Yorktown and Jamestown

Last night we stayed at "Joan's B&B" (in the guest room at our new C-Brat friend's house).  They have gone above and beyond any preconception of southern hospitality.  Not only was a "real bed and shower" a welcome respite, but we could get laundry done and enjoyed a wonderful homemade meal next door with his sister, her husband and their mom.  We have made new friends on this trip and will miss them!

We left the boat there and went on our way to visit Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg (staying at Williamsburg Lodge for 2 night..YAY!)  But, of course, we had to first stop at West Marine as it was on the way... and of course, "a boat is a hole in the water that you pour money into".

The Yorktown Visitor's Center is well done, explaining how General Washington tricked the Brits into thinking they were still camped outside of NYC (by leaving tents and a few troops doing drills etc)..and then marched down to Yorktown, where, combined with the French navy, they won the war for us.  Hooray! (I mean, Huzzah!... huzzah?)

We took the little trolley around town, saw the fabulous Yorktown monument (below), and the lovely coastline and little shoppes... with girls walking around in bikinis.  Looks like a nice summer retreat town.

Then we stopped at Jamestown where we saw the reconstructed Jamestown fort (small wooden buildings surrounded by tall wooden fences.  Also an example Powaton (sp?) Indian village, where we heard the true story of Pocahontas and John Smith... wait, you mean that there were no singing trees?

Along the river they had three sailing ships to represent the three ships who brought the Jamestown settlers.  No, they weren't the Nina Pinta and Santa Maria... but for whatever reason, there were three ships.  The ships apparently do sail and sometimes interpreters will bring one to other towns so that people there can tour them.

Jamestown was interesting to me since I had recently read Chesapeake by Michener where the first few chapters were about the Indians and then John Smith (who was not that favorably portrayed).

These were quick visits; worth doing, but probably better for kids than adults.  On to Williamsburg!

Yorktown VA
Jamestown VA