Day sixteen was our decompression day. We've been on the go for weeks and were ready to just have nothing planned. The weather was about ten degrees cooler so it was much easier to spend time outside. We went down to the hotel lobby and picked up an information card for Rudee Inlet Jet Ski Rentals. It was just a couple of blocks from the hotel so it seemed perfect. The girls hadn't eaten yet so we decided that it would probably be best not to do that on an empty stomach. Right next door and sharing the same parking lot was Big Sam's. We got out of the car and our second casualty of the trip occurred. Miranda's favorite flip-flops blew out. The first casualty was my sun glasses on day one. It was unremarkable "beachish" food. Laela chose the best by having the lobster BLT. I had a crab cake which was fair. I think the girls were happy with the choice of eatery. Due to it's close proximity to the jet ski rentals the view for the ladies was fantastic. There were lots of deeply tanned strapping young lads prepping the jet skis for the day's outings visible from the windows. We finished lunch and ventured next door.
It didn't take long for us to get to the jet skis. Quickly signing a few papers, putting on life jackets, and walking down the dock. They gave us a quick run through on the vehicle's operation. Safety strap, turn left, turn right, start, and stop. It was easier than riding a scooter. There were about five jet skis plus a guide in our group. Laela got her own. Miranda and I shared a jet ski. We idled our way out of the inlet and onto the Atlantic Ocean. It was fantastic! We were instructed to stay 100 yards away from all vehicles including other jet skis and we were given about a mile within which we were to operate. That was plenty of ocean. It was a little choppy and took a few minutes to get comfortable with the rolling of the ocean. I had to remind Miranda that it was like riding a motorcycle and that she was to lean with me as I leaned. She leaned into a couple of turns and we had water gushing over the side and were close to capsizing. We signed up for a one hour ride. About half way through, we met up with Laela and she had bragged to us that she'd had hers up to 48MPH. To that point I hadn't had ours over 30MPH. I took that as a challenge from Laela so we started looking for some smooth spots where we could open it up. It was right about then that the instrument gauge flaked out on our watercraft. I didn't think much of it at the time. I thought maybe some water had gotten into it and shorted it out. We got through the rest of our ride uneventfully and then were instructed to follow our guide back to the inlet. The inlet is a no wake zone so we had to idle once we got there. Not two minutes later our jet ski completely died. We were the last of the pack so we had to yell to Laela that we were dead. She then relayed it up the line until our guide heard. Meanwhile there was a yacht exiting the inlet out into the Atlantic that was headed straight for us. With our engine out and adrift, we were completely at the mercy of the current. Fortunately the yacht was able to change his course and go around us. Our guide came back with a tow rope and towed us back to the dock. Miranda was excited because it was "the cute one" who came to "rescue" us. Once we got onto the dock and met up with Laela she said all of the guides asked if we were on number 15 because they had just replaced the battery that morning. Gee guys, if you are having electrical problems with a watercraft, how about not sending customers out on it? It shouldn't be hard to fix. It's either the battery, voltage regulator, or the stator. Maybe I should have offered to troubleshoot it for them. I was a little miffed, but oh well. We got our ride in and made it back safely.
After the jet skis, the rest of the day's plan was to relax on the beach. We went to the $7.99 surf shop across the street from the hotel. We got a beach chair, a sunbrella, flip flops for Miranda, and body board. We went up to our room, changed and then spent the rest of the day hanging out on the beach. Nothing but sun, sand, and surf. Miranda and I spent most of our time in the water. It was awesome just getting to hang out with her for a couple of hours while Laela read. It was such a good time. The shadow of the hotel creeping over the beach and onto the water let us know that our time at the beach was done for the day. We headed back up to the room and then went out to dinner.
After dinner we just strolled up and down the Virginia Beach Boardwalk (which is actually cement) and onto the pier. I think I got some good photos on the pier but I haven't checked them on the computer yet. On the pier we got ice cream and then decided to walk the beach. Eating ice cream with a cookie duster as long and luxurious as mine is quite the exercise in futility. I was a mess. We went onto Atlantic Avenue afterward. We rode some of the carnival rides like the Ferris wheel and went onto the Captain Cline's Pirate Adventure ride. Miranda and I also went into the Nightmare House, but after the pirate ride turned out to be haunted house which freaked Laela out she sat that one out. That essentially wrapped up the evening and we retired to the hotel.
And so ends the Bukkit Tour. Today we'll head off in the direction of home and arrive tomorrow. I can't wait to see everyone!
