Hampton, VA 7 June 2009

We spent Friday June 5th at Great Bridge all day because of the periodic torrential rains. On Saturday the 6th we left Great Bridge,VA at 8 am catching the Bridge and the Lock without any competing traffic. It was overcast all day but no rain. Later in the morning a fleet of power boats and trawlers heading north in the seasonal migration passed us as they speed ed up the ICW. As we passed Norfolk we saw a large ocean liner tied up at the city docks with a huge HDTV screen on the top deck capturing the tourists pictures who looked like they were enjoying their stay on the ship. The Navy Shipyards looked as busy as ever. As we crossed over the bay into Hampton there was the usual container ship and barge traffic. Once we docked at Blue Water Marina we were surrounded by pirate activity- the Black Beard festival was going on with a battle between two tall ships and pirate flags heralding the activity. At night we watched the fireworks display across the harbor. Today we are going to head up Cheasapeake Bay about 55 miles to an anchorage and then on Monday to Spring Cove Marina in the Solomons for some minor ship maintenance.