Surry, in Virginia, USA, is a tiny rural town with very little going on in it aside from one blinking caution light by the courthouse¹. There's not even a McDonalds in the whole county.

The nicest thing about Surry though is the Jamestown Ferry - two boats move back and forth across the James river from Scotland Wharf on the south shore to Jamestown Landing on the north. This is the only way to get to Williamsburg without driving 60 miles out of your way, but it takes almost as long.

The ferry is a strange thing, not being as permanent as a bridge you can actually miss it. The pair even kind of back up all day, depending on your perspective. They have schedules and they even have names², but they are unpredictable throwbacks to a very different way of life.

The ferrymen are not interested in fast trips. They take pains to avoid rough spots and once you are safely on board, the trip is entirely relaxing. You can get out of your car and look at the world, let the wind whip you in the face and you can get rained on.