Clamming

Middle Sister

I'm only a month late, but here are more photos from our July 4 

clamming expedition on the East River.

Ronnie

Middle Sister and her fabulously wonderful boyfriend Ronnie did all the hard work of raking for clams while I took on the arduous task of supervising from the comfort of the boat.

If you've never been clamming before--and I hadn't--you pull the rakes through the mud and sand until something bites your ankle you hear something hard hit the rake.

Then you carefully pull the rake up and toss the tasty morsel into this ingenious contraption of a basket that floats courtesy of an inner tube.

Although I forget exactly how many we they caught, there was enough for several dinners.

And they were gooooooooooood.

There are several very serious reasons why I've been negligent in  every aspect of my life my blogging duties.  My mother was hospitalized for a week for a-fib.  They finally sent her home and she's resting until she can get back to see her specialist in a few weeks.  In the interim, a 3-hour surgery for my father ended up being 8 hours when the surgeon nicked his kidney and a vein, causing massive bleeding.  After being hospitalized for a week and then sent to a rehabilitation facility, he had to return to the hospital for a second surgery in the same place due to massive infection.  Right now, my sisters and I are taking turns spending the days and nights with him, because the staff in charge of his care at the hospital can't seem to keep the story straight, there are so many things to monitor.  His hospital is an hour away, so juggling regular duties, work and his caretaking have been a challenge to say the least.

Right now, he's supposed to be in the hospital for several more days before returning to the rehab facility in Gloucester for several weeks.  He's less than happy about this, so in addition to worrying about his physical state, we have to be strong and positive for him.

Hopefully he'll start to get stronger soon, but in the mean time I'll likely be absent from here until some aspect of life returns to quasi-normal.

I hope all is well in your world.

 

Mill Lane

This rusty rustic building lives at the end of Mill Lane in Bohannon.

I was able to take its picture on a July 4 boating adventure that included Middle Sister and an afternoon of clamming.  

After clamming, we enjoyed a family gathering that included food, food, food and more food. Followed by food.

Then we watched the wonderful local fireworks display from another boat on Stutts Creek.

A good time was had by all.

Pictures of the clamming adventure will be forthcoming.

Happy July.

Tour de Chesapeake 2017

These pictures, taken in 2012 when everything was lush and green, help illustrate how quiet, peaceful, scenic and flat our county's roads are.

Flat and quiet roads are important when you're training for a half-marathon, as I was when I took these.

Flat and quiet--and scenic-- are also important when you're bicycling.

Once a year, Mathews County holds a major bicycling event, the Tour de Chesapeake.  

Not to be confused in any way with the highly competitive Tour de France, our tour involves a day of leisurely cycling through scenes such as these, and includes lots of activities for avid and casual cyclists, friends and family.

Friday night there's an opportunity to cruise the beautiful East River and learn something about our local history.  Saturday morning the 101 miles of routes that cover Mobjack, Gwynns Island, Bethel Beach and New Point Comfort will open to bicyclists.  Chesapeake Bay Paddling will offer kayak and paddle board trials; the Bay School will host an art show and sale, and the weekend of fun culminates with a seafood feast and party at Williams Wharf--my favorite part of the whole weekend.

Open to the public and overlooking the beautiful East River, the Party at the Wharf includes live entertainment from Lynda Smith and 7th Street--a fabulous band that can coax even the most awkward dancer out on the dance floor.  (Ask me how I know. My middle name is Awkward. My other middle name is Uncoordinated.  But the music beckons!)

This year's weekend of fun and festivities will be on May 20th.  If you live here and are interested in volunteering, if you wish to be a sponsor, or if you wish to participate and need more information, contact the event director at Email:  tourdechesapeake@gmail.com.

Check out the Mathews County Visitor and Information Center and the Tour de Chesapeake websites for more details.

I'll be volunteering at this event and will be the awkward one on the dance floor Saturday night, so I hope to see you there!

Sailboat

This sailboat was resting on the East River near Williams Wharf Saturday morning when I went down there for a run.

The clouds in the overcast skies blocked the heat of the sun creating almost perfect running conditions.

Friday they let us off work three hours early.  I came home and took a two-hour nap, I was so exhausted. After a good night's sleep Friday night, Saturday morning's run was just what the doctor ordered.

Later that evening, Baby Sis came in to town and we went kayaking--also what the doctor ordered.

Sunday a group of friends and their children came over for boating and a cookout.  Today I am back to being exhausted but grateful for the fun weekend and a break from commuting and work.

Also, even though it feels like it should be June because where did the summer go, September has arrived.

School starts this week.  There's an away cross country  meet on Wednesday.  We're now officially tethered to the school and sports calendar.

Sigh.

Williams Wharf

These were taken a week or so ago from Williams Wharf.

It was one of those rare calm mornings when there wasn't even a ripple on the East River.

This old railway is so photogenic.

I parked here this particular morning to go for a jog.

Williams Wharf Road is exactly a mile from end to end, so it's easy to keep track of your distance. Speaking of distance, Baby Sis and I are scheduled to run 13.1 miles in Nashville a week from Saturday.  I can tell you that I've never been less prepared for a half marathon in my life, but that's OK.

If I have to walk, I'll walk.


Click here for more information on Williams Wharf, which is also the home of the Mathews High School crew teams.

More From Williams Wharf

Have a fantastic weekend.

Much

I like how the streak in the sky left by the jet sort of
mirrors the walkway from the dock to dry land.
Then again, I like Scrapple, so pay no attention to me.

Last Friday was the first day I could leave my son 

home alone without worrying.  

(Much.)

Although still suffering from a major sleep deficit

dating back to 2001 ,

I forced myself to leave the house

and headed down to Williams Wharf Road 

for some exercise.

(Much needed.)

In addition to everything else going on, 

there's this little thing called a half marathon

I've signed up for. In November.

I've not really practiced or run here lately.

(At all.  Much.)

This particular day, I ran eight miles. 

For the first time in my life.

Only five point one more to go before I reach

the distance of the half marathon!

(Too much.)

If this is my biggest worry, I'm happy. 

Thrilled even.

(Very much so.)

Evidently, we are in for some nasty weather today.  A text from some weather service/alert system mentioned "tornadic activity", which makes me wonder why I've never seen the word "tornadic"  appreciate these shots of calm, sunny days all the more.  

(Much like how The Bad makes you appreciate The Good in life.)

(CBW's attempts at drawing philosophical conclusions from random life events and photographs are now very much coming to a close. Thank you for your patience.)

Scenes from East River

These are a few miscellaneous shots taken from Williams Wharf.

Unrelated to Williams Wharf or the East River, I signed up for my first 10K yesterday.

The fact that I am only currently running five miles and 10K = 6.2 miles does not bother me.

Not yet anyway.

Click here for information on the race which is in Richmond at the end of March.  

I'll be the one with the crab hat running at a snail's pace.

Happy February.