At Long Long Last

Looking Pretty Dockside in Gibraltar 2012

At long last, "Windjammer: Previous Passages" has settled into Blogger as its new home.  This blog chronicles our sailing trip through the Caribbean to East Coast USA via the Bahamas from 2008 to 2010. 

Nearly all transfer chores have been done and the Typepad account no longer exists.  Sadly any comments left on either Vox or Typepad have long since disappeared so we  were unable to have them transfered too.  If you can remember what messages you left, please resend them.  Although we can't always reply, we do look forward to various pithy comments sent to cheer us on our way!

Cap'n & Crew, Antigua  2008

We've also added a Ready Reference to direct you to posts that cover our various destinations.  We've updated all photos, added a few extras, including some maps to make it a bit more interesting.

Windjammer's adventures continue (in the Med!!!) on our current blog.  Link on the right as always.  So too is our Map & Tracker, an ingenious "where's windjammer now" which allows you a birds eye view of all our stops along the way.  (As long as I've got the chart readings right that is!).  Our photo albums live on WJ3's newer blog too, so if it's photo overload you're seeking on a dull TV day, then this is just the ticket. 

GS.  Always feeding somebody.  Bahamas 2009

We continue to be inspired by people we meet along the way and it always surprises us to see so many Aussies; some doing very game and adventurous things, others like us just enjoying the day cruise with a few overnight hops here & there! 

Finally, thank you all for your encouraging comments. We hope you will continue to join us on the high (and low) seas as we potter about in a boat.  There's still a few more years (sailing seasons) left in us yet and who knows where we will be by then. 

Maine 2010

So enjoy reminiscing with us

Gibraltar 2012

Birthday Boy

Portimao, Portugal 2012

Progress continues on updating WJ3's 2008-2010 blog; only photos need to be replaced now (so they don't disappear into the ether when we shut down Typepad!) but that could be a job for Big Dell at home.  In the meantime, we've had fun reminiscing...

Those google eyes in my dinner are following me!

You may well be aware that the Cap’n celebrated a birthday recently.  We made for floating restaurant, the Rivole and ordered a local lunch fit for an old salt.  Run by a husband and wife team, we were made to feel welcome and encouraged to take lunch in typical Portuguese fashion.  After a refreshing Sagres beer, we munched our way through large, grilled prawns, lightly seasoned to take advantage of their freshness.  Our congenial host recommended monkfish to follow; a thick rice and fish casserole with lashings of olive oil, fresh coriander and garlic.  We washed it down with local wine, a crisp, dry white and reflected on our good fortune to have celebrated his last 5 birthdays in such exotic locations. 

Just so that you can be envious too, remember these….

                        

2008: Anything goes in Phillipsburg, Sint Maartin (Caribbean) with BW (& Sweet Michael on the Segway’s).
 

2009: Vero Beach (Florida) with champers on board, then catching up with Jim and Tammy later.  More officially (for the big 60 & with BW) further up the ICW at Spouters Inn, Beaufort NC.
 

                       

2010: A night out whilst “on tour” at the Kings Arms in Colonial Williamsburg, (Virginia).  Followed by some Alaskan crab legs on WJ3 back in Deltaville. 

Apres Tiki Bar at the hospitable Richmond County Yacht Club

2011: Dinner at the Tiki Bar, a local hotspot, in Great Kills Harbour (New York) with BW.  Earlier we’d had Brimmers and friends aboard.  Max, who had been travelling through Canada and the US, finally caught up with us too!

Boys at large in NYC

2102: On the Rivole, floating on the Arade in Portimao (Portugal) followed by champers on board Emma Laura (Roger, Sue and Tony). 

Now that is spoilt!  GS though, feels a white Christmas must be coming up for her one year very soon.

One Spy Kit to Go

The weather forecast promised a few more days of non-sailing weather, so rather than attempt a trip bashing into high seas off the Atlantic coast, we opted for a faster, dryer mode of transport – the train - and roared off down to Washington DC.   Washington is on the Potomac River, a goodly way upstream and we would need time (a week) to get WJ3 up there.  So, two returns on Amtrak, thanks.  No luggage for Red Caps (porters) either.  (This train system puts ours to shame, thanks for asking!).  We stayed centrally (easy walking) at the Crown Plaza and had a few days to do the sights & sites!

