Can you say that three times, real fast? The river is downstream from Washington DC; beginning at the Chesapeake Bay, the river runs a total of 195 miles with a plethora of beautiful homes along the shore. The name may be very familiar if you love oysters!
Urbanna, VA
Exhale and Tonto’s Reward stopped for one night in Urbanna, or “City of Anne”, named after Great Britain’s Queen Anne. Year round population as of 2000 = 543 persons :-)
We stayed at Urbby Boatyard and Marina – once 4 neighboring marinas, it has since merged into one colossal marina, covering 7 acres and offering 172 wet slips. Owned and operated by Andy and Amy Anderson it was a wonderful spot. Boater’s Tip: We highly recommend you stay there! Check it out.
The full-service marina now includes a phenomenal New York deli with the freshest ingredients imaginable. I suggest you order the Hot Pastrami or my favorite, the Rueben; you won’t be disappointed!
Exhale was tied up at the one end of the marina, adjacent to the bridge, on a floating dock. Insuring lots of extra steps for all of us, Tonto’s Reward was berthed at the extreme opposite end.
Boater’s Tip: the adorable town of Urbanna is easy walking distance from the marina. A very walkable little village, this photo is for Ray Houle, who loves trucks and classic stuff.
Here’s one more pair of Watermen Art Project boots, found in Urbanna! I love the authentic grass clippings on the toes of the boots.
Reedville, VA – a quaint fishing town
In 1874 fisherman Capt. Elijah Reed founded the village of Reedville, obviously naming the community after himself. Today Reedville claims to be is one of the major commercial fishing ports in the United States, second to Kodiak, Alaska. Let’s be real. You can’t really compete with Alaska since it produces about 60% of the nation’s commercial fisheries – including salmon, crab, Pacific cod, shrimp, herring, sablefish (black cod), pollock, and one of my personal favorites, halibut. Yum.
Take a look at Gail Bernstein’s blog to learn more!
The wealth generated from the fishing industry supported the construction of several Victorian mansions.
The 1909 Reedville Gables Victorian Mansion is now a lovely bed and breakfast.
Gail Bernstein and I strongly recommend a visit to the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum; if the building is closed don’t leave too quickly, make the time to walkabout (for Heather Rutherford), and enjoy the outdoor exhibits!
And now, a new word (new to me, that is) found on the transom of this tiny boat located at the Fishermen’s Musuem.
Okay, readers, what is a Spat?
You are right, Alisha J, spats are footwear; for some it is also the past tense of spit; and for seafood lovers, it is a mollusc reference; essentially, it’s a baby oyster that has found a place to attach and grow. Here’s the official life cycle of an oyster, from FSU. Cool lesson!
Sorry, Capt Rick, Chitterchats Ice Cream Parlor was closed – open Thursday thru Sunday only.
Small towns have the most beautiful sunsets!
Spring Cove, MD, again
Exhale returned to Spring Cove for one night. The flowers and the grass in this location are stunning, attributed to the rich soil and rainy conditions. No brackish water here!
Cambridge Yacht Basin, Maryland
Founded in 1684 on the beautiful banks of the Choptank River, Cambridge, MD is one of the oldest colonial cities in the nation.
Choptank River Lighthouse
The original lighthouse at the Choptank River Station was built in 1871 in Baltimore. Keep reading – the lighthouse has a unique story to tell.
Tragedy Strikes – Bizarrely, the lighthouse was walloped by ice not once, but twice! The first collision was in 1880, cracking three pilings. The second time, in 1918, 30-foot high ice flows severely compromised the structure, causing it to topple into the raging river a few weeks later.
The freak loss was a tragic natural disaster. During an era of heavy steamboat, sailing and fishing traffic, it was the only manned lighthouse inside the Choptank River. Critical to safe navigation, the lights and fog bells helped to guide ships to Cambridge, and farther up-river to Secretary and Denton.
Unique Collaboration – In 1921, not long after the lighthouse crashed into the Choptank River, officials in Maryland reached out to officials in Virginia, striking a highly unusual agreement – to relocate the 1858 Cherrystone Bar Lighthouse from Cape Charles, VA (click to learn more) to Cambridge.
The VA lighthouse had recently been mothballed and placed in storage, replaced by newer technology – with an automated fog bell. Unfortunately, it was another example of automation replacing a human.
Towed by barge about 100 miles up the Chesapeake, the VA lighthouse was successfully relocated to Choptank River, MD, labeled as the “original site” in the map below.
Fun facts for your Thursday night trivia teams – it was the only lighthouse to be transplanted and re-activated, and, it was the only one commissioned to serve in two states! Did you know that the fog bell in each lighthouse has a different sound pattern, so mariners could navigate in the fog?
Fast forward to modern times, the Cambridge River Lighthouse Society carefully rebuilt the Choptank River Lighthouse at the “replica site” shown in the map above – in celebration of the town’s rich maritime heritage.
The Choptank River Lighthouse replica was completed in 2012.
Now it is a popular museum located at the Choptank Wharf.
For more beautiful photos, click here: Jill Jasuta Photography
Family Feature
Reposting a photo from my Instagram feed – say hello to Juliette, she’s our great granddaughter, also Tony and Alisha’s granddaughter, and of course Pristine Bleu’s beautiful big girl! A statement of fashion at 3 and 3/4, she’s so adorable.
In closing we share this lawn sign, found at the edge of a well manicured lawn in Maryland. You probably know, the official motto of the United States, adopted in 1782, is E Pluribus Unum, translated Out of Many, One. The motto reflects the formation of the United States from the original thirteen colonies, which united to become a single nation. Diversity and unity can coexist. While the nation is comprised of many individual states, it is also one united entity.
The official motto appears on common symbols of the U.S. government, including the Great Seal and the Dollar Bill.
Celebrating Milestones:
Birthday August 10, David Hendry; August 11 Romeo and Ruby
Anniversary August 12, Mike and Sue Gillespie
Next up: St. Michaels; Tyler, David and Jamie Hendry arrive soon!
Exhale on the Water 
Another interesting post. It seems your time on the Chesapeake this summer has been alot of hopping North and South, East and West, exploring all the interesting little rivers, tributaries and towns. How quant. I can’t wait to get up there. I love lighthouses so nice interesting stories and history.
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