Wednesday, August 10, 2011

75°59.666’ W

37°49.800’ N

Parks Marina

Tangier Island, Virginia

HAPPY 50^th BIRTHDAY MARK!



Docked in Deltaville



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Arriving at Tangier Island



The day started out with a mechanic repairing Quest as promised! By 10:45 the three boats were underway crossing the Chesapeake Bay for Tangier Island. The bay was flat and traveling was very pleasant. Barb and I are enjoying Barb and John Flint cruising with us again. They will 

Crab docks on Tangier Island

cruise to D.C. before returning to their home port at York River Yacht Haven.

 Tangier Island is unique and will not be forgotten soon! The town is built on a marsh and flooding of the streets when the tide is high, is not uncommon. The most common mode of travel is by golf cart or scooter with a couple of mini pick-ups driving around. Wooden platforms are placed in the front yard of most homes that are needed to raise and keep the golf carts out of the salt water caused by storms and tidal waters. There is a fire truck, ambulance and one squad car



Crab docks



A young lady drove the six of us around in a golf cart for a tour of the town. It was great fun and informative! This island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay is full of history. Captain John Smith discovered the island in 1608. The island was settled in 1686 by a man named Crockett. The English Navy used the island to prepare for war in 1776.



Oldest home on the Island



Can you see our boats?

During the tour we saw many small houses built close together with little yard space. What yard space they have is usually fenced with a wooded pickets or chain link fence. The lots come to the edge of the roads with no side walks. The buildings use all available land and are separated by large patches of saw grass growing in the marsh wetlands! When looking into the wetlands you can see many discarded boats of all types and sizes rotting away. All of this is flanked by an aging fishing fleet moored at single docks with a small building sitting on wooden pilings. Many of the fishing buildings with pier is free standing in water on pilings with limited or no access to it other than by boat.



We saw no sidewalks so everyone is walking or driving their golf carts on the street.

 

Fishermans Corner



There are a few restaurants serving the catch of the day. We chose Fisherman’s Corner Seafood Restaurant that was comfortable but very simple with some of the best crab I have ever eaten! The only other way the crab could have been served fresher is if it were prepared on the boat! If they would open the restaurant for breakfast I would be the first in line to be served!

Sunset



Our plan is to leave port around 9am and cross the bay for the Potomac River. Once in the Potomac River we will turn north onto the St. Marys River in Maryland.



Our hope is to be in Washington D.C. by Saturday.