August 25, 2012

Equal Time at Gargathy Inlet

Back in July on the morning we were to head home from our mini-vacation, I was able to squeeze in one more kayak adventure.  My destination for this trip was Gargathy Inlet on the Atlantic side of the Eastern Shore, which locals refer to as the Seaside.  Historically Shore folk would also refer to themselves as either Baysiders or Seasiders depending on which side of the peninsula they were from.  My mom's family were Baysiders and my dad's were Seasiders, so I am the product of a mixed marriage (issues with which I am still trying to resolve). Since my last post took place on the Bayside, and since I want to maintain family harmony, this will be my equal time post.

The Seaside of Virginia's Eastern Shore is sheltered by a string of uninhabited (but not always so) barrier islands, most of which are protected in one way or another, primarily through the Nature Conservancy, NASA and the National Park Service.  This area is one of the largest uninterrupted and undeveloped stretches of coastline on the East Coast, and in my mind a national treasure.  Behind the marshes are miles and miles of salt marsh interspersed with lagoons, creeks and small bays generally teeming with life.  Separating the barrier islands are inlets that allow the vast marshes and the Atlantic ocean to exchange water and organisms several times daily.  Gargathy Inlet seperates Metompkin and Assawoman Islands, and the tides and currents here can run strong.  Not being familiar with how all the waterways worked with each other, I was a little unsure as to how I would proceed.  Thank ye gods of the internets for Google Satellite View, it was a big help.

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One of the main reasons that the Nature Conservancy is so active here is due to the birds. This area is an important breeding and feeding grounds for many species, including the Black Skimmer.
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Despite the wonders of nature all around, I was most intrigued with some of the works of man, and woman. There were several vacation homes, more like fishing and hunting shacks, rising on stilts above the marsh. They contrasted with some of the Florida images still rolling around in my brain from a few days earlier.

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The creatures atop this house were two Bald Eagles acting as gargoyles. They flew off before I could get close enough for a good shot.

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This house's roof ridge had a row of metal spikes running the length of it to deter birds, the Boat-Tailed Grackles were not.

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Please bear with me while I end this post politically.  There is considerable interest from one side of the aisle in opening the area just off-shore from here to oil and gas exploration.  This area is a critical link in a very fragile chain, and I have said before just how damned special this part of the planet is to me.  If anything were ever to happen to it because of our seemingly unquenchable thirst for non-renewable energy, I am not sure how I would react, but it won't be pretty.  Just sayin'.

28 comments:

  1. Les I've never been to this area you depict so beautifully with your camera, never the less, I share your concern.

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  2. Couldn't agree with more about how special that area is. And everyone knows its the seasiders who are God's chosen.

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  3. Les, Such beauty and it could be destroyed...That makes me sad.

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  4. It seems just living is political these days. Thanks for showing us this.

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  5. Great photos Les! So close but never taken the time to explore.

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  6. Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures. My wife has been to this area and I hope to go some day with her. As to the oil drilling, I share your sentiments exactly.

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  7. Your pictures are just beautiful. I especially like the ones with all the shells. Is this a place you can get to by car? When I was growing up you could find nice shells at Buckroe Beach over in Hampton, but not now. It's all very sad.

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  8. I appreciate that you realize just how special this all is...and that it should be left that way.

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  9. KS,
    The whole are is unique, but time is catching up with the Shore. You should see it before it gets ruined.

    Chris,
    Thank you for that comment, my tribe appreciates it.

    Gail,
    Let's hope it does not come to pass. Fortunately wind farms are also an option.

    James,
    I could not agree more about today's air. Unfortunately things don't really change on that front after the elections are over, they just get temporarily quieter.

    Les

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  10. Alan,
    You should go, particularly with your birding skills.

    Jason,
    You are welcome, and you should pay a visit.

    Cathy,
    No you can not get here by car, nor to any of the other islands, except for Assateague, which is part of the National Seashore program. You can get there easily by car.

    Loree,
    I think its in my DNA, so I have not choice but to feel special about it.

    Les

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  11. Les,
    Enjoyed the Black Skimmer photos, aren't they something to watch. The houses in a marshes, seems a matter of time before they just sink into the marsh.

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  12. Beautiful photos. I love the houses, sitting out on the edge of the land. I think of how vulnerable they are in the storms. As for the fragility of the shorelines, I worry about them as the talk gets ramped up.

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  13. It's quite a beautiful spot.

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  14. Great photos of a beautiful place on the planet.

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  15. Oh what a lovely post Les.

    I may be Canadian, but my car sports a very political bumper sticker that reads: "Republicans for Voldemort".

    'nuff said ?

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  16. As I was going through this post, I felt very happy. What a beautiful area to go kayaking. Incredible....and then to find out they want to drill??!!!! It's a constant battle. We are fighting Rosemont mines with our Santa Rita mountains. That would be terrible news. I hope that something goes into place to protect and ensure this haven safe for generations to come. Last thing we need is another oil spill.

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  17. Such gorgeous scenery and so seemingly deserted. Is it really that way or that you screened other homes from your shots? I love the combination of the water, the grasses, and the sky. Sort of like Maine.

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  18. What a stunning area, and beautifully captured on camera. The htought of off shore drilling is obscene, I hope sense prevails over greed, but even typing that I feel a lead weight in my stomach, greed for money, for "energy independance", for fuel is so very great.

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  19. What a gorgeous area! I too hope it isn't spoiled by oil and gas exploration. Your photos are stunning.

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  20. These shots are making me homesick, Les. The coast here looks so very much like it does in Nova Scotia. The cloud formations were particularly beautiful on this sunny day. I particularly like the dramatic v-shape of the clouds in the last shot.

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  21. Beautiful pictures! I'm not sure if I would feel safe living on stilts but they make for some great shots.

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  22. Beautiful. All that big, blue sky. I want to visit the ocean again soon. Are you and your family okay? I've been wondering about you all because of Hurricane Isaac.~~Dee

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  23. I cannot imagine this place being lost or marred. Your images of it are picture postcard perfect, so I can only image what it would be like to actually be there. Two bald eagles, what a great find. The Black Skimmers are really pretty birds, nice shot.

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  24. You don't know how happy this post made on me at two different levels. The first is because my last name is proudly Muir. That's kind of dropping a f= bomb in some rooms. I do have some type of root. My grandfather also immigrated from Scotland to avoid the Great Depression and I don't know if you know that Muir harkens back to the moors of Scotland and there's not a lot of people outside of CA know how to pronounce it right especially in the Midwest. They don't know the trivia which man gave the National;Park concept to Teddy Roosevelt???

    But your kayak took me to another level because for over 10 years I've been a quadriplegic granted one functional arm. And other bloggers feet and this time your kayak let me see the world. This post was like buddah to me. T hank you for both level. This has been my longest post EVER. I guess it's in my genes.

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  25. Glad you got political because I was catching my breath at the beauty of this area as I scrolled through your pictures. People need to constantly be reminded of why these areas are special and that it is much more than beauty alone.

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  26. Ah, if only my mini-vacations were as grand - too far for me to travel for this type of solitude... The thing I remember most about my past trip to Assateague - mosquitoes!

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  27. What a breathtaking place, so much space and wide skies. A perfect place to enjoy the elements of nature and to meditate. Lovely landscape with great details everywhere!

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