829 Southdrive

829 Southdrive

A New Jersey state of mind



Friday, September 10, 2010

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.

8 comments:

  1. Waiter, do you serve crabs here?

    Wonderful post. Beautiful pics. Your thoughts on the Sultana and family ties had me (once again) all misty eyed.

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  2. Sultana is the vessel of your soul, imbued with the great man's spirit and passion. There could not be a prouder or more lasting tribute! We honor your respect for her, and your eternal love for him! We miss him like we miss you know who. K

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Great post. Thanks. A few days difference and we might have crossed paths. steve

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  5. Great post. Almost as good as being there - but without the sunburn (or the beer, unfortunately).

    If only those weekends could end by the shore - but there's always that drive back. One childhood memory that I'll always have is falling asleep in the back seat on Sunday nights, waiting in that endless line to get back across the Tacony Palymra Bridge.

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  6. great pictures, great story - very moving. the houses were all so well-cared for! beautiful.

    cheers, my2fish

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  7. I missed this one the first time around. I have severe dry eye syndrome – but not at this moment, for some reason.

    Great post.

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