Raven at Yorktown.

 

We had a windy and sometimes stormy trip from New Bern to Yorktown. The trip took awhile, because several times we had to hunker down and wait for the weather to pass. The best plan turned out to be get up early, travel until about 2 pm, and then put down the hook and wait for the afternoon thunderstorm. Unlike Texas, the thunderstorms here actually cool off the weather, so I like ‘em.

Leaving Norfolk, once we cleared the ship channels (multiple, full of really, really big ships) we managed a four hour sail before the wind dropped to the single digits. Our first attempt to anchor in a creek off the Poquoson River was kind of exciting, as the chart showed plenty of water and there wasn’t. Surprise! The clue was the sticks helpful people had stuck in the mud to warn folks that their charts were off… On Raven there was a flurry of reverse and churn and hard to port, and then we popped out again into the current. Try number two was on the Poquoson River itself, further out in the channel than we wanted, but good enough. We got rocked a bit by enthusiastic boaters coming down the main channel of the Poquoson, but then the thunderstorm showed up, drenched everyone, and the traffic died right down.

Another good day sail brought us around the point and up the York River to our current stop, a marina on the north side of the river, right across from Yorktown. Having been buffeted by the weather for two weeks, we were happy to stop, especially enjoying a local cold front that sent the temperatures down to the low 80s, with a crisp blue sky overhead. Unfortunately, it didn’t last.

A long day trip to New Bern in a rental to get our car let us have easy transportation, and we have spent our time visiting the nearby historical sights. 

Entrance to the museum at Jamestown.

Full of living history exhibits, the museums at Yorktown and Jamestown have taught us a bit about how people lived in the 1600s (Jamestown) and the 1700s (Yorktown). I’m very happy I live now. My belief is that people who are nostalgic for the olden days didn’t live in them. One particularly scary exhibit was the army doctor’s field hospital in the Revolutionary War camp. Wow. The treatments, cures, and instruments were the stuff of nightmares. You should have seen what he used to do a root canal. Without anesthetic of any kind. Then there were the stories of the women who came to Jamestown in the 1600s, dealing with disease, starvation, privation, and laws so strict that one woman was beaten so severely she miscarried. This for misusing thread. Not kidding.

Inside the re-created church at Jam, complete with very hard pews.

Ships at Jamestown. That bowsprit in the center of the picture is about 20 feet long.

Drum and fife corps at Yorktown. Drums were used to signal the soldiers in the field, relaying orders.

Yorktown

Army camp "living history" at the American Revolutionary War Museum in Yorktown. Tents slept six soldiers; one each day had the responsibility to cook for the tent.

KP, Revolutionary War style. The design of this camp kitchen was original to the Romans. If it ain't broke...

What's for dinner, circa 1783. That would be beans, hard tack, salted meat.

Working farm at Yorktown.

The terms for the surrender of the British forces at Yorktown were decided in this house, the Moore House, a grand old mansion overlooking the river.

This past Fourth of July weekend brought the expected crowds to what has to be Ground Zero for the Revolutionary War. I thought the fireworks were tepid, framed as they were by roiling storm clouds and sheet lightening. The overall effect was ominous and quite appropriate for this time in our history. (IMO, it’s my blog).

So...we’re kind of paused. As we were warned, it’s hot here in the summer! Not sure what we will do next. Some days, making iced tea is all we’re up for. Stay tuned.

Sunrise is still the best time of day!