| Finally, got time (and energy) to post |
[May. 13th, 2008|10:03 pm] |
Rolled out for Jamestown Saturday morning at 0600. Actually got out in time to grab breakfast and coffee at the gas station, before hitting the road. Having beaten the morning rush, I arrived as planned, at 0830. My fellow Surgeon, KG, and I, were set up in the Kitchen building, which is usually used for cooking demos.
I did participate in the Saturday afternoon musket drill, so managed to pop a few rounds. Other than that, I was in the makeshift surgery pretty much all the time. The only exceptions were foraging for food, and a couple of quarter-miles. KG and I were kept occupied, tag-teaming the visitors. One of us would be in the middle of a presentation, and another group of visitors would wander in. Whoever wasn't talking at the time, would start with the new group. We'd also interject here and there, in ongoing conversations.
One of the interesting points that we got to make, was that each barber-surgeon would have a slightly different perspective, having apprenticed under a different master. We also had different kits and equipment, having come in from different environments and directions. KG, for instance, has a lot of really fancy equipment, including a "governor" (traction device) for setting broken legs. He doesn't, however, have much of anything in the way of physick.
We were able to do a compare-and-contrast between his setup, suited for civilized environs like towns and cities, versus my military / naval / colonial gear. I, for example, carry a small selection of simples and medicines, on the premise that the nearest apothecary may well be on the other side of an ocean from me. KG works from the idea that were he to dispense medicine, he'd be stepping on the turf or toes of the apothecary down the way.
All in all, fun was had and Quincy points were scored. Sunday, we had a busload of Brits come through. As it turns out, I wasn't the only one who was told by one or another of them, that they were having more fun in Jamestown than they had in Williamsburg.
Saturday night, since most of Gardner's Company was motelling it, we snagged carry-out goodies and partied in the breakfast / social room of their hotel. Then, those of us who were crashing in the fort returned to the Settlement. There being a small bunch of us, I got to snag the rope bed in the big 4-Bay house. Weather was good enough that I just used the period-style bedding, and didn't unroll my modern sleeping gear.
Sunday, the rain was nice enough to hold off until JUST the moment when I was packed, changed of clothing, and ready to hop in the car and leave. Had a covered gas station in which to fill up, and then hit a drive-through for road food. Departed the area of Monticello and Rte 199 at 1800. Then the fun began.
I-64 sucked. It sucked so badly that I only made it to the exit for Norge, whereupon I bailed and headed back down to US 60. Stayed on 60 until 295, which I reached (30 miles or so from Williamsburg, mind) at 1900. In fairness, I do have to state that there were times when visibility was under 50 feet, when the wipers had sluiced enough of the flood off my windshield to see that far. 295, of course, was OK. I don' think that it's possible to muster enough numbskulls and morons to clog that road, at any given time.
I-95 on the other hand, resumed the suckage. I made it an exit or two past the 295 on-ramp, then bailed for US 1. Took 1 all the way to Fredericksburg. 95 sucked again. I bailed off on Rte 3 to US 1. At that point, in downtown Fredsburg, 1 sucked worse. Got back on 95 till around Stafford. Back over to 1, which lasted until just north of Aquia / Garrisonville. Then, another U-turn because 1 was under water and there was a VDOT truck blocking the way.
Essentially, between Richmond and Rte 234 in Prince William County, the best time I made before 234 was on 619. This is a twisty, curvy back-road with a speed limit that varies between 35 and 45. With the speed limit, and the 3 or 4 floods across the road, I still did better than if I'd stayed on 95 to 234.
Bottom line, a 2-1/2 hour trip took Four. and. a Half. Hours. Bleh. Hopefully, Henricus won't be as bad, this weekend.
Back at work this week, and have determined that my Geology grade was what I'd expected. Let's see how things go this weekend. |
|
|
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
folo1's Friends Page
ecstatic
hopeful
cold
aggravated
annoyed
cheerful
bouncy
