April 26: To Onancock, Va

It was fun to see fishermen putting out crab pots as we crossed the Bay today. We also saw more ospreys. Just look at the size of the "twigs" they used to build their nests. Pretty amazing that they know just how to do it.

Onancock was settled in 1607 as the 2^nd port in the state of Virginia. We managed to find it at the end of a long, narrow channel on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake. The Onancock Wharf is run by a fellow who graduated from Duke and spent 30 years as a chaplain in the military. Tom chatted with him as we moored TNTY. Taking our bikes out again for a 10 mile ride through the country, we discovered a massive agricultural area. There were acres and acres of rows of stakes scientifically laid out so that every 6 rows there was a wide service row there the tractor or spraying equipment could drive. It was a massive operation and we saw huge green farm equipment in the process of spraying something on the tiny sprigs of plants poked through the dirt next to the stake. We thought perhaps they were tomatoes, or maybe a running plant like green beans. There was an irrigation system several 100 yards long which could be rolled across the acreage. The most amazing thing about it is the intensity and expense of the operation with just the hope of having a crop. What faith it requires to be a farmer, trusting that the sun and moisture will make the seedling grow and produce fruit. God bless them. On our ride we also discovered the First Baptist Church of Onancock that worships together at 11 AM on Sunday. So we will join them tomorrow.

Next to the wharf there was a old mercantile building that was built in 1842. It looked very similar to my Grandmothers country store in Round O, SC. It had heavy dark wood counters along both sides of the store where the proprietor got what you wanted from the shelves behind the counters. The restaurant upstairs was Mallards at the Wharf, where we had dinner along with eight beautiful young couples on their way to Prom. After dinner, Tom and I walked down town and found a local theater production of “Always, Patsy Cline” and decided to check it out. The small theatre had about 100 seats, and every single one of them was filled. There was an air of excitement about it, and it seemed that everyone (except us) in the theatre knew each other. The actors sang many of Patsy’s songs as information about her life intertwined with the music. I did not remember that Patsy died in an airplane crash at age 30. We recognized many of her songs, and the actors and musicians were very talented. It was a fun surprise way to spend the evening.