Sep 4, 2015

The Oxford Bellevue Ferry, which began service in November of 1683, connects the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue and is believed to be the oldest privately owned ferry route in the United States. Captains Tom and Judy Bixler bought the ferry, “Talbot,” in January of 2002. The ferry runs 7 days a week from April through November (although only on weekends in November) making continuous crossings on a 3/4 mile stretch of the Tred Avon River every 15-20 minutes. The ferry can hold nine cars as well as foot passengers and bicycles, motorcycles and recreational vehicles. It runs from 9 in the morning until sunset.

: Captain Judy Bixler, who co-owns the boat Talbot along with her husband Tom, greets passengers as they board the ferry headed from Bellevue toward the Oxford side on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Captain Judy Bixler, left, and crew member Joe Koper, right, greet passengers and collect fares as they board the ferry headed from the Oxford side on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Reflections of light dance across waves during a crossing of the Tred Avon river at sunset. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Captain Judy Bixler climbs a ladder to the pilot house on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. The ferry crosses the Tred Avon river to connect the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Captain Judy Bixler, who co-owns the Talbot along with her husband Tom, pilots the ferry boat toward the Bellevue side on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, which is the oldest privately owned ferry in the United States. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Crew member Chris Nichols, left, talks with the Rados family of Oxford (left to right Lisa, Mike and Nicholas, 10) on the deck as the ferry returns to Oxford on its last run of the day. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Captain Tom Bixler stands in the pilot house at sunset as he pulls away from the dock at Oxford. The Oxford Bellevue ferry crosses the Tred Avon river between the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Passenger Chris Myles-Tochko, left, of Oxford, talks with Captain (and co-owner) Judy Bixler, right, on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Captain Judy Bixler, who co-owns the Talbot along with her husband Tom, pilots the ferry toward the Bellevue side. The ferry crosses the Tred Avon river to connect the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Crew member Joe Koper hands a ticket to a motorist on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. The ferry crosses the Tred Avon river to connect the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Captain Judy Bixler, who co-owns the Talbot along with her husband Tom, stands on the pilot deck greeting passengers as they board the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Nicholas Rados, 10 of Oxford, stands on the deck at sunset as the ferry makes its last trip of the day from the Bellevue side to Oxford. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Passengers Terry Peikin, left, and Diane Stefani, center, (both from New York) look at a map of Oxford with Captain Judy Bixler, right, as they disembark on the Oxford side after riding on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Captain Judy Bixler, who co-owns the Talbot along with her husband Tom, greets passengers as they board the ferry headed toward the Bellevue side of the Tred Avon river. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Nicole Klimt of Baltimore holds her 2-year-old son Oliver Santiago on the deck at sunset. The Oxford Bellevue ferry crosses the Tred Avon river between the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Captain Tom Bixler performs his last duty of the day: folding the flags on the ferry. The Oxford Bellevue ferry, which crosses the Tred Avon river between the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue, is believed to be the oldest privately owned ferry in the U.S. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Crew member Joe Koper pulls down the gate on the Oxford side in preparation for a ride on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. The ferry crosses the Tred Avon river to connect the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Captain Tom Bixler stands outside the pilot house at sunset at the end of his last trip of the day near the dock at Oxford. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Captain Judy Bixler pilots the ferry toward the Bellevue side on one of the ship’s afternoon runs. The Oxford Bellevue ferry crosses the Tred Avon river between the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: The Oxford Bellevue ferry, which crosses the Tred Avon river between the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue, makes a run toward the Bellevue side. It is believed to be the oldest privately owned ferry in the U.S. and is owned by Captains Judy and Tom Bixler. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Marcia Loverdi of Oxford and her Corgi “Bella” are regulars on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. The ferry crosses the Tred Avon river to connect the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue. Today they were headed from Oxford to Bellevue. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Captain Judy Bixler opens the gate to allow cars to board the ferry on the Oxford side of the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Crew member Joe Koper secures a line to a cleat on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. The ferry crosses the Tred Avon river to connect the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: A spectacular view of sunset can be seen from the Oxford Bellevue ferry, which crosses the Tred Avon river between the eastern shore towns of Oxford and Bellevue. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

An Eastern Shore ferry tale story

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