Stingray Point- The Beginning

This is Captain John Smith.

I'm sure you've heard some version of his story-

settled Jamestown, got in a fight with Powhatan and his Native American posse 

and was saved by Pocahontas Powhatan's daughter who was around 12-13 years old at the time.

Contrary to Disney, Capt John and Pocahontas were not in love.

She ended up marrying  John Rolf and dying of smallpox.

But that isn't the story I want to tell.

Replica of the Explorer at the Holly Point Nature Center

On July 17, 1608

Captain John Smith and his crew aboard the shallop Explorer

ran aground at the mouth of the Rappahannock River.

As they waited for the tide to come in, Smith and his men began fishing in the shallows

spearing fish with their swords.

Captain Smith speared a stingray and was struck in the wrist by the ray's barb.
It was a painful wound,
and John Smith, certain he had been mortally wounded
had his crew prepare his grave on the nearby island.
Captain Smith did not die.
He recovered and was able to eat the offending ray for dinner.
He named the nearby isle Stingray Point.
The name is still used today.

There are some who thought that the area in question was actually the nearby island called Gwynn's Island which can be seen from the shore of what is called Stingray Point.
However, after much research into Captain John Smith's logs,
 it has been determined that the area where this took place
was actually a small atoll near the area where the
 Stingray Point Lighthouse once stood.

Gwynn's Island Museum

This little gem is, obviously, located on Gwynn's Island. 

If you're looking for something to do on a hot afternoon, I'd highly recommend checking out this museum.

 One of my favorite exhibits is the collection of Native American artifacts that have been found in the area.  The collection includes a Clovis Point which hails from about 13,500 years ago.

 There are exhibits showing whale vertebrae, fossilized shells, crabbing and fishing history, military service history, and another of my favorites- history of severe weather events in the area.

So if you have some time after grabbing a bite at Seabreeze, I suggest to drive down the road and check out the Gwynn's Island Museum.

Scenes From Seabreeze

This past Saturday, I had lunch at one of my favorite little spots on Gwynn's Island: Seabreeze.  It's located on the water just as you cross the swing bridge and enter the Island.  Saturday I lunched with the love of my life at a small corner table for two, watched the water and enjoyed the breeze blowing in off the water.  I chatted about the weather with the waitress, pointed out different sights to my companion and watched an osprey fish in Milford Haven.  It was quiet and relaxing.  One of the things that draws me to this area is the slower way of life.  It's not a lazy slow, it's more of a sensual enjoy everything around you slow.