New Year Traditions

[Kevin McCormack]

Left for Rock Hall with keen anticipation for a 2-day duck hunt last Wed. to MD's Eastern Shore. The weather last Thurs. & Fri. was the best waterfowl gunning weather we have seen in 3 years - birds everywhere with BIG flocks of 'new' ducks coming down from the savage weather in the NE. Tons of birds, both ducks and geese, showed no interest whatsoever in our decoys either day; hunting both field pits and water rigs.

I had a New Year's Eve dinner commitment, so left midday on Friday. Have since found that no one else who stayed killed anything the rest of Fri. or on New Year's Eve day!! Had thoughts on the way home Fri. of visiting a sick friend in the hospital in Easton MD but he gave me a wave-off, which was a good thing since there was a monumental wreck on the Bay Bridge, which they closed shortly after I crossed it which lasted almost 8 hours.

Highlights of the trip included eating fresh shucked oysters on the half shell, seeing the folk art decorations in the Ricaud's Woods (formerly Remington Farms) on the road to Rock Hall, and the 35-foot tall Christmas tree in town made out of bushel baskets decorated by the local watermen and their families, topped off by a steamed version of our beloved Chesapeake Blue Crab. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!