Tangier Island - Chesapeake Bay

[Maule Driver]

Well, we finally made it to Tangier Island. A great place to visit in a
plane - I'm not sure I'd want to take the ferry there unless I had some
real business out there.

It's just a dry spot in the middle of the estuary that's big enough for
a small town. I guess it's been inhabited since the 17th Century and
I'm sure some people can trace their family history back a looooonnng
way. As all the blurbs say, they have their own accent or perhaps dialect.

The main streets (2) are wide enough for 1 car but it's hard to find
any. It's golf carts and bicycles. Every third house (small) seems to
have a family graveyard out front. If you follow any alley 50 yards,
you are in the marshes. The people are friendly but they know you are
just visiting. There are a few small B&Bs scattered around, a few
restaurants too. All small, homey and full of crab.

A very enjoyable day trip with no prep or expectations. We took a young
cousin out, landed, rode around on the airport bikes and then, the best
part, took a few circles in the air to fully appreciate just how small
and remote this place is (for the east coast anyway).

The only surprise was the cashier at the restaurant telling us we were
the first pilots in that weekend!! Then she said, "normally we get up
to 1 hundred". First, 100 air visitors would tip the place over.
Second, I couldn't thing of anything that would have kept pilots out
yesterday (Father's day).

Do any of you visit the island when there are more than a half dozen
planes visiting?

[Dudley Henriques]

I've been in there twice, but it was many years ago. I remember having some
great Maryland crab in a little restaurant fairly close to the strip.
DH
"Maule Driver" > wrote in message
om...
> Well, we finally made it to Tangier Island. A great place to visit in a
> plane - I'm not sure I'd want to take the ferry there unless I had some
> real business out there.
>
> It's just a dry spot in the middle of the estuary that's big enough for a
> small town. I guess it's been inhabited since the 17th Century and I'm
> sure some people can trace their family history back a looooonnng way. As
> all the blurbs say, they have their own accent or perhaps dialect.
>
> The main streets (2) are wide enough for 1 car but it's hard to find any.
> It's golf carts and bicycles. Every third house (small) seems to have a
> family graveyard out front. If you follow any alley 50 yards, you are in
> the marshes. The people are friendly but they know you are just visiting.
> There are a few small B&Bs scattered around, a few restaurants too. All
> small, homey and full of crab.
>
> A very enjoyable day trip with no prep or expectations. We took a young
> cousin out, landed, rode around on the airport bikes and then, the best
> part, took a few circles in the air to fully appreciate just how small and
> remote this place is (for the east coast anyway).
>
> The only surprise was the cashier at the restaurant telling us we were the
> first pilots in that weekend!! Then she said, "normally we get up to 1
> hundred". First, 100 air visitors would tip the place over. Second, I
> couldn't thing of anything that would have kept pilots out yesterday
> (Father's day).
>
> Do any of you visit the island when there are more than a half dozen
> planes visiting?

[Maule Driver]

I'm sure it hasn't changed much. We had some crab cakes and soft shells
- all quite good and presumably local. I think the crab/people ratio is
pretty high.

From what I know of the crab business, this may be the only place on
the bay where you are more likely to get Chesapeake crabs over gulf
crabs. Crabbing has become like farming... in fact, I guess it is farming.

Dudley Henriques wrote:
> I've been in there twice, but it was many years ago. I remember having some
> great Maryland crab in a little restaurant fairly close to the strip.
> DH
> "Maule Driver" > wrote in message
> om...
>
>>Well, we finally made it to Tangier Island. A great place to visit in a
>>plane - I'm not sure I'd want to take the ferry there unless I had some
>>real business out there.
>>
>>It's just a dry spot in the middle of the estuary that's big enough for a
>>small town. I guess it's been inhabited since the 17th Century and I'm
>>sure some people can trace their family history back a looooonnng way. As
>>all the blurbs say, they have their own accent or perhaps dialect.
>>
>>The main streets (2) are wide enough for 1 car but it's hard to find any.
>>It's golf carts and bicycles. Every third house (small) seems to have a
>>family graveyard out front. If you follow any alley 50 yards, you are in
>>the marshes. The people are friendly but they know you are just visiting.
>>There are a few small B&Bs scattered around, a few restaurants too. All
>>small, homey and full of crab.
>>
>>A very enjoyable day trip with no prep or expectations. We took a young
>>cousin out, landed, rode around on the airport bikes and then, the best
>>part, took a few circles in the air to fully appreciate just how small and
>>remote this place is (for the east coast anyway).
>>
>>The only surprise was the cashier at the restaurant telling us we were the
>>first pilots in that weekend!! Then she said, "normally we get up to 1
>>hundred". First, 100 air visitors would tip the place over. Second, I
>>couldn't thing of anything that would have kept pilots out yesterday
>>(Father's day).
>>
>>Do any of you visit the island when there are more than a half dozen
>>planes visiting?
>
>
>

[Michelle P]

Been there 10 or so times. Mostly an empty ramp sometimes nearly full.
Michelle

[Dudley Henriques]

