Kayak Virginia Beach

Cape Charles to Kiptopeke - Chesapeake Bay

The family had mentioned that they would like to go to Cape Charles, and hang out at the beach there for the day. This got me thinking, I could go, and kayak somewhere on the Chesapeake Bay, something I had not done yet...

I did a quick look at the maps, and figured it was about 8 miles, ended up being just over 9 miles.

I launched from the beach at Cape Charles, the only issue is the up and over the dunes on the boardwalk part, the walkway could be just a little wider, two people can pass, but if one is carrying a kayak, it gets a little tight. You have to wade out a bit to get into deep enough water, depending on where on the beach you launch from and the tide, it is about 20 or 30 yards to knee high water.

The trip was nice, but a little disappointing, because I expected the shore line to be a little more wild. There is essentially a house every quarter mile or less, for the entire 9 miles, and I was hoping for a little wilderness. There are at least 6 or 7 fish weirs, that you will have to contend with, they all have a net running from the shore to the weir attached to a string of floats, not hard to see at all, with the top of the net about 6 inches below the surface.

For the most part of the trip, the water was fairly smooth, but about 3 quarters of the way, it was real choppy, I guess it may have been the change in the tides.

I had a chance to also visit the Concrete Ships I had heard of them before, but I did not know the history, I thought they were targets or something along those lines. The concrete ships were former WW-II Navy Ships, that now, and for 60 years have made up the breakwater for the the old ferry landing. They had a lot of wear and tear, but for essentially sitting unmaintained for 60 years, they still looked pretty good. Just think a couple hundred bags of concrete, and you have your own mega yacht. :-)

I used the ramp at Kiptopeke, but you could use the beach to the North or South of the pier just as easy, and probably a bit safer. I used the ramp, because it was empty, and that is where the truck was. I had a brain fart, and forgot to take pictures of the ramp and facilities, but it is a state park, with full facilities.