Life in Mathews County 2014

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,978 people, 3,932 households, and 2,823 families residing in Mathews county. The Isle of Gwynn 23066 is a part of Mathews County.

what a difference a decade and one year - Hurricane Isabel

Hurricane Isabel 2003 a young family (three children) wound up at Mad Calf Lane 
to vacation for the weekend and wound up doing the massive cleanup. Tide surge 
came all the way up underneath the cottage (without lifting it off foundation pillars). 
Many limbs and trees down, it was a mess (big mess). Now, eleven years later, 
same family (kids now all grown) are returning to Mad Calf Lane for long weekend. 
Prayers that they get to enjoy (2003 there was no electricity which meant 
no running water and so forth - really "roughing" it!

movin' on up - dream of addition 3-season hurricane-proof

For more than 60 years the Pirkle family has had current cottage 15' x 45' army barracks world war II.
It is only about 24" or slightly more elevated above the ground on cinderblock columns. It is sideways
(broadside) to the Chesapeake Bay and very near (about 100 feet) from the current shoreline,
which has rip-rap (cost us bucks $**,000). Not heated, this vacation place is "3-season"
I am imagining an elevated 3-season annex (no plumbing, no heat a/c) perhaps 28' by either 16'
or perhaps even wider, such as 28' x 28' with hip roof all around
such that we could make a connection to
the current cottage 62 Mad Calf Lane. We own the "lot" adjacent
to the cottage, between there and the Baker (luxurious) property for sale bucks $***,000
http://www.homesinrichmond.com/listings/116-mad-calf-lane-gwynn-va-45-1411328/451411328/

down in the spout

To give help in getting into and out of the cottage, over the years I have constructed in two places a deck about 8' x 8' or so. One of these is in the corner of the large screened porch and the outside from kitchen window, so the "valley" of the metal roof guides prodigious amounts of rainwater onto the deck and the water also splashes against the exterior wall siding (stressing the paint job). I have contacted a contractor and requested an estimate. I want the big (5-inch) gutters and downspouts due to the heavy rainfall along the shore - Chesapeake Bay. We are planning to go down - before the beginning of November, 2014.