Deltaville to Hampton River

Once again Maryanne suggested that we ignore the small craft advisories and head south to Norfolk.  We were able to do a little sailing and a lot of motorsailing - 7 hours in total.  The number of different ships, barges, tugs, pleasure craft and military craft was daunting at the entrance.  We dodged a couple of tugs pushing gravel and one good sized ship.  It was strange to take a channel that brought us next to a highway bridge that descended into a tunnel underneath us.  We followed what seemed to be a crooked narrow channel into Hampton River.  Coming into docks is always a challenge for us.  The Hampton Public Piers was no exception.  The staff was incredibly helpful with the docking but we did manage to drift a little to starboard - perilously close to another sailboat in the berth next to us.  Fortunately, the skipper was alert and not only pushed us off but extended his body almost completely over the water to hold us in place while we awkwardly tied a line off our stern to a piling.  Meanwhile, two workers from the Public Piers handled our bow line and a spring line amidships.  The dockmaster made an excellent recommendation for dinner - the Conch 'n Bucket.  Outstanding jambalaya for me and vegetarian fare for Maryanne.

This is one of the guys we dodged on our way in to Norfolk

Our berth at Hampton Pubic Peers.  They provided the stairs for us
despite the fact that Maryanne would prefer to swing ashore on
a halyard Tarzan style.

This lovely Hinckley arrived in Hampton 3 days out of Newport, RI.
(It took us 3 weeks from LI.)  The delivery crew washed and polished
every inch of the boat for the new owner who was taking delivery in Hampton.