Correspondence

By correspondence

Another Member of the Osprey Fan Club

Dear Bay Weekly:

I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading the weekly Osprey Saga by Michael Koblos. These are amazing birds.

–Peg Richardson, Lusby

Loving Rivers

Dear Bay Weekly:

Thank you for the excellent June 24 editorial, “Love a River,” reminding us of the role of our rivers and our history, followed by the feature about mapmaker Dave Linthicum’s passion for the Patuxent. What better time than summer to reflect on rollin’ on a river. And now we have a trail map to guide us locally, thanks to Linthicum.

I was introduced to the Patuxent as a youngster by an outdoorsy aunt and uncle, who delighted in the wild rice that grew along its banks upstream, and by another aunt and uncle with a cottage down the river near the mouth, where we crabbed and swam and fished. Then, my dreams at night reflected the morning’s first sights: peering into the water leaning over a leaky 14-foot wood skiff to see crabs cuddling (doublers) in grasses along sandbars.

I’m just back from vacation in Montana and Wyoming, where rivers rush northward and bear names of another history: Bitterroot, Yellowstone, Jefferson, Madison, Missouri, Red Rock, Big Hole, Black Foot — our Manifest Destiny, or so we proclaimed. More history, more rivers.

The name Patuxent comes from the Shawnee Indian word, medicine waters. Just the cure we need as summer is upon us and we now have a good trail map to follow. Congratulations on this fine piece of local history.

–M.L. Faunce, Churchton

Steamboats More Precisely

Dear Bay Weekly:

In your story, “Love a River,” you state:

Yet within a quarter-century of the Corps of Discovery’s return in 1806, steamboats were making the journey from St. Louis, Missouri, to Fort Benton, Montana. The legendary steamboat era lasted no more than a century.”

Actually, the first steamboat didn’t reach Fort Benton until 1860, some 54 years later. The boating era at that port lasted less than 30 years. I doubt that even along the lower river systems it was the primary mode of transport for more than 60 to 70 years max.

–Randal Morger, Fort Benton, Montana

Editor’s reply: Who knew Bay Weekly had readers in Fort Benton? Indeed, I compressed the years it took for steamboats to climb the Missouri. The century, however, I allowed to span the era nationwide and transition the story back to Maryland waters.

Correction: Buy Patuxent Map at www.shopdnr.com

Dear Bay Weekly:

Having paddled the Patuxent from Central Avenue (Rt. 214) to Drum Point, I read the June 24 subject article with great interest. I have ordered Dave Linthicum’s map of the river, as I anticipate it will significantly enrich future kayak outings.

For others who may wish to obtain the map, it should be noted that the website for ordering was incorrect. The correct address is www.shopdnr.com

–Gary Schmidt, Dunkirk

Editor’s note: The transposition has been corrected on our online archives, so thanks to Mr. Schmidt, future buyers will shop at the right .com.