Title: Jamestown, Virginia to Aberdeen, North Carolina

November 22, 2004 -

Today was supposed to be a quick day at Jamestown historic settlement (re-creating the time period of the first settlement - early 1600s) complete with a reconstructed fort, ships and native village). Unfortunately, there were also 1700 school kids that were going through the settlement as part of their school program. Therefore things were a bit crowded and loud - at least for the early part of the day. Decided as a result to go with one of the guided tours - and then back track to things after the crowds clear out.

The Indian village construction - as well as some of their handcrafts (rope making, skin scraping, etc.) were fun especially as the kids were able to try to do most of the chores. - as were the demonstrations on how to make needles, awls and fishhooks from bones. The kids also helped in the making of a dugout canoe - which the natives used fire to soften the inner part of log which is then scraped out by sea shells. One interesting thing was that in the early days the locals used to view the local native customs as demon worship and tried to restrict them. As a result the local natives stated that they would never reveal the details of their religion - which they never have. There is a 'circle of dancing' made of carved poles in the sight - that replicates one that was found nearby - but no one knows what they were actually used for. The local Powaten still come and use it on occasion leaving behind a bit of tobacco but they won't explain what they did there or allow non-natives to attend.

The settlement also had reconstructions of the three ships that were used to come to Jamestown. The largest of these three ships is considerably smaller than the Mayflower. The smallest of the three ships (the Discovery) - was only 49 feet long - and was primarily used for exploring the James River and other parts of the coast. However, it is hard to imagine what it would have been like to cross the Atlantic in a ship this small.

The reconstructed fort - had demonstrations of the early muskets (lit with a wick) and small ship's cannon. There were also smaller armored breast plates and helmets that the kids could try on. There was even a house that was being built - and you could see how the walls and the thatching is done.

Plans for a campfire tonight had to be postponed - due to the rain storm that set in. Therefore we had to satisfy ourselves with a couple of hands of Canasta.


November 23, 2004 -

Although it was a cloudy day, and sprinkled rain throughout the day, we were still able to get a considerable amount of site seeing in. First stop was into Yorktown Settlement - to see the museum and historic settlement. The settlement was from the time of the American Revolutionary War (mid 1700s)- and shows both a rural farm as well as a military camp.

On the "Time Line" into the settlement - there was a number of quotes around taxation from both British politicians and Colonists - that led up to the revolution. It is interesting to see how events were interpreted - depending on which side of the issue you were on. For example - the British tried to introduce taxation of the colonials to help pay for the war and the cost of the soldiers that were placed in the colonies to protect them from the French and Spanish. The colonists who boarded the ships in Boston disguised as Indians and dumped 100,000 pounds of tea into the harbour were viewed as patriots. In another place and time or with a different result they'd be viewed as terrorists - hiding their identities and trying to blame someone else.
While we were reading all the background to the revolution, Keelan found a large bug - that was about the size of a praying mantis - but had a large rough razor back. We'll have to check our bug book to see if we can find out what it is.

The farm provided a good demonstrations of the crops that were grown and picked (tobacco and cotton) as well as the process of turning flax into cloth. They had dried many of their summer crops - and were working on some of their winter crops - lettuce, broad beans, etc. There were even a couple of Muscovey ducks, guinea hens and turkeys (risky this close to Thanksgiving). The boys learned that their jobs on the farm would be picking the seeds out of the cotton or picking the slugs and worms off of the tobacco and feeding them to the turkeys.

The Military encampment - was brigade strength , and had an interesting display of both field medical treatment (or lack their off - considering their lack of knowledge of germs and bacteria - and the British embargo on pain relief medication), and their group cooking facilities. Each tent of six men had a hole in a circular earthen structure that had 8-10 similar holes where they'd have their cooking fire. They could bake or boil in the holes and the ashes went on top to form a mound. It was surprisingly smokeless. The military actors also demonstrated the loading and shooting of muskets (now with a flint lock) - as well as a cannon - which Mickey was delighted to help with (taking on the role of the munitions provider). He stood so proudly at attention during the exercise that he put some of the others to shame.

It was interesting to note that during the Revolutionary war - the American forces were assisted by the French - who they promised never to forget for their help, and that the British got assistance from a number of Africans who were promised freedom if they won. One British officer that was pinned down in Yorktown - was so short of food and supplies during the siege - that he cut the African soldiers loose - to the no-man's land between the two lines. There was also mention of the burning of homes, torture and hunting of "Tory" or British supporters by American forces both as a part of the war effort - as well as by citizens in general.

