2019: Hampton VA

4/18/2019
Depart: Albemarle Plantation 7:55
Arrive: Great Bridge Free Dock 6:30
Distance: 75 nm

Clark said we needed to leave early this morning to get as close to Hampton, Virginia as possible because a nasty storm is currently crossing the states and heading our way. I hoped we would be on our way by 7:30, but we did not quite make that mark.

We made pretty good time on our travels but paid a heavy penalty for not getting underway earlier. We got stuck at the Centerville Turnpike bridge for 1.5 hours as the bridge does not open between 4:00 and 6:00. Only two minutes late for the 3:30 opening of the bridge before this one, we were disappointed that the bridge tender made us wait for the 4:00 opening.

Caught between the two bridges, I realized that Clark was not wearing his green hat, and it did not appear to be anywhere on the upper helm. I went hunting and could not find it anywhere on board. What a sad day! Clark and I both mourned the loss of this part of Clark that has been with him since 1998 when he bought it for a Boy Scout trip to Philmont, NM.

Pictures taken on today's trip ...

Sunset at Great Bridge
(near Norfolk, VA)

4/19/2019
Depart: Great Bridge Free Dock 8:00
Arrive: Hampton City Marina 12:30
Distance: 23 nm

Clark told me last night that Great Bridge only opens on the hour, so if we did not leave at 8:00, we would have to wait until 9:00.  Since we did not get up until 7:35, I figured we would be heading off at 9:00. I was in the process of getting dressed and Clark said, "It's almost 8:00. Do you want to get going so we don't have to lock through in the rain?"

I looked at my watch - 7:57. Except for proper footwear, I was dressed at least! I ran for lines while he called the bridge tender to request an opening. We were off the dock and heading for the bridge by 8:00. We can move when we have to!

Travel turned into the classic hurry up and wait mode. When we got to Southern RR bridge #7, it was closed and remained closed for 45 minutes while we waited for first an Amtrak and then a freight train to pass through. Clark was chomping at the bit to get going. We have never seen a bridge that takes quite so long to open as that one.

Pictures passing through the Norfolk and Hampton, VA area ...

RR bridge that kept us waiting for about 45 minutes

Finally opening!

Giant pink boat fenders

Lift bridge open
I wonder what it is like to be the person up in the air.

A crane on top of a crane

Battleship Maintenance Time

Triplets!

Rafted Twins

Quite a few lines required to tie 3 boats to one dock!

Waterside Docks in Norfolk, VA

Clark spied a long procession consisting of boats and pipeline (probably for dredging).

Front of convoy

Middle

End of the line

One more naval vessel before we leave Norfolk ...

Coming into Hampton ...

Apparently, no one is sailing today

When we got to the marina, we took a long time securing the boat and adding extra lines to protect against wind damage if / when the predicted high winds came in this evening. As I got off the boat and walked around to adjust lines, I could not believe my eyes. There, sitting on the swim platform, was Clark’s hat that had disappeared while underway yesterday afternoon.

How had it held onto the boat overnight and throughout yesterday and today’s travels with winds and waves??!! I snatched it up, gave it a bath, and hung it up to dry. I was as happy to see the hat as Clark was. If it hadn't been a wet and bedraggled thing, I probably would have hugged it.

We came to Hampton, Virginia to attend a gathering of members of the Seven Seas Cruising Assoc. that Clark recently joined. The first activity of this two-day event was held tonight. We met at the Bull Brewery for a Meet and Greet. Apparently, Fairfield Harbor, where we recently visited Ralph near New Bern, is a popular place for members to live. We met two couples from there.

After the Meet and Greet concluded, we walked back to the boat, turned on the television, and saw tornado warnings for the Hampton area. We left the boat and hung out by the cement block parking garage as a safe spot in case either high winds or a tornado came through. We got some heavy spurts of rain, but nothing like a tornado came our way. The only thing on television throughout the entire evening were weather maps showing storm activity in Virginia and North Carolina. 

Night sky at the docks in Hampton Virginia ...