Day 80 – N 37° 01.472’ W 76° 20.457’ Hampton, VA

In spite of the strong northeast winds and high waves yesterday, our passage from Yorktown to Hampton was really quite nice.  We sailed most of the way and as we were travelling east and south for the most part, the wind was either on our beam or behind us.  We were surfing down some 5-foot waves, but this is preferred to trying to push through against them.  In fact, we put out our sails before leaving the mooring, and just sailed off the mooring.  This later came back to haunt us when Peter went to start the engine before taking in the sails, the key was not in the ignition, as it usually is when we have started out motoring, and we had to search a bit to find it.  We arrived in Hampton before 14:00 and decided to take a slip at the city marina.  The anchorage just looked too small and congested.

Space capsules at VASC

We spent the afternoon after arriving taking care of some chores to get ready for our departure from the Bay and our trip down the ICW through VA and NC.  Peter took the dinghy out of the water for the first time in 2 weeks, and found it almost totally encrusted with tiny barnacles.  It took quite a while to scrub all that mess off, then we deflated it and stowed it aboard.  We also topped off the water tanks and washed and dried the dirty laundry.  After doing the chores, we took a walk for a few blocks in the vicinity of the city piers, and found the Virginia Air and Space Center.

Fighter aircraft view from 2nd level

Scale model rockets - Saturn V in the center

Today was dedicated to enjoying the Air and Space Center, a NASA museum that traced the history of manned flight from pre-Wright Brothers to the present and conjecture on the future.  It featured real aircraft suspended from cables in the ceiling, models of rockets, and simulators that could be tried, a very hands-on place.  The exhibits could be viewed from three levels, and on the top level there was also a pavilion overlooking the Hampton River.  The view took in the entire Hampton River plus the mouth of the James River, with Norfolk in the background.  We spent the entire morning there until 12:30, then we went up the street to Marker 20 for a crabcake lunch, followed by ice cream cones from the ice cream shop we passed while walking to Marker 20.  The Air and Space Center also featured an IMAX theater, and they were showing the latest Star Trek 3D movie, so we upgraded our tickets to include the afternoon showing of Star Trek.  There were only six people in the entire theater when the movie started, so we had our choice of seating.  The 3D was spectacular, and Peter found himself ducking to avoid objects that were flying off the screen at times.

View south down Hampton River to Norfolk from VASC

So that wraps up our exploration of the Chesapeake Bay.  Early tomorrow morning we will head south, past Norfolk into the Elizabeth River and begin our trek home.  After passing through the ICW to Morehead City, NC, we hope to get into the Atlantic Ocean for a good part of the return trip, but of course that will depend on the weather.  We are already watching Tropical Storm Andrea, and planning an extra day (Friday) at the marina in Coinjock, NC while she passes by that area.