The VA Beach Boardwalk

Sunday, 30 June
Sea Mist RV Park — NAS Oceana, Dam Neck Annex — Virginia Beach, Virginia
Temps: Lo 74F / Hi 83F (23C / 28C)

Figured out another plus to the new awning curtain (post here) — to some extent it acts as a rain barrier — assuming the wet stuff is light and the wind isn’t blowing.  We’ve had on and off rain since I last posted four days ago.  Even then, when the temperature and humidity allowed it, I was able to sit on the patio without getting wet — or more importantly, without getting the laptop wet.  That’s a good thing ;-)

We’ve been busy, even if it wasn’t to go out and explore the area.  Only one of our planned walks happened; the others were rained out.  We could have gone to a museum or two, I suppose, but with beach activities curtailed, we figured they would be crowded with visitors looking for alternative fun.  Besides, we’re not all that into museums.  So, we focused our attention on other things instead — most of them not blog-worthy.  We expect to be particularly active during the September-December time frame, so we see nothing wrong with having a couple of slow summer months to make sure our batteries are fully charged before we go on our sea-air-road vacation.

Where did we go on that one walk that didn’t get rained out?  To the Virginia Beach Boardwalk — rightfully designated a “Great Public Place” in 2009.  It wouldn’t be my cup of tea when it is choc-a-block people, but early on a weekday morning, it was a great place for an easy walk.  (All of the photos in today’s blog are from the boardwalk.)

To beat the heat and humidity, Thursday morning we left home shortly after 6:00a and drove the 7.5 miles (12 km) from our campground at Dam Neck Annex to the south end of the boardwalk.  We arrived just in time to nab one of the two remaining parking spots near the boat channel that are free until 10:00a.  With our to-go-breakfast and a couple of bottles of water stowed in Mui’s daypack, we started our 6-mile round-trip walk shortly after 6:30a.

The sun was still low on the horizon; the temp was already at 75F (24C), but with a low humidex; and a light breeze was coming off the ocean to keep us comfy.  In other words, perfect walking weather.

While I wouldn’t describe the boardwalk as deserted, it sure wasn’t crowded.  Fishermen had their poles in the water at the south end of the boardwalk … surfers were trying to catch a wave or two — not very successfully since the ocean wasn’t cooperating … people were sitting on benches, sipping lattes and reading books or newspapers … bikers were spinning up and down the bike path that parallels the pedestrian-only boardwalk … strollers and speed-walkers, and runners and joggers were giving their feet a workout … guests at hotels and condos were chatting quietly on balconies warmed by the rising sun … here and there shop owners were raising shutters and setting out displays to attract buyers.

A short ways up the boardwalk, we sat on a bench to eat our breakfast and do some light-people-watching.  A little further along, we stopped to take a look at the Old Coast Guard Station that is now a museum.  Had it been open, we would have gone in to check out the exhibits, but we were three hours too early.  So, we took a gander at pieces of a shipwreck (top right in the collage below) exhibited outside and moved on.

Found in December 1993 near the shoreline following a winter storm, the wreckage is thought
to be part of the the barkentine Nettie, which sailed from the West Indies to Norfolk with a
cargo of salt and wrecked 1.5 miles south of the Little Island Life-Saving Station on January 7, 1894.

The next stop on our route was at the Naval Aviation Monument.  It was a short stop.  Not because it wasn’t interesting, but because the temp and humidity were rising, and we still had a ways to go to get to the end of the boardwalk and then make the return trip back to the car.

Top Left: The Homecoming … the family reunited.
bottom left: The Team … the modern force - Naval Aviation in the 21st Century.
center: Pilots man your planes … the Greatest Generation - Naval Aviation in WWII.
Right: Where It Began … the Birthplace of Carrier Aviation.

It was 8:00a by the time we finally got to the north end of the boardwalk.  By then the breeze had died down, and the humidity had increased to make us feel sticky and uncomfortable.  As luck would have it, a big cloud moved in to veil the sun for nearly the duration of our walk back to the car, affording us some relief.

Not feeding the parking meter.  Rather, trying to feed the “donation” meter.
Alas none would take our coins.  They were either jammed or not yet operational.
[click the photo on the left for a more legible size]

A stop at the bank; another one to check out Ocean Pines, the off-base military campground at NAS Oceana, and we were back home in time for lunch.

(As an aside for those readers who are eligible to stay at military campgrounds: While Ocean Pines seems like a decent campground, we didn’t care for its ambiance for a long-term stay … too many sites seemed to be occupied by homesteaders.  An oddity at this campground — the sewer hook-up is in the middle of the pad!!!  That said, if we needed a place for a night or two, and wanted to be closer to the commissary and BX than we are at Sea Mist, we would definitely consider Ocean Pines.)

So far the forecast for the first week of July has more rain and overcast than sunshine.  The likelihood of getting out and doing something blog-worthy is small, but you never know — stay tuned.