Kiwis and Moondance stare down the US Navy-Not.

We are now in Virginia.  We stayed one night at Chesapeake, VA and ran into New Zealanders, Monica and Warren aboard Untide.  They are Loopers also, and Monica lived in Maui and met my first cousin Tom Faught who lives there.   Small world.

After running the gauntlet of Norfolk/Portsmouth, we are anchored in the Hampton River, adjacent to Hampton, VA.  The Norfolk area has a huge naval presence, and Moondance had to run the gauntlet.  In all my years of boating, I have not experienced anything quite like Norfolk.  I’ll let the pics explain:

Coinjock Marina-our first stop in Virginia.  The marina is just before the gauntlet of locks, bridges and warships, and it was full of boats taking a respite before tackling the 50 miles to Norfolk.  The steakhouse was great.  

The lock into Norfolk heading north on the ICW.  Full of pleasure boats.  

The first thing we encountered was a Navy shipyard.  The security boats kept a close eye on us as we passed.  

Downtown Norfolk.

 Portsmouth is just across the ICW.

                                                                                    

A stealth ship?

Untide was ahead of us heading toward this carrier.  

What we did not know was that the carrier battle group was mobilizing  to head to sea.  

The carrier announced on the VHF that is was departing, and pulled out in front of Untide and Moondance.  

The Coast Guard cutter (small boat to the right) announced that there was a 500 yard security zone in effect, and lethal force was authorized to be used on any vessel beaching the zone.  We stopped!

This AWAC buzzed us keeping an eye on things, and enforcing a no fly zone as well.

This foreign flagged sailboat was flustered and hailed the Coast Guard asking them to please tell them what to do to not get shot!  

The carrier headed out and we resumed our trek to the Hampton River.  

We had time to visit Hampton.

A relative?

Hampton, home to Langley Air Force Base, has the Virginia Air and Space Center.  We will tour it tomorrow.  Enough for one day!