As usual, we were late getting started, but this time, we went directly into the museum instead of stopping for something to eat. Wandered around the replica of the fort, which was quite interesting. Watched a blacksmith making nails. Then we went down to the boats. They are full-sized replicas of the three boats that brought the first colonists over in 1607: the Susan Constance (which we saw a few months ago at Waterside), the Godspeed, and the Discovery. The Discovery is only 39 feet long yet carried 21 people. And we thought we were crowded with 5!
The boats are manned by men in the costumes of the period. We went on board the Susan Constance and heard an interesting presentation on the navigation instruments that were used then. Saw a replica of a real log (the kind you throw in the water behind the boat and count the number of knots in the line over a thirty-second period), an old compass with 32 points, and a traverse board, which was used to record direction and speed, so the navigator could calculate the ship's position by dead reckoning. Neither Roy nor I had ever heard of a traverse board before.
The guy who gave the presentation was very friendly and talkative. His name was Homer. After talking a while, he realized we were from the boat that was anchored right in front of his house! Roy invited him over in the evening, and he was eager to accept.
By then we were hungry, so we went to the cafe and ate Powhatan stew, a loblolly cookie, and vanilla ice cream. Then we returned to the fort and Indian village and looked around some more. Joined up with a ranger-led tour for a while. Then we went to the theater to watch a movie on the founding of Jamestown. It was much, much better than the one we saw at the National Park.
After the movie, we returned to the fort and the Indian village, but soon it was closing time, so we had to leave. Strolled over to the yacht basin so Roy could see it. Then we took the ferry back to Scotland.
During the day, it had been miserably hot, but the evening breeze was delightful. Went for a little swim off the boat. Then we relaxed on the deck, enjoying. Various people came by in their motorboats to look at Jofian, and pretty soon Homer arrived. Two remarkably tame pigeons alighted on the rigging and made themselves at home. They weren't the least bit afraid of us; in fact, they let Roy pet them. One of them tried to come into the main cabin through an open porthole, but Roy pushed him out and closed the porthole.
We invited Homer onto the boat. He sat in the main cabin and told us lots of interesting things about the boats. In 1985, the Godspeed sailed from England to Jamestown, trying to replicate the original course. There were 14 crew on board, instead of the 71 that sailed in 1607. They had refrigeration, radios, etc., but no engine. By the time they reached the Caribbean, the crew was ready to mutiny, and many of them left. The boat sat in Puerto Rico for a couple of months and then set out for Jamestown with a new crew. Off Cape Hatteras, the Graveyard of the Atlantic, a storm came up and nearly blew them aground, but a Coast Guard boat towed them to safety. When the Godspeed finally reached the James River, the wind was unfavorable, so they were towed back to Jamestown. Makes you really admire the skill of old-time sailors.
It was nearly ten by the time Homer left, and we hadn't had supper, so we just ate a can of stew. The pigeons were still on the boat. I hate to think what the new carpet's going to look like.
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