "Fisherman's Corner" and then took a guided golf cart tour of the island - about a 15 minute ride. The island also has a great museum about the local history. Many of the explanations that accompany the exhibits, are hand written by the local folks. There was a lot of information and Gavin, in particular, tried to take it all in. We needed to be back at the boat by 2:15 for a 2:30 departure, so not a lot of time on the island. There are 2 Bed and Breakfast places and it would be fun to spend the night.

Tangier's Marina

public docks

oldest church

They only plant them 3 feet deep as the water table is 4 feet.

Photo of hurricane Sandy impact

in it's hay day!

small Maryland Blue Crab.

crab trap

popular overnight place

lunch spot.

trash can by the ferry docks

Watched the second "pirates" movie before hitting the sack. Hurricane Arthur started it's northerly trek, so we rented a car, readied the boat in Reedville and headed for Gary and Amy's house for the holiday. By the time we got everything ready to leave on Wednesday, stopped at 5-guys for lunch and Walmart for prescription refills, we got to Annandale about 4:30. On the 4th, we had fun playing games and relaxing before heading out to watch the DC fireworks show. Amy had located a great viewing spot at the "Air Force Monument to 911" overlooking the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetery with a great view of the Mall area of DC. Gary and Ger got there about 5:00 to stake out the spot and everyone else arrived about 7:00. Had a great time and we could also see many fireworks from other communities. Some of them went on until the ride home after 10:00.

The crowd begins to assemble...

The Air Force Monument to 911

fuzzy picture of fireworks and the Washington Monument. Camera lessons required.
 

Saturday the boys left for their mother's place and the rest of us went to the Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian, and then out to dinner at "Rosa Mexicana" for a fantastic dinner and smooth tequila. On Sunday, after a great "Amy outdoes herself" breakfast, Judie and Gerry returned to the boat stopping at West Marine and the grocery store on the way. Since we had a car, we drove into Reedville proper and found a pleasant surprise! Wonderfully restored/kept homes and "the Crazy Crab" restaurant wit excellent shrimp and grits, and crab cakes.

Judie's favorite

Too Much??

The Crazy Crab

The Banker's House, he used personal money to keep town alive in the Depression.

Monday was return the car and get ready to head for the Solomon's.

June 22-25 2014 Crisfield MD

After an easy run up the Tangier Sound from Onancock VA, we arrived at Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield MD about 11:00. The marina is a state owned and operated facility built in an attempt to bring boaters/tourists to the area. I would estimate that 80% of the 500+ slips were empty. The town in another waterman-based community trying to rediscover itself with the decline in the crab/oyster industry. About 44 new condo units have been built on the affordable waterfront and 90% are sold. Trouble is they are only occupied a few weeks a year and some occasional weekends. Anyway the marina is great, well protected from the Bay with good facilities and is close to the historic downtown.

After settling in, we visited the Waters Edge Grill for a bite of lunch and then across the street to the ice cream shop for a treat. Spent a few hours visiting local shops and then back to the boat. Dinner aboard and a quick bath for the boat. The next day, Monday, we visited the local maritime/town history museum. Amazing how the early 1900's were such a boom time based on oysters. About 5 blocks of the downtown are built on oyster shells including a railroad to the waterfront dock! People even purchased lots entirely under water speculating that the infill of oyster shell would eventually get to them - many were lucky; some are still waiting. A recent condo project was stopped because it would deny access to a few of these underwater lots - go figure. Had lunch at the Chesapeake Crab house - somehow Judie had a hamburger - still not being that big of a fan of seafood!  The afternoon was spent with chores.

Crab traps and a small "keeper".

The Ward brothers - famous decoy carvers.

Early soft-shell crab work, crabs must be checked every 3 hours during shedding process.

Tuesday we took a morning walking tour of town with the director of the museum - really great. We were able to get into a soft-shell crab packing facility and see them being delivered, sorted, processed, and packaged - both alive and frozen - for shipping. Trucks leave daily for Baltimore, New York, and Boston. We then went to a hard-shell crab picking facility were they cooked the crab, chilled them overnight, and picked the crab meat out the next day. Just like the  long tradition; about 20 people, mostly women, sitting at tables getting paid by the pound of crabmeat they pick. Currently the soft-shell business is the most lucrative option and sustaining the towns. We were treated to a once in a lifetime experience as the ladies started to sing an old church hymns - beautiful tunes to praise the Lord as they worked. Our tour guide said they very seldom sing if strangers are around or they see a recording device.

Crab traps drying, ready to be cleaned.

Soft shell processing

Live and ready for ice, some straw and shipping.

 

 

Live hard shell crabs waiting for the large steaming unit.

Picking, packing and singing!

More waiting for the pickers.

The town of Tangier has no automobile access from the mainland since it a small island about 15 miles from Crisfield. Every day the mail boat leaves the island for the mainland and picks up the mail, UPS, equipment like golf carts (the main mode of transportation on the island) and people. Most Tangier residents keep a vehicle at Crisfield and will ride the morning boat, due their shopping, and load everything aboard for the return trip. We watched the process and it was very interesting to see them scurry about as not to miss the boat. Smaller boats do the same process for the 3 communities on Smith Island, just north of Tangier.

The Mail Boat to Tangier Island

You had better be on board at 12:30 - because they all leave on time!

 

The next day we joined Mike and Lois in a rental car and toured the nearby communities of Cambridge, Oxford, Vienna and Salisbury MD. All water towns; Vienna being the smallest and pretty empty; while Oxford is very prosperous with great tourism and retirement industries. Salisbury is large and well diversified and, being far up-river from the bay - least affected by the fall-off in water related industries. We had started the day with breakfast at Gordon's restaurant. It is open daily from 4:00 am until 2:00 pm for the local town folks to grab a sandwich and coffee. They only offer sandwiches, but you can get just about anything on them. It was mentioned by our guide the pervious day, that they actually clean the place once or twice each year. It was rustic, but good food!


Re-created lighthouse at Cambridge Marina.

Classic being restored.

Some nice classics for sale!

The above boats were in this facility at Oxford.