After leaving the settlement area - we toured through the Village of Yorktown and the battle sites from the civil war. Some interesting ramparts - and battle sites in the area (including one civil war trench earthworks that runs through our campground). The local area is also the site of a major naval base - as well as huge naval weapons facility. Lots of large buildings around - and military police everywhere.

Back to the campground - and off on about an hour bike ride through the back woods. The state park has a series of bicycle trails - and with almost no one in the campground - the trails were empty and covered with leaves.


November 24, 2004 -

Up this morning - and off on the road again. This is the day before American Thanksgiving - and the busiest travel day of the year - so we wanted to be off the road as soon as we could. We have reservation in another RPI resort in North Carolina - outside of Jackson Springs. However the detours around Suffolk and the construction through Durham (the town actually apologizes for the construction delays on their welcome signs) caused us to be later than we had hoped. In Durham it seemed that every road that we were on was under construction - and we changed highways four times.

We traveled beside both cotton and peanut fields. They had the big combines out picking the cotton and making big square bales - (3 m. x 3 m. x 7 m.). Every where they are sat down - or when they are being transported - the loose little pieces of cotton. When we first came across the white fluff in the ditch - we thought it was snow and panicked. The peanuts were for the most part picked - however there are lots of wholesale peanut outlets - with peanuts that are both plain and flavoured. Will have to see if we get time to try some.

Arrived at the resort and got set up just before a short torrential rainstorm. By arriving - we seem to have reduced the median age considerably - as most people here seem to be into their retirement years - and almost all of the sites have at least one golf cart. Apparently we are surrounded by about 30 golf courses within an hours drive and the town just down the road calls itself the Golf Capital of America. One of the golf courses that we saw on the way up even advertised night golf under the lights. The campground is also about half an hour away from Rockingham Raceway which would be another draw. Fort Bragg military facility is also close by so we have moved from a naval area to an army one.

The campground appears to be fairly nice - with a club house, store and a pool that is still open (nice to be far enough south that they are still open). There is also supposed to be a bass stocked lake down the road - so will have to see how well the port-a-bote works.

The weather forecast is predicting the possibility of high wind and more rain tonight - but this seems to be the best alternative. There is severe snow storms to the north and west of us, and gales and tornado warnings along the coast to the east. Think we will stay put for a couple of days and see what the morning brings.

November 25, 2004 -

American Thanksgiving. The store at the campground is closed. However the clubhouse has stoves in it that people have booked - and you can see people riding by in their golf cart -carrying roasting pans with turkeys in them. There is a large variety of golf carts here - with a variety of custom made or home made attachments. Some come with covers and some have then added portable propane space heaters to - so that they can be warm as they travel around. They run around the campground silently, sometimes scaring the pants off of you and although we feel left out as we don't have one, everyone waves at us anyway.

Apparently in talking to one of the people here - the campground offers a deal whereby you volunteer your time for upward of three months - helping out cooking, cleaning up, setting up for special functions, etc - and you get your site rental during that time for free. As most of the retired people are looking for something to do anyways - this makes for a good deal for them. Dad started thinking about this as a way we could extend our holidays longer - but Mom does feel that we need to go back to work at some point. Oh well - it may be an option for some future time.

As the boys had picked up putters and balls for the Mini Golf course and there was no one around today - they and mom played several games of mini-golf. Unfortunately it is a bit too cool for the outside pool - but maybe it will warm up a bit more later on this week.

The boys came back and started working on their school work - and we will see if we can put in some good efforts over the next couple of days in order to get ahead. It will also give them time to do some neater writing - when they do not have to contend with the RV bouncing down the road.

Dad is happy doing some puttering around the motor home and watching a number of the college football games that are on today. Although we are getting not bad television reception - and adequate cell reception, there is not enough strength for the computer internet connection - so are without the ability to do up emails (which we had planned on) plus do some research as to where we are going to go from here.


November 26, 2004 -

Went into town to buy groceries in the early afternoon and to see the remnants of the day after Thanksgiving shopping madness. Their were cars pulling out of the campground at 5:30 to be in line for when the stores opened - as many opened their doors early and had big sales promotions. The local Wal-Mart for example had cloths irons, hair driers, toasters and fondue kits on for 4.99 each, coffee makers, food processors for 10.00, etc.

