Deltaville to Hampton VA

We had an uneventful motorsail from Deltaville to Hampton, if you don't count the time we were aground in the channel leaving Deltaville...it was a very low tide, and even in the channel we hit bottom (it's only muck, so it doesn't do any damage except to ego's). We managed to power our way out of it and continued on our way. There were dozens of other boats out doing the same trip as us, heading for Hampton, staging point for the ICW and also for the Caribbean 1500 (a cruising rally which goes from here out past Bermuda (doesn't stop there) and down to the British Virgin Islands. It is a yearly rally, a big deal in these parts!). Needless to say, it was very crowded in this little harbour and we had to fight for a spot to anchor! There is a great Canadian contingent here, and for a couple of nights there were 8 Canadian flagged boats in this one part of the river where we were anchored!

Halloween arrived and the folks on the Quebec boats were into it in a big way! "Coxily" and "Snow Goose" and "Victoria's Secret" and "Migo" all have kids of various ages aboard, so they were all dressed up and ready to party and trick or treat by 5 pm! They had previously met Clare, and so she and Graham were invited to go along with them. There was a flurry of activity while they got themselves costumed - Clare in her wet suit and mask, Graham wrapped in tensor bandages as an accident victim! They had a ball and made friends with the other kids to boot.

Larry, Graham, Jan, Iain and I figured out the bus system in Hampton and made a foray to the West Marine to pick up a few odds and ends for the trip down - with a stop at the ever popular Wal-Mart for jeans, groceries and sundries.

Thursday night, the forcast warned that we would be feeling the effects of Tropical Depression Noel that night, with gusts up to 40 knots, so we prepared the boat (after having drinks with fellow Canadians Heather and Stuart from "Our Overdraught" on Jan and Iain's boat!) lashing down anything that could fly off the deck, and bringing down cockpit cushions etc. We got all snugged up, and let the wind howl! We were fine, but remain on alert today, as the winds are meant to be even stronger tonight. We will probably spend most of the day on the boat, as a precaution.

Graham is looking forward to exploring more of Hampton (there is tons to see here, a very historic city) in particular, he is hoping to see the Imax movie at the nearby Air and Space Museum. There is also the Cousteau Society to visit as well as museums. In the meantime, I must help Graham with school work (that can be a battle!!)