Saturday, August 30, 2008

Cape Charles VA

Cape Charles is another small town with a big story. About 35 million years ago a meteor fell to earth creating an impact crater 50 miles wide and a mile deep. It created a splash and a tsunami that reached the Blue Ridge Mountains changing the east coast. It is the largest impact crater in the US and the sixth largest in the world. The party we went to tonight was to celebrate U-Hauls recognizing Cape Charles on their trucks.
Cape Charles is one of those small towns with small town charm. Not much traffic, so bikes are the mode of transportation, or if you don't want to ride your bike you can call for a golf cart taxi. The local hardware store is an old time hardware store with wash boards, wash tubs and everything between including the old timers in the rocking chairs out front.

Past my bedtime!
September Song (watching the sky) out


Our welcoming committee

Old time hardware store

Old timers outside the hardware store

Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater
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Small town taxi service


No one told him he should eat it from the end not the middle


U-Haul recognizes Cape Charles VA and the meteor on their trucks


The meteor celebration

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Friday, August 29, 2008

Tangier, an Island lost in time

Visiting Tangier Island was like visiting a place time has forgotten. An Island that has 550 residents and about 150 fishing boats. Most of the residents, their parents, grand parents etc. have lived there all their lives. They are born, live, and die on the Island. Mr Parks, the owner of the marina is 77. He and his wife of 54 years, and a life long resident, raised 5 children on the island and one of his daughters is a physicians assistant, lives on the island and runs a medical clinic. Mr Parks took us for a tour of the island as soon as we arrived. We listened to many great stories about the residents, buildings and history of the island. They have a school (K through 12) with 7 students in the class of 2008 and a total enrollment of about 100. Life there is a simple life and they like it that way. The restaurants had great sea food. They are run by some of the waterman's wives and supplied by the waterman. nothing fancy, just good fresh sea food. The only industry on the island is fishing. They do have some tour boats that come to the island, but tourism is a small part of their economy. They do have several vehicles for moving supplies and the physicians assistant has a car, other than that it is bikes, golf carts and motor bikes. The reason I am blogging this today is because the island has no cell phone service so our Verizon air card didn't work. No cell phone or Internet service, can you believe it.
Time to sign off. Strawberry Rhubarb pie is waiting for me.

September Song (back in the 21st century) out


This is what a ship looks like after the USN uses it for target practice

The bay was angry

Sunrise over Tangier Island
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View of one of the Waterman's wharfs



No frills marina. We docked in the middle of all the waterman
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View from the aft deck


Rub a dub dub, three men in a tub


Waterman headed out


Most of the boats are named after their wives or daughters. This one had "Four Girls"

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Street named after the marina

Stephanie and Mr. Parks (77 years old)

Soft shell crab operation. We bought 2 dozen jumbo's

The only grocery store on the Island
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Traffic jam

Some history

The Post Office

Reminds me of New Orleans. The Island is only about 3ft above sea level
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Some died making a living (fishing)

Streets of Tangier

Cool trash can

No serious accidents on this Island
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Fuel supply for the Island

Lunch on Thursday

Great flounder sandwitchs

See any cars?
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The are born, live, and die within 200 ft.


The supply boat comes Monday and Friday

The mail boat
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