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“Fire”, A Female Cooper’s Hawk, Was The Hit Of The 21st Annual Eastern Shore of Virgina Birding & Wildlife Festival

Monday, November 25th, 2013

Eastern Shore Virginia bird migration flyway

Every year during the first week of October, thousands of bird lovers gather on the Eastern Shore of Virginia for the annual Birding Festival. Hosted by the Eastern Shore of Virginia Festivals, Inc, a local non-profit, we recently celebrated the 21st annual Birding and Wildlife Festival. Coinciding each year with the annual fall bird migrations, the Festival is a celebration of the amazing variety and quantity of bird life found here on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, especially at the Shore’s beautiful Southern Tip. Since the land mass of the DelMarVa (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) peninsula, of which the Virginia portion is the southern terminus, is widest at the northern section and narrows gradually as one moves south, it acts almost like a funnel. The bountiful tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, just south of Cape Charles, VA where the land ends as the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay converge, is a bird-friendly area offering lots of food, water and protective vegetation becomes the natural “layover” point for millions of migrating feathered friends as they travel south along the Atlantic Flyway.

Eastern Shore Virginia Barrier Island chain

Eastern Shore Barrier Island chain, part of the Virginia Coast Reserve

So what better location to hold a Festival to see and learn about a whole variety of birds than the special place where they stop to rest and feed before beginning a journey over open waters ? Having spent a summer nesting and parenting, munching on gourmet goodies like seeds,worms and insects, just generally loafing around and yuking it up in the temperate climate of the East Coast of North America, the Birding Festival takes place during the peak migration period. Migration is dangerous, a journey from which is estimated that nearly half will not survive to return to breed in the Spring because of the predators encountered en route and the hazards of a long, energy-demanding flight over lengthy stretches of open waters. Since the Chesapeake Bay is a large physical barrier, it is especially important that natural habitat offering plentiful food and cover be available at the tip of the Shore to provide for refueling and protection from predators as the birds rest for a day or two before departing on the next leg of their journey. This makes it especially important on the Eastern Shore for individual landowners and conservation groups to make sure that the trees, shrubs and grasses which provide the critical seeds and berries needed by the birds are maintained . Towards this end, several large farm parcels located in this very critical rest corridor have been purchased by The Nature Conservancy for the express purpose of trying to maintain vegetative cover for bird habitat. And The Nature Conservancy has also been very active in preserving other critical bird life areas on the Eastern Shore including acquisition of the famed “Virginia Coast Reserve“, the off-shore Virginia Barrier Islands chain, now designated as a United Nations Biosphere, purchased by the Conservancy to protect them from development and to maintain crucial wildlife habitat.

Kids petting a skunk at eastern Shore VA birding festival

Petting A De-perfumed Skunk At The Eastern Shore Virginia Birding Festival

Fire, A Harris Hawk, Munching On A Her Raw Chicken Reward

Fire, A Trained Harris Hawk, Munches On Her Reward For A Demonstration Well Performed

The Festival includes a central Exhibitor’s Hall in Cape Charles, a forum for conservation groups and private firms to provide information on their programs. Once again the exhibits by the Virginia Living Museum were a big hit, especially the de-perfumed skunk which the kids had great fun petting. But some of the really fun stuff involved a few special programs and the amazing variety of unique field trips. Which brings us to the beautiful Harris Hawk named Fire. She is the big star of an amazing show featuring various raptors in flight, called, duh, the Flight of the Raptor. Started in 1995 by Master Falconer Ray Pena, this fascinating demonstration includes numerous hawks and peregrine falcons who have been trained to catch a lure in mid-air and bring it to ground, just as they would in the wild. Apparently for nearly four thousand years raptors have been trained by man to help hunt for food, especially rabbit and pheasant. During the show, Fire and other hawks are released and freely fly to any nearby perch— in Fire’s case, to the top of a Bay Coast Railroad locomotive. The falconer then twirls a feathered or fur lure in circles over his head, the hawk circles overhead and then dives for the lure, bringing it dramatically to ground. Ray gets the hawk to release the prey to him and rewards it with a bit of raw chicken, Fire’s favorite treat. ( By the way, hawks eat everything from their catches — feathers, fur, bones, the whole nine yards, which help satisfy the mineral requirements in their diets. ) The substantial crowd which had gathered for this demonstration was pretty amazed to see how, when these hawks are released from their perches, they fly off to a nearby tree or whatever, watch for the lure, dive for it and then let the falconer take it away from them.

Banding songbirds at Kiptopeake State Park

Bird Banding At Kiptopeake State Park During The 2013 Eastern Shore VA Birding Festival

Aerial View of the Oyster, VA Harbor, Departure Location For Several Birding Festival Boat Tours

All kinds of interesting field trips are available for attendee participation — ranging from bird banding demos, hikes, boat tours and workshops, there is something for everybody. The bird banding is fascinating and the hikes are a big favorite, especially the Eyre Hall Hike over 600 acres of diverse habitat along Cherrystone Creek. Here hikers will see mature forests, freshwater marshes and ponds, open saltwater beaches and tidal flats as well as open farm fields. Bird watchers are invited by the owner to tour the famous gardens associated with Eyre Hall’s circa 1760 home. The Owl Prowl Sounds of the Night outings at the Virginia National Wildlife Refuge and the Kiptopeake State Park are also lots of fun and good opportunities to experience nocturnal wildlife activity. Captain Buddy Vaughan’s Cobb Bay Boat Excursion leaving out of Oyster village harbor is an exciting way to see a barrier island beach and view numerous shorebirds including oystercatchers, whimbrels, sandpipers and terns. For attendees hoping to see clapper rails saltmarsh sparrows and maybe even a Delmarva fox squirrel, Capt. Rick Kellam’s Broadwater Bay Ecotours out of Willis Wharf offered a boat tour of the pristine Machipongo River, a seaside saltwater inlet from the Atlantic Ocean. Popular workshops included the Butterfly Walk and the Dragonfly Workshop & Field Trip. Another interesting boat trip, sponsored by the Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality, was the Sea Grasses and Oyster Reefs Boat Trip. Also departing out of Oyster village, this trip traveled to the nearby sites of the US’s largest and most comprehensive aquatic grass restoration project, a $6,000,000 investment by Virginia Coastal Zone Management to support shellfish farming and ecotourism. Something for everyone is the promise of each Birding Festival and it truly delivers on that promise.

