A quick look over Williamsburg before we set out from the visitor center.

One of our planned stops on the trail to authentic American history, we weren’t really sure what the story was about Williamsburg, Yorktown or Jamestown. That ignorance would soon come to an end as we soaked up some easily digested stories about the settlement of America, and a little pool time with some new found friends at the campground.

Simple life lessons: "How do the steps come out when the door opens?" We waited outside until they opened the door, and the steps popped out electrically. Cool as long as you don't come out too fast.

We started off this week with a couple of nights in the Walmart lot… Which makes me think that in the not too distant future (when our trip has come to an end), it’s going to feel a little strange pulling onto a Walmart and NOT scanning for afternoon shade trees, easy exit routes, or what the traffic pattern is to avoid too much noise when we’re sleeping with the windows open… The second night we had the opportunity to meet up with a family that also pulled in, that we had been in contact with on the West coast several months ago. The Lundys began their new lifestyle of full time RV living about the time we embarked on our 12 month journey. They have 3 children, and are successfully making this lifestyle part of their digital scrapbooking business as they set up meetings with clients to share ideas and have digital scrapbook-esque ‘laptop crops’.

Henry has found a buddy in Matt! They both have the same amount of energy and enthusiasm for everything.

Their kids are the right age to mix in with ours and we enjoyed several days together off and on at the campground we moved to, most memorably at the pool. They moved on, as did we- with loose plans to get together if our paths wandered near one another again. We’re both hoping for some time in Washington, DC in May, so we’re hopeful that we’ll get to share another campfire or time to discover how their family deals with what we deal with, and learn something new!

Our new old friends The Lundy family, in the Scrap The Map 5th Wheel RV.

For history buffs, the entire area is golden. In Colonial Williamsburg , purchase the $35 pass and you’re allowed to venture into every building and activity- but plan at least a day just here. Outdoor shows bring the spectators into the show, conversing as if they were stuck in the period. Just having the location of so many significant events in front of you makes me feel so small! Importance, and so many eyes have rested here before my own that it is daunting, but for the few seconds that it’s just your eyes and mind gazing on the location that Thomas Jefferson sat, or the doorframe George Washington passed through to attend church- is cool. Small thing, but very very cool.

WOW The Lundy's are serious about Junior Ranger badges! They are unschooling, learning life as they go without a formal curriculum which is breeding smart, conversational, respectful youngsters.

I didn't do it.

It is possible for a big family on a budget to see Colonial Williamsburg without forking over the big money. Consider the way we attacked this stop: stop at the Visitors Center and pay $3 per person to see 2 movies, then drive to the historic area and walk about freely. You will be restricted from entering certain buildings by the lack of a full price ticket, but you’re able to see, walk around and touch the very locations that were standing as our forefathers built a plan for America and will satisfy most visitors, unless as previously noted- you are a buff of this stuff.

Watching General Benedict Arnold make his case for being a good guy. Nobody bought it.

We had a brush with sickness, as Kelly fell ill, and the rest of us fled while she laid in bed to do what sick people do… sympathetically we left to allow her healing time. During that healing time we visited Surrey, VA, across the James River from Williamsburg including a free ferry 20 min ferry ride, then dropped into Historic Jamestowne, run by the National Park Service. This was the actual spot that a very small colony was settled, that would be the first permanent settlement of America. There were a remarkable number of artifacts and building remnants to be discovered.

Coming back from the other side of the river, we checked out the passenger lounge... We liked hanging our heads over the edge of the ferry better.

Urged on by several folks we’d met in Jamestown, we opted to exercise our right to beach access and headed for Virginia Beach, back to our old friend the ocean.