Take the Spider to the Nun

Reedville: 4 Aug 10

Some people have ordinary gazebos, others don't.....

The entrance to Great Wicomico River is guarded by a 42’ “red spider” surrounded by shallow water and thickets of oyster stakes.  Welcome to the oyster shores  and deep water of our first overnight anchorage, Cockrell Creek.  Before you have visions of lovely fat juicy oysters, Reedville, now a quiet fishing hamlet, is home to the only (and remaining) menhaden processing plant – a vast steaming and smelly cauldron; worthy of a supporting role in any of Shakespeare’s plays.

Back at the Plant, things were a little quiet

Menhaden are also called alewives, bunkers or pogies.  Any the wiser?  Will “little oily fish” do then?  Reedville was founded in 1873 by Elijah Wood who recognised the potential of these little fishies and set up what was to become a huge and profitable industry.  The town itself is festooned with Victorian mansions set between fisherman’s cottages, from those prosperous days. 

Purse boats on either side of mother 

Meanwhile, back at the plant, huge, industrial-gray mother ships line sparse docks, peeping out behind a backdrop of steam, smoke and smell.  Spotter planes are used to make a fix on schools of menhaden.  The mother ship, bearing 2 small purse boats, moves to the identified location.  These purse boats then encircle the school (called purse-seining) and bring it in for ummm, “cooking”.  

Heading home with the days catch

Yes, they were “cooking” when we arrived and despite choosing a secluded anchorage upwind of the factory, it became downwind right on dinner-time.  There is nothing more enhancing to the gentle waft of cooking pizza than breathing in gasps of piquant air akin to rotting hops and out-of-date whiskers (cat food).  Yum, hand me another pizza slice, please.

From: Deltaville, VA  Lat/Long: 37 32N  76 19W  Date/Time: 4/8/10: 1300

To: Reedville, MD  Lat/Long: 37 50N  76 16W Date/Time: 4/8/10: 1800

Time Taken: 26nm (5hrs)  Distance (this year): 26nm (5hrs)

Distance Total (since 2008): 3666nm  (704hrs)   Fastest Speed: 6kts**

Weather: Winds S  5-10kts; Seas 1-2ft;

(** Mostly motoring with a little sail at times; avg 5-6kts)