Day 45. Colonial Williamsburg, VA

 With a day off from riding we wanted to take advantage of the history and the offerings of Williamsburg.   The establishment of Jamestown just to the south was one of the first British outposts and the beginnings of the colonization of the America's in the early 1600's. Not many years later Williamsburg would be established as a better capital of the Virginia British colony. Williamsburg would become the staging ground for the planning and execution of the siege of  Yorktown and British General Cornwallis' forces in 1781 by General George Washington's revolutionaries and the French naval fleet. The triangle of Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg have played very important roles in who we are as Americans today. Angela stands in front of the Governors Palace here (rebuilt from it's original state) where seven Royal Governors ruled for the British monarchy until 1781. 

 Lonnie, dressed and speaking in the style of the late 1700's, gave an excellent tour of the Palace and the historic events of the American Revolution centered on the people in and around Williamsburg and greater Virginia. He was a very elegant and effective speaker making history interesting and relevant to much of today's politics and society. 

 John and Angela standing at the front door of the George Wythe house, in its original condition, built in 1755, just 200 yards down the esplanade from the Palace. Wythe was a founding father of our country, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Leaving his house for safety some time before 1781 ( I guess he was a lover and not a fighter), his house became the headquarters for George Washington and his staff in preparing to defeat General Cornwallis at the siege of Yorktown in the fall of 1781. It was a turning point in our war with Brittain. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Cornwallis,_1st_Marquess_Cornwallis

 One of the colonial characters who filled us in on the history of the Wyhe house and the times of the revolution. Truly you could tell how much he and Lonnie before him at the Palace loved our countries history and sharing it with us in compelling and interesting ways. 

 The Wythe House in broad perspective taken later in the day. 

 And this is James attempting to take our picture in front of the Wythe House. He's such a bright guy!💡

 Ending our down day in Williamsburg with dinner at Berrets Seafood and Grill. Tomorrow  we'll take a big turn south into N. Carolina via the Jamestown Ferry across the James River, headed towards Greenville, NC where James lives ( a lot of 'James' in that last sentence!) He has seemed worried about the weather a lot as we got closer to joining up in Richmond. Maybe tomorrow will be the day that he finally has a reason to worry!!🌩