The Virginia Capital Trail

There is a span of approximately 50 miles that run from the Colonial Capital, in Williamsburg, to the current capital of Virginia, in Richmond.  That 50 miles runs primarily along Route 5 through Richmond, Varina, Charles City, and James City County.  Also along that route is the Virginia Capital Trail.  A biking and walking trail that, once complete, will connect the two capitals.  Right now portions of that trail are finished and ready for use.  A small portion in Richmond, about 6 or 7 miles (that's my guessing) in Charles City, and then 13 miles (again me thinking out loud) on the Williamsburg end are complete.  And by complete I mean paved with bridges spanning over waterways, flowers planned along the trails, signs indicating starting/stopping points.  I first saw part of the trail while visiting Berkley Plantation a couple years back.  It's been on my "to-do" list since.  Now that I have more free time during the day I figured a bike trip was in order.  The great news about this adventure is that it's practically up the road from me :-)




My starting point in Charles City
Maybe a quarter mile before Berkley Plantation heading East



Very old entrance to Berkley






Charles City Tavern

Lots of wide open spaces



Edgewood Plantation (now a B&B)





There were a couple other plantations along the way, a historical church, plenty of trees...not the first bathroom :-/  unless you counted the trees.  The trail finished just as abruptly as it started.  You see in over in the woods and then you don't.  The other portions of the trail may offer bathrooms....but since I haven't done those (YET) I can't say for sure.  My next warm, sunny, day off....I want to start at the Williamsburg end and work west.  Who wants to go with me?

The Shirley Plantation

You would think that living in such a historical state like Virginia all of my life that I would have been to see every nook and cranny the state has to offer.  And I think it's fair to say I have seen a good part of it.  But it seems that what I most often overlook are the things in my very own back yard.  I have been much better about that in the last couple of years and I'm so glad about that.  Sunday Mark, Emma and myself went on a little morning trip to Charles City County.  Our destination: Shirley Plantation.  I have passed this site at least a few dozen times and each time I think to myself "I really want to go there sometime". 

The long drive leading to the plantation

Welcome!

The Shirley Plantation stakes claims on being the first Virginia Plantation and dates back to 1613.  It also boasts that it is the oldest family owned business in North America.  Cool!  The plantation is located on Rt. 5 in Charles City County and only about a 20 minute ride from Richmond.  You travel down a very long drive to get to the home site and pass through crops of cotton along the way.  In the winter you see only the remnants of the crops from the previous season.  The construction on the home began in 1723 with the Hill-Carter Family.  Over the years as various family members took ownership changes were made.  Some added things to the grounds and house, while others removed things.


To start the tour you need to purchase a ticket in the gift shop.  The gift shop is run out of what was once the "laundry house".  Like most plantations that were built back in the day things like the kitchen, laundry, cellars and even guest rooms were kept apart from the main house.  You will get a map of the property when you purchase your touring ticket.  We were given a small card with a time on it and instructed to meet our tour guide on the front porch of the mansion at the time on our card.  Tours run everyday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  They are closed major holidays.  Tours were $11 per adult and children are $7.  Emma was free :)

The drive right before you reach the mansion.

The main house and a two of the out buildings.

The main house.

Just a closer view.

Our tour guide.

You can't take any pictures once inside the house.  So I will just have to tell you the house was beautiful.  The first thing you notice is that you can on the first floor and look up all the way to the third floor.  The stairs are not circular but built so that it's open to the top.  There were cute stories that our tour guide shared with us about the families that have lived here and events that have taken place.  There is so much history in every inch of the house.  The top two floors are still occupied by the family and are not available for touring. 

The back of the house.

 

A view of the James from the house.

Now that is an old tree!

After the tour of the house we were free to walk around the rest of the grounds on our own.  The other buildings include an ice house, kitchen, laundry house, stable, and a few other buildings.  The majority of the buildings are symmetrical and built to have a matching building.  If you check out the website to the plantation you can get a view of the grounds from the air and understand what I mean about matching building.

The kitchen.

Can you imagine having
to cook with that oven?

The ice pit in the ice house.

Some farm equipment on display.

There are gardens on the property but being the middle of the winter it is not in it's prettiest state.  And from what I understand there is a small cemetery on the property but not on the tour.

The gardens.

We probably went on our tour on the coldest day of the year!  But even so it was an enjoyable visit and I'm so glad we finally made time to stop by. 

One last look at the mansion before leaving.

This weekend we are looking forward to going on the Heart of Virginia wine tour and then going to a birthday party for a good friend.  As always it will be a busy weekend for The Busy Bryants.

Berkley Plantation

When standing on the grounds of the Berkley Plantation in Charles City Virginia it is hard to imagine the day that colonists first set foot on the property.  That year would have been 1619.  And if the views from the land were anything like the view we had then I can understand why they chose that spot.  The sun setting on the James River was magnificent.

This last Friday night Mark, myself, Emma, my sister and her hubby visited Berkley and took part in the Autumn Sunset and Spirit Tour.  It started off with a brief history of the plantation and quickly had us taking a tour of the grounds and gardens on the property surrounding the house.

This is a side shot of the manor.

The "Bachelor's house".  Used for male visitors.  Now the gift shop.

Our tour guide

The manor and the grounds were built in the Gregorian Style which means everything is very symmetrical.  If there is a garden on this side of the house then there is a garden on the other side of the house.  If there is a door in the hall there then there is a door in the hall right across from it.  It did make for some interesting house and garden plans. 

Looking from the house down to the river.

This would be the river side of the house.

Flower gardens.

Some of the boxwood gardens.

As we toured the grounds we were told of some of the tragic events that had taken place over the years.  This lead to some ghost stories and stories about things that go bump in the night.  That really was more the purpose of this tour but I was really more interested in the house and the land.  I have to say that the whipping wind and the chill in the air did lend itself to a great night for ghost stories.  But chasing a baby around really didn't help me get in the ghostly mood. 

Part of the tour was to the Taps Memorial.  The song Taps was written and first played here at Berkley. 

Taps Memorial

Following the memorial we visited the small family cemetery on the grounds of the plantation.

Family Graveyard

Emma with her new pom poms

After all this touring (ok only about an hours worth) we headed for the gazebo for some light refreshments. 

Sunsetting behind the gazebo

The Ladies

The final part of the tour was the main manor.  Pictures and recordings in the house were prohibited :(   We started in the basement with a quick video about the history of the home.  Then we were divided into two groups and given a tour of the first floor of the house.  All the furnishings in the house were antiques and simply gorgeous.  We heard more ghost stories and about strange things that had happened in the past.  They let us draw our own conclusions on if they were true or not :)  All of this part of the tour was done by candle light.  Now that part scared me.  A 200 year old house with candles!  I was sweating!  Or was that just the heat? 

A few other random pics I got...........

I think we all had a good time.  Next time I think Emma may need to stay with Granny :)