Icy Kent Narrows Opened by Cutter
My posts on the Kent Narrows and ice-overs we’ve been experiencing received a lot of interest so I thought I’d share an update from what I’ve seen.
Back on the morning of February 25, 2015, one of four of Maryland DNR’s cutters, the 80-foot A.V. Sandusky, came through the Kent Narrows to relieve ice stress on the surroundings marinas, bulkheads, and bridges.
Maryland DNR Cutter, the A. V. Sandusky
That afternoon when I did the Duck Dynasty photo shoot, I checked out the local Kent Narrows Watermen’s Marina that was previously locked up with ice. I was glad to see the A. V. Sandusky had been down through it on its way by.
Kent Narrows Watermen’s Marina
The Chesapeake Bay watermen work year-round, no matter the weather, to catch and sell the fresh crabs, fish, and oysters the Bay has to offer. They work long, hard hours for little pay to begin the process of getting that fresh seafood to our plates. Soon after the cutter had gone through several times, tides pulled on the ice and water opened up. Melting began occurring rapidly, allowing the watermen to finally be able to resume their work. But I am sure it is treacherous with the floating ice. As I watch them come and go this time of year, I wonder how they handle the frigid cold while hanging over and dealing with ice-cold water.
We awoke this past Monday morning to ice from the previous night’s storm. We had icicles hanging from our Osprey nest platform. And to think our Osprey are usually due to return in a week!
I wish I had been able to get out to photograph the ice when the sun was peeking through here and there; but it was too dangerous, so I had to settle with what I could take from my balcony. Here’s a sample of how pretty it was.
This same iced morning before the fog had burned off, watermen were again working the Kent Narrows southend channel for oysters. I hadn’t seen them do this so close to us and in the channel before this winter. I also wondered, just how could they have been out already so early with all the ice we had everywhere.
After the sun popped out, the A. V. Sandusky appeared, making another trip through the Kent Narrows.
A. V. Sandusky making another run through the Kent Narrows and down to Prospect Bay, passing a local waterman
An hour later, the cutter came through again. He must have made a loop around Kent Island.
Maryland DNR cutter, A. V. Sandusky
It was then that I saw the icicles hanging from the cutter’s railings. Wow.
Icicles hanging from the railings
Yesterday, watermen were out again. YAY!
And again this morning. 🙂
I have the utmost respect for our local watermen.
And for the birders, here’s a fly-by from today while we received yet another round of frozen mix and 5″ of snow.
Ring-Billed Gull
I liked the snow in this Gull’s photo op! 🙂
