Sometimes you do what you have to do!!
That is exactly what six Tuesday Grouper’s, Bill B., Don R., Christine W., Carolyn S., Bob M., and Sandy C., did when Mother Nature’s predicted thunderstorms for Tuesday dictated the Hampton River paddle instead be made on Wednesday.
That turned out to be the perfect decision for a perfect day, a day that offered not only perfect paddling weather of comfortable temperatures, light winds, and dry sunny skies but also one filled with dozens of interesting Hampton area sights and sounds. The numbers and many different styles of all kinds of recreational and working boats moored at Bluewater Marina and Hampton Yacht Club, the two major pier tie-up facilities we passed, were absolutely mindboggling, in my opinion. However, these facilities were at the beginning of our paddle and just the start of all we saw after we first paddled out to the mouth of the river before reversing and then doing a complete sweep of the river starting from the VA and Hampton University side. We ended up passing about three more smaller boating clubs with pier tie-ups for larger boats before going under the first of four bridges and passing into old and new waterfront residential areas. Of course many of those too had their own private piers with more boats. Our paddle took us into the Elizabeth Lakes residential area of Hampton before we turned around and headed back toward the wing-arched roof of the Air and Space Museum and Hampton’s downtown waterfront. There we passed not only the docking area for the Hampton tour boat but also Bull Island brewing Company, Hampton’s first waterfront brewery which opened at the end of 2016. Their tables were full with drinkers and diners also enjoying the lovely weather in their own way. It was there, also, where we saw our first “humans” seen on the paddle. No kidding! Throughout our entire paddle on a beautiful day and past all those lovely waterfront homes, we commented on the fact that only one man working around his garage was the only human we saw throughout our entire paddle past dozens of homes, condos and apartment buildings. But, of course, dozens of seagulls were seen flying high and squawking above the Graham and Rollins crab plant’s piers as we turned back into Sunset Creek and the end of a wonderful day of paddling.
Oh, my bad: that was not the end of our wonderful day. It was made even better when Ellis suddenly appeared as we were loading the kayaks, and he made it even better when he joined us for lunch at Vancosta’s, one of the few remaining great “local” Hampton neighborhood restaurants. Do hope more TG’ers get the opportunity to make this interesting paddle at some point in the future.
Sandy
View Bill's photos by clicking on the link: https://flic.kr/s/aHskvR52ni