Tags: bird banding, Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Eastern Shore Virginia Birding Festival, Kiptopeake State Park, Nature, Oyster VA, The Nature Conservancy
Posted in Birding, Boating, Climate and Weather, Gardening, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

A GLORIOUS FOURTH OF JULY 2013 IN CAPE CHARLES, VIRGINIA

Friday, July 19th, 2013

Sun And Fun On The Cape Charles Beach

We spent a few days over the 4th of July at a charming Victorian home overlooking the Chesapeake Bay and sparkling sand beach on Bay Avenue in the quaint historic town of Cape Charles, VA. The plan was to have a couple of grandkids for a sleepover on Wednesday night, then a big family gathering to watch the fireworks on Thursday night and finally for Hubby and I to grab a well-deserved day of peace and quiet on Friday. For once, things went some what according to plan. We rolled into town just after a kid-friendly lunch at Mickey D’s, intent on getting all cold items unpacked and stuffed into the refrigerator at the house before heading out to the Wednesday Aftenoon Chess Club at the new public library on Mason Avenue. I say “new” library not in the sense of the building, which is a grand bank building built in the early 1900’s, most lately inhabited by Bank of America, ( and now owned by the Town thanks to the very affordable terms offered by BOA ), but in the sense that it just become the library. Space to be able to offer chess for kids is just one of the perks of making the building a public building rather than just another retail business as some had hoped. I personally think time will prove that this expenditure by the Town was a brilliant decision.

Brown Dog Ice Cream Shop In Cape Charles VA

To Try It Is To Love It— Brown Dog Ice Cream !

But what is located conveniently adjacent to the library, beloved by young and old alike, the perfect after-chess treat ? The Brown Dog Ice Cream Shop, of course, home of made-on-the-premises, good as Haagen Dazs, 6 or more rotating flavors everyday, served in a cup, sugar cone or crunchy waffle cone, delightfully cold, deliciously creamy ice cream. I tried the for- adults-only lemoncello which hit the spot on a warm summer’s day but I must say that Hubby’s coffee ice cream made with the Eastern Shore Roasting Company’s coffee was absolutely wonderful and I don’t even particularly like coffee ice cream ! The kids all had the Simply Berries, full of raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries, the yummy way to sneak in extra antioxidants. From there it was off to the pool for a couple hours of pure splashing, jumping, laughing fun for the kids and a little relaxation in the shade for us.

Cape Charles Fishing Pier at Sunset 4th of July

Cape Charles Fishing Pier On A Soft Summer’s Eve

Back to the house for a fast, kid- friendly dinner of grilled hamburgers, corn on the cob and salad plus plenty of watermelon for dessert. I think that no fruit says summer better than sweet and juicy chunks of deep red, crisp, ice cold watermelon — unless it’s a tree-ripened, dripping with juice, sweet-as-sugar peach, plucked at the peak of perfection from a tenderly cared for tree at the Nottingham Farms orchard just south of Cape Charles. Anyway, we wanted to get in a walk at sunset and headed for the lighted fishing pier just down from the house. It’s a wonderful facility, stretching out into the Chesapeake Bay quite a ways, protected by a jetty, perfect for a relaxing after-dinner meander, no hurry, enjoying the sights and sounds, watching folks still sitting on the beach or wading in tide pools, just savoring the last few minutes of daylight, boats drifting back into the harbor, sated with a day of fishing, lights on the channel markers blinking red and green, a peaceful end to a busy day. Once back at the house, early lights-out for all in anticipation of a busy morning on the 4th, grandparents definitely tuckered out, grandkids not so much, which I guess proves we’re not spring chickens anymore.

Vendor Tents Cape Charles Beach July 4th

Getting Ready For A Busy Day

Awoke on the 4th to stiffled giggles downstairs, where the kids were trying hard (and almost succeeding) to keep the sound levels to a low roar. A dash for the coffee pot, zip-zip for a breakfast of yogurt and sausage & egg biscuits, then out the door for adventures down the street as the artist’s tents and the bouncy house folks were being set up for what they hoped would be a profitable day. Food vendors were already bustling about, the Italian sausage guys busy slicing up mounds of onions and bell peppers to grill, delicious aromas starting to waft across the sidewalk even at that early hour. We poked our noses into everything, easy to do because we were more or less the first visitors on the scene. The kids got fixated on the possibility of a funnel cake later, I bought a light-weight hat with an amazingly wide brim and the biggest flap down the neck I ever saw, perfect for extra sunburn avoidance. We took a moment to say hi to Billie Crocket, a terrific local carver, and then back to the big front porch to settle down with a tall glass of lemonade awaiting the parade.

And Where Are The Clowns ? Send In The Clowns…

What I have always loved best about the Cape Charles 4th of July Parade is the active participation of so many folks in the Parade itself as well as a great turnout of spectators to cheer them on. Led by the Color Guard from the Cape Charles Coast Guard Station, followed by our first responders– fire truck after tanker truck after ladder truck after ambulance, full of volunteers from Fire and EMT Stations all over Northampton County, giving we the served a chance to cheer and wave to these folks who risk life and limb to help us everyday. And then the long procession, a whole array of organizations from Veterans to the Girl Scouts to the ESO Clown Troupe, followed by the Golf Cart Parade, this year with at least 30 gaily decorated golf carts full of waving people throwing candy to the crowd, followed by the Kid’s Bicycle Parade, with the Horse Parade bringing up the rear. So much participation, so much spirit, a joy to see, no apathy here, we love the Parade and the esprit de corps, it beats slick commercial floats a ten times over.

Tall ship at sunset in the Cape Charles VA Harbor on July 4th, 2013

Cape Charles Harbor At Sunset

After the Parade, a stroll down Bay Avenue, flowing with the crowd, snagging some of those aromatic grilled sausage/onion/bell pepper sandwiches, just generally enjoying the day until time for more splashing & laughing at the pool where one of the mothers took over kid supervision responsibilities and Hubby and I went back to the house for a well-deserved iced tea, just chilling out in an overstuffed chair, newspaper in hand, silently singing the praises of whatever brilliant person invented AC. Evening brought a spectacular sunset and some great “people watching” as still-decorated golf carts cruised merrily up and down the avenue, folks arrived to watch the fireworks from the beach, bikes and joggers silhouetted against a glowing sky of deep pinks and reds. Down at the harbor, white masts contrasted with the midnight blue sky. It was lovely, a truly wonderful day. Yet to come, the fireworks, this year a 30 minute display of grand explosions, a profusion of blazing flower patterns, brilliant petals glowing in bright reds, greens, golds, white. It was awesome ! The kids loved it, we loved it, the crowd loved it, a colorful and exciting end to another great 4th of July in Cape Charles, VA.

