From the campsite we took a return ferry the next morning to go back in time at Jamestown to the site of the first permanent English colony on American soil.
As with Yorktown, the site was very well maintained by the National Park Service and we caught a lengthy tour by an octogenarian archaeologist which was rather good - as he enlightened us to some of the artefacts that have been discovered at the 17th century fort, over the past 14 years of digs. The museum itself was also interesting as was the running rivalry between the not for profit charity that owns a small
area of the site and the State Park Service that owns a separate section.
We spent most of the day here before heading back to our retreat at Chippokes and our campfire..
Next day we spent the morning looking around Americas oldest continuously farmed plantation of Chippokes which was by far the most enjoyable example of a lived in, well loved (by close personal friends of the Rockefellas named the Stuarts) plantation house that we have seen so far.
Moved onto Williamsburg via the ferry (yet again) but decided to forego the $40 charge to enter the ‘historic’ buildings of Williamsburg (beautified and in many cases re-constructed) in the 1930’s by Rockefeller), choosing instead to head round the main street and admire from the outside instead dipping into some of the open olde worlde shoppes which sold some exquisite cakes. Not a blade of grass out of place in this 17th century Disney recreation, complete with staff in their best 17th century skirts and trews. Good to see so many Union jack flags flying for a change (shame about the accents).
Headed off to Charlottesville for some more of the American Heritage trail.
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