Aussie mates, Warren & Dominique took us on a drive out to historical Bull Run.  Virginia is just steeped in history and the effort made to conserve it, both by government & local interest groups is noteworthy.  We took a guided tour around a battlefield smaller than most farms before sneaking past W&D’s house (not to disturb their dogs guarding his Corvette), then headed off to Oldtown for a few quiet ales in a character Irish pub.

Over the next few days, Cap’n & crew managed to sit together on an informative trolley tour of town, then head their separate ways.  Cap’n Bond went straight for the Spy Museum, ended up at the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery, then went all military again; over to Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial.  The First Mate made a b-line for the Textile Museum and had a sneak peek at an upcoming ikat exhibition; from there to another boutique museum, Women in Arts, then over to the Renwick Gallery and finally a stroll around The White House perimeter.  Cap’n & GS met each day to exchange noteworthy frippery over a few ales at the Capital City Brewing Company, one of few “shopfronts” in a city seemingly of government offices and museums.  The Prez couldn’t make it to drinks; he had a bit of a bash going on at ‘ome…

We caught the subway over to the Pentagon and, through a barrage of security warnings and great lists of don’ts, visited the 9/11 Memorial.  We had come to pay our respects to friend Yvonne Kennedy, who was on the aircraft that crashed into the Pentagon in 2000.  This memorial is a fitting and subtle homage to those who died.  It is hard to believe ten years have since passed.

All that Glitters IS New York

Having tucked WJ3 safely on her RCYC mooring, the Motleys held an “open boat”, welcoming many including Max, who had been following us down the coast from Maine in his truck & caravan (trailer in local lingo).  Alan brought an entourage as well; we impressed them with the RCYC launch service out to the mooring and GS piped ‘em aboard with a piercing whistle.

Even the Swan Family popped by at Great Kills

The promised bad weather set in the next day – the day we were travelling by bus to Manhattan.  We arrived wet and smelly on Al’s doorstep, not before having been sussed out twice by strategically placed doormen.  Security’s big in New York….(see something, say something).

Wet weather continued yet we persisted with our social program of visiting friends and museums.  The Cap’n continued with his nautical themed tours to South Street Seaport (not a patch on Mystic), strutted the decks of aircraft carrier Intrepid and explored close quarters of a nearby submarine.  As we now have our own “fleet” of 6, perhaps he really is due for promotion to Admiral?  Briefly tiring of nauticalities, he went in search of something more nauti – yes, the Se(x) Museum really exists and afterwards to an exhibit of body bits, some cut into dainty, thin slices.

Fabulous Folk Art Museum

GS had loftier, more arty things in mind, so headed off to the Folk Art Museum with a little detour via Macy’s, a walk past 5^th Ave designer shops and lots of coffee/cake in nice little bookstores.  Having a whole day in the Met again, she still did not cover more than a third – the Japanese section even has its own reading room and library for goodness sake!!  Annette, a friend from Delhi daze, led us on a merry chase to look at bead shops full of tempting sparklers.  As if our Jain Jeweller in Old Delhi had not sold us enough goodies!  Not to be outdone, GS produced a list of NYC quilting supply shops (including City Quilter & Purl Soho) which managed to keep us dry & out of the rain.  We lunched in Sullivan Street and had time to explore a little of Chinatown & Little Italy precincts on our way back to the bus.  Later over a delicious home-cooked dinner (yes, it can happen in NY), George told us the best places to buy hiking boots and fountain pens.  WJ3’s lockers are just bursting with goodies…..

Sotherby’s is just around the corner from Al’s.  We decided to buy some wine (anniversary champagne) and went upstairs to view auction items.  WOW and I say again, wow!  Sale items varied from Custer’s Colours (flag) from the famous Last Stand battle, a floor of Modernist & Impressionist paintings (Arp, Picasso, Dufy), a few Henry Moore Sculptures and even some folk art being sold off by Museums to fund more lucrative exhibit purchases.  There were two floors of estate furniture, including a silver swing (from some exotic Sultan’s palace no doubt) and several life size Moorish figures perfect for holding ferns in your conservatory or an afternoon cuppa & cucumber sangers.  Another floor held some fabulous photos by masters of the art - Ansel  Adams. Man Ray, Edward Weston, Robert Maplethorpe, Edward S Curtis.  Curtis did those stunning portraits of American Indians.  There were also several iconic NYC steel worker pieces and a striking coloured portrait of Frieda Kallo.  All these wonderful things to buy!  The Cap’n hid our cheque book, cut up the credit card and put title deeds for Penawar & WJ3 into a locked safe.  Gackkkkkkk!

