Hampton, Salt Ponds Marina Virginia (June 5 2019)

So, we had waited out the weather and continued to make our way up the coast. We motored a fair amount and bashed our way up the coast, and pulled into Hampton, Virginia. On our way in we saw our first dolphins playing in the shipping lane. Also, Raven was full of Dragonflies and flying fish that we had picked up during the night. Needless to say, once we tied up in the marina the cats on the boat next to us loved us!
Wind Ensemble that left the Abacos prior to us had waited out the weather in South Carolina. Now they also had pulled into Salt Ponds along with crew member Shannon from Aventis. Down the street Anne and Steve- Happy Times had a home where they lived about 3 blocks from the marina. All that have been mentioned…Happy Times, Aventis and Wind Ensemble were boats that were in Suntex Marina in Florida and then in the Abacos with us. Such a very small world, well now we were already having a mini reunion. Steve and Ann gracious host and hostess invited us all over for a barbeque at their beautiful home on the beach. It had been barely been a week since we had all seen each other but it already felt we had a years’ worth of experience and adventure to share. In just a few days we had all been through so much.
Now we were starting to experience this boating life without a car. We broke out our little folding bikes and started to explore Hampton. Fort Monroe, Space Museum were pretty close to scoot to. Kent and Kathy from Wind Ensemble rented a car and I jumped in with them and we saw where the US basically started its roots in Jamestown. Here in Hampton our history lessons started and as we continued to tour the Chesapeake grew.
The reason for tying up in Salt Ponds was to regroup and to be able to leave Raven in a safe place as we flew home to see our gorgeous niece Kelsea marry her love Kristopher. Such a beautiful wedding and we were able to be with friends and family.
While we were gone Wind Ensemble crew left for home as well. We were able to spend another couple of days with Happy Times before we pushed off to explore the Chesapeake!