I'm not sure, but I think the crab industry took a hit down that way and
Tangier would have been part of that. I hope it's gotten better for them. I
know those crab were mighty tasty...although I have to admit to feeling
sorry for the buggers making all that noise inside that big 55 gal drum of
boiling water they dumped them in to cook um in while I stood there with my
nut cracker and little wooden hammer waiting for the noise to stop !!!. :-))
DH

"Maule Driver" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm sure it hasn't changed much. We had some crab cakes and soft shells -
> all quite good and presumably local. I think the crab/people ratio is
> pretty high.
>
> From what I know of the crab business, this may be the only place on the
> bay where you are more likely to get Chesapeake crabs over gulf crabs.
> Crabbing has become like farming... in fact, I guess it is farming.
>
> Dudley Henriques wrote:
>> I've been in there twice, but it was many years ago. I remember having
>> some great Maryland crab in a little restaurant fairly close to the
>> strip.
>> DH
>> "Maule Driver" > wrote in message
>> om...
>>
>>>Well, we finally made it to Tangier Island. A great place to visit in a
>>>plane - I'm not sure I'd want to take the ferry there unless I had some
>>>real business out there.
>>>
>>>It's just a dry spot in the middle of the estuary that's big enough for a
>>>small town. I guess it's been inhabited since the 17th Century and I'm
>>>sure some people can trace their family history back a looooonnng way.
>>>As all the blurbs say, they have their own accent or perhaps dialect.
>>>
>>>The main streets (2) are wide enough for 1 car but it's hard to find any.
>>>It's golf carts and bicycles. Every third house (small) seems to have a
>>>family graveyard out front. If you follow any alley 50 yards, you are in
>>>the marshes. The people are friendly but they know you are just
>>>visiting. There are a few small B&Bs scattered around, a few restaurants
>>>too. All small, homey and full of crab.
>>>
>>>A very enjoyable day trip with no prep or expectations. We took a young
>>>cousin out, landed, rode around on the airport bikes and then, the best
>>>part, took a few circles in the air to fully appreciate just how small
>>>and remote this place is (for the east coast anyway).
>>>
>>>The only surprise was the cashier at the restaurant telling us we were
>>>the first pilots in that weekend!! Then she said, "normally we get up to
>>>1 hundred". First, 100 air visitors would tip the place over. Second, I
>>>couldn't thing of anything that would have kept pilots out yesterday
>>>(Father's day).
>>>
>>>Do any of you visit the island when there are more than a half dozen
>>>planes visiting?
>>
>>

[Morgans]

"Dudley Henriques" <dhenriques@noware .net> wrote

> I have to admit to feeling
> sorry for the buggers making all that noise inside that big 55 gal drum of
> boiling water they dumped them in to cook um in while I stood there with
>my nut cracker and little wooden hammer waiting for the noise to stop !!!.
:-))

I -do- know what you mean! <g>

I have no problem with eating previously living things, but the thought of
the boiling water *almost* puts me over the edge. I _do_ find myself at
the edge of the table, when all is said and done! <g>
--
Jim in NC

[Brad Zeigler]

"Maule Driver" > wrote in message
om...
> Well, we finally made it to Tangier Island. A great place to visit in a
> plane - I'm not sure I'd want to take the ferry there unless I had some
> real business out there.
>
> It's just a dry spot in the middle of the estuary that's big enough for a
> small town. I guess it's been inhabited since the 17th Century and I'm
> sure some people can trace their family history back a looooonnng way. As
> all the blurbs say, they have their own accent or perhaps dialect.
>
> The main streets (2) are wide enough for 1 car but it's hard to find any.
> It's golf carts and bicycles. Every third house (small) seems to have a
> family graveyard out front. If you follow any alley 50 yards, you are in
> the marshes. The people are friendly but they know you are just visiting.
> There are a few small B&Bs scattered around, a few restaurants too. All
> small, homey and full of crab.
>
> A very enjoyable day trip with no prep or expectations. We took a young
> cousin out, landed, rode around on the airport bikes and then, the best
> part, took a few circles in the air to fully appreciate just how small and
> remote this place is (for the east coast anyway).
>
> The only surprise was the cashier at the restaurant telling us we were the
> first pilots in that weekend!! Then she said, "normally we get up to 1
> hundred". First, 100 air visitors would tip the place over. Second, I
> couldn't thing of anything that would have kept pilots out yesterday
> (Father's day).
>
> Do any of you visit the island when there are more than a half dozen
> planes visiting?


I just checked my logbook...I've flown in 12 times over the last 10 years.
I've also sailed their a half a dozen times as well. Things haven't changed
too much...some of the resturants take credit cards and new lighthouse
trashcans have been placed throughout the island. I've always found Tangier
to be a facinating place to visit for the day. More often than not, I've
found myself heading over to Crisfield for dinner. It's just another 15nm
or so and with an all-you-can-eat crab resturant and a lighted runway, you
can wrap up the day nicely.