Tags: Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Events in Cape Charles, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore
Posted in At the Beach, Boating, Crafts, Entertainment, Events In Cape Charles, Fine and Casual Dining, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

TALL SHIPS AT CAPE CHARLES 2013 FESTIVAL ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA

Thursday, June 27th, 2013

Runners in the Great Bay Run in Cape Charles VA registering to participate

Last Chance To Register To Compete In Cape Charles Tall Ship Festival’s Great Bay Run

Eagerly awaited with much anticipation, Saturday June 15, 2013 saw the little Eastern Shore Virginia historic town of Cape Charles abuzz with events from the town center to the outer reaches of the Harbor. First off in the morning was The Great Bay Run, kick-off at 8:30. Organized by Blue Heron Realty Co. agent Eva Noonan and her friend Gary Hack, the Run was off to an early start by 7:30 am when participants could begin to sign in and receive their official PIB badges for either the 1.25 mile fun walk/run or for the more serious folks, the 5k event. Over 180 people registered, including kids of all ages, the young and young of heart, moms & dads pushing 3 wheel jogging strollers. Up and down Mason Avenue, in the heart of the Cape Charles historic area, guys and gals of all shapes and sizes gathered in little groups, stretching ham strings, doing warm-up deep knee bends, trying to get ready for the Run, psyching up in anticipation of a hard final push needed to cross over “the Hump”, the steep overpass above the railroad tracks near the finish line at the Marina.

Runners taking off from the starting line for the Great Bay Run

Wooosh, They Are Off !

By 8:15 am, runners were lined up clear across the road at the corner of Harbor and Mason Avenues, awaiting the starter’s gun to begin a course that would wind them down streets of Victorian and other historic homes, past views of sparkling sand dunes and shimmering blue Chesapeake Bay waters, on out to the finish line at the new marina. Then wooosh, they were off and I slipped over to the Cape Charles Harbor to await the first arrivals. I’m proud to say that of the 7 Blue Heron agents and/or their family members who ran this event, 3 won first or second place in their age group– go Herons, go ! In line with being a carefully budgeted event, the donated trophies were inscribed antique bottles and large shells– but winners were all proud smiles as they accepted their unique prizes. Everyone who finished the course got a colorful Great Bay Run T-Shirt as well as free after-the-race pizza and Coke to rebuild energy for the rest of the day’s fun. Race proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia Society and to Broadwater’s Track & Field Team.

The sailing ship "Alliance" moored at the Cape Charles Harbor for the Tall Ships Festival

The “Alliance” berthed in Cape Charles for the 2013 Tall Ship Festival

Next up, a stroll through the marina to see the Tall Ships in the soft morning light– we had brought the grandkids down at sunset Friday evening to enjoy the music events scheduled for the Harbor stage and view the ships, always interesting for young and old alike. Although our old friend, the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel, had earlier dropped in for an overnight anchorage, for the Festival weekend this year Cape Charles was host to the 97 ft. Sultana, a replica of a 1768 British schooner whose job was to enforce the tea taxes prior to the American Revolution, the 105 ft 3 masted schooner Alliance and the 126 ft Virginia, a replica of a harbor pilot boat used on the Bay in the early 1900’s. No matter how many of these replica ships I see I never cease to feel amazed that back in the day, 100 foot vessels like these routinely sailed across stormy oceans with nothing between them and disaster but a skilled captain ( hopefully) and sheer luck– no auxiliary engine, no GPS mapping, no radar, no depth finder, no marine weather service, no ship-to-shore radio and no rescue helicopters, just strong canvas sails, grit and determination. And a daily rum ration…… Each Festival ship offered deck tours as well as 2 hour day-sails out on the Chesapeake Bay, a great opportunity for landlubbers and sailors alike to enjoy a taste of maritime history. And the weather was so co-operative– cool temps, clear skies, steady breezes all weekend.

A Crunchy Waffle Cone Filled With Brown Dog’s Lush Ice Cream Is Not To Be Missed

Good food and plenty of it, paired with lots of music, is part of the secret to a good festival and there was plenty of both in Cape Charles. From BBQ ribs to Greek gyros, deep dish pizza to “Aden’s Dawgs”, washed down by everything from Kona ice to Bud Lite, plenty of variety was available to satisfy the ole taste buds. The Shanty, a great new-as-of- last-year seafood restaurant right at the edge of the water at the marina, was doing a landslide business. Huge platters of steamed hardshell crabs accompanied by luscious grilled corn on the cob were zooming out of the kitchen at the speed of light, I think the servers must have been wearing jet pacs they moved so fast ! Downtown, just a few minutes walk from the Harbor, Kelly’s Gingernut Pub was going full blast, the Cape Charles Coffee House had extra tables outside for al fresco dining and the Hardware store was putting on a “bring your own hot dogs” BBQ bash for friends and customers. But the really, really big smiles were coming from the folks leaving Brown Dog Ice Cream shop holding crunchy waffle cones stuffed full of the best ice cream I’ve had in a long time, made right on the premises. The only other thing I’ll say about Brown Dog is that when you’re in town next, try a scoop of their pina colada topped with a scoop of rum raisin. Double yum !

A Colonial Village at Tall Ship Festival in Cape Charles VA

Colonial Village- Fun & Educational

But my favorite events were back at the Festival grounds where a very talented group from Raleigh, NC, Historic Interpretations, Inc. teamed up with a group also from Raleigh, called the East Coast Pirate Crew, to set up a Colonial Village. Dressed to “kill”, the East Coast Pirates manned a ” pirate gear for sale” tent plus a tent featuring typical pirate weaponry as well as a display of the typical foodstuff found aboard a pirate ship, with members on hand interpreting same and offering samples of the 17th century on-board daily food staple called “hard tack”. ( No grog offerings though, a true pirate wouldn ‘t stand for that. ) Historic Interpretations program offerings were quite interesting, completely interactive, with all their members dressed in authentic period costume, looking great. The Village included a “typical Colonial kitchen” tent, complete with homemade strawberry and lemon cordials brewing, ( for which I got the recipe ), a games tent, herbs and medicines tent and 17th century “home ec” tent staffed by two very knowledgeable ladies who demonstrated weaving, embroidery , sewing and fashion tips of that era.

