Our day in Williamsburg

Ahh, a full day to relax, with no organized activities, except for a reception later in the day.  So, a leisurely breakfast at the hotel with custom made omelets and pancakes we collected our suggestion list and went off in various directions.

Williamsburg, capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, is known for the significant role it played in the American Revolution. In the state’s southeast, it forms what's called the Historic Triangle together with Jamestown and Yorktown.  Williamsburg is perhaps best known for its tourist and historical points of interest, the centerpiece of which is Colonial Williamsburg, which is essentially a living history museum, depicting the lifestyles and culture of the 18th century colonial period in American history. Major points of interest in this historic district include the Virginia's first capitol building, the Governor's Palace, Bruton Parish Church (the oldest continually operating church in the United States), the Peyton Randolph House (home of Peyton Randolph, the first President of Continental Congress and rumored to be haunted) and The College of William & Mary

Then there is Historic Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America.  Here there are ruins, a visitors center and lots of archeology.

Near there is Jamestown Settlement with gallery exhibits, recreations of Jamestown colonists fort and Powhatan Village.  There are replicas of three ships that sailed from England to Virginia in 1607. 

A bit further away is the Yorktown Battlefield where the last major battle of the Revolutionary War was fought ending with the surrender of British General Cornwallis.  The Yorktown Victory Center is a museum and exhibits describing the Revolutionary War and the nations founding.

Also there is Sherwood Forest Plantation, the home of President John Tyler.  It is the longest frame house in America. 

Our little cluster of four of us, the Hahn's and Kneisley's, decided to go to the historic Jamestown museum and village to learn about the beginnings of America and the struggles along the James River. 

Park Ranger and tour guide Jennifer explained the whole history of

the settlement, the battles, the struggle and starvation. 

A cannon and replica of a fort building were examples of the life along

the James River, a brackish waterway that nearly killed off the

entire settlement

A noon departure from the Jamestown village, we headed toward Pierce's Barbeque, highly recommended by one of our Pub Crawler members. 

Pierces BBQ

Other Crawlers went to Colonial Williamsburg and some went shopping. Pictures when and if I get them.

The late afternoon event was a reception at the lovely home of Bob and Missy McKenna, the host for our entire event this year.  They opened their house to us and members of the Williamsburg British Car Club...or at least to their members who own and operate Morgan's.  We met some new friends and had some wonderful conversations about their experiences with their cars.

Pub Crawl Morgan's tucked into McKenna's driveway, with

more to arrive in the next few minutes.

Looks great!  pic by Al Marsh

Watching "Silent Movie" starring Bob McKenna's old yellow Morgan

pic from Al Marsh

Pic from Al Marsh

Kitchen organizers-pic from Al Marsh

A surprise visitor was Chip (Abbot Spaulding, former OHMog member

and now a resident of Williamsburg, VA.  Nice seeing Chip again.  And yes, he

has his late fathers Morgan.

Food and refreshments aplenty

After dinner there was a brief meeting to discuss

the route we will take tomorrow.

Back to the hotel, cars neatly tucked away, the gals

started another round of Skip-Bo and the guys talked

football.

Thanks to Alan Marsh for supplying pictures of some of the reception activity.  Better pics than mine, by the way.

ANOTHER UPDATE: You may recall that we left John and Debbie Stanley's Morgan Plus 8 yesterday in a state of limbo.  After failing in the interstate, and being hauled by AAA to the hotel the expert mechanics in our group had installed a new thermostat to alieve the overheating issue, but just as the sun went down at sunset they discovered the temp gauge had resigned its job.  This morning they confirmed the sensor was working because its resistance changed as the engine warmed up.  And the gauge worked when we put a small flashlight battery voltage across it.  The issue therefore was found to be a loose connector at the temp sensor wire to the gauge.  Once wiggled and jiggled and pinched a bit the system was back to normal.  John reports the car behaved perfectly today, so he is happily ready to continue his tour with us. 

Off to Charlottesville tomorrow with a couple of interesting stops.  Our first rain of the trip threatens overnight and tomorrow so it will be an interesting day.  Hope to tell you all about it tomorrow.

Chintocoteague to Williamsburg via the Bay Bridge Tunnel

The view from our hotel room this morning

Fascinating day today! Clear blue skies, 80 degrees when we started out at 8:30 and nice roads most of the day. 

Loading up, ready to roll.

This was a longer driving day, about 175 miles, down the peninsula from Chincoteague to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, one of the seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World, built without tax money but by bonds supported by the tolls.  The bridge and tunnel opened in April 1964 after 42 months of construction.  It now consists of two parallel two lane bridges and two tunnels, where traffic merges into a single lane in each direction.  We were told a second set of tunnels, to make it two lanes in both directions is in the final planning and contracts is expected to be awarded very soon.  From shore to shore the bridges, tunnels and supporting highways measure 17.6 miles in length.

Crusin' down Rt13 toward the Bay Bridge Tunnel

The vast Chesapeake Bay

Entering the first (north) tunnel.

