5/3/2011 RIPPONS HARBOR MARINA ON MIDDLE HOOPER ISLAND, MD

TUESDAY

RIPPONS HARBOR

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 44 NM

DOCKED AT: ROIPPONS HARBOR MARINA
                        ON MIDDLE HOOPER ISLAND


SUNRISE: 6:05       SUNSET: 7:57

HIGH: 80                LOW: 60

Ready to head out into the Chesapeake Bay we untied and began passing crabbers. The waters were not nearly as nice as on Sunday. We bounded about a bit but stayed on course and were passing the unique islands of Tangier, VA then Smith as we crossed into Maryland. Both are known for their fabulous blue-crab and charming isolation.

CRABBERS WORKING THE WATERS AND PULLING UP THEIR TRAPS

The deep waters of Hooper Straight brought us from the Tangier Sound to the Honga River and the chain of Hooper Islands. Although once a tobacco community during the Revolutionary War times, this unincorporated community in Dorchester County, MD has long relied on the fishing industry to see them through.

We spent the night at the Rippons Harbor Marina and Seafood. Janet, granddaughter of the founder, greeted us at the dock and helped us with our lines. Mr. Rippons started this facility in 1946 and his descendants carry on the family tradition of harvesting, purchasing when necessary and then processing the crab from the surrounding Chesapeake Bay waters. We watched them bring in baskets and baskets of crab from other local crabbers. They unloaded the baskets then steamed the crabs in readiness for tomorrows pickers and packers.

QUEST DOCKED BY THE RIPPONS CRAB PROCESSING FACILITY

THESE BASKETS OF CRAB WERE PURCHASED FROM OTHER CRABBERS

TIME TO UNLOAD TODAY'S BUY

We have no water and power hookups but are tucked in nicely. The only local restaurant is closed on Tuesdays but Janet generously offered their van if we wanted to venture over the bridge to one of the other islands. We thanked her but declined, opting to make some mighty tasty crab cakes from the pound of the freshly packed crab that Janet let us purchase. It just doesn’t get any fresher!

MY FIRST ATTEMPT TO MAKE CRAB CAKES
..............AND THEY WERE MIGHTY GOOD!

We are on the east side of Middle Hooper Island and can look over the extremely narrow strip to see the Chesapeake. The water doesn’t look quite so calm over there and may be getting worse as the next storm approaches.