A Pannier To Increase Hip Widith Appearance Under Colonial dresses

Just what every modern woman wants– a pannier to make her hips look wider !

Probably doesn’t sound that interesting but it was really fascinating. The ladies had a large hunk of what I thought was spun wool but which was actually flax ready to be spun, then woven into linen cloth, which they demonstrated on a tiny portable loom. Wow, no wonder most folks back in the day had only 2 sets of clothes– at the most. Every woman had a ” housewife”, abbreviated to “hussif”, a cloth strip with multiple pockets on one side for important small implements such as scissors, pencil, glasses, etc., all expensive to replace. The hussif could then be rolled up tightly and stored in her sewing box which contained the rest of her sewing equipment. A typical box would hold lots of handmade sewing aids including a wooden “egg” for darning, a lump of beeswax to stiffen thread, a thimble made of horn, soapstone to mark lines on cloth, a cloth tape measure wound up in a casing made of a large nut shell, hoops of various sizes, and the list goes on and on. And the fashion accessories were pretty interesting too. Corsets were laced up with a long metal instrument called a bodkin. And if you’ve ever wondered how Colonial ladies managed to have a slender waist but appear as if they were four feet wide from hip to hip, well it was thanks to a “pannier”, a very narrow belt with two short cloth barrelly things hanging from each side to make the dress stand way out from the hips. Go figure !

The Festival was all this and so much more. Strolling musicians in town and at the Harbor, the Cape Charles Orchestra playing sea chanteys on Strawberry Street , sidewalk art, a Golf Cart Scavenger Hunt, helicopter rides all day long,Coast Guard water safety program, artists and artisans galore with lovely items for sale, a great display by the Waterman’s Association, an old time oyster “buy boat” at the marina. All capped off with the Pirates & Wenches Ball, everyone dressed in costume, dancing the night away, proceeds benefiting Cape Charles Central Park. But memories now– but we do have Tall Ships Festival 2014 to look forward to.

(Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA. )

Tags: Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Events in Cape Charles, Tall sailing ship Kalmar Nyckel, Tall Ships Cape Charles Festival
Posted in At the Beach, Boating, Business, Entertainment, Events In Cape Charles, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

Contemporary Eastern Shore Virginia Waterfront Home On Dramatic Point For Sale

Saturday, June 22nd, 2013

Aerial view of contemporary Eastern Shore VA waterfront home near Jamesville VA

Aerial view of this lovely waterfront home on the Virginia Eastern Shore

The very first thing you notice coming up the driveway of this like-new contemporary-feel Chesapeake Bay area waterfront home for sale near Jamesville, VA on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, is the water itself. Located on the very high banks of a dramatic waterfront point and boasting water on three sides, it offers the great beauty of having blue saltwater all around you. Three bedroom, three bath, this lovely home was custom- designed for this unique property and nestles contentedly into the woods, blending seamlessly into its surroundings, looking for all the world as though it just grew naturally up from the land instead of being the result of meticulous planing and construction.

Jamesville VA contemporary Eastern Shore home for sale great room views

Light filled great room with walls of windows and dramatic stone fireplace

Once inside, you are immediately struck by how all the glass just brings the outdoors right on in. The spacious 2 story foyer offers immediate views through the hallway and the great room right out to the waters beyond, azure points and silver sparkles dancing in the sun, peeking through the trees. This truly is a lovely home, filled with natural light, with an open, airy floor plan, the kind of home that just feels relaxing and natural, comfortable in its own skin so to speak, where it would be easy to be inspired every day by the beauty of the landscape. Because creating a casual and comfortable coastal lifestyle were key requirements when designing this home, instead of a traditional formal living room and dining room configuration, a great room as created, with walls of windows and sliding doors out to the wraparound deck organized into two distinct conversation areas. The first overlooks the eastern side of the deck and offers glimpses of the inlet as it curves around as well as the backyard boat dock. Oriented towards the full-wall length hearth and fireplace, the second conversation area is oriented towards the point itself and the gorgeous long views of the broad blue waters that lead out to the Chesapeake Bay.

The kitchen, well-equipped and sporting white counters and cupboards which contrast nicely with the earth-tone terra cotta floor tiles, offers a great work triangle for whipping up a favorite meal. A little breakfast nook nestles into one corner of the kitchen, offering views of shimmering water through the trees. ( If you love birds, this home is truly a birdwatcher’s delight– in summer you’ll see lots of herons,egrets and other wading birds, ducks, geese and loons in the winter and dozens of varieties of tiny songbirds warbling cheerfully from spring to fall, especially during migration seasons.) Lots of kitchen storage space for dishes, cookware, etc. plus a large pantry for spices and food items as well as a little wet bar area all make entertaining in this home an absolute snap. The window package in the kitchen is as well thought-out as those in the rest of the home, a full wall of windows fills the kitchen with soft natural light throughout the day, opening easily to be able to take advantage of cool breezes off the water all season long.

View of dock at Jamesville VA waterfront boating home

The sturdy backyard dock offers plenty of room for your boat and all your other water toys

A large workshop area adjacent to the 2 car garage has plenty of room for all your special projects plus extra storage space as well. And if a boat and kayaks are your main water toys, you’ll be well prepared to enjoy them. A large, sturdy backyard dock provides ample room for a good-sized power boat and kayaks too. It’s just a short cruise down the inlet to access the Chesapeake Bay and some of its prime fishing and crabbing grounds are nearby. This time of year, as the waters in the Bay have warmed, the fish are running, the big fish chasing the little fish and the whole cycle begins once more, fertile grounds for this season’s myriad fishing yarns about ” the big one that got away.” So, all in all, this home is great opportunity to own a home where everyday you can soak in that coastal feeling of leisurely living, in your very own castle, right at the water’s edge, on Virginia’s truly gorgeous Eastern Shore.

( Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo,VA. )

Tags: Blue Heron Realty Co. Machipongo and Cape Charles, Chesapeake Bay real estate, Eastern Shore Virginia real estate, Fishing, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Real Estate, Virginia waterfront home for sale
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The First Annual Great Bay Run in Cape Charles, VA

Friday, June 7th, 2013

The Great Bay Run

This summer an exciting new event is coming to the Eastern Shore of Virginia ! On Saturday, June 15, 2013, in conjunction with the Tall Ships at Cape Charles Festival, the town will be the site of the First Annual Great Bay Run.

