April is the start of our driving season, and once again opened with our club's annual Bluebell Drive alongside the Shenandoah River. It was going to be a nice relaxing drive with our pair, one that we look forward to each and every year. And it didn't disappoint! The drive day was brilliantly sunny and delightfully warm...and the bluebells were at their absolute peak of bloom.

Findeln American Flag and Benlea Liberty on the PDC Bluebell Drive (left) and on our Memorial Day Drive (right)

The surrounding quiet public gravel roads afforded the drivers a choice of routes to accommodate varying levels of equine ability and fitness in a “go as you please” atmosphere. Most drivers chose the longer route where a more spectacular display of native bluebells presented a riot of soft blue enhancing the sparkling waters of the Shenandoah River. Along the main part of the route the river was always within view as it flowed past, at times skirting so close to the road that it nudged the gravel shoulders. The drivers went at their own pace, enjoying the brilliant day, the peaceful riverside vistas, and the surrounding farmlands and woods that, in the fall and winter, echoed with the choral melody of the Blue Ridge foxhounds in pursuit of the wily fox. On this day, however, the only sounds were the crunching of carriage wheels on the gravel roads, the songbirds twittering and singing to one another, and the gentle lowing of Black Angus cows scattered over the distance in springtime green fields. The out-and-back route allowed the carriages to pass in review of one another so that drivers and their guests could greet and enjoy each other’s equipage both heading out and returning.

It was hard to leave the beauty and serenity of the riverside road at the end of the drive, but the Watkins had planned a fabulous luncheon that eventually drew all the carriages and participants back to Kittery Point Farm. In a short time the farm fields again sprouted herds of horses and ponies at their trailers, munching on a full haynets while their owners and guests gathered in a group of colorful lawn chairs under the cool shade of Anne Watkin’s beautiful stable to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon in happy chatter and delicious food.

May is supposed to be the month of flowers...but someone forgot to turn off the water, because we were deluged with rain, more rain, and even more rain! Every day, without fail. We actually broke a record for more consecutive days of straight rain in our area!

Of course, that didn't bode well for our hosting Piedmont Driving Club's second drive of the season - the 1st annual Flora Drive. As the date of the drive drew closer, we began getting calls and emails from several of the drivers that they couldn't get their trailers out of their own fields due to the soggy ground. Many were worried about tearing up our spacious front field, too, by slogging over the super-saturated ground. Fortunately, our front fields are on shale and never hold water. Still...even though we would have been fine, the drivers still had the problem of getting here first.

As wave after wave of thunderstorms moved in with yet more drenching rain the day before the drive -- which was supposed to be sunny -- we called everyone to let them know the drive had been rescheduled for the middle of the following week. One and all breathed a sigh of relief.

It turned out to be a smart decision as the new drive date took place on a brilliant day full of sunshine and warmth. Two and a half days of preceding sun and warmth were enough to dry out of the countryside, and by 10AM trailers began filling the big front field at Auriga Farm. Carriages and horses and ponies were unloaded and then each in turn were decked out in flowers in preparation for a guided tour through several surrounding estates to admire the homes, gardens, and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Each driver was given a tour booklet that detailed the drive route, descriptions of each of the properties that the carriages would pass through, and historical tidbits of the local area.

Flora driving her Welsh Section B pony Findeln American Flag put to a c1890 Kendall pony carriage.

The drive moved off around 11:30, passing through a lovely tunnel of Leyland Cypress and the mowed carriage path of Auriga Farm to Way A-Way Farm’s hay fields, past the side gardens of the house before turning onto a private gravel lane where the carriages could view the crystal blue ponds and Springtime green countryside full of flowering trees. The lane led into a quiet public gravel road that took the carriage tour onto one of the many old roads that used to criss-cross western Loudoun County but were abandoned in the middle of the last century. The grassy way of the old road dipped into a shady woods before emerging into the brilliant sunshine at the back hay fields of Highfields. The sweeping property resides high on a knoll with one of the most incredible views of the Blue Ridge to be found anywhere in Loudoun County. The carriage entourage was treated to these stunning views before traversing a loop through the grounds in front of the gorgeous home to admire the architecture and the lovingly tended gardens. The owners of this beautiful property had even graciously mowed their entire field to provide a smooth passage for our carriages driving through. The tour continued down Highfields gravel driveway as it threaded its way among the fields and woods, and returned to the gravel road where the tour now led to Old Welbourne, a half mile further down the road.

Old Welbourne’s long gravel driveway is a breathtaking entrance into the several hundred acre estate with views in all directions, which was greatly enjoyed by the drive participants. The carriages approached this 1880’s Federal brick manor house through a stone gateway and then circled up in front of the house to admire the beautiful architecture up close. One by one the carriages passed in review, then returned down the long driveway to the gravel road where they turned back in the direction they had previously come to complete the final leg of the tour down another old Loudoun County road, now a private driveway, through the impeccably groomed lands of Lazy Dog Farm.

As the carriages passed through Lazy Dog Farm we were delighted to see the owner out to watch the carriages pass in review and enjoy the smiles and waves of the participants who were equally enjoying the farm’s elegant plantings and landscape. The tour continued to follow the old road bed onto a perfectly groomed carriage path that looped through a hay field offering views of the countryside to the north, and then onto the mowed grassway of Auriga Farm where a host of cameras awaited our finale, snapping shots of the carriages returning.

A sumptuous luncheon arranged in a tent draped with garlands of flowers and set in the colorful front gardens with lots of wrought iron furniture, awaited for the members and guests, and the rest of the afternoon was spent in friendly chatter and good food while the horses and ponies snoozed at the trailers, soaking up the warm sun.

The following day the rains returned, with cold winds and falling temperatures. But we counted our blessings that our drive was such a huge success, and look forward to next year!

Some of the carriages heading down the road enroute to Highfields