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A photo of yi-hakans, which are dwellings made from a frame of sticks with reed mats layered on the outside to protect them from the elements

32 Days in America, Day 5

Stats

  • Miles traveled: 476.8
  • Miles traveled to date: 1239.5
  • States visited today: 3 – Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina
  • States visited to date: 7
  • Tanks of gas pumped to date: 4
  • Meltdowns: 4
  • Loads of Laundry: 3

Daily recap

We squeezed in as much time with our friends as we could. The girls enjoyed a great sleepover at the friends’, while the boys enjoyed free reign of the condo. After some morning noms, laundry, and backyard playing we headed to Jamestown Settlement for some living history lessons and lunch. Finally, after many hugs and plans for the next meetup, we were on the road again in the early afternoon. The afternoon travel entertainment included: books on tape*, ABC game (hard mode), bubble gum, bubble gum in a dish, dinner in the car, music, and a Rio movie marathon.
*audiobooks…our car does not have a tape deck.

Highlights

  • Visiting Jamestown Settlement
A photo of Evie, Grayson, Ainsley, Olivia, Dillon, and Rayleigh standing in the middle of a circle of seven posts with faces pointed inward
Evie, Grayson, Ainsley, Olivia, Dillon, and Rayleigh standing in a circle of posts with faces carved on them.
  • Visiting the Powhatan Indian Settlement
A photo of Dillon, Kelsey, Grayson, Ainsley, Evie, Olivia, Rayleigh, and Emily watching a Powhatan cooking demonstration in an open air kitchen
Powhatan families each had their own open air kitchen. Family members would periodically tend to the cooking food and eat when they were hungry.
  • Checking out the Yehakin homes
A photo of Rayleigh, Evie, Grayson, Dillon, Olivia, and Ainsley poking their head out of the door of a yi-hakan
Peek-a-boo!
  • Trying on some 17th century armor
A photo of Rayleigh in plate mail and helmet from the 17th century
Reporting for duty!
  • Manning the cannons… always a favorite activity
A photo of Grayson, Dillon, Rayleigh, and Ainsley dressed in plate mail and helmets around a 17th century cannon
Trying on 17th century armor while taking positions around the cannon.
  • Manning the bilge pumps on the Godspeed
A photo of Grayson and Dillon operating the bilge pumps on a 17th century ship
The bilge pumps were located on the deck of the ship. Some water accumulation, especially from spray, was normal, but if the bilge pumps needed to expel more than 100 pumps of water per hour it was an indication that the ship had a leak and was taking on water.
  • Enjoying a last meal with our good friends before loading up again
A photo of Evie, Olivia, Ainsley, Rayleigh, Dillon, and Grayson eating lunch at a booth
Chow time!
  • More fun photos from today
A photo of Olivia, Evie, and Rayleigh eating breakfast at the Picks' house
Rayleigh and Ainsley had a sleepover with Evie and Olivia. Emily and Tom treated them to a breakfast of bagel sandwiches before they got picked up by mom and dad.
A photo of Grayson holding a turtle shell inside of a yi-hakan dwelling
Grayson showing off a turtle shell in a yi-hakan.
A photo of Ainsley dressed in plate mail and a metal helmet holding a sharp metal stick sitting on a cannon and yelling
Chaaaaaaaaarge!
A photo of Rayleigh giving Ainsley a piggyback ride through the Jamestown museum
After a few long days, Ainsley’s legs were getting tired—big sister Rayleigh to the rescue with a piggyback ride.
A photo of Kelsey and Emily in the parking lot at Jamestown with a series of flags in the background
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
A photo of Ainsley learning how to make rope from the fibers of the yucca plant
The Powhatan people made rope using the fibers of the yucca plant. They used the ropes to bind the wood frames of their houses and structures together, to hold down the reed mats that protected them from the elements, and to make nets for fishing.
A photo of Rayleigh and Dillon sitting on a small bed amidships
There wasn’t much space in the ship for passengers and crew. A small bed like this one would have been occupied by two people.
A photo of Grayson throwing a corn cob with a feather attached through a hoop hung by a rope from a stick
Grayson trying his hand at a 17th century game, which involved attempting to throw a corn cob with a feather attached through a hoop suspended by a rope.
A photo of a 17th century ship sitting at anchor by a dock
The Godspeed was one of three ships that brought settlers to Jamestown in the early 17th century.
A photo of Rayleigh, Kelsey, Grayson, Evie, Emily, Olivia, Ainsley, and Dillon listening to a man dressed in 17th century Powhatan clothing describe the process of making bows
Powhatan bows were made from different types of trees, some of which were very difficult to cut and work with, but produced durable and powerful weapons.
A photo of Grayson operating the tiller and looking over the side of a 17th century ship
In the early 17th century, ships were still directly operated by tiller. The ship’s wheel was not invented until later.
A photo of Rayleigh, Dillon, Ainsley, and Grayson standing behind a fountain with a Welcome to South Carolina sign in the background at night
We got to the South Carolina welcome center around 9pm, and needed to drive another hour or so to get to our hotel for the night. The kids were in good spirits (and the Rio movie marathon in the car didn’t hurt)!

And now for your moment of zen…

A photo of Dillon standing under the sign for the Dillon Amtrak Station
Dillon at Dillon Station in the town of Dillon, SC.

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Kelsey Ernst

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