Southern Food, Ferry, and Fun

Sleeping late is becoming a habit. I didn't even know my children knew how. I guess the key is to tire them out late at night until they almost pass out-- then, and only then, will they sleep past 7 or 8. Today was another late start day. This time we surpassed our sleeping in record by all 4 of us sleeping until 10. Heat and humidity were our constant enemy in Washington D.C. Until today, Williamsburg has been pleasant and not unbearably hot. With that intense heat, we thought a morning full of swimming was in order and that is what we did. After swimming it was time for a late lunch and we headed out without a plan. We headed toward Jamestown and came across "Old Chickahominy House". Bill and I picked it for it's name. We had both done youth camps at laughably disgusting place called "Camp Chickahominy" and it has become a joke between us how awful the place was. We thought it would be funny to see what this little restaurant would contain. It was a gem of a place. Half restaurant/ half antique boutique, it was filled to the rafters with stuff. The restaurant side was furnished like an old southern plantation home and had a fireplace (thankfully not lit) in the tiny little dinning room. We ordered biscuits, virginia ham, chicken noodle soup and fruit salad. The fruit salad was a decidedly Southern concoction: iceburg lettuce, canned peaches and pineapple smothered in ranch dressing and cheese---ewwwww... Only Bill could stomach that, the rest of us gagged as we watched him eat it. The rest was delicious. The best part of the "Old Chickahominy House" was by far our server; a charming black woman who had such a quality about her. We would ask her a question and it would undoubtedly get a southern "mmmmhmmm" answer. When Bill couldn't decide which pie to choose, she told him if he didn't like the less familiar flavor (buttermilk/lemon) that she would bring him a cherry pie-- but then brought him both with a wink and a "mmmmhmmmm". People seldom believe me when I tell how southern Williamsburg is. They think Northern Virginia which culturally speaking has nothing to do with more central/coastal Virginia. That is why it took me 2-3 years to shed my accent on the vowels when I moved to Utah.
After our perfect southern lunch, we thought we would drive to Jamestown. We were hoping the kids would be interested once we got there, but they weren't. We weren't in the mood to force them into touring the settlement when they were so clearly not into it, so we drove on. We saw signs for the Jamestown ferry and thought we would see how much it would be to cross the James river with the car. When we saw there was no wait and no cost, we thought NO DOUBT! and jumped right on. We had a nice 30 minute drive through rural Virginia on the other side, before deciding we were bored with our Deliverance tour and jumped back on the ferry to head to Busch Gardens once more .

William was nervous about heading back to Busch. He wanted to ride the roller-coasters but was afraid he would chicken out. We started out mild by riding another 4-D ride. After the DarKastle debacle, both kids were very angry when we had them ride this ride. Every one we asked said there was nothing scary in this ride, but my kids no longer trusted that and were both pissed to be on it. It was a cute ride where the riders are magically shrunk down to fit in a matchbox and taken on a magical ride through Ireland. William, after it was over, relented and confessed it was pretty tame and fun. Romney never would. He would not ride any rides at all this time around. Every thing was either "too babyish" or "too scary" we could not find anything he would get on. So, we just had a tour of the roller-coasters. Our first one, was the Lochness Monster. This was a ride that I loved as a teen. One of the two roller-coasters in the park at the time. William was nervous, but wouldn't give up. He rode it and loved it and rode it again.

After seeing William enjoy a ride, Romney wanted to ride the little airplane ride, so we walked 1/2 the park to get there to give him a turn. He buckled up in the airplane and waited for the ride to start. During this wait he decided that he wanted off, and was too scared to ride. This ride is so tame, they won't even let the adults ride with the kids. I told him to stay on since he had picked it and he enjoyed and rode again. My brave Romney must have been traumatized by the Big Bad Wolf from the first visit, and now was finding it hard to find his courage again.



Today was "William takes on all roller-coasters day". He rode 4 out of the Big 5, and only 4 because we ran out of time before the park closed for the 5th. We will have to plan another night to let us all (minus poor Romney) try out that last, scary ride. Even I feel a little fear for this last coaster, so I am impressed William is dying to ride it. I can't wait to watch him conquer his fears and take it on!