Of Steam and Gas Engines, June 10

After coffee and showers we again cooked breakfast outside on the grill. Today it was sausage, eggs and pancakes with real maple syrup. After we did the dishes we rode our bikes to the visitors center and then over to the plantation on the college run trail. It was a nice paved trail with a good change in elevation. We were not prepared for the steep ascent to the plantation. Another bike walk. We continued on to the mansion and headed out the James River trail. This trail was quite flat and along the edge of one of the fields. When a blow down covered with poison ivy blocked the path we turned around and headed back to the junction of the Lower Chippokes trail. This trail had a lot of big gravel and was quite rough. The horse files tried to eat us alive when we slowed below about 5 miles per hour. When we felt we lost enough blood to the files we turned around to head back. As Suzette was swatting horse files her bike fell and the front chain sprocket put a cut about 1" long in her calf. We rinsed it off with water we had along and applied two bandages before returning to the plantation buildings and Steam and Gas Engine show. We rode about 3 miles.

While waiting for Toby and Marry to arrive I attempted to use my key fob just to keep my fingers busy. What I didn't expect what that the darn thing would work. Happy day I don't have to buy a new one.

Toby, Mary and their sheltie Tucker arrived and after lunch and a visit we headed to the visitors center and then to the show. We took in the show sites and made a couple of purchases at the vendors. We watched the tractor pulls for a while. Mary was fascinated with them.

As we were headed to the mansion for the free tour we stopped by a peanut picker and had an interesting talk with one of the participants. Really a neat old time machine and a good explanation from the gentleman. He also told us about how much better peanut fed hogs are and told us about Darden's Country Store.

We made the tour of the plantation mansion. Mirrors were strategically located so the lady of the house could see who was at the front hall from her second floor sitting room, office. Very interesting house. See here for more information on Chippokes Plantation.

The Mansion at Chippokes Plantation

The kitchen, now used for staff

The Mansion at Chippokes Plantation