Tangier VA to Smith Island MD


Such a long journey today.   Almost 15 miles.  We actually moved about four islands North.  

This required crossing the Maryland State Line.   This is the only place on the loop where we could see the state line while navigating.  They put buoys all down the state line.   My guess is it has something to do with fishing and crabbing laws.  Just a guess. 

Smith Island is the location of the very first Methodist Church camp meeting (not the first Methodist Church).  They still do them every summer since 1887..   

Smith Island was settled in the 1600s and some of the same families still live here.  This place feels a lot like Beaver Island.  Same accents, family cultures, isolated feel and friendly people.  People speak with an old English / Irish brogue.   (Or very similar). It's a bit like visiting Scotland with the Gaelic that is somewhat intelligible.  

The bay was pretty smooth today.  It's supposed to rain tonight so we are at a dock hosted by a family that moved here about three years ago and is rebuilding the wharf, house etc.   No power on the docks (yet) but they are working on it.   Government is a significant obstacle here.  They won't let them dredge.  They make it difficult to get approvals to do anything.  Government is a tremendous disincentive to those that work hard and want to accomplish something.  (Typical, even where we live).  

As you can see getting in here was technical.  Issue free though, and local people helped us find a dock where we could tie up (for a fee, of course).  Either way we have a nice almost new dock to unload bikes and explore.  

We had lunch at the Harbour Side Grocery (which is also the restaurant) amid locals hanging out, playing dominoes etc.  Family folk.   The waitresses' daughter (2-3) came over to visit us many times while we waited for our food.  Cutie.  Made us miss our little Ki guy.   

The water levels are a problem here too...

We went for a bike ride.  Most of the roads have water on them at high tide.  That would get old quickly.  

But anything can be overcome.... With cake.  The Smith Island Cake is the official dessert of Maryland.   So we had to buy one.  (Ok, two half cakes because we wanted variety).

Banana creme.   

And the original chocolate with yellow cake.
.
Yum.    Katie says it's too sweet.  That's ok I'll eat it ....

Again ... Just under 15 miles to get here today ..   but a new state!   Hello Maryland!  
Gorgeous sunset tonight.  But the no-see-ems are out.  They chew you up and will drive you insane.  Even after you are inside the bites continue to make you swat at yourself.  







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