Champ III: Going Places

The adventure starts here.

Hampton Public Piers, Hampton, VA to Parks Marina, Tangier, VA — May 20, 2014

01-Leaving-Hampton-Public-Piers
01-Leaving-Hampton-Public-Piers
02-Leaving-Hampton-Public-Piers
02-Leaving-Hampton-Public-Piers
03-Just-A-Ton-Of-Sailboats-In-Hampton
03-Just-A-Ton-Of-Sailboats-In-Hampton
04-Another-Ton-Of-Sailboats-In-Hampton
04-Another-Ton-Of-Sailboats-In-Hampton
05-Trying-To-Keep-The-Crew-Satisified
05-Trying-To-Keep-The-Crew-Satisified
06-Champ-III-At-Parks-Marina-In-Tangiers-VA
06-Champ-III-At-Parks-Marina-In-Tangiers-VA
07-Eastern-Channel-Into-Tangiers-VA
07-Eastern-Channel-Into-Tangiers-VA
08-Mr-Parks-Crabber-Boat
08-Mr-Parks-Crabber-Boat
09-Looking-Toward-Town-On-Tangiers-Island
09-Looking-Toward-Town-On-Tangiers-Island
10-Tangiers-Island-Main-Street-With-2-Restaurants-and-Grocery-Store
10-Tangiers-Island-Main-Street-With-2-Restaurants-and-Grocery-Store
11-Still-On-THe-Main-Street-Near-The-Historical-Museum-And-Church
11-Still-On-THe-Main-Street-Near-The-Historical-Museum-And-Church
13-Spankys-Makes-Good-Shakes-And-Candy-Was-Invited-In
13-Spankys-Makes-Good-Shakes-And-Candy-Was-Invited-In
14-Historical-Marker-About-The-Early-Years-Of-Tangiers
14-Historical-Marker-About-The-Early-Years-Of-Tangiers
15-Main-Street-With-Cemetery-On-Right-Special-Watertight-Covers-Over-Graves
15-Main-Street-With-Cemetery-On-Right-Special-Watertight-Covers-Over-Graves
15-Tangiers-Fire-Station
15-Tangiers-Fire-Station
16-The-Sign-Says-It-All
16-The-Sign-Says-It-All
18-Parks-Marina-In-Tangiers-Set-Among-The-Crabber-Shacks
18-Parks-Marina-In-Tangiers-Set-Among-The-Crabber-Shacks
18-Early-Evening-On-The-Western-Channel-Into-Tangiers
18-Early-Evening-On-The-Western-Channel-Into-Tangiers
19-Sunset-Over-The-Chesapeake-Bay-At-Tangiers
19-Sunset-Over-The-Chesapeake-Bay-At-Tangiers

The wind forecast was good with the winds having switched to the southwest overnight.  Well once we exited the river onto the Chesapeake Bay the winds were really out of the west and we were rolling with the 2’ to 3’ waves.  We picked up the speed some and that helped but it was not the most comfortable ride. The sky was clear and the sun was out even though they were predicting a chance of rain.

There was a lot of chatter on the radio regarding Navy Ship exercises and maintaining a clear zone around the ship. Also had one broadcast where they were doing “demolition exercises”, and wanted a 2 mile clear zone.  The demolition exercise (whatever that was) was out on the Atlantic at least 15 miles south of us.

We saw several Ships/freighters anchored out in the Chesapeake Bay on the East Side. They all looked like they were empty and we never got within a couple of miles of them. They were probably “salties” waiting for a cargo at one of the ports.

I called Parks Marina on the mobile phone and got an answering machine so I left a message for Mr. Parks and figured he would call back. As we approached Tangiers Island it is a low lying Island that is probably no more than 6’ above high tide.  We could see a lot of buildings and a water tower. The main channel into the island area cuts right thru the center from east to west.  We came in the east side because I thought the Island would give us some protection from the wind but thankfully the wind had subsided to almost nothing as we approached. The channel was well marked and about 6’ to 7’ deep at the shallowest points and we were coming in about an hour after low tide.

It is quite an experience to see Tangiers.  All the shoreline along the channel is lined with docks and fishing boats.  The men go out fishing for crabs and they are called Watermen. We saw lots of boats out on the Bay and several followed us into the harbor.

I tried raising the Marina on 16/72 but with no success.  Another boat came on and said that Mr Parks goes not answer the phone or the radio. We proceeded in and found the marina.  We pulled alongside one of the larger docks and tied up. The impression you get is an old, old fishing village. The marina had a few boats in the slips.

We talked with a couple who were on a boat at the marina and they indicated that Mr. Parks was in the hospital.  He had had a pacemaker installed a while back and an infection had developed. The people who were there the previous night had left checks with them and they were leaving in the morning. I gave them a check for our dockage, $35.00 and one other boat that had come in also gave them a check. Later in the afternoon a woman came by saying she was related to Mr. Parks and I told her the one of the other couples had the dockage fees. She thanked us and went over to see them.

Candy and I walked thru the town.  It has its own Post Office, Historical Museum, Fire Station, grocery store and probably 5 restaurants. The main road is probably one lane wide and all the houses are wood framed and not very large.  I took some pictures to try and give you a flavor of Tangiers. The main mode of transportation is electric golf cart although I did see 3 pickups and 1 car. You can rent a golf cart or bicycle. The island is absolutely flat.  If there is a big blow the place must be underwater.

2 Ferries come over each day with tourists, from Reedville and Crisfield.  The ferries leave at 5:00 and everything closes up for the night.  Some of the gift shops are only open Friday and Saturdays. One of the reviews I saw said there were more dead people here that living ones and the settlement dates back to the early 1800’s. There are graves all over the place and maybe the comment is true.

I thought it was a nice place with a lot of character. Certainly different than some of the “big city” marinas we have visited.  I would come back here again.