John Smith Water Trail

A 'goodly bay' rediscovered

The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, enacted by Congress and signed into existence by President Bush in December, is unlike any other facility in the federal government's large portfolio of parks and trails. It is an all-water trail, so signage will be, if not impossible, at least unorthodox -- think of accessing real-time information by dialing a buoy from your cell phone.

Its purpose is more than folkloric. The bay is hurting, afflicted by oxygen-starved "dead zones," sick and dying fish, and rapidly dwindling crab stocks. It badly needs a constituency to press for its revival, and the new national trail could help build one.  (The Washington Post)

Shallop underway

Sultana Projects is pleased to report that the John Smith shallop went for her very first row and sail yesterday near the mouth of the James River. In a moderate breeze, the shallop sailed at about 5 knots. Not bad for the first day.

The shallop is now on her way to Virginia Beach, where she will participate in a reenactment of the first landing by the English settlers on April 26, 2007.

To see more photos, find out where the shallop is today, and read the crew's journals, visit the "Virtual Voyage" section of www.johnsmith400.org .