Thankfully - we have very little room in the RV to partake in much of this - so we only picked up groceries and headed for home.

There was a little church just down the road from the Campground - that as we were driving by there was a small service - in a flag draped coffin - and a small military honor guard. It quickly brought back how real the war was for so many of the families here. One of the things that we have noticed that people have been doing is putting little electric candle lights in the windows - to show that they are keeping the lights on for the soldiers to return home. Many of the homes have gone to the point of having a candle in every window - and it can be quite moving at night in some areas.

Back to the campground for the afternoon - where the kids worked on their school work and Dad started working on some of the genealogy stuff he brought along. This is the material that he had all loaded several years ago and then lost in a computer crash - so needless to say he is backing up the information on a regular basis. Most of the time he sat outside at the picnic table - but there was a bit of a wind so he ended up being pretty chilly by dark. However it was nothing that hot chocolate and winning at Canasta couldn't cure.


November 27, 2004 -

A cool night but up to a clear morning. Down to the club house for a breakfast of egg, sausages, biscuits and grits - the grits were not a big hit with the kids. The Club House is a large 1900's log house - complete with dining room - TV Lounge, and Bathrooms with large claw tubs. Quite a nice treat.

The kids then spent a couple of hours in a craft program that the campground ran - and when they came back they wanted to go an play at the basketball court with a boy they had met there. As Mom had seen the boy's interactions at the craft program - she initially limited the time - however the boys came back early - having walked away from the kid - as he was pushy and destructive. Keelan ended up with a sprained ankle as a result of the kid's antics.

Boys spent some of the afternoon doing up lessons - and getting a package ready to send back to the school. Worked hard - and then headed down to the store for ice cream.

Dad continued to work on the genealogy material that he had brought with him throughout the afternoon - outside at the picnic table - the temperature made it very comfortable.

Started to cloud up and rain again this evening - with some fairly significant downpours. Hopefully it will clear up tomorrow.

November 28, 2004 -

Although it rained off and on throughout the night - woke up to a clear and sunny morning. This place is obviously used to torrential downpours - as it has rock lined banks built up to direct the water down channels and away from the campsites.

Went into a little old style diner for breakfast / lunch. Great food for cheap - however it seems unusual walking into a restaurant that still allows smoking - let alone to have the staff smoking in the kitchen. Oh well - this is the golden triangle of the tobacco companies - and you see their advertising every (supporting the community, parks, living museums, etc.) so this will probably be one of the last places that will be able to get a smoking ban in public areas.

I am beginning to understand why the Carolina's produces so many good race car drivers. The rural roads around here - although paved - are about 2.5 feet narrower than an ordinary road, and do not have any shoulder. They tend to be somewhat windy and have flat banked corners. The speed limits vary - but are frequently the same as the interstates. As a result - if you are able to survive the first couple of years of driving - you probably become pretty good at it. It is nothing to see the local drivers - putting their outside wheel at or over the shoulder - to use it as a bit of a track to "pull you around the corner". However driving these roads in the motor home can be a bit unnerving - as there is no where to move over for someone. The locals don't seem to mind at all - as they just go whizzing past at every chance they get.

Carolina is also the first place that we have seen a motor home pulling an restored '57 Chevy as their tow vehicle. When he fired that thing up to "idle" around the campground - you could hear it for a quite a distance. You kept expecting the fed's to come charging in looking for moonshine...

Deb and the boys went down to the "Hen House" to make cookies and do school work. The cookies seemed to be a big hit with everyone that stopped in - and Deb had to give away the recipes a couple of times (Thanks to Mickey's best friend's mom for the great cookies we've enjoyed - the recipe is spreading further a field).

Have decided to stay an extra day here - while we try and make reservations - etc. for our next few stops. As we are getting closer to where the Snowbirds go - we need to be a little more careful about finding vacancies. Depending on what is available will depend on which way we will head. However, with the Thanksgiving weekend coming to an end - over 2/3 of the campground has cleared out.

There seems to be some anxiety around the local area today - as more of the local troops from Fort Bragg (just down the road) are bring shipped out, headed to Iraq, tomorrow. Ran across a number of people that were talking about friends or family that were leaving and the concerns that this brings with it.