Saturday we
left the N. Stafford, VA WAWA at 8AM and cruised 70 miles to Rockville, VA in
Goochland County and the 24th annual Field Day of the Past event. Last year while Lou & Arlene and the
Princess & I were scouting out some routes for cruises we passed the event
area. Being the off season not much was
going on when we visited. A few old
friendly guys in coveralls that were working on some of the massive machinery
came over to Lou’s car and started a conversation with us. They told us a little about the deal and the
event they have in the Fall. They
invited us to take a cruise around the grounds to check out everything. We made a mental note to plan for a trip back
when the event was planned on September 18-20, 2015.
We left with
two vehicles….two more joined in as we drove through the WAWA at Cosner’s
Corner then we met two more as we passed the old Moore’s Store in Chilesburg,
VA. Lou led from Chilesburg to the event….on
a GPS directed route! I get more than a
little nervous when Lou fires up one or all three of his GPS’s and announces….I
can get us there! Sometimes he takes us
on roads with no lines, wandering through forests that cover the whole road,
like a green tunnel, while going over creeks & streams. That’s when I start listening for banjo
music! And, yes we always get there in
spite of the fog of battling GPS units….but I like paper maps….grinning. So Lou’s route was a very pleasant way
through the rural Virginia countryside to the cheese….it was a route we have
never driven before….that’s always a cool deal.
This event
is held on a sprawling 50 acre plot with dirt/gravel roads winding through the
compound. The owners “rescue” old
buildings and equipment from surrounding environs to be restored then displayed
as part of their “park”. They are part
of the ‘Rockville-Centerville Steam & Gas Historical Association’ that
rescues, restores, maintains and displays machinery of days gone by. Any gearhead would be interested in these
machines of yesteryear that are part of the fabric of what makes America
great. It’s always good to see/hear/feel
the machines that built our Country. And
the buildings like the Post Office that have been rescued, restored and displayed
on the grounds, spur a memory of our childhood and provides a touchable example
for today’s generation to experience.
The Post Office is actually a ‘working’ Post Office during the event
with a retired Postmaster on site to officially cancel any letters mailed from
the event’s Post Office….how cool is that?
There were many food concessions and other crafts and memorabilia. When Lou & I sent our Princesses off to
forage through the different vendors we were pretty confident we would be OK….but
one of the other spectators remarked that most vendors would take credit cards….we
knew we were doomed.
This time of
year I usually do my “outside” work around our home. I had been cleaning our deck and pressure
washing the siding, then washing some windows the week before. So….my mind tells me I’m still 40 years old….but
my body reminds me that I’ll be 72 in three months! I was very worn out Saturday…to the point I
didn’t visit any of the vendors and could only manage to take pictures of about
1/3 of the vehicles present! Next year I
think we will plan for a two day deal and stay at a motel nearby….we’ll
see. We highly recommend this event….but
you can’t see everything in one day….you need to plan for two days. And if you have a ‘special’ car I would
encourage you to be an ‘exhibitor’ (car show) entrant. The cost is only $15 (you only have to pay if
you want your ride judged) and you get to park in the middle of everything
instead of a couple miles away and then have to walk or be golf carted to the
event grounds.
It was a
very hot day so around 3PM most of our group decided to cruise 45 miles to Tim’s
Seafood Restaurant by Lake Anna for dinner.
That’s when we realized how many people were attending the event….the
Virginia State Troopers were doing traffic control as far away as I-64. We worked our way to I-64 and jumped on it to
escape the vehicular craziness. We
exited the Interstate onto Rt. 522 N and ran it the rest of the way to the cheese. After eating too many scallops and shrimp and
oysters and clams and codfish and hushpuppies we decided we really needed to
get home….burp! Our little group broke
up with some going north to the Culpeper and Wilderness area and some going
over the 208 bridge on Lake Anna then towards Fredericksburg. The closer we got to Fredericksburg the louder
the Princess complained that she didn’t have dessert at Tim’s….and how we were
getting closer to Carl’s….and we hadn’t been there for a month or so….and that
she really really really wanted to stop at Carl’s. She tried to call Ramona & Dan that were
following us, to enlist their help to convince me to go to Carl’s….but they
were rocking out with their music and didn’t hear their phone ringing. But when we turned right onto Fall Hill Ave
the black ’55 turned with us….they knew!
So I changed our route a little to accommodate her wishes. It’s always the best thing to do….you have no
idea.
After
testing the ice cream at Carl’s (it’s still good, you can go ahead and visit
them….you’re welcome) we had an uneventful cruise back to the Shotwell
hovel. I love this hobby.
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