Organized by race directors Eric Hack, a teacher and coach at the Eastern Shore’s Broadwater Academy and Eva Noonan, an agent at our own Blue Heron Realty Co., this is a first for both of them. Eva also works with Eric as volunteer assistant cross country and track coach at Broadwater. This is expected to be a premier event, kicking off the debut of what they hope will be an exciting annual runner’s challenge.

Cape Charles beach with Victorian homes in background

5k Run will pass along Bay Ave.in Cape Charles, VA

The Great Bay Run in Cape Charles will offer both a 5k race and a 1.25 mile fun run/walk. Both events start at 8:30 AM on Saturday, June 15th, near the Blue Heron Realty office at 113 Mason Avenue. The route will take runners along Bay Avenue, with its grand dame’ Victorian- era homes overlooking beautiful views of the Chesapeake Bay and the sparkling sand dunes along the Town’s soft sand beach, weave through the Historic District, then out past the Coast Guard Station and finally into the Cape Charles Harbor of Refuge. By concluding at the Cape Charles Harbor, participants will be able to enjoy all the events at this state of the art marina which will be be filled for the Festival with sailboats of all sizes and descriptions, including three Tall Sailing Ships and a US Navy patrol ship, all of which will be visiting for the entire week-end. The three Tall Ships berthed there will also be offering deck tours and 2 hour day sails all weekend long so it’s a great opportunity to experience maritime history. Additionally, the winners will be presented with their trophies down at the Harbor right after the race.

Eric and Eva look forward to putting on a competitive and fun race experience that the hundreds of athletes of all abilities already signed up will enjoy. Eva has recently started a local women’s running group which has inspired many locals to join the June 15th race as well. And it’s really exciting that runners have signed up to participate from as far away as Ohio and Pennsylvania. For additional information about the race, visit its Facebook site at: https://www.facebook.com/greatbayruncapecharles. Anyone interested in registering for the race can still sign up, registration will be active until 7:30 am on the morning of the race.

Online registration is available on Active.com at this link: http://www.active.com/5k-race/cape-charles-va/the-great-bay-run-in-cape-charles-2013. So, whether you’re interested in being a spectator or a participant, come on down, we think it’s going to be lots of fun.

The Great Bay Run would like to thank it’s sponsors: Blue Heron Realty Co., QS LLC, Eastern Shore Custom Carts, Eastern Shore Signs, Hook U Up Gourmet, Rayfield’s Pharmacy, and Kelly’s Gingernut Pub. The proceeds of the race will be split equally and donated to benefit two causes: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as well as the Broadwater Academy cross country and track & field teams.

Tags: Cape Charles Harbor, Cape Charles Tall Ships Festival, Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Great Bay Run, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Tall Ships Cape Charles Festival
Posted in At the Beach, Boating, Entertainment, Events In Cape Charles, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns, Sailing | No Comments »

A New Cape Charles Vacation Rental Home, Introducing “Beach Villa”

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

Sand beach at "Beach Villa", a Cape Charles VA vacation rental home

Relax on the soft sand beach at “Beach Villa” on Eastern Shore Virginia

We get a lot of calls here at Blue Heron Realty Co. for a vacation rental home with lots of seclusion but with lots of amenities too and that’s usually a hard order to fill. However, we have just acquired “Beach Villa” as a Cape Charles VA area vacation rental. This exquisite villa style home, sleeping 10, offers water views galore plus old world charm and the use of its 37 acres with beautiful Virginia Eastern Shore Chesapeake Bay waterfront. Best of all, Beach Villa offers a gorgeous sand beach, private to the owners and their rental guests, offering wide soft, soft sands, glittering in the golden sun, perfect for relaxing under a beach umbrella, book in hand, some sweet Southern-style ice cold tea in the cooler. And as you wade from the beach into the Bay, the salty Chesapeake waters start out quite shallow but gradually reach swimming depth so bring your mask and snorkel to check everything out. Surrounded on two sides by a pristine little freshwater lake, imagine waking up in the serene environment of this home to the calls of seabirds overhead and waterfowl out on the lake. Love jogging ? Imagine the pleasure of making lazy circuits around 37 acres surrounded by such natural beauty. Surely this is a vacation opportunity extraordinaire.

Aerial view of "Beach Villa", a beachfront home near Cape Charles VA

“Beach Villa” offers old world charm on 37 acres near Cape Charles VA

With 3 bedrooms and 3 and a half baths plus a day bed in the sunroom, there is plenty of room to catch up on some sleep in this nearly 4000 sq. ft. home. Large great room with living and dining room groupings plus a gourmet kitchen make conversation with your group a breeze. The gas log fireplace in the living area is perfect for cool fall evenings. Sliding glass doors lead from the great room to the spacious fieldstone patio overlooking beautiful flower beds, the lake and the Bay, the perfect spot for a steaming cup of morning coffee. Paneled den and enclosed sunroom provide additional space for just relaxing, letting the mind and body unwind in this gorgeous setting. First floor master suite, so convenient, with a master bath which includes jacuzzi tub with marble surround. Everything about this home is top of the line, you will not be disappointed by selecting this home for your vacation.

Aqua Restaurant at Cape Charles offers fine and casual dining on the Chesapeake Bay

Be Sure To Try The Delicious Seafood At Aqua Restaurant During Your Stay

Nearby amenities include Kiptopeake State Park, Eastern Shore Wildlife Refuge and the Rails to Trails jogging/biking trail. The historic little Victorian town of Cape Charles is less than 10 minutes away and offers restaurants, shops, art galleries, marinas,boat ramps, train rides, special events, holiday parades, etc., as well as Palmer and Nicklaus Signature 18 hole golf courses. The Eastern Shore of Virginia is a terrific spot for a relaxing, low-key vacation, for what we like to call ” Simply Relaxing The Shore Way“. From A for Artist Galleries to Z for Zesty clam dip, there is nearly an endless list of things to do and see here on the Eastern Shore. Savour sunset strolls on the beach, kayak to our unique off-shore Barrier Islands, charter a deep sea fishing trip, treasure hunt in our antique shops, attend a live performance at the Palace Theatre, ride horseback along waterfront trails, explore our little coastal towns, visit a local winery, get wet clamming, enjoy a superb seafood meal at Aqua Restaurant, see the artifacts of yesteryear at the Barrier Island Museum. ( By the way, the Tall Ships Cape Charles Festival will be held this year the weekend of June 14-16, an exciting event for adults and kids alike. Three tall sailing ships will be in port offering open deck tours and day sails, the Navy’s USS Tornado will also offer tours, individual owners will be there with their sailboats, skipjacks and antique “buy boats”, the harbor will be bursting with great stuff. Plus loads of other activities are part of this Festival, it’s a really fun-filled event. ) But whatever you do, memories of your Simply Relaxing Eastern Shore Vacation will stay with you forever. To reserve your week at Beach Villa, email us at easternshorevacations@blueheronva.com or call 757-678-5277. (Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA)

