After anchoring two nights in Norfolk, the weather looked right Friday morning for us to at least make a start up the Chesapeake Bay before the next forecast storm. First we pulled into a marina to fuel up and pumpout then we headed up the Elizabeth River, crossed the James River and then up the Hampton River to Hampton. Only a short trip of about ten miles but one that can be unnerving when the big warships and large cargo ships docked in Norfolk are coming or going. Luckily we were already across the James River and out of the way when a large ship went by.
In the fall we had anchored in the Hampton harbour along with many other boats, so when we saw only three boats there we thought it would be easy. However with the direction of the wind and the way those three boats were spaced we could not find a place to put down the anchor. After circling and circling we decided to head down the creek to Sunset marina we had gone to last fall during bad weather. They were really nice, they remembered us and welcomed us back. We spent some time shopping and wandering around the very pretty town of Hampton.
Next morning, we headed out into the Bay. The wind was on our nose so we motored with the main up until the wind shifted in the afternoon and we were able to sail. The chop of the Bay made for a bouncy ride with the nose of Tiffany Rose diving into the the next wave. It was great to be in the open waters of the Chesapeake after so many narrow stretches on the Waterway. Our destination was Jackson Creek in Deltaville, another spot that had been a really crowded anchorage when we had stopped there in the fall. One of those where you are up half the night checking that you aren’t swinging into another boat. No such problem now. Plenty of room. In fact, Deltaville is a spot where many northerners will leave their boats to return to in the fall and head south again. There was a boat yard near where we were anchored with a lot of boats “on the hard” (out of the water, stored on stands on land). We did a little tour around and saw a few Canadian boats that we knew. We took pictures of Breeze Hunter and Sweet Surrender, boats we had anchored near and visited with in the first leg of the fall trip, and sent them by email to them back home.
Now that we are back in the Chesapeake area we notice again the great hospitality toward boaters. In both Hampton and Deltaville we were given rides from people who just thought we looked like boaters and might need a lift to the store or back to the boat.
In the fall we had anchored in the Hampton harbour along with many other boats, so when we saw only three boats there we thought it would be easy. However with the direction of the wind and the way those three boats were spaced we could not find a place to put down the anchor. After circling and circling we decided to head down the creek to Sunset marina we had gone to last fall during bad weather. They were really nice, they remembered us and welcomed us back. We spent some time shopping and wandering around the very pretty town of Hampton.
Next morning, we headed out into the Bay. The wind was on our nose so we motored with the main up until the wind shifted in the afternoon and we were able to sail. The chop of the Bay made for a bouncy ride with the nose of Tiffany Rose diving into the the next wave. It was great to be in the open waters of the Chesapeake after so many narrow stretches on the Waterway. Our destination was Jackson Creek in Deltaville, another spot that had been a really crowded anchorage when we had stopped there in the fall. One of those where you are up half the night checking that you aren’t swinging into another boat. No such problem now. Plenty of room. In fact, Deltaville is a spot where many northerners will leave their boats to return to in the fall and head south again. There was a boat yard near where we were anchored with a lot of boats “on the hard” (out of the water, stored on stands on land). We did a little tour around and saw a few Canadian boats that we knew. We took pictures of Breeze Hunter and Sweet Surrender, boats we had anchored near and visited with in the first leg of the fall trip, and sent them by email to them back home.
Now that we are back in the Chesapeake area we notice again the great hospitality toward boaters. In both Hampton and Deltaville we were given rides from people who just thought we looked like boaters and might need a lift to the store or back to the boat.
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