December 4, 2010 - Holly Run to Tangier Island

Every year for the past 40 years or so there is an annual "Holly Run" to Tangier Island which is in the middle of the lower Cheasapeake Bay.  The legend goes that they have no Holly Trees on Tangier Island so local pilots fly in a bunch of holly.

Dragon Flight decided to participate so I met Mike and Jolly at Bay Bridge airport (W29) on a cold and blustery Saturday morning. 

 
The AOPA President Craig Fuller arrived in this Turbo Caravan? just after I did. 
 
Helen Woods of Chesapeake Sport Pilot did a great job of organizing the event.  We started off by having breakfast in the CSP hangar. 
 
Pretty good breakfast!
 
Craig Fuller, AOPA President with Helen Woods just to his left. 
 
Bags of holly ready for the airlift. 
 
Chesapeake Sport Pilot is building a SeaRey amphibian kit in which I think they will offer seaplane training.  Maybe someday I'll be learning how to fly off the water in this airplane.  I was impressed with the kit.  The aluminum angle was pre-edge smoothed.  Nice! 
 
Santa and his elves also flew in the Turbo Caravan.
 
My bag of Holly ready to go. 
 
There was a long line of aircraft waiting to take off.  I'm right behind Mike. 
 
Mike & Jolly over the Bay. 
 

We did a formation pass down the runway then came around and landed. 

There are very few cars on Tangier Island.  Most of the residents drive around in golf carts.   As you can see, in the winter they are enclosed. 

 
Kind of scenic.
 
Pilots and passengers heading for town which is a short walk.
 

Jolly's RV and mind parked on the ramp.   The sole remaining plane from Mountain Road airport flew in also. 

Photo courtesy of Jolly.

 
A little history for you. 
 

We toured the little museum which was well done and interesting.  Then all of us 35+people headed down to one of the island restaurants for a crab cake sandwich lunch. 

Photo courtesy of Jolly.

 

Heading home. 

Photo courtesay of Jolly.

 
 

Mike broke off early to fly through the Washington DC - BWI VFR corridor.

Jolly and I had a great time yanking and banking over the Eastern Shore on the way home.  Jolly took this picture with me out in front. 

 
It gets dark early in December so I got this nice sunset shot crossing the Bay to Essex Skypark. 
 
 
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