Tags: "Beach Villa" vacation rental, Aqua restaurant Cape Charles Virginia, Blue Heron Realty Co. Machipongo and Cape Charles, Cape Charles vacation rental homes, Cape Charles Vacation Rentals, Chesapeake Bay waterfront home, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Kayaking, Nature, Palace Theatre Cape Charles Virginia, Tall Ships Cape Charles Festival, Vacation Rentals on Eastern Shore Virginia
Posted in At the Beach, Boating, Entertainment, Fine and Casual Dining, Golf, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns, Vacation rental homes | No Comments »

Elegant Waterfront Home For Sale On The Eastern Shore of Virginia Designed By William E. Poole

Thursday, March 7th, 2013

A Storybook Setting for this French Provincial

Standing proudly on a high knoll overlooking a broad expanse of rippling blue saltwaters on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is this like-new William E. Poole designed home. Poole, an internationally famous Southern architect based in Wilmington, S.C. , is especially known for creating comfortable homes featuring warm and romantic living environments. That talent is evident throughout this elegant Chesapeake Bay area like-new brick home of about 4700 sq. ft. for sale. Inspired by French Provincial Revival traditions yet designed for today’s conveniences, the house is positioned to fit perfectly into the site. One of about 20 homes in a tiny neighborhood of upscale waterfront homes near Franktown, VA and shielded from the little winding roadway by a stand of mature trees, as you drive up the house seems to be peeking out, wanting to see what’s going on.

Enjoy beautiful waterfront views from the veranda

The approach to the entrance from the circular drive is across a patterned brick walkway to an entrance portico and an impressive solid mahogany circle top front door. Once inside the spacious foyer, which features an elaborate barrel style vaulted ceiling and entry columns, one’s eye is immediately drawn to the gorgeous water views from the great room beyond.

Jarvis dock at sunset Great pains have been taken to connect the interior spaces to the natural beauty of the outdoors. A bold picture window, flanked by tall doors on either side, is the dramatic focal point of the great room, presenting as it does the mesmerizing vistas of the broad blue inlet beyond. Given the very desirable southwest exposure of this home, sunsets seen through that wide expanse of glass are absolutely spectacular. ( A very important feature for those who, like moi, are not always in, shall we say, top form at sunrise but who really love a great sunset.) Another focal point in the great room is the sunstantial fireplace with marble hearth and surround, elaborate mantel with dentil molding and frieze plus raised panel overmantel. Outside, a covered tiled veranda, the epitomy of relaxation, runs the most of the length of the entire house and is the perfect place to enjoy a light lunch or savor a refreshing glass of Chardonnay on a breezy summer’s day.

This Chef’s Kitchen will inspire gourmet creations.

Divided from the great room and morning room by partial walls with archways and fluted pilasters, the chef’s kitchen is central to everything, the soul of the house. Custom cherry cabinets, honed counters, also sculpted around the sink, custom tile, decorative tile backsplash behind gas cooktop, double ovens, extra deep storage drawers, oversized Lazy Susan corner cabinet and large pantry with frosted glass doors are just a few of the features which make this a superlative place to whip up everything from a simple coddled egg to an elaborate 6 course meal. The adjacent, quite spacious dining room features a lovely chandelier with embossed silk shades and elaborate ceiling medallion, a beautiful room in which to enjoy entertaining friends and family.

Spacious Master Bath Suite

The first thing you notice when entering the master suite is the stunning waterview through the glass side panels and French doors which also combine to allow lots of natural light to flow into the room, giving it a bright and airy feel. And the private tiled covered veranda off the master bedroom offers a secluded nook for relaxing outdoors away from any activities in other areas of the house. But the piece’ de resistance is the master bath suite. Featuring two separate colorful bombe style dressers as sink vanities, a roomy claw foot tub, large glass shower and a super-sized walk-in closet with large dresser organizer and beaucoup space for shoes and clothes plus plenty of linen storage space, this bathroom is dressed to the nines !

Reading Alcove

Cherry steps lead upstairs to an office, another bedroom, a bathroom, and a media room. A cozy little reading alcove for guests in the overlook to the great room below offers bookshelves and relaxing space for visitors away from activity elsewhere in the house. (Speaking of the overlook, did I mention that the great room has a soaring 19 foot ceiling ? And a handsome fireplace with elaborate mantel and marble hearth and surround ? Or that the floors on the first floor are cherry ? Or that the morning room is amazing, with windows on 3 sides ? Plus lots, lots more ? ). Actually, this whole house is amazing. And it sits on a spectacular waterfront parcel which includes a backyard dock and boat lift complete with good boating water and easy access to the Chesapeake Bay. To see it on-line click on www.blueheronva.com/boating_properties/ or call 757-678-5200 for a showing. ( Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA )

Tags: backyard boat dock on the Eastern Shore, Blue Heron Realty Co. Machipongo and Cape Charles, Chesapeake Bay real estate, DELMARVA peninsula, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Eastern Shore Virginia real estate, Franktown VA, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Real Estate, real estate on DELMARVA peninsula, Virginia waterfront homes for sale, waterfront home for sale
Posted in Boating, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends | No Comments »

