King Neptune
(Imaging by R K Puma
unless otherwise noted)
Tidal Times Ad - 1981
Cap'n Lane & Best Friend
Little Bay Raft-Up
The Dixie
Nickel at Nite: Harrison's
Coin shuffle board, anyone?
Thirsty Camel
About the Nickel Tour
Web Touring
since 1997
|
  Welcome OV "Surfers"! Ocean View
is the jackpot if you want to spend endorphins, not cash. Approaching the
"Spit" from the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, you get free, a spectacularly
panoramic ride. Tolls were removed in 1976 (approximately at the completion of the
second tunnel, providing two lanes eastbound). View the *sunken submarine carcass
which lies amid the shallows behind what was Fisherman's Wharf, at low
tide. It is said it was an enemy sub that made it through the nets during World War II*.  King Neptune was near the sub, guarding it
from his latest digs: in what was the kiddie pool behind the
ever-changing restaurant. He once sat proudly atop it overseeing tidal changes from 3
Chef's Inn, to Swain's, to King Neptune, to Neptune's Galley to
one of his "last" earthy, relegation at Fisherman's Wharf. The restaurant
was damaged by Isabel. In 2005, the property including
the hotel and marina "Boatel" was purchased for development. Where is Nep NOW?
If you follow Willoughby Point where The Spectrum.went belly-up
--there's still glorious sunrises at Sarah
Constant Shrine and we hope there will always be a place to watch sunsets;
when and if city planners get out of denial-- since investors pulled out, the
"gateway" looks like Beirut; and hopefully everyone involved is
learning from the ongoing real estate bubble.
 Wanna' know more
about the Ferries? <== Click thumbnail). Also, find more details at our new
hospitality series.  Willoughby Inn ==> Click thumbnail). In
the tunnel traffic before exiting 64, you may catch a glimpse of Willoughby Inn briefly, Day's Inn, Hickey's,
and prior to that: beloved Margaret's candy store, for some of us old friends, still called that. "But 'cha cain't get
thar' from here!" as far as this exit goes, without following Bayville around to go
left at 13th View: reverse the procedure if coming due west from Virginia Beach, to get to
Willoughby Bay Marina. Well, not exactly. Storms took a toll and dear ol' Lance
Garver included the Marina in the parcel of real estate currently under
development. He kinda' earned a break for his decades on the Point.
 TRAIL'S END <== Click
thumbnail for history
on Trail's End & the Pirate's Den). Prior to tunnel/I-64 we took
ferries, recall: pot-bellied stove, sardine-can ashtrays, peanut shells/old hardwood
floor, sheep outside to trim the grass; ka-ching, bodda-bing go the
endorphins! You're now in proximity with Rebel Marine Service, home of the Norfolk
Rebel, a  "Tugantine" --tugboat
powered by sails; (Click thumbnails at right & left imgs below) Capt.
Lane Briggs' as a teenager, discovered the sea, where he worked his way to  captain, then led his four sons. Rebel Marine
Service, is still in his son David's capable hands. Lane initiated the Great Chesapeake
Bay Schooner Race, and spearheaded the largest schooner event to keep schooner sailing
alive on the Chesapeake Bay, raising money to save the bay. His generosity and charisma is
known from Maine to the Keys, Lane? If you're watchin' Cap'n, we miss that smile between
those beyootiful mutton chops,.
Down Bayville at the City Boat Ramp
on Little (aka Willoughby) Bay, you might view a "Raft-Up", linking craft and
good friends (see more of "The Wanderer"). On West
Ocean View, the incongruous Dixie, an "inconvenience store" to some,
yet they sell things you won't find at any 7-11 (a singular feat) in a nostalgic
setting: like the unplanned color/fuzzies you'd get reading a string of Burma Shave signs in Mesozoic
travels: She shot a bullet- through his hat- but he's had closer- shaves
than that- Burma Shave™
 In June 1957, the International Naval Review,
celebrated the 350th anniversary of our nation's birth: we recall beaching at "11th
Stop", seeing end-to-end the naval vessels on parade, aligned on Willoughby's
horizon. In 1907, Sewells Point, was the site of the Jamestown Expedition (honoring the 1607 Jamestown
founding's 300th anniversary). Today, from Willoughby's shoreline you can view the idyllic
Thimble Shoal
Lighthouse and the myriad of vessels that traverse the end of the Spit,
over the submerged portion of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.
Harrison's Pier was
dreamlike for an evening walk, looking into buckets of anglers to see what's biting.
The place has an ethereal aura and until a decade ago or so, you could use the coin
operated telescope: later, your kids could play video games --until Isabel got the pier.
Next door, an historic site: Griswold's, a hardware
store, which was later Paul's. In the 50's, our Dad introduced us to it as Little's Dugout. We still have the prized
"squeeze" coin purse (left), as you can see. Operated by Drewry
Little, who appeared on The Tonite Show to "whine for his swine" at Johnny
Carson over his bad press for insisting on keeping pet pig "Sweet Lips"
in his Virginia Beach restaurant (Anchor Inn). When he left the View he often
cursed the "ten cent millionaires" patronizing his new place, remorseful over
leaving the Spit. Early 70's, Barry Johns took Little's over as The Thirsty Camel but until September 2003, it was
run by Granby High pals, brothers Joe & Steve Radogna;
(who legend has it, on a caper with friends stole "Sweet Lips" --the
legend goes, that they demanded ransom, and if ignored, they'd send Drury (one porkchop a
week) while they served up shrimp & prime rib "like itwas going outta'
style" for 30+ years. Then they sold to the power couple, and it would never be
home again. Isabel was one ill wind in 9/03 and much in
Willoughby brought unwelcome changes. We will love them forever. We created a memory page for
the Camel, and hope you enjoy.
Please realize, space is limited from our hundreds of images, and included ones that
translated best on the web. The Camel is syndicate owned now and we can't in all
conscience condone your patronage there.
Have you seen Monkey Bottom and more, Part II?
We have many stops to go on the Ocean View Nickel Tour:
please book the next tour, since we haven't even cleared Willoughby Spit!
                     
The Litotes Collection | Shellfishing | Buddy Miles | Juke-Box | Willoughby | Menu | Home
©2010 AAA Writing
All Rights Reserved
|
