On the sunny, bright Sunday of Labor Day weekend, we flew downfrom Leesburg to West Point, Virginia. There we picked up friends Sue and Ron. After a pass or two over their nearby house in Barhamsville for aerial views, we headed to Tangier Island for lunch.

Tangier Island is, on a summer Sunday, an idyllic spot in the center of the Chesapeake Bay with just 600 inhabitants. It is accessible by only boat or airplane, and reminds some people of Shelter Cove in California.

We flew due east from West Point to a fix called JAMIE (in honor of Jamestowne?) and then due north about ten miles to land RWY 2 at KTGI. This rectangular pattern enabled us to skirt restricted area R-6609, a bombing practice area for the Patuxent Naval Air Station.

Upon landing we paid a ten dollar parking fee, which I did not resent because this little island has few ways to bring in any civic revenues. After all, there are no parking meters or police speed traps.

Houses and commercial buildings on the island vary in their condition. It is a fishing community and there are remains of boats and crab pots everywhere. In the harbor, fishing boats rocked on the waters alongside pleasure craft.

Many houses were freshly painted, some with shutters in contrasting gay colors, and trimmed lawns. Flowers bloomed in window boxes, and there seemed to be lots of childrens’ toys strewn about. A large Methodist church stands at one end of town, and it appeared there was a Baptist chapel at the other end. At the least, there was a parson’s lodge.

There are at least three or four restaurants in business (and about an equal number no longer in business), all of them doing a brisk midday trade in crab sandwiches and other regional dishes. There were long lines at the first restaurant we tried, but the second had a table for four in about five minutes. Just lucky timing, I guess.

There were offers of “island tours” by golf cart (another local industry on summer weekend days) but we chose to walk around a bit before returning to the plane. We saw the island’s clinic, served by a doctor who comes weekly, flying his own helicopter over from the mainland, as reported recently in an NPR story.

Tangier Island is pleasant enough in summer, but I bet it can be a cold and lonely place on a January weekday when the winds are blowing.

Still, I think we’ll come back some time again. The crab sandwiches make it worth the trip.