Time To Start Planning Your Eastern Shore Summer Vacation

Thursday, February 28th, 2013

Charming Historic Cape Charles

We just finished adding a new house, “Seahorse Retreat” to our vacation rental roster (see them all at www.blueheronva.com/vacation_rentals/ ) when it occurred to me that planning an Eastern Shore Virginia summer vacation in the near aftermath of a record breaking blizzard on the East Coast is reminiscent of one of my favorite childhood books. Anyone who has read “The Little House On The Prairie” series by Laura Ingalls Wilder will likely remember the winter delights described of pouring over seed catalogues, winds howling outside, fire crackling inside, planning the spring garden, imagining the delights of fresh cantaloupe, tomatoes, sweet corn. It was a necessary task but it was also pure, unvarnished pleasure, mentally transporting them to a future time of warm weather, outdoor breezes and chunks of crisp, cool watermelon. Meanwhile, the reality was that Pa would soon have to wade out into the driving snow, through Lord knows how many heavy drifts, to get to the barn to milk the cows, holding on to the rope stretched between the house and the barn so as to not get disoriented, lost and frozen to death within 40 feet of the front door. I loved those books about settling the West, practically wore them out with re-reading, especially “Farmer Boy”, what a wonderful world it seemed to be. And I longed to be able to have a big piece of apple pie for breakfast, just like Almanzo almost always did, redolent with sweet spices and covered in heavy cream. But, different time, different place, and in general, pie was not allowed on my childhood breakfast table. ( Happily, now that I am nearly 100, I can have pie for breakfast if I want to. So let it be known that from time to time, for breakfast both Hubby and I do indulge in a thick slice of Kate’s Kupboard’s delicious apple pie, fresh from her warm and cozy Belle Haven, VA bakery, topped with an ample wedge of sharp cheddar, gently heated in the toaster oven, accompanied by a fresh cup of steaming hot vanilla hazelnut coffee. And I won’t even disclose how old I was before it finally dawned on me that I didn’t have to continue to eat the crusts on my bread if I didn’t want to, such is the force of habit of childhood instruction. )

But, mea culpa, I digress. My original point being that the actual planning of one’s vacation is a necessary task, but one that brings a lot of pleasure. Deciding where to go is certainly the first step and deciding what house to pick is great fun. I want to give a shout out to the Eastern Shore of Virginia as a great vacation place and to Blue Heron Realty Co’s vacation rental homes as the cream of the crop ( Review them at www.blueheronva.com/vacation_rentals/ ) depending, of course, on the desired atmosphere. If one is looking for bright lights, loud music, thousands of people on the beach,salt water taffy and souvenir shops every step of the way, Virginia’s Eastern Shore is not the place.

Visit our scenic beaches

On the other hand, if what you’re longing for is a place for total relaxation in a low-key coastal area, with plenty to do if you want to but if you feel like just hanging around the front porch, book in hand, iPad at the ready, then you can count on the Eastern Shore as a terrific place. I can guarantee no bumper to bumper traffic, horns blaring, no overcrowded sidewalks, no blankets 2 feet in every direction from yours on the beach.

Our Pristine Barrier Islands

Just a beautiful, relaxing area, little historic towns to explore, sparkling low density beaches to enjoy, cool blue waters to swim, plenty of boat ramps and fishing piers to try out, miles and miles of coastline to kayak, our off-shore pristine Barrier Islands to explore, the freshest of succulent seafood to savor, Palmer and Nicklaus golf to keep you swinging, horseback riding through country trails to indulge your inner cowboy, an easy pad to launch a Williamsburg/Busch Gardens day trip from if the mood strikes, cute shops, terrific restaurants for fine or casual dining and friendly people. From A for “Antiquing” to Z for “Zesty clam dip”, you can have a memorable vacation on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, it’s Simply Relaxing The Shore Way.

Seahorse Retreat

And I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to 2 of the Blue Heron Realty Co. new vacation rental homes–– “Seahorse Retreat” and “Sun and Sand“. “Seahorse Retreat” is a charming, cozy nest for two, beautifully decorated in a — you guessed it, a seahorse motif.

Sun & Sand

A second floor walk-up unit located right in the heart of the Cape Charles historic district, it offers 1 bedroom with comfy king-sized bed, a well outfitted full kitchen, separate dining room and a living room which opens onto a veranda with views of the Cape Charles harbor. And it’s only about a block to the beach and boardwalk. “Sun and Sand” is a 4 bedroom, 4 full bath West Indies style home of nearly 3000 sq.ft. , with some views of the Chesapeake Bay. Comfortable coastal style furniture, a king sized bed in the master suite, queen sized in the others. Within easy walking distance to a sparkling soft sand beach, it also offers access to a large swimming pool/tennis courts complex and is within 5 minutes one of the Shore’s finest waterfront restaurants. More information on reserving these and other prime vacation rental homes is available on the Blue Heron Realty Co. website, www.blueheronva.com, select Vacation Rentals on the Listings pull-down menu or side navigation bar. ( Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA )

Tags: Blue Heron Realty Co. Machipongo and Cape Charles, Blue Heron Realty Co. Vacation rental homes, Cape Charles vacation rental homes, Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Kayaking, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Real Estate, Vacation rental homes on Eastern Shore VA, Virginia Eastern Shore
Posted in At the Beach, Boating, Entertainment, Fine and Casual Dining, Golf, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns, Vacation rental homes | No Comments »

Lovely Single Story Eastern Shore Waterfront Home With Contemporary Flair For Sale

Saturday, January 26th, 2013

On the Eastern Shore, lovely Virginia waterfront homes near the Chesapeake Bay are not unusual but many of those homes are of a traditional style and the majority of them are two story, albeit many with total living on the first floor. But for the growing number of folks looking for a waterfront home in Virginia who are absolutely set on acquiring a single story home, this new listing could be just perfect. One of the features important to many of our clients when looking for a waterfront home is being able to open the front door and say “wow” as they look from the foyer, across the living area and are immediately treated to a glorious view of the water– this home gets a ten- out- of- ten on that score !

A few years ago, this lovely 3 bedroom, 3 bath home was renovated with three goals in mind– 1) opening up the floor plan to have larger, light-filled rooms and 2) creating water and nature views from every possible angle and 3) adding an additional, more spacious master bedroom suite. Definite success on every goal ! Walls of windows frame scenes of the sparkling blue waters, several new sets of sliding glass doors facilitate an easy flow between the indoors and the outdoors and the spacious new master suite also offers more privacy as it is located on the opposite side of the home from the guest bedrooms. During renovation, the kitchen, highlighted by custom cabinets and granite countertops, and dining room were opened up and combined into the living room. The resulting great room is simply spectacular ! A large skylight centered in the main living area was added, offering defused natural light which spreads throughout the entire great room. The fireplace adds additional cheer. Hardwood in the great room transitions seamlessly to custom terracotta tile in the sunroom.