Sleepy Fivemile River

Despite our rule of never sailing to a strict schedule, we had wanted to have time to visit friends in Rowayton then do the East River (timing currents is critical) on a Friday so any NY friends could make use of a weekend to visit us on board.

This is Duck Island Roads - scant protection even for ducks!

Our first problem went like this….”You can’t pick up a mooring at West 79^th Street Boat Basin – we're 5 feet over the limit.  No, can’t anchor out, Coast Guard have just this week changed the channel markers.  Ok, if we do find an anchorage, which I doubt, it will cost  $25 per day to leave Bruce at the dock.    Otherwise, a slip hereabouts will cost at least $2.70 per foot per day (that's the cheapest) and the facilities are somewhat limited”.  Hmmm, forget it!  Let’s move out to Great Kills and catch a bus over to Manhattan. 

Our second problem was refuelling.  Refuelling went ok, no worries but we didn’t get away in time to make our planned destination, the Thimbles.  “Oooh”, said the fuel man, “my friend went onto an unchartered rock there.  Not a good place to be anchoring in the late evening”.  Terrific, not a lot of options - lets hook into Duck Island then.  Duck Island Roads was fine until we got there.  SE winds had by then worked themselves up into a consistent 25kts which blew in over the rock causeway ALL NIGHT.  Scant protection. 

The next was pre-arranging a dinner date.  That little breeze continued well into the morning and we bashed on into strong headwinds over an incoming current.  Short, steep waves and washing machine (on the spin cycle) conditions for hours and hours….  And, we weren’t making any headway either.  Blast, even later for our re-arranged, planned dinner with Scott & Kitty in Rowayton!

WJ3 up Five Mile River

Then it was the phone!  Tamure, is moored in a narrow slither of Fivemile River.  Scott had arranged a mooring for us close by – a tricky little bow & stern mooring ball affair.  We needed to contact him by phone on arrival.  You guessed it – no phone coverage……  “Butt clenching”, said our Cap’n.  Turning WJ3 around mid-river was also on par with the aforementioned experience.  

Lastly (and that makes bad luck in fives not threes), we discovered the East River was closed to all traffic on Friday.  UN General Assembly.  Of course!  A heavy Coast Guard presence with lots of “hardware”, an un-navigable bridge (less than WJ3’s mast needed for clearance), not to mention that devil of a current through Hell Gate didn’t bode for an incident-free trip.  “Scott, can we stay another day on your mooring please”?

I really don’t think we should have got out of bed that morning, do you????

From: Mystic, CT  Lat/Long: 41 19N  71 58W  Date/Time: 21/9/10: 1130

To: Rowayton, CT  Lat/Long: 41 03N  73 26W  Date/Time: 22/9/10: 1615
Time Taken: 82nm (15hrs)  Distance (this year): 1273nm (231.5hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 4913nm (930.5hrs)   Fastest Speed: 6.5kts**
Weather: Winds W turning NE 10-15kts; Seas 1-2ft; low vis in the morning – kinda foggy!
(**Motoring again…)

Even More Wooden Boats

Charles W Morgan 1841

The star attraction of Mystic is without doubt, Mystic Seaport.  This museum encompasses 19 acres of shipbuilding history, much of it in situ back in the 1800’s.  Two shipbuilding yards operated on this site; one as early as 1837 and the other 1851.  Mystic Seaport has been set up to preserve, collect and exhibit everything nautical that represented a way of life in a small 19^th century coastal community.

We started with the lumber yard and sawmill (it’s a family thing) where great chunks of live oak and other timbers are cut and shaped into (big) timber boat skeletons.  This area is known as the preservation shipyard and currently, Charles W Morgan (1841), the only surviving whaling ship of its kind, is being restored - to the tune of some $5 million and much patient hand scraping by a couple of young shipwrights.  (GS promised never to complain about antifouling again!)

Further on, a small cove was lined with visiting historic schooners, some privately owned and open for inspection.  Squeezed in between was Sabino, a vintage steamboat taking visitors on jaunty cruises along Mystic River, just as it would have done in 1908.  A graceful oyster boat was docked ready for work at the oyster shack.  Oystering is slightly different here in that sea beds are collected by tonging or dredging, whereas we grow ‘em on trays (with a slice of lemon). (sorry!)

