Make voyages! Attempt them. There’s nothing else. — Tennessee Williams
I made a voyage the other day, and it was bon. A few months ago, the local sailing club invited Tim and me on a two-hour cruise (as opposed to Gilligan’s three-hour cruise) along the York River. Of course we said yes. Sometimes the best discoveries are found only a short distance from home.
Although the cruise was scheduled to leave the dock at 2:00, four of us piled into the car at 10:30 for the 90-minute drive from our house to Yorktown. Tim and I and our friends Sharon and Jerry decided it would be fun to have lunch before boarding, especially since we were not at all excited about the prospect of beer and hoagies on board. So we picked out a place from among the online choices, and headed down to Yorktown and the Carrot Tree Kitchens.
Historically, Yorktown is probably most famous for being the site of the siege and surrender of British General Cornwallis to American General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War (in 1781), effectively ending the war a short time later. Yorktown figured prominently again during the American Civil War when it served as a port for both the North and the South, depending on who held the city at that particular time. Today, Yorktown is one of the three cities that comprise the “Historic Triangle,” along with Williamsburg and Jamestown.
The historic Cole-Digges House
The first thing we learned on our expedition is that the York River is not a river at all; it is an estuary. This we discovered while reading the menu in our charming little restaurant selection, Carrot Tree Kitchens. Itself an historic destination, Carrot Tree is housed in the oldest building in Yorktown, the Cole Digges Houses, circa 1720. Digges, the son of the most successful tobacco grower in the area, bought the property that the house stands on in 1713 because of its proximity to the wharves and warehouses on nearby Read Street. A merchant by trade, Digges did quite well.
You cannot believe how good this is!
In the early 21st Century, the National Park Service — in its efforts to preserve the building — asked for proposals from “low-impact” businesses to use the space. Because of this stipulation, the Carrot Tree (which opened in 2003) cannot have commercial dishwashing or high heat sources on the premises. Yep – every dish is washed by hand (okay, there’s a lot of plastic used, but still . . .). Anyway, as you can imagine, carrots feature prominently on the menu. The sandwiches and veggie tart are outstanding, as is the turkey burger. The carrot salad is unique (sliced, cooked carrots; not the usual shredded and raw) and delicious. And the carrot cake is the best any of us have ever tasted. And that’s saying something, since carrot cake is a major food group for me. Great service and good food in an adorable setting. What a way to start our adventure!
The Schooner Alliance
We walked over to the dock after lunch and before long were able to board the Alliance, the main entertainment for the afternoon. A 105’ gaff rigged schooner modeled after similar ships in use from the 1850s, the Alliance was built in 1995 in Palm Coast, Florida by Treworgy Yachts. Originally working as a charter ship in the Maine Windjammer fleet under the name Kathryn B., she was bought by Yorktown Sailing Charters in 2005 and renamed the Alliance, in honor of the French-American alliance that was instrumental in our war of independence. No electric winches here; all riggings are set manually and day sailors can help the crew of three however much they want. (Or don’t. I for instance, am a purely ornamental sailor.). The Alliance makes three sailings daily from Yorktown’s Riverwalk Landing from April ‘til October. She winters in the Caribbean, where week-long charters are available for up to eight guests. I think the captain, Greg Lohse, may have gotten at least one week booked during this outing. . .
Ahoy, mateys!
The sunset cruises must be magnificent, and maybe that’s the next adventure in Yorktown. Noiselessly navigating the waters, drink in hand (or not), under full sail, imagining life at sea in years gone by . . . not something you do everyday. As we cruised back into the harbor, rested and getting a little damp from the drizzle that decided to fall and cool us off, we decided that Dorothy was right. Sometimes, there’s just no place like home. And you don’t have to cross an ocean to have a new adventure.
Buon viaggio!
Linda Dini Jenkins is a card-carrying Italophile, travel planner, freelance writer, and amateur photographer. Travel is her passion, so writing about her travels just comes naturally. She hopes all her travelers find a way to express their joys, surprises, and fears as they travel and gives every traveler a nifty journal to help smooth the way. Learn more…
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