Outside, lots of great nooks for entertaining a group or just a best friend. Located on a gentle knoll overlooking a colorful saltwater inlet from the Chesapeake Bay, one of my fav outdoor spots on this property is a little landing on the path down to the dock and boathouse. It’s a tiny landing, just big enough for two Adirondack chairs. But it’s so close to the water and offers such a tranquil feeling that you want to just sit and relax in those chairs forever ! In addition to this little landing, there is also a attractive flagstone patio and full-house length deck with a cozy separate little portion of deck which wraps around to the new master suite. So— lots of places to enjoy the outdoors which is great because our very mild climate allows for lots of outdoor activities during most of the year. Lots of mature landscaping and bird-friendly shrubs attract a variety of songbirds year-round and of course blue heron and other wading birds stroll the shoreline, keeping a sharp eye out for a quick fishy snack. For boaters, a dock with large boat lift. The boathouse, which is a rarity here, offers plenty of kayak storage for that tremendously popular sport, both facilitate easy access to the Chesapeake Bay which is literally just around the corner. And for those who love fishing, a real fishing hot spot dubbed “The Cell” is quite close by. For gardeners, a large garden area with lots of colorful plantings, a veggie bed, birdhouses galore and a cute potting shed is enclosed by a white picket fence, a real oasis of natural serenity.

For anyone looking for a gorgeous waterfront home featuring an open floorplan, top of the line materials and great indoor-outdoor entertaining potential, this home could suit to a T. Check it out on in the “Boating Properties” section of the Blue Heron Realty Co. website at http://www.blueheronva.com/property.php?print=propid=1253 ( Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA )

Tags: Blue Heron Realty Co. Machipongo and Cape Charles, boating in the Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay homes, Chesapeake Bay real estate, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Eastern Shore Virginia real estate, Fishing, Kayaking, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Real Estate, waterfront home for sale
Posted in Birding, Boating, Entertainment, Gardening, Just Having Fun | No Comments »

Cape Charles’ Inaugural Clam Slam Festival

Thursday, August 9th, 2012

What do a Shriner’s Parade, a crab skiff race, a fishing boat docking contest, paintings of whimsical mermaids and prancing horses have in common ? Surprisingly, they were all a part of a new Eastern Shore Virginia festival, the 2012 Clam Slam in Cape Charles, an inaugural event held last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Clam Slam blasted off Friday evening at the harbor with a huge Harbor Party featuring live rock/blues music music from 6-10 pm performed by John Baldwin and the Original Sinners, a well-known Virginia Beach band. I’m still a Glenn Miller-Tommy Dorsey-Benny Goodman-Artie Shaw fan myself but I’ve spoken to several people who went Friday night and commented that they really enjoyed the music.

10am Saturday morning brought a complete change of pace as the Shriner’s Parade and Car Show. led by the smartly stepping Color Guard from the US Coast Guard’s Cape Charles Station, began winding its way along Bay Avenue and then down Mason Avenue. Following was a colorful assortment of participants including the ever popular fire trucks from Cape Charles and nearby Cheriton throwing candies to the crowd and then what I think was litttle Miss Chesapeake Bay. Everyone loved the crab racing skiffs which would be struting their stuff in the harbor later in the day, a colorful collection of oranges, greens and blues, rolling past sidewalks crowded with on-lookers.

But of course it was the Shriners who highlighted the day, going all-out as usual in their efforts to raise money for their 22 hospital network where children are treated for free for a wide variety of very serious issues, including burns. Dressed in costume, the Shriner contingent led off with marchers, then a good sized marching band attired in teal slacks, white shirts, gold cummberbunds and their traditional red fezes, playing with plenty of volume and enthusiasm, followed by their top attractions, horses, clowns, mini-trucks and of course, the laugh-out-loud, crazy-driving miniture cars, probably the Shriners most famous parade unit.

Envision exuberant drivers, stuffed into tiny cars barely big enough to hold them, careening around in apparently randomly wild configurations. Further imagine what appears to be total mayhem, with these big guys in minuture cars, zipping every which way but Sunday, about 6 ways on this 2 way street, all to huge laughs from an appreciative audience and you’ve pretty much got the picture. The clowns were tons of fun too- dressed up like Beverly Hillbillies, one of the fellows was doing his antics in bare feet. Given that hot, hot pavement, I’d say, Wow, that’s really dedication. Following all of that fun, a string of sweet antique cars. A fellow standing beside me kept pointing to one yellow beauty, saying I had one just like that, exactly like that just as the Kedive motorcycle group roared into view, first you hear them, then you see them.

Next up, horses and riders from Triple M Ranch. Located just outside Cape Charles on 150 acres overlooking historic King’s Creek, a saltwater inlet from the Chesapeake Bay, Triple M has a dedicated group of riders and they have consistantly added a lot of interest to local events by bringing their gorgeous mounts to participate. Their horses were so cute last Christmas at the Cape Charles Grand Illumination at Central Park. Adorned in holiday bells, red bows, plush reindeer horns, red and green saddle blankets, etc., they certainly brought a lot of extra smiles to that special evening. Following the horses, a cute golf cart sponsored by the Friends of the Cape Charles Library advertizing their book sale and then, last but definitely not least, a long string of antique Corvette’s, buffed and shiny, clearly well treated by their proud owners.

I didn’t have time to stick around for the other festivities down at the harbor which included games for kids, a horseshoe contest, a crab pot cork race and the wildly popular Smith Island crab skiff race. I did however take a quick stroll down Mason Avenue to see what the sidewalk art booths had on display this year. Looks of good stuff, paintings, crafts, political buttons, you-name-it, for sale along the sidewalk. And at the very end of the sidewalk appeared a little tent filled to the brim with the most adorable mermaid dolls and whimsical paintings, prints and original oils both, all beckoning me in, singing sweetly like the Sirens to Ulysses, come in, come in, see me, touch me, take me home with you…… Created by talented Shore artisit, Katherine Kiss, who said she has been working in the fanciful genre for a long time, the mermaid dolls were so absolutely gorgeous, I’d have loved to have bought every one !

P.S. I didn’t attend any of the Sunday events but the Boat Docking Contest was the clear favorite– over 800 tickets for the event were sold, the proceeds to be used for the prizes and to help off-set fuel costs for the boat owners. However, Jennifer Ingram from Blue Heron’s Cape Charles office did attend, ( had a ticket in the VIP section no less ) and she was kind enough to supply me with the following pictures for this post.

(Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA)

Tags: Cape Charles VA, Cape Charles Virginia Central Park, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Events in Cape Charles, Holiday events in Cape Charles Virginia, horses on the Eastern Shore, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore
Posted in At the Beach, Boating, Crafts, Entertainment, Events In Cape Charles, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

Life and Real Estate on the Eastern Shore of Virginia