Wednesday April 9 Jamestown, Yorktown and Chatham Virginia

65666  (Hope the 666 doesn't prove to be foreboding!) 141 miles  Sunny  57-65*  Diesel $3.69  The leaf is still on the windshield but becoming brittle

We said good bye to our nice hotel and the family we met from Maine.  We drove to Jamestown in time to get the Ranger tour.  We learned that John Rolf's party picked an island in a swamp to set up their colony which in the end, proved to be their downfall.  The Powhatan Indians held the inland colonists under siege for months till only 60 were left. To survive, all the animals were eaten and there was evidence that cannibalism had prevailed. The Indians gave up the siege and the colonists headed for Europe only to be met by ships coming to their aid. The group returned to Jamestown and the colony was active for about 90 years before life in the swamp became too unproductive.  The museum on site had many artifacts and a few skeletons that have been preserved. As we were leaving the park, a ranger was pointing out the large eagle's nest where we could almost see little heads waiting for a meal.

At the Visitors Center in Yorktown, we caught the trolley for a trip around the village.  We had lunch at at local spot and watched a schooner sailing in the bay.  We learned that the shop signs in town generally did not have words on them since many colonists couldn't read.

Later in the afternoon, we got back on US 17 heading to Fredericksburg, Virginia.  I finally saw a cardinal and a blue bird.   Such brilliant colors!  The road was again 4 quiet lanes with hardly any traffic.  The countryside was rather flat with only one "hill" 170' above sea level.

These trees are in bloom.  They may
be red bud trees but still not
sure.

Park Ranger tour guide in Jamestown explaining about
this foundation in New Town

Local ferries passing on the James River

Fort walls held with wooden pegs

Jamestown model of the fort

Sonny looking over the swamp

Can you see the turtles?

It's hard to get perspective but the little shiny spots are baby turtles.

This one was the size of a hubcap!

Here's another biggy one

Yorktown Victory Monument
It was constructed in 1881 of
Maine granite. It was heavily
damaged by lightening in
1956 so now it has a lightening rod.

Quiet back street in Yorktown

Couldn't resist the oyster sandwich.

So pretty

Yorktown battle field

Mounds still remain

Gopher? Wood chuck?

Sonny would like one of these for a yard ornament

Leaving  Yorktown for Fredericksburg, VA