Donald's update from Sultana Shallop
 The shallop crew is in Norfolk, day 111 of the
voyage. They are near the end of the trail and finish in
Jamestown on the 8th.
"Day 101, Port Royal, Va. Captain Smith lost only one
explorer, Richard Featherstone, and he died on the
Rappahannock. In the last two weeks we've come to
think the river might have it out for some of us as well.
On our way to Tappahannock, we waited out our first
storm in the shallop. We dropped anchor, suited up in
our raincoats, and watched, terrified, as lightning
struck the closest point of land. All at once the houses
we could see lost power, and we still had three miles
to row before we could stop for the night. Little did we
know there would be at least three more storms to
follow, each scarier that the last. The crew has
weathered some injuries this trip as well. So far we've
thrown out one back, lost a crew member to heat
exhaustion for a few days, and while swimming last
week, I got some water in my ear that has yet to come
out. I fear I may be deaf for the remainder of my young
life. The Rappahannock hasn't been all bad. While
we've rowed more this trip than any other, we have
seen some of the most beautiful scenery on the bay.
We've stayed on four historic farms, most of them
having conservation easements, ensuring that the
river will maintain its natural beauty in perpetuity. Our
best day though, would be leaving Deltaville. In one
day, an osprey landed on our sprit while we rowed, a
school of cownosed rays swam past the shallop, and
we saw five dolphins. This bay never ceases to
amaze."
Known as the Captain John Smith Four Hundred
Project, the 2007 expedition is an educational initiative
of Sultana Projects, a non-profit based in
Chestertown, Maryland. Developed in partnership
with the Friends of the Captain John Smith
Chesapeake National Historic Water Trail, the 2007
reenactment voyage is serving as the official
inauguration of the National Park Service's newly
established Captain John Smith Chesapeake
National Historic Trail.
In addition to the shallop's current location, the virtual
voyage allows the public to track water and weather
conditions as well as video, picture, journal, and blog
entries directly from the crew.
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