 So in September 1609, a spark from a flintlock gun fell onto his gunpowder pouch and exploded. And he was in so much pain. He was in bad shape. There was actually a ship leaving within a day or two. And so he asked the captain if he could go on board. And so just a few days later, on October 4th, 1609, John Smith left Virginia. He would spend the rest of his life dreaming of this place, writing about this place, and trying to get back.