Sunday May 11, 2025
We left Onancock for a 2 hour ride over to Tangier Island which is in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, VA.
Accessible only by boat or small aircraft, Tangier is home to fewer than 400 residents, most of whom are descendants of English settlers who arrived in the 1600s.
They say their distinct accent, with traces of Elizabethan English, is immediately noticeable and often referred to as one of the most unique dialects in America, however Jeff and I really didn’t notice that. Trust me, I was listening for it!
Families have lived here for generations—many still working as watermen harvesting the Bay’s iconic blue crab.
They have a school here for pre K-12th grade and had one senior this year.
We took an island tour on a golf cart to see what we could while we were there. The people there are very friendly and offer to do anything to help.
There were a few restaurants but only one was open when we were there. Their season doesn’t start until Memorial Day for tourism. We ate at that restaurant (Lorraine’s Seafood). Due to it being Mother’s Day it was very busy. We had shrimp and cream of crab soup and of course French fries for Jeff. It was very good.
The sad thing is the Island is sinking. It has lost over 60% of its landmass since 1850. Erosion, rising sea levels, and frequent storms have battered its shores, and many experts predict the island could be uninhabitable within the next few decades without serious intervention.
It was an interesting stop. The people all seemed very happy. We could not live as isolated as they do. They have ferry service that brings their supplies, food and mail from the mainland each day. They told us that sometimes the water freezes in the wintertime and then the coastguard has to come out and break up the ice so they can get their supplies.
Peaceful night!
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