Boating with Sunset Delight: 2019: Hampton VA

16 October 2019
Depart: Hampton, VA anchorage 9:40
Arrive: Hampton Public Piers 9:55
Distance: < 1 nm

With rain predicted for the day, we decided to scoot on over to the marina as early as feasible. Since we could practically see the marina from our anchorage spot, it took only a few minutes to move ourselves over. Shortly after we tied up, Cathy invited me to join her on a walk around the local area.

We found a number of shops to explore including one I have not been able to visit on prior stops in Hampton - Best of British Whenever I have been by the store in the past, it had always been before or after their open hours. I had not planned on our outing being a shopping trip and did bring my wallet with me. It was a very good thing, or I might have loaded up on Branston Pickle, Cadbury chocolate, or McVities biscuits -- all childhood favorites!

In the shop we saw a couple of wall hangings that caught or attention.

On our walk Cathy found a place that could do some alterations on a pair of jeans for her, a shop to buy a loaf of bread, and an art and antiques store where we met a very friendly local artist. On the way back to our boats, we passed a mural on one of the buildings.

Hampton Mural

Today was a soggy day in Hampton. When the rain finally stopped in late afternoon, I took my laundry up to the marina building to get that out of the way. After that was done, I convinced Clark to go out for pizza for dinner. He found "Venture" via Google Maps, so we went there. They offered pizza and tapas dishes. I got a short rib and onion pizza called "Get Shorty". On our walk to dinner, Clark managed to snap a Hampton, Virginia sunset shot.

17 October 2019
no boat travel.

We had the day to ourselves until 4:00 when the Snowbirds Rendezvous had its first activity. The anchor roller on "Home Too" crumbled under the weight of the new, 44-pound anchor. Franklin found a roller at West Marine that was slightly too wide, so this morning Clark and Franklin worked on trimming the roller down to fit in the available space. They had saws and files to shave off some size.

The roller resizing project took quite a bit of time. When that exercise was finally completed, the four of us called for Lyft and took a ride to West Marine and Kroger's to shop for some supplies. The two stores were only .2 miles apart on the map. However, a cloverleaf for a major intersection sat between the two stores, so we walked about .5 miles to work around the fact that we could not cross the street safely in several places.

At the Rendezvous reception, I got quite a surprise as Rick and Jean, whom we met in April when we passed through Hampton, were in town and attending the Rendezvous as well.

Folks at our table during the Meet and Greet event
Bev and Bruce - "Paddy Wagon"
Rick and Jean - "Spindrift v. 2"

18 October 2019
no boat travel.

Today's events started at 8:30 with the first presentation. Topics for the day included ICW 101 and 201, Docking and Boat Handling, and Marine Corrosion and Care and Feeding of Shore Power. Today's session included a delicious lunch provided by "The Grey Goose" restaurant.

After classes ended, we walked back to our boats and Clark helped Franklin insert the sawed, filed and sanded anchor roller in place. With a touch more sanding, they got it in place and it even rolls!

Clayton and Dorothy on "Flight" whom we met in Marathon last winter are members of the Hampton Yacht Club and invited us to join them for drinks and dinner this evening. Walking to the yacht club, we got quite a surprise. The road was partially closed and a parade was marching by!

Phoebus High School
MC JROTC

Phoebus Parade thru Hampton, VA

Views on our way to the Yacht club ...

We had a great time catching up with Dorothy and Clayton as well as Jean and Rick at the yacht club.

19 October 2019
no boat travel.

Breakfast at a nearby hotel came with today's schedule. Sessions began at 8:30. Today's agenda included navigation using tablets and iPads, tides and current concerns on the ICW, off-shore weather, an update on the Bahamas, and anchorages and favorite frugal stops on the way south.

Tablet Navigation Session in Process

Dinner tonight was included in the event schedule. Once again we walked to the Hampton Yacht Club for cocktails, a buffet dinner, and live music.

Scrumptious Buffet at HYC

Cocktails and Live Music

Our table at the buffet dinner
"Home Too", "Spring Break", "Salty Dog", and
"Sunset Delight"

This time with Clark included!

We must have sat at a lucky table. The event included a few door prizes and three people at our table one. "Spring Break" won a wet back and caps. "Home Too" won a small canvas bag. Clark won a comfy soft throw blanket made by Sunbrella. I held onto the blanket for no longer than it took to hand it to Elaine on "Salty Dog". She had oohed and aahed over the prior throw that came up for grabs, so I decided, since I did not need / want a throw, I would give it to her. She was thrilled!

Sample door prize - Hampton throw blanket

I was thrilled, when the grand prize came up, that our friends Jean and Rick on "Spindrift v. 2" won. A marina on the Chesapeake offered a free haul out and boat bottom power wash plus some other goodies to make it a big win for them.

Fortunately, we did not have to walk back to our marina after dinner as a shuttle bus was provided for the trip. We did not relish walking back in the dark.

20 October 2019
no boat travel.

This morning Dorothy came by with her car to take Cathy and me to the supermarket. After some Googling on her phone, Dorothy offered up a nearby Harris Teeter and I was thrilled. The Kroger's we went to on Thursday did not have several of the items I needed to restock. Harris Teeter on the other hand had everything I hoped to buy and even some things that I did not plan to get but could not pass up because they are a rare find.

After we dropped off the food and Cathy, Dorothy drove Clark and me to her house for the day. I brought my laundry. We had chili and grilled for lunch. After lunch, Dave and Bev now on "Amale" came to join the group. Great day with our boating friends!!