The 14th day of the 11th month of Emergence

Minding the roots at Tavern Creek-12

I suppose the weather in the Mid-Atlantic is becoming a little more like winter, but if my memory serves the real winter won't show up till Jan and Feb.  One of the nice (?) things about winter on the bay is the congregation of Canvasback ducks. Called "The king of ducks" because of their superb flavor.  Me, I just like to watch and photograph them.  Remember to double click the photograph for a better resolution.

These are diving ducks and that means only one thing.  They need water to live.  Open water!  And when their home body of water freezes over, they congregate wherever they can find it.  Ice is not their friend.  Often hundreds, if not thousands, can be found in flocks around the bay and the area around the Tavern and Swan Creeks is a perfect place.

This is the western edge of Swan Creek at it's mouth.  The Tavern lies just beyond that cedar tree in the middle of the scene.  Out of frame to the right and up against the shore there is a deep hole that holds all kinds of fish during the summer months.  This is a spot not known by many but I have been seen catching my fill of white perch there for over fifty years. 

It can be seen that the bay is pretty much frozen over.  Not too many years in history has it been completely frozen, although some of the old timers (Who am I kidding?) will tell of the time that they drove their tin lizzies across to Baltimore.   (If you don't know what a tin lizzie is, you're way to young so Google it).  Now fishing tales and the reminiscences of old men alike should be questioned for their veracity, but that's the story and I for one will stick to it.

The little channel to Tavern starts at the left of this image and runs roughly to just off the point of land to the right.  Not a big channels as waterways go.  I can remember many times running the little fourteen footer aground either to the left or right as I moved across the big creek.  The open water to the top and off the point is for the most part two to three feet deep depending upon the tide.  Once the point is reached, a hard right turn takes one into the Tavern.  Swan Point is just beyond the Tavern to the right.  Actually, the whole area is known as Swan Point as a general term of location.  Not that many are familiar with the Tavern.

  This is basically the view I had to live with throughout my teenage and early adult life.  It is absolutely amazing the things one can see if they take the time.  From this location I have seen container ships headed to or from  the port of Baltimore along side of a hundred year old sailing vessel known as a Skipjack.  The beginning and end of wonderful summer thunder storms.  Flat bottom waterman's boats rigged for clamming, oystering, drift netting, and or crabbing.  Just about every size sailboat made.  People with clothes and without.  Muscle boats that one can hear from miles away, even before they come into sight.  Each of the latter it seems complete with the required and factory equipped pretty girl (for the politically incorrect insert dumb blond joke here). 

But when I sit back and really look, some of the most amazing things I have seen have always been associated with mother nature.  Her beauty and power.

Probably could have done worse!