[DonSideB]

On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 21:39:50 GMT, Maule Driver
> wrote:

>Well, we finally made it to Tangier Island. A great place to visit in a
>plane - I'm not sure I'd want to take the ferry there unless I had some
>real business out there.

Does it still have the big hump in the runway 1/3 of the way from the
north end? What about the guy in the little shack collecting the $3
landing fee?

[Maule Driver]

The big hump? I probably stopped before reaching it. Clear approach,
wind down the runway, Maule....

$3!!! He charged me $5. At least that's what he asked for. Then after
dropping off the bikes, my wife kept reminding to go back and pay the
rental. I think he was too embarrassed to ask since none of them were
in decent working order.

He could have asked for $25 and I wouldn't have minded. Just glad to
have an interesting aviation destination when I needed one.

DonSideB wrote:
> On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 21:39:50 GMT, Maule Driver
> > wrote:
>
>
>>Well, we finally made it to Tangier Island. A great place to visit in a
>>plane - I'm not sure I'd want to take the ferry there unless I had some
>>real business out there.
>
>
> Does it still have the big hump in the runway 1/3 of the way from the
> north end? What about the guy in the little shack collecting the $3
> landing fee?
>
>
>

[Maule Driver]

Yep. Needed the credit card thing. My mate kept saying how cute the
trashcans were but I counldn't figure out what she was talking about at
first.

Where's Crisfield? We drop into Kentmorr sometimes for crabs. Grass,
Maule, small beach, and ironically got to know the former owner thru
other circles. Small world!

Going to go thru there this weekend on the way to Saratoga. Will do
Kentmorr in one direction or the other... any other suggestions?

Brad Zeigler wrote:
> I just checked my logbook...I've flown in 12 times over the last 10 years.
> I've also sailed their a half a dozen times as well. Things haven't changed
> too much...some of the resturants take credit cards and new lighthouse
> trashcans have been placed throughout the island. I've always found Tangier
> to be a facinating place to visit for the day. More often than not, I've
> found myself heading over to Crisfield for dinner. It's just another 15nm
> or so and with an all-you-can-eat crab resturant and a lighted runway, you
> can wrap up the day nicely.
>
>

[Brad Zeigler]

"DonSideB" > wrote in message
news:1121775439.2fc901dd56de3f32022bd71b0bef6296@t eranews...
> On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 21:39:50 GMT, Maule Driver
> > wrote:
>
>>Well, we finally made it to Tangier Island. A great place to visit in a
>>plane - I'm not sure I'd want to take the ferry there unless I had some
>>real business out there.
>
> Does it still have the big hump in the runway 1/3 of the way from the
> north end?

Several humps. The good news is that the VA Dept of Aviation has approved
funds for a runway resurfacing.

>What about the guy in the little shack collecting the $3
> landing fee?

$5 now.

[Brad Zeigler]

"Maule Driver" > wrote in message
om...
> Yep. Needed the credit card thing. My mate kept saying how cute the
> trashcans were but I counldn't figure out what she was talking about at
> first.
>
> Where's Crisfield? We drop into Kentmorr sometimes for crabs. Grass,
> Maule, small beach, and ironically got to know the former owner thru other
> circles. Small world!

Crisfield is the self-proclaimed Crab capital of the Chesapeake. It's
14.1nm NE of Tangier. It also has a nice 3200 ft grass strip in addition to
the 2500 ft hard surface runway.
http://www.airnav.com/airport/W41

The restaurant I usual go to is Sidestreet. I've found that the owners are
often kind enough to get you to/from the airport.

http://crisfield.com/sidestreet/



> Going to go thru there this weekend on the way to Saratoga. Will do
> Kentmorr in one direction or the other... any other suggestions?
>

[George Patterson]

Maule Driver wrote:
> The big hump? I probably stopped before reaching it. Clear approach,
> wind down the runway, Maule....

I didn't realize it was there, either. I understand that you *really* notice it
on takeoff -- sort of like a hitting a ski jump. I was probably 100' up by that
time.

George Patterson
Why do men's hearts beat faster, knees get weak, throats become dry,
and they think irrationally when a woman wears leather clothing?
Because she smells like a new truck.

[Maule Driver]

Thanks Brad!

Anyone been to Crisfield recently for crabs? Airnav comments suggest
things have changed recently. Wondering if it's a decent fuel and crab
stop (easy ground transport). Will try this weekend if so...

Brad Zeigler wrote:
> Crisfield is the self-proclaimed Crab capital of the Chesapeake. It's
> 14.1nm NE of Tangier. It also has a nice 3200 ft grass strip in addition to
> the 2500 ft hard surface runway.
> http://www.airnav.com/airport/W41
>
> The restaurant I usual go to is Sidestreet. I've found that the owners are
> often kind enough to get you to/from the airport.
>
> http://crisfield.com/sidestreet/
>
>
>
>
>>Going to go thru there this weekend on the way to Saratoga. Will do
>>Kentmorr in one direction or the other... any other suggestions?
>>
>
>
>