GLORY DAYS ON THE GREAT LOOP: TANGIER ISLAND

DAY 315: SUN. MAY 27, 2012

DEP. DELTAVILLE 09:10 ARR. TANGIER I. 12:28

D. 26.5 sm / 5106.7

WX SUNNY, WEARM W SE 5K-10K

It took us a little over 3 hours to do the 26 miles to Tangier I., but it was worth the side trip. What an interesting Island. Tangier is the crab capital on the Chesapeake Bay. It is home to about 500 year round residents and is about 1 by 3 miles (www.tangierhistorymuseum.org). The prominent family names are Pruitt, Parks, and Crockett, and the residents have a unique accent thought to be directly descended from early Elizabethan-era settlers. We arrived at Park’s Marina around 12:30 to be met at the dock by owner Milton Parks all dressed up in his Sunday best Church clothes. No kidding, it was hot out, but he had just come from church and there he was on the dock with a suit and tie and polished shoes. Milton is a character. He is 80 years young, and was a crabber for 60 years. He was the number one crabber on the whole bay for a number of years and is very interesting to talk with. He was born on the island, lived there his whole life, and raised 3 sons and 2 daughters there. One daughter is the islands visiting physician, and the other has a PhD in psychiatry. We were fortunate to be there on Memorial Day as the Island held its Memorial Day service. It was a moving ceremony attended by many of the island’s 500 residents. The main mode of transportation on the island is golf cart, and the town was jammed packed with them. The streets are very narrow, probably wide enough for one car, but cars are few and far between. We had lunch at the Fisherman’s Rest and it was excellent. I had a soft shell crab sandwich and Pat had the Crab Cake sandwich. It just so happened that the lady who makes all the crab cakes was sitting at the table next to us, it was her day off. It is just amazing how everything here revolves around crabs. After lunch we took a tour of the island in a golf cart, attended the Memorial Day service, and then went to thir museum.