Day 259 - Tangiers Island — Captain Father John

Miles cruised 66, fuel purchased $0, slip fee $90, daily high temperature 83°f

Dale and Andy went to the Corner Bakery to pick up fresh cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

On the dock behind us a buy boat brought in a load of crabs. That type of boat is called a buy boat because they buy crabs and oysters from the watermen so the watermen can continue to fish and not have to come into the dock to sell their catch.

The buy boat dropped off 11 bushels of crabs.

It looks like these crabs are planning their escape.

At about 9:45 am we cast off for our first stop of the day, Tangiers Island, which is a 20 mile cruise from Onancock. We tried calling Parks Marina to get dockage for a few hours. After several attempts and no response we tied up to Parks Marina’s face dock. Mr. Parks was working on the engine in his boat and did not see us arrive. He charged us $5.00 for a tie-up fee. Parks Marina is where Artie from Leap of Faith had to be air lifted to the hospital. The 85 year old Mr. Parks remembered the incident quite clearly and was happy to hear that Artie had recovered.

Tangier, Virginia, is a town on Tangier Island in Chesapeake Bay. The populations is 727 people mostly watermen making a living from crabbing, oysters and fishing. The majority of the original settlers were from South West England, and the tiny island community has attracted the attention of linguists because its people speak a unique English Restoration-era dialect of American English.

Tangiers Island is being eroded 15 feet each year by raising waters.

We spent a few hours touring Tangiers Island and had lunch at the Fisherman’s Corner. We asked Mr. Parks for a restaurant recommendation. He gave us two names and suggested we make our own choice. He said it is a small island and he didn’t want to get into any feuds. He did say the two ladies at the Fisherman’s Corner were very hard working. We took that as a hint.

The view entering the harbor at Tangiers Island.

Many of the waterman shacks are built on stilts.

After another 46 mile cruise up the Chesapeake we are docked at the Solomon’s Harbor Marina which is attached to the Holiday Inn. We are now in Maryland. I had called and left a message on Monday regarding a transient slip. I called back several times and the answering machine said only call Harbor Master John’s cell phone for a “true” emergency. As we were approaching the dock, I deemed it a true emergency and called his cell. Again, I got his answering machine but he called back after a few minutes. He told us to take the end dock on the second pier. I met Harbor Master John. He gave me a can of propane in case I wanted to cook on his grill and said the first two bags of ice are free in the cooler. The padlock code is 1900. The Holiday Inn has a tiki bar, swimming pool, health club, and restaurant. There are several other restaurants nearby. Most restaurants have a dingy dock. We will stay here for two nights or so. The Calvert Marine Museum is next door.

Remember the Polynesian sailing canoe we saw in South Carolina? She beat us to New York City. We will be in NYC at the end of June. The Hokulea arrived in New York City, sailing into North Cove Marina this morning. The majestic ship passed by the famed New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty making for some of the most historic and iconic images in the ship’s history.

Thousands came out to greet the vessel, from New York City residents to delegations and supporters traveling from the Hawaiian Islands, for the welcoming ceremony.

Nearby Native American tribes including the Ramapough Lenape Nation, Moraviantown Delaware Nation, Shinnecock, Unkechaug, Mohegan, and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy gathered to greet the Hokulea. There were also hula halau (hula groups) from both New York and Hawaii present. This arrival marks a ongoing journey that’s clocked 26,000 miles and so far has crossed five oceans.

Bonus photo

Carl (Chef) Wooden – quote of the day.

“On my tombstone, I want written: ‘He never did ‘Love Boat!'” – Orson Welles

George Orson Welles May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, writer, and producer who worked in theatre, radio, and film. He is remembered for his innovative work in all three: in theatre, most notably Caesar (1937), a Broadway adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar; in radio, the 1938 broadcast “The War of the Worlds”, one of the most famous in the history of radio; and in film, Citizen Kane (1941), consistently ranked as one of the all-time greatest films