More on our trip to Tangier Island, Virginia, 6/17-19. In our previous post, we described Tangier as shrinking. Well, the better word is “sinking.” In an odd we-were-just-there coincidence, the New York Times on 7/10/16 published a fascinating article about Tangier’s predicament, which according to David Schulte, marine biologist with the US Army Corps of Engineers, is this: The island may have only 50 years left, and its residents are likely to become some of the first climate-change refugees in the United States.

Tossing our boats over the wall of the town dock…

…much to the amusement of the local watermen
Tangier has lost two thirds of its landmass since 1850. And it’s not alone: Over the past four centuries, more than 500 islands have disappeared from the [Chesapeake] bay, about 40 of them once inhabited. Most of Tangier Island, which consists of several long sandy ridges connected by footbridges and amounts to a little over a square mile, is approximately four or five feet above sea level.
Yet, there remains this beautiful fact: The low elevations and the quiet, bird-filled wetlands and tidal creeks produce a sense of living with the water, rather than beside it. (Click for video.)

Paddling what’s left of the Tangier region called “Uppards”

Alex in the “zipper,” recently a dry sandy hook
Jean,
These are beautiful! What amazing shots!
I am going to Italy tomorrow until the 2nd of August. Solo. Hopefully it will be an adventure.
Rome, Venice, Florence and then the Amalfi Coast. Taking the high speed trains in between.
Hopefully, my clothes will fit when I return. The food is so amazing.
Speak with you when I return!
Love, Cheri
Some crazy currents in that video…it’s sad that the island is sinking (or the water’s rising) but inevitable, I guess. Love the dock with the old guys…
Yes, we really like the old-timers on the dock. Their day starts around 3 a.m., so they’d assume we were also wrapping up when we came down for breakfast at 7!