neavitt to tilghman aboard the dreamer.
day break on dreamer with captain johnny.
a few weeks ago i hit the waters of the bay for the first time aboard the workboat dreamer. captain johnny gowe guided us along the choptank river from the neavitt dock to the tilghman railway, where he was headed to work on his boat. during the week or so following oyster season, workboats fill the marina ready to be inspected, painted, repaired, and cleaned up before they start crabbing. ideally, the boats leave the water only once a year – their sturdy fiberglass hulls are able to weather the wicked winter ice that so easily damages the older, wooden boats.
en route to the marina railway we passed watermen getting a jump on the crabbing season which started earlier this month. i was impressed watching them steadily work the trotlines, catching blue crabs one at a time, swiftly flipping them from the net into the basket. in stark contrast, the clam boat looked far more complicated – with a conveyor belt system for retrieving and sorting the little razor clams that make excellent bait for crabbing.
no matter what they are catching – oysters, crabs, clams – watermen generally work alone, spending long, solitary days on the water and i loved this brief glimpse into their world.
enjoy!
* * * * *
…more from my on-going watermen project…
oyster recovery partnership :: ORP project – le compte bay, choptank river.
environmental matters committee :: SB 342 :: eastern shore watermen rally in support of senate bill 342.
choptank to the railway :: neavitt to tilghman aboard the dreamer.
blonde photo :: have more fun! 
As a waterman’s daughter and semi-professional photographer I want to compliment you and what you’ve captured! These are gorgeous!
these are great. LOVE the portraits!
WHAT A GREAT CAPTURE OF THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND. I AM SO HOMESICK LIVING NOW IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. I DESPERATELY WANT SOME BLUE CRABS, SHRIMP, OYSTERS, CLAMS AND FISH FROM
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS TRIBUTARIES.
Worthy of Life or Nat. Geo. Can we commission a print?
you name it!
GREAT pics – per usual…never a bad day for you, huh?! miss you
lucky is the girl who spends her day on the water!
Great pics! Brings back a lot of good memory’s!
Great pictures love the one of Robert on the Travel Lift.
a way of life….documented brilliantly…
love this series you are doing of the eastern shore. fantastic photos…makes me relaxed just looking at them! hope you are doing well! :-)
These are brilliant. Brings me back to all the time I’ve spent on those waters!
there’s so much photo goodness i have to catch up on! incredibly beautiful images, lady. that first shot is my favorite – i want to buy a print of it for my wall, please :)
Love these pictures! I grew up in Neavitt. I love visiting your blog & on facebook. I started my own business a couple years ago and I look up to you.
you have such a wonderful gift and talent for connecting with people…which makes your pictures so more beautiful!
Lovely article! The photos are great! I love the boat, Johnny, and the basket of crabs!
Wish i was with ya. how fun! the info is great and the pics are just awsome. lov ya Dad
Thanks for all your support! Everything looks great!
Lisa G
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