Before the start of our busy season, we took a vacation trip to Virginia Beach, Va. and decided to stay at the Fort Story campground at the north end of Virginia Beach. Fort Story is an Army base with about four miles of beachfront where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the site of the first landing of colonists in Virginia and the site of the old and new Cape Henry Lighthouses. The old lighthouse is an historic structure which was the first project (I believe) authorized by Congress. The old lighthouse is open to the public and one can climb the 181 steps to the top of the lighthouse for a fantastic view of the area. Fort Story is also convenient to many attractions in the southeast Virginia locale.
Below is a pictoral chronicle of our trip.
The campground is heavily wooded with plenty of shade and space to spread out.
One of our favorite things to do is simply sit along the shore and watch the dolphins and shore birds. Fort Story has a seawall with a viewing deck behind the harbormaster building.
The Atlantic dolphins cruise up and down the coastline all day long sometimes coming within a few feet of the shore.
This fellow looks like something was munching on his dorsal fin.
They are playful critters sometimes leaping far out of the water and slapping their tails on the water (but also hard to photograph).
In addition to the dolphins, there are many other sights to be seen at the beach. Footprints left in mystery and soon to be erased forever.
An osprey cruising looking for a meal.
This one was successful - notice the small fish in his left talon as he leaves the water.
A dragonfly posing on a reed.
A ghost crab which appears to have a look of wonderment on its face.
How about these gulls that seem to be practicing for synchronized flying.
Or this one who prefers the solitary life.
A bit out of character but this came flying by.
One of my favorite beach characters, a brown pelican.
Not only do they seem to have a personality, but they are also natural clowns.
Here three of them are cruising together on their way to nowhere. When they get there, they turn around and go back the other way.
What is that saying...something about your eyes are bigger than your stomach? He eventually gave up on the fish and went looking for something he could stomach.
If you can't catch one yourself, why not take one that someone else caught?
Here are both of the Cape Henry lighthouses - the new one has vertical black and white stripes. The yellow on top of the old lighthouse is a large yellow ribbon in honor of our servicemen overseas.
The new one is operational and closer to the ocean than the old.
Here again are both lighthouses as seen from the beach.
Here I am walking up the steps to the top of the hill just so I can climb to the top of the lighthouse.
Pat about to climb the last set of stairs at the very top of the lighthouse.
From the top you can see the new Cape Henry lighthouse and passing ships.
Since Fort Story is at the mouth of the Chesapeake you get to see all the shipping entering and leaving the bay, This one has a Chinese name but I don't have any idea what it is.
The smaller boat alongside the ship is a pilot boat. The pilot boats carry the pilots to the ships entering and leaving port. The pilots transfer while underway.
On this sectional enlargement you can see the pilot about to climb down the ladder from the ship to the pilot boat.
In addition to the cargo vessels, there are many naval ships entering and leaving the bay. Some are in a hurry, perhaps the captain slept in........
Others leave at a more leisurely pace. This one had an anchor partially down and seemed to be sailing in circles
A transport ship of some sort?
Not a Navy ship but close enough.
This is not the same ship as above but seems to be a similar type.
This too appears to be similar.
Now for something different. Seals or special forces maybe. It looks like something out of a James Bond movie.
If anyone can tell me what kind of ships these are I would be glad to label them.
We can't spend all of our time on the beach. This series is from a trip to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
The botanical gardens is on a large tract of land and you can either walk around or ride one of the trams. This one is painted like a bumblebee.
This guy was buzzing around some flowers.
Too bad it wasn't turned around so the light would have been better.
There were many butterflys in one area of the gardens.
As well as a few bees.
Butterflys are not only easier but safer.
A spider and a dragonfly.
In one area there was this stand of trees that got my attention.
Another trip was to the Virginia Beach Aquarium and marine museum. This green heron was spotted roosting in a tree with feathers ruffled by the wind.
For those who are curious, this is a sea otter.
The aquarium has more than fish. This is a brown pelican in their aviary from a rather unusual perspective.
This egret seems to like posing.
Usually we get to see these from below.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner.
What is this? Why a jellyfish of course.
And another. They make wonderful trails of light as they move through the water.
Oops, a couple of sharks plotting perhaps.
A sunset to end the day and this journey.
I am willing to bet that one of these days one of these pelicans will find its way onto the sunset photo above.
That's all for this trip. If you enjoyed or have any comments, please feel free to e-mail me using the button below.
If you haven't had enough of my photos, visit http://www.johnhormphotography for more.