The 19^th century seafaring village is well stocked with artefacts and, short of lots of sailors, noise and not-so-exciting smells, you can picture how life must have been.  Sail lofts, salmon shacks, rope walks, coopers, ships (black) smith and the inevitable tavern are all authentic buildings.  We heard music and songs of the sea and shore wafting over the village green, then moved on to hear tales of heroic lighthouse keepers given in a replica lighthouse’s small auditorium – 12 people, standing room only!  We boarded tall ship, Joseph Conrad (1882) – now a youth training ship, and admired another, L A Dutton, then rounded off the day with stories of seafaring lives (past & present) and came face-to-face with mysterious figureheads, billetheads and catheads (not actually cats you understand).

We did not however, rush to attend a “Lobstering out of Noank” activity at the lobster shack…. we'd had and seen enough of lobster pots for a while!

Wild, Wild West

Actually, it really is the wild east but nobody could deny Provincetown’s umm, lively character.  Yet another artists’ colony high on Cape Cod’s outstretched arm, Provincetown attracts performance artists, show-offs and a gay old crowd to its hub-bub.  Described as colourful with quirky stores and vibrant nightlife, this village marks the Pilgrim’s first landfall in 1620.  Five weeks later, they boarded the Mayflower and set off to Plymouth for less hostile territory.  

Kalmar Nyckel at Dock in Provincetown

Now galleries brimming with high-end landscapes sit comfortably next to tattoo parlours. Restaurants blot out any coastal views along 3 miles of main road.  But who needs it when touts are dressed in costumes that would have the Village People salivating.  A nearby spa is spitting a steady stream of soap bubbles to fill any empty space.  Clothing shops, gift shops, ice-creameries and interesting leather goods stores line the other side of Commercial Street.  A young man in a tall red hat and short skirt (jolly nice legs) bicycles madly through town advertising an evening of theatre, a comedian tells us about her upcoming show, street musicians play everything from classical to hip hop.  A girl in bunny ears and a nice 50’s style summer frock sits in the gutter, sobbing.  She has lost (or made) $25 – I can’t quite make it out.  Her nice young man is comforting her.  He has on a similar frock. No ears, but a large white bunny tail is (badly) stitched to the back of his dress.  The old man nearby, in a tuxedo twisting balloons into animal shapes, hardly notices. 

Classic Beach Cottages

Provincetown is a place to see and be seen.  The Motleys took a trolley bus tour (40 mins) and we saw the village, beaches, cranberry bogs, lighthouses and the Pilgrim Monument, 252 feet of granite soaring above the coastline.  We had taken our bikes but peddling up Commercial Street into a surging current of humanity was impossible.  Besides we couldn’t take it all in.  The back streets are full of classified, classic cottages – Greek Revival, Gothic, Victorian and Old Cape Cod.  Some were built by whaling captains, while others were floated over to the village (yes, on barges).  Now they and their gardens are primped and preened within and inch of their lives.  It’s Martha Stewart gone Rococo.  Mind you, Provincetown has cred.  Writers, the likes of Tennessee Williams, Norman Mailer and Eugene O’Neill, and artists including Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock found inspiration here.  Who could not with all those tanned, well oiled, sculptured torsos?  For those of you who enjoy Black Adder, Cape Cod will never mean the same again…

From: Woods Hole, MA  Lat/Long: 41 30N  70 42W  Date/Time: 29/8/10: 0715

To: Provincetown, MA  Lat/Long: 42 02N  70 11W  Date/Time: 29/8/10: 1400

Time Taken: 44nm (7hrs)  Distance (this year): 642nm (124.5hrs)

Distance Total (since 2008): 4282nm  (823.5hrs)   Fastest Speed: 10.8kts**

Weather: Winds NW 5-10kts; Seas 3-5ft; breezy Buzzards Bay & mirrored pond Cape Cod Bay

(** In the Cape Cod Canal, going with the current obviously!)

Cape Cod Legs

Actually Cape Cod is shaped a bit like a body-builder’s muscled-up arm.  But more on that later…

Block Island - the place to be seen

First stop after launching ourselves out of Greenport’s secure Stirling Harbor, was Block Island, a gateway if you will to the world famous Narragansett Bay.  Yes, that’s Newport, Rhode Island, folks…home to America’s Cup.  And yes, we probably have lost interest since those heady days in 1984 when we actually won it.  You wouldn’t recognise those “yachts” now, they look sculptural and sleek – perfectly at home on the lawn of some museum of contemporary art.  Or in Melbourne, on that nice new freeway to outatown.

