Eastern Shore Visit

Don't ever think that you can go back to somewhere you'd been

40 years ago and have your experience match the memories that

you've been carrying around with you that entire time.  Nine times

out of ten it ain't happening.  Oh well.  

 

Which figure should I pose behind?, my wife asked.

I love you Honey.

After lunch in St. Michaels, we took a drive to Tilghman Island,

an old fishing village just past Knapps Narrows, the channel that

separates the peninsula from Tilghman Island proper. This is the

Skipjack Thomas Clyde, built in Oriole, MD in 1911.

She is one of the last oyster-dredging Skipjacks in operation. 

Gooseneck.

The pushboat was originally used to power the Skipjacks to the oyster

beds.  There, the sails were hoisted and dredging took place under

sail only. Over the decades laws have changed, and dredging can be

 done under power any two days of the week, although one of which

cannot be Sunday.  Sadly, these days, most boats dredge only on the

power-allowed days.  There goes another long-standing tradition. 

Definitely the first photo ever taken from this vantage point.  Ever.

Back in St. Michaels.  'Nuff said.

Lovely scenic Locust Street.

The tasting room at the St. Michaels Winery.  We tasted a

Sangiovese and a Viognier.  I liked them both.  My wife, not

so much.  She had other ideas.  The Eastern Shore Brewing

Company was right around the corner.  Let's go.

Adrian Moritz at Eastern Shore Brewing Company was a great

host and walked us through the tasting flight of his four beers on

tap. They must be good because my wife loved three out of four.

And she's a wine drinker.  I, no surprise, loved them all.

We left with a six-pack of Duck Duck Goose, their rich, dark

porter that was not at all bitter with luscious coffee and

chocolate notes.  If we were not on a schedule, we would have

sat there a lot longer. 

From the upper deck, outside of our room at the Ship Watch Inn,

a beautiful Bed & Breakfast in Chesapeake City, Md.  Located

on the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal, we had tremendous views

of the canal and the goings-on that such a view will afford. 

This tug and barge went by, and I couldn't help

thinking of a couple people.

Chestertown backyard. 

Ship's Boat of the Schooner Sultana.  It was named after a

dedicated volunteer who put every ounce of passion he had

into the schooner.  For a few moments, I was speechless.

Captain's quarters.  Due to the cooler weather, the AC had been

turned off and the windows opened. 

One of four swivel guns that Dad held so dear. These are hardly

guns;  instead they are mini cannons.  Not much arm-twisting was

needed to have him fire these things.  His powderhorn was always

full and an audience was not hard to find. 

The Sultana Company will be dropping the mast this winter to inspect

and repair it if necessary.  Earlier this summer, the shrouds were

inspected and the question arose as to whether or not they should be

re-served during that time. It was deemed that after ten years, the

pitch on the shrouds was still in good shape and that the job could

wait. Testament to the person that served those shrouds in the

beginning.  Never a half-assed job.  Ever. Too much pride.   

Gorgeous day.

Sultana with a bunch of schoolkids leaves the pier for a couple

hours of education and just plain fun.  That's the main mission

of this ship, and they fulfill it every day of the year.

I got choked up as I watched her pull away from the pier.

There's more of my fiber within that ship than I will ever

probably realize.  But every time I visit, it will become a

bit more clear, I'm sure.