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
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  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 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?
Today, you can follow Willoughby Point at The Spectrum.
--there's still glorious sunrises at Sarah
Constant Shrine and we hope there's still a place to watch sunsets; when and if
city planners get out of denial.
 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 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 thumbnail ==>. Capt. Lane Briggs'
brilliance is often in print but he's proudest being cited by Weekly Reader, a confession which makes
you rethink your priorities. You can quote us, "Ya gotta love a guy who incites
Christmas caroling to boat crews, from his own tub!" 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") where they've served up shrimp and prime
rib "like it's going outta' style" for 28 years. Isabel
was one ill wind in 9/03 and much in Willoughby brought unwelcome changes. We've created a
memory page for the Camel, and hope you
enjoy. Please realize, space is limited from our hundreds of images we reviewed over
recent days, we included ones that translated best on the web.
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!
                     
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