Even though we are only doing 45mph everything seems to be a blur

A very sharp right turn after the second tunnel is to a viewing area and gift shop

with food service and a fishing pier. 

This is looking north from the southern end of the second tunnel

showing the man-made island and large ship passageway.

Rick and Sam Frazee enjoying the fresh sea air and the view

Along the bridge are light poles on which gulls perch and do their business on

the cars passing below.  We made a good target for one.  Clean up took some time

in the restaurant parking lot.

Our dining experience for lunch today--at the end

of the pier.  Fish sandwiches and French fries. 

After lunch, our leader Bob (on left) briefed us on the remaining miles

to Williamsburg and the highly congested bridge tunnel over and under the

James River.

Then into Williamsburg---

Williamsburg, capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, is known for the significant role it played in the American Revolution. In the state’s southeast, it forms what's called the Historic Triangle together with Jamestown and Yorktown. Its heart is Colonial Williamsburg, a historic district and living-history museum where actors in period costume depict day-to-day Colonial life in the streets, restored stores and workshops.

Williamsburg is perhaps best known for its tourist and historical points of interest, the centerpiece of which is Colonial Williamsburg, which is essentially a living history museum, depicting the lifestyles and culture of the 18th century colonial period in American history. Major points of interest in this historic district include the Virginia's first capitol building, the Governor's Palace, Bruton Parish Church (the oldest continually operating church in the United States), the Peyton Randolph House (home of Peyton Randolph, the first President of Continental Congress and rumored to be haunted) and The College of William & Mary. 

We have today and all day tomorrow to explore the area and get caught up on laundry.

One of the cars failed today when it overheated in the traffic jam along I-64. John and Debbie Stanley from Florida were stranded.  The solution was to call AAA and haul the car to the hotel where our ready gang of skilled Morgan enthusiasts would affect a repair. 

John and Debbie Stanley with a broken car, just before the

Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, receiving aid from

the authorities.

Here it comes.

Interesting towing arrangement.

The enthusiasts pounce on it.

John sits patiently

With surgical precision Reg Hahn and Rick Frazee diagnose a

failed thermostat, and remove the culprit.

A new thermostat was available but no new gasket, so

Reg cut a new one from gasket maker stock.  This fellow is clever!

Added new anti-freeze coolant and a test was being undertaken at

press time for this blog.

Tomorrow is a free day to spend in Williamsburg. 

Annapolis, MD to Chincoteague, VA

We had a terrific evening Thursday night at the Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis courtesy of Fred Schuchard, shown here chatting with Pub Crawler Rick Frazee.  Thanks Fred for your hospitality. 

Friday morning featured light clouds, abundant sunshine and cool temperature's.  Charlotte Hahn took a bunch of photos of the cars and drivers ----

Our leaders - Bob and Missy McKenna

DC Bubba aka Alan Marsh

Don and Madeline Moodie

Bruce and Lydie  Foster

Mark and Andrea Braunstein

Rick and Sam Frazee

The gang headed east about 9am toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  A huge double bridge across  the bay at the narrows just east of Annapolis,

The William J Preston Lane Memorial Bridge

over the Chesapeake Bay

More of the marvelous bridge

Reg and Char Hahn underway.

Gary and Sally Kneisley underway

St. Michaels is known as the town that fooled the British.  Seems in August 1813 the townspeople hoisted lanterns onto the masts of their sailboats and into the tops of trees.  The high lights caused the attacking British to overshoot the town.   Only one  house in St. Michaels was hit by cannon fire.  That house still stands today and is known as the Cannonball House.

Today, St. Michaels, MD is a neat little tourist and vacation spot on the eastern side of the Chespeake Bay... across from Annapolis.   We arrived in time to do some shopping and have lunch.

Interesting design piece at the parking lot in St. Michaels --a rain barrel.

The rain barrel

Then, on to the shopping....

Main Street St. Michaels

Char thought about this T-shirt, but decided it wasn't the right size.

Traffic kept building as the day went on --Friday afternoon you know.

Entering Chincoteague, lots of billboards

The new Fairfield Inn in Chincoteague saved parking spaces

for the Morgans.

Chincoteague (/ˌʃɪŋkəˈtiːɡ/ or /ˈʃɪŋkətiːɡ/) is a town on Chincoteague Island in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,941 at the 2010 census.^[3] The town is known for the Chincoteague Ponies, although these are not actually on the island of Chincoteague but on nearby Assateague Island. These ponies and the annual Pony Penning Day are the subject of Marguerite Henry's 1947 children's book Misty of Chincoteague, which was made into the 1961 family film Misty, filmed on location.  Legend has it that the feral ponies on Assateague are descendants of survivors of a Spanish galleon that sank on its way to Spain during a storm in 1750 off the east coast, but the likelihood is that they are actually descended from domesticated stock, brought to the island by Eastern Shore farmers in the 17th century to avoid fencing requirements and taxation.

The Hahn's sponsored today's happy hour, on the deck at

the Fairfield Inn.

More "happy hour"

Then the discussion went to feet and shoes...here is a sample

A very nice end to a lovely day with sunset over Chincoteague Bay.