We’ve long had a “gnawing” (hunger) to take a “scud” (vacation) to tiny, shrinking Tangier Island, Virginia, smack in the middle of Chesapeake Bay. Inhabited by hardworking watermen since 1686, Tangier has remained fairly isolated—so much so that its 450 residents speak in a way that Queen Elizabeth I might recognize. (Click for video):

We just had to hear it for ourselves. (And taste the best Chesapeake crab cakes!) So when Rick Wiebush of Cross Currents Sea Kayaking posted the 6/17-6/19 trip, we were “happy as larks” (Tangier-speak for thrilled) to paddle along.

Alex boards the Crisfield, Maryland ferry to Tangier Island

In case you didn’t know, crabs are king

Alex ponders the ins and outs of crab pots

A fresh catch

Chesapeake crabs, next seen on your NYC dinner plate

Watching our step, we heaved our yaks up onto the top deck of the Crisfield ferry

The U.S. mail, en route to Tangier

Approaching Tangier by ferry

Town landing

Tangier Island post office

Tangier is accessible only by boat or plane. And once you’re here, it’s a golf cart, bike or your own two feet.

This makes us laugh—just like everyone who lives here!

A typical mode of transportation around here.

Alex watches the traffic go by on a wild Saturday night

Walking to our lodgings at Hilda Crockett’s, we couldn’t help but notice the graves in the yards of families’ homes. This isn’t unusual at all, to folks familiar with the Eastern Shore of Virginia (and other parts of the Chesapeake region). Long before there were public cemeteries, the dead were buried in family plots located on a patch of high ground somewhere on the farm, usually not far from, or in view, of the main house.  Tangier differs from the mainland only in being much smaller and having less land available—so this is just a “mini” version of a custom you’ll find around the South.

Stay tuned for more posts about Tangier Island. 🙂 🙂