It’s probably a cliche — but true — that there’s nothing you can do about the weather. Everyone who attended this year’s CAA Conference seemed to have a good time — driving (or watching others drive), attending lectures, watching demos, and visiting with old and new friends — despite the miserable weather. We were in the beautiful countryside just outside of Leesburg, Virginia (not too far from Washington, DC), where we all endured chilly temperatures, then brutal heat and humidity, gusty winds that threatened to blow us (and things in the headquarters tent) all over the place, and torrential downpours. But we had a good time!
Here’s a look back at the weekend:
one of the four-in-hand drivers during Thursday’s twilight drive, John White, was also one of the winners in the Sporting Day of Traditional Driving on Saturday
Tom Burgess drove his pair of Friesians on the twilight drive; his wife Gloria is in the back, and Gloria’s mother is sitting beside Tom (What are they looking at? See below)
the mansion at Morven Park
one of the single turnouts on the twilight drive: Roger and Sue Murray
the CMA’s Katharine Magruder gave a well-attended talk on choosing appropriate carriage colors; the lights in the room were turned off so the colors in her samples and slides would look more accurate
Richard Nicoll presented a fascinating talk on making and repairing bow-top whips
Colonel Davis, who organizes the annual Showcase, introduced the judges before they gave their commentary on the carriages (in the sunshine!); the Rockaway in the center won the high-point award in the restored division (the Carl Casper Trophy)
the crowd pulled chairs out from under the tent and set them up in the shade to see the carriages in the showcase (which had been pulled out into the sun) and to hear the judges’ commentary
this recently restored Brewster coach won the award for having the most complete documentation
the newly built pony-sized Spider Phaeton owned by Harley Waller (shown here driving his carriage to a pair of ponies during Friday’s Sporting Day of Traditional Driving) won the high-point award in the vehicles-in-use division (the Sidney Latham Trophy) and the Peoples Choice Award
Harley Waller’s Spider Phaeton was built by Harley Chandler (Chandler Coach Shop in Kentucky); Harley was at the conference and autographed several copies of a new DVD about his shop that happens to feature the new Spider Phaeton
Willi Green often brings unusual vehicles for the Showcase, and this year was no exception when he showed up with a 1902 fire-fighting ladder wagon
Willi explained how the ladder wagon would’ve worked, while a couple of volunteers hand-cranked the main ladder to a portion of its 65-foot height
Ayrshire Farm gave a demonstration of a beer dray, pulled by two huge Shire horses; after watching a few turns around the “green,” everyone was invited to come take a close look at the wagon, the horses, and the harness
one of Ayrshire Farm’s “smaller” Shires, being ridden in the demonstration
several of the youth in attendance gathered for an exciting “equine quiz bowl” game on Friday
on Saturday, the youth had fun with horn-blowing lessons from Rich O’Donnell
the two girls not blowing an actual horn are practising the “pursed lips” technique they were learning for blowing a coach horn
Did we tell you that we had some rain?? Ted Swendson brought his ponies and carriage all the way from Alberta, Canada, and wasn’t about to let a little rain stop him from driving on Saturday morning
later on Saturday, after the rain, everyone was treated to a visit from the huntsman, whippers-in, and hounds of the local hunt; here, the hounds have gathered in the shade and are watching all the people watching them
then, everyone who wanted to was invited to visit with the hounds; these two have found a new friend
here (and in the next photo) it’s hard to say who’s having more fun: the children or the very friendly foxhounds
happy hounds and happy kids
The Slower Road 
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