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The Inner Islands

Crab Shacks in Mailboat Harbor, Tangier Island

 

It’s been almost fifteen years since I took these photos on Tangier Island. The girls were small, my hair was not grey.

Tomorrow at sunrise I’ll be headed that direction. If the weather cooperates, I and about a dozen other fellows in small handmade boats will leave the Eastern Shore and head for these inner Chesapeake islands – Tangier and Smith. Never been to Smith Island, so this will be my first time.

Thursday night looks grim. Gusts to 30kts, big nasty seas in Tangier Sound, not to be trifled with in small craft. We may stay ashore that night. But the weekend looks very promising.

More later.

One way or another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Elizabeths

Steve Earley in Spartina near Elizabeth City 

 (Photos and text, video to come.)

Eighteen months ago it was the Elizabeth River. Now Elizabeth City. Steve tells me his home port of Chesapeake originally was to be called Port Elizabeth. There are other Elizabeths in his life even closer. HIs world seems thick with Lizzies, and he seems rather fond of them all.

 

Elizabeth City from the water

 

I’d never been to Betsy Town, as he calls it. Elizabeth City was never quite on my way to somewhere else. I’ve been missing out, apparently, and will have to come back. Shores are lined with cypress and gum and slash pine, and at one time large tracts of Atlantic White Cedar, prized for shipbuilding and shingles. The water is steeped in the tannin-filled effluent from the Dismal Swamp, the color of strong black tea.

 

The Dismal Swamp Canal


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Hudson Icebreaker

 

My father-in-law’s family was in the chandlery and barge business on the Hudson in New York, for a century or more. His mother’s family was in the tug business, a match made on commerce, as it were.

A fine article and video on the icebreakers of the Hudson. Many communities along the river still rely on barges to supply them with essentials, like heating oil, salt for roads, and bulk staples.

Icebreaker Sturgeon Bay on the Hudson

 

 

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The Quietest Places

the quietest places in the US, mapped

The Quietest Places

Note that even slightly offshore isn’t even on the map.

Nice.

I’m down with that.

 

 

 

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“Their school bus is an old station wagon.” ~ Life on Isle au Haut, a Maine Island Community

the harbor at Isle au Haut, Maine

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November ~ Dog Walking

 

 

Took the little old man for a walk in the woods, just ahead of the rain, and the dark.

There’s a little stream below the dam.

It sprinkled on the turn back, wetting the rocks and lichens.

Makes the colors stand out.

 

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