Many thanks to those of you who contributed your informed responses to my
question about the navigability of the Chickahominy in the early years.

It does seem that it may have been sufficiently navigable up to about the
point of the Hanover/New Kent where a small marketing area developed on the south
side of the Chickahominy.  Perhaps it was more in the nature of a secondary
market to the active merchandising at Kiccoughtan (Hampton), and was served by
smaller ships.

The great floods of 1769 and 1771 silted up so many Virginia tributary
streams, it's difficult now to envision them as active merchant market lanes
dependent on accessibility to ocean vessels.  The Golden Vale in Caroline County was
once open to navigation for ships of up to 12-14 feet draft.  Today, it is
barely visible even the part preceding the dam which created a small lake at Fort
A. P. Hill.  Below the lake, the old dry stream bed still gives signs of
significant depth.

I'm sorry that the Mars Encounter may be a hoax; but you can bet this girl's
going to be out on the condo roof terrace in August just to check it out.  For
real time history, check out images at <<    http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/   >>.
This is the site for CalTech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Their little Mars
Rovers, "Opportunity" and "Hope" continue to roll across the Mars surface
sending back photos and other data. Casini labors on near Saturn many years beyond
its expected life. Only a few weeks ago, Casini sent home a picture with a
visible land surface feature that gives the appearance of a lake. JPL's Deep
Impact Craft is set to observe a major comet "outburst" at approximately 10:52 p.m.
Pacific Time on July 3.

Just in time to celebrate America's Independence.  I don't think the
encounter was timed as a celebration of this great American event; but it may produce
some truly fantastic fire works photographed up close before the little space
ship plows into the comet.

Have a happy 4th.

Joyce Browning
Fairfax County

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