Memories ~
From Falls Church to Kilmarnock
© 2007 Abilini's Computer Services
 

Tangier Island (1967 - 71)

Tangier Island is located in the center of the Chesapeake Bay on the Virginia / Maryland border. Once each summer, from 1967 through 1971, Boo (Billy and Bobby’s father) would take his family and our family to Tangier Island for a ‘fun day’ via his work boat. Tangier had some interesting landmarks. Going to the island, by boat, you have to pass three target ships. These ships were used during World War II for target practice by the US Army Air Corps and by the US Navy’s fighter planes. Remember, the US Air Force didn’t exist until 1954. After World War II, the Navy and the Air Force would fire ‘dummy missiles’ (no explosives) at the ships. Today there is nothing left of the ships exposed above the water's surface (very dangerous to non-suspecting speed boats).

Once we arrived on the island, the parents would walk around visiting the gift shops, checking out the different seafood restaurants and talking to the islanders. We, the kids, would play with the island kids at the islands ‘South Park.’ The South Park was located on the south side of the island on a huge sandbar. You could walk out about a half-mile and only be in 3 feet of water. On the western side of the sandbar, there was an area marked off with crab pot markers and a lifeguard. This area had been dredged out. It was approximately 60 feet wide, 150 long and about 10 feet deep. It was also marked with signs that read: ‘Landing Area – No Swimming.’ I know what you are thinking: “Landing Area” for what? Well it was the landing area for the mini-bike ride. If you were old enough and had your parents permission – no, they didn’t accept notes from a parent. An attendant had to actually meet your parent(s) and would explain to them details of the ‘mini-bike ride’ and then get permission and a signature. The ‘details’ were something like this:
“This is a ‘mini-bike ride’ for the children ages 8 to 15. This ride consists of the child riding at his or her own pace, around the island. Each bike has a ‘Speed Safety Switch’ installed that prevents the bike from exceeding 2 miles-per-hour and the bikes can only be ridden on specifically marked areas on the island.  Any deviation from these ‘marked areas’ will result in loss of mini-bike use for the rest of the day – No Exceptions. The ride ends when the child either returns the mini-bike to the Start / Finish Line or uses the ‘Finish Line Ramp (FLR for short)’. The FLR is this long ramp (attendant would point at a very long dock), the child brings the bike to this location. Then the fuel is removed and an alcohol fuel is added. A ‘bike safety line’ is attached to the back of the bike – Not the child, but the bike -  and the ‘Speed Safety Switch’ is removed. The child is then allowed to proceed at what-ever speed they choose off the end of the ramp, into the water. There are several lifeguards on duty and a bike recovery team. If you agree with these terms, please print your child’s name or children’s names, if you have more than one , and sign the bottom of the form.”

The first time I was 8 and both Mom and Dad listened to the attendant, asked some questions and then signed the form. (If they were trying to get rid of me, it didn’t work!) Billy, Bobby and I rode all around the island. After 3 or 4 hours we got bored and headed for the FLR. Bobby was too young so he had to turn his bike in at the finish line. I wasn’t too sure about the FLR so Billy went first. Only one bike is allowed on the FLR at a time as a safety issue. I watched as Billy sped down the ramp and then hit the angled ramp at the end. From my point of view, he was 50 feet above the water! The bike was held back by the safety line and Billy was catapulted off the bike, like a rocket or a rock, landing in the water feet first. He surfaced laughing and yelling, “That was great! Your turn. Come on!” I had to wait for the safety line to be pulled back to where I was located. Billy had to clear the ‘Landing Area’ before I was allowed to continue. They removed the Speed Safety Switch, drained the fuel, added alcohol and attached the safety line and I took off. I hit the angled ramp at the highest speed the bike would do and flew like Superman for a second or two before doing a perfect belly flop in the landing area. It was so much fun, it didn’t hurt until a few hours later.

Bobby was allowed to ride the next year. And every year, until 1971, we went to the island for a day of fun.  I found out many years later that someone complained that the ride was polluting the bay and in 1978 they stopped using the FLR for the mini-bike ride. They determined that over a ten year period, more than 250 kids had used the FLR and not a single person had ever been injured. That’s remarkable!

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