Williamsburg, VA-Nags Head, NC 10/13 175 driving miles; 7.3 walking miles

We started the day with another (Be patient with me, Lord) history lesson at Yorktown where the famous General Washington whipped the famously over-confident General Cornwallis largely, it seems, because the French took a liking to the upstart Anericans. Anyway, the British fleet that Cornwallis based his confidence on was soundly beaten and sent wallowing back to New York. This left Cornwallis backed up against the sea with no where to go, no fresh rations, or men and Wahington's ever eager troops squeezing the British like a giant boa constricter. Thank the French; they deserve it. After the morning of touring the battlefield, we sauntered through the village of Yorktown. Then we drove to the outer banks to see Kitty Hawk, where Orville and Wilbur Wright made history. What a joy for me it was (And is) to bask in a historic event that doesn't include distruction, dismemberment, or death. The only thing the Wright Brothers killed was their fear of failure. Hauling their glider up the steep sand dune called Kill Devil Hill, they made four successful flights on December 17, 1903. The longest of the four lasted 59 seconds and the glider made a distance of 852 ft. Next month when our jet takes off for home, the first memory of the trip I'll relive is the astonishing fact that just 112 years ago only birds could fly. The only other news of note is that Ed made a stop in at an urgent care facility to have his ear cleaned. It has been plugged for a week now. Hopefully, that's all it is. Meanwhile, I scampered across the street to a local BBQ ( We are in North Carolina) joint for a rack of extremely moist, tender, delicious ribs smothered in a tangy red hot sauce. Thst sheen you can see on my face is the realization that life is good, especially today.

Wahington's artillery.

The bunker like fortifications the British were trying to hold. There were several and they ran the length of the bluff above the water.

The Yorktown victory monument.

The James River as it meets the Chesapeake Bay.

Typical rich guy's house in Yorktown.

Selfie of the day: First Flight Monument in the background.

The flight grounds as seen from the top of Kill Devil Hill.

Orville and Wilbur as they look bronzed.

Orville and Wilbur as they look today.

The first four successful flight markers (They made over a thousand flights. Can you imagine the thrill!)?

Wow!

My first ever North Carolina BBQ. (Can you imagine the thrill!)?

"Best" human of the day, Karen, who cleaned Ed's wax. Rumor is it was the size of a good dose of Sea Gull poop.