Newport is a bit like Pitt Street on a bad day, so we hooked into Block Island – a cosy weekend retreat for Rhode Island locals (remember those Store Beach weekends).  We didn’t stay to explore the Island but did enjoy the evening’s VHF16 comedy with the rest of the anchorage.  Seems a light plane was buzzing boaters and people on the beach.  Reports were filtering into the Coasties of this dangerous behaviour.  Some local hoon was adding his own anonymous (perhaps serious) contribution to the mix of hysterics and hysteria… "load dat gun and shoot deh mother#$%&*$”.  I thought we’d left the red-necks behind in down home Virginnie.

Woods Hole Museum

Next stop was home to marine science geeks, Woods Hole.  The current that runs here has to be seen to be believed; so too are the speedy ferries.  We anchored well out of the action, but given a wind change, we moved deeper into Hadley Harbor and calmer waters.  Wise move.  Our bumpy dinghy ride into Woods Hole was like a jet boat “jumpabout” ride.  Still, we liked Woods Hole and explored its free aquarium, its university-style buildings, laboratories and grounds and met some wonderful folks who were justifiably proud of their museum.  They told us that Hyannis nearby was the first holiday home of the Kennedy clan.  Cape Cod, with surrounding islands, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, had been (and continues to be) destination central for the seriously wealthy.

Whoosh Trolley

We jumped aboard the local whoosh trolley for a quick ride into Falmouth to restock our larder.  GS has seen an antiques market on the way in but decided not to stop.  Of course on the way out, she spied a stall of antique quilts and blocks.  STOP the bus….stop. the ….  too late!!  Oh Nooooooooooo!!   Never mind, a few beers watching the sun go down and listening to a band (free) strum, crooning tunes for university intellectuals…”she ‘ad skin like spinach an’ greens an’ her kiss like ham an’ beans” took her mind off it anyway.

Pie in the Sky (but not our local at Cowan)

From: Greenport, LI  Lat/Long: 40 57N  73 05W  Date/Time: 26/8/10: 0900
To: Woods Hole, MA   Lat/Long: 41 30N  70 42W  Date/Time: 27/8/10: 1350
Time Taken: 81nm (16.5hrs)  Distance (this year): 598nm (117.5hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 4238nm  (816.5hrs)   Fastest Speed: 6kts**
Weather: Winds W-NW 5-15kts G 20kts; Seas 2-4ft; clear
(** Sailing – doing 6kts; a good few days sailing; some motoring)

A Royal Invitation

 Governor's Palace - A Guided Tour: 19 July 10

By now you are probably fed up with our historical posts, but we’ll finish on a high with the Governor’s Palace (and a few bits of Colonial Williamsburg fabric too).  We had walked to the Palace via the old plantation to be on the first tour of the day.  We were lucky to be let in, so the parlour maid told us, as everyone was busy preparing for a ball that evening.  But as we were special guests, she would show us around so that we would know what to do when arriving for the ball later that evening. 

Fancy Ballroom with very vivid Carpet

First however, lessons in a proper curtsey – just in case his Lordship happened upon us while we were in the house.  Apparently the house had been recently renovated by the new curator for Colonial Williamsburg.  He had asked that the Palace be more in keeping with the era.  Some approved, others did not!  Either way, it was absolutely stunning and the ballroom most impressive.

Her Ladyship's Bed Chamber

And Stately Grounds

The grounds were equally as inspiring.  We missed getting back to the kitchen where cooks were busy preparing for the evening’s feast or perhaps seeing musicians rehearsing for dancing.  We had to tear ourselves away, wishing just one or two hours more, to return our hire car on time and get back to the daily grind.  Just enough time to dash off and buy a few more fat 1/4’s. 

His Lordship's Collection

Meanwhile back at the Yard, the Opti kids had not destroyed too much of the marina and opti-mism was (up more or less) as was the temperature & humidity – still high 90’s to low 100’s.  Somehow we couldn’t even get up the enthusiasm to go to the Maritime Museum’s monthly music fest – Jumbo Lump Daddy and the Backfin Boys (I kid you not) were the feature act. Damn, now how lazy is that!   

Folk & Decorative Art

Colonial Williamsburg: 18 July 10

Oh yes, that is my town carriage

America is famous for its decorative and folk arts.  It is interesting to realise that years of isolation (more or less) from European influences led them to creative and local problem solving.  In a maritime sense, rather like the specialist log boats built for Chesapeake Bay fishing (see Deltaville Maritime Museum).

Basket Makers 

After our historical baptism, we took in more mundane domestic activities stopping at the Carpenter’s workshop (took me a while to get Cap’n Cabinetmaker outa there) and a brick factory sidestepping an invitation to work clay with our feet.  That’s where I lost him!  He went on to visit a gunsmith & foundry and then to the blacksmith whilst I took in the weavers and milliners.

This handsome chap also plays records

We did take an afternoon tour (yes, both of us – GS insisted) of The DeWitt Wallace Museum’s decorative highlights – this tour focusing on furnishings and clocks, then following that to see whimsical pieces in the adjoining Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.  It is always more interesting when you know that something special about each piece.  The entrance to these collections is via the old hospital, one of the first for the mentally ill.  Sure glad we have different medical practices these days!

A rather nice teapot

While the Cap’n went elsewhere to play, GS wandered through collections of business signs and windvanes, admired a glittering carousel and found at last a small room of quilts.  Not all was lost however as a special exhibit of quilted clothing (mostly wholecloth petticoats) tempted serious quilters.  This time I had to get out my glasses to see those tiny stitches…oh, my!

Kings Arms - a dining experience

Our evening meal at the Kings Arms Tavern of game pie and Mrs Voles house chicken was complemented with a special selection of colonial “sides” like pickled corn, salt-cured ham, watermelon rind pickle and creamed spinach.  Musicians entertained us on elaborate spanish guitars and unusual mandolins (flat bottomed for easy transport). But, NO time for dessert, we had a TV in our room (after 2½ months, yahooie!) - Inspector Poirot was on.  The Captain was especially critical.

Rockfish back to Lafayette

Shenandoah Valley to Colonial Williamsburg: 17 July 10

Historic Landscape at Colonial Williamsburg

After spitting out of Rockfish Gap, we followed Karen’s advice (our GPS) and took the I64 back to Colonial Williamsburg to find a room for a night or two.  Woodlands Hotel was perfect – close to the Visitors Centre, had a regular free bus service to the Historic Downtown and was easily accessible to all Virginia’s Historic Triangle attractions.  Not that we needed more things to do!  Even a full day did not give us time to see all of Colonial Williamsburg’s attractions; but we did our best!

On Guard

Just to be clear, all the workers at these historic sites are period re-enactors.  That means their role is not to simply walk about in historical costume looking charming.  They are meant to engage with visitors and take them back to life in 18^th century Virginia when Williamsburg was Virginia’s capital and site of important events before and during the war of independence.  We were in taken back to 1776 - 1781 and became active Citizens at War.  Even our evening meal was no exception.  We dined at Chownings Tavern and were entertained by musicians playing a violin, a fife and a hurdy-gurdy.  Another encouraged gambols, a popular pastime of the day. Others told us gossip about the goings on at the Capitol and the rising burden of British taxes.

Citizens at War

We helped chart the Bill of Rights in the Capitol’s Burgess’s Meeting Room, gossiped politics over coffee in Charlton’s Coffeehouse all before gathering at the Capitol with other citizenry to hear the Declaration of Independence being read (26 July 1776).  Soldiers marched, bands played and we moved in closer to hear American turncoat General Benedict Arnold (20 April 1781) deliver a speech after the English seized Williamsburg.  The crowd booed and hissed, discontent was very apparent; soldiers tried to keep the crowd calm.  We were rather glad we didn’t have our Aussie flag T-shirts on with its apparent British connections!! (Our prepared storyline, if needed, was that Australia hadn’t been discovered yet – and anyway, we were only convicts!)

Prayin' for your Soul behind Charltons

Down behind Charlton’s Coffeehouse, we met for some preachin’ (well - it was a Sunday) and a little more discussion on matters of separation of church and state.  A young soldier expressed his hopes & fears about going to war.  He led us on to meet General George Washington (28 September 1781) who was keen for victory at Yorktown.  He rallied troops and citizens alike to support his efforts in front of the Raleigh Tavern. 

By george, It's George. Washington.

Later that evening, the Cap’n went to a public audience with Marquis De Lafayette to answer questions of the day.  Had we not had a dinner engagement at The Kings Arms Tavern later that evening, our Cap’n may just have enlisted WJ3 in support of the French Fleet.