Feeling Orange in Orange, Virginia

October 24, 2015 – Feeling Orange in Orange, Virginia

The Virginia I've known for nearly 30 years is not representative of the state as a whole. So a couple of days ago, the world oldest road tripper (aka Elliott) and I set out to explore a different side of Virginia. We didn't have to go far.  Less than two hours down Route 29 (Lee Highway) and Route 15 (James Madison Highway) brought us to the colorfully named town of Orange.  Set in the gently rolling hills east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Orange was an ideal base for our exploration of the scenic area. 

An Orange Invasion in Orange, Virginia

I chose this destination for several reasons.  First of all, it gave us an opportunity to view the brilliant fall foliage in a rural setting.  Secondly, I was eager to see Montpelier, the historic home of President James Madison.  And last but certainly not least, we were eager to visit our dear friends Millicent and Andy on the farm they recently purchased in the vicinity.  While they have not permanently traded suburban living for the life of gentlemen farmers, they’re enjoying getaways to their old farmhouse and ten acres of land.

Millicent and Andy on the farm

The part of Virginia we visited is still primarily agricultural.  In fact, I listened to a few minutes of the farm report on TV while I used the treadmill in the hotel’s fitness center.  Orange, like many other small towns in the area, has a historic downtown with a compact array of commercial streets.  This is where you’ll find the courthouse, the post office, a couple of law offices and banks, churches (Baptist and Methodist), several antique stores, some real estate agents and a few restaurants.  Everything you need is here, just on a small scale than in suburbia.  

Elliott in historic Orange

Antique shopping

Seen in a store window on Main Street

Right away, Elliott and I noticed how easy it was to drive around town.  Much to my delight, there were ample parking places.  All the people we encountered were polite in a quaint old-fashioned way.  I heard “Yes, ma’am,” and “Yes, sir,” on several occasions when we conversed with locals.  I’m not saying I’d want to move to Orange, or a similar town, but there’s something appealing about a place where life seems easy.  In fact, as Elliott and I were strolling up and down the hilly streets, we remarked to each other that in many ways, Orange reminded us of the small French village where we lived a simple life for four years. 

Of course, a big reason I might not feel comfortable living in this part of Virginia is that I’m a born Yankee (although my ancestors were on the other side of the Atlantic during the Civil War) and this is Confederate country.  A monument to the Confederacy is prominently situated beside the courthouse.  I haven’t heard any talk of removing it, as some of the more progressive cities in northern Virginia have done with their Confederate statues. 

Another reason I’d be hesitant to relocate to this area is the dearth of ethnic restaurants.  Apart from a single Chinese restaurant and a lone Mexican place, the choices were confined to fast food and American cuisine.  However, at The Light Well on Main Street in Orange, we enjoyed an excellent dinner one night.  And my glass of merlot, produced by the nearby Barboursville Vineyards, was quite acceptable.

For those of you who are familiar with Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello or Washington’s Mount Vernon, James Madison’s home may be a bit of a disappointment.  It isn’t nearly as large or as well restored.  The visit was worthwhile, however, as I learned a lot about our fourth President from the film and guided tour.  For example, I didn’t know that James was a sickly child who read every volume in his father’s immense library by the time he was eleven years old.  He was mostly home schooled until his father sent him to college in New Jersey (to what is now Princeton University).  Although he was the youngest of the founding fathers, he was extremely well versed in history and government.  It was Madison who was given the task of writing a new plan of government for the United States when it became apparent that the Articles of Confederation were unworkable.  With regard to Madison’s personal life, I learned that he didn’t marry Dolley, a Quaker widow with a young son, until he was in his early forties. 

Archaeological work is going on at the site of the slave quarters (yes, Madison owned about 100 slaves), and the mansion is still undergoing restoration.  The goal is to furnish more rooms in the house, so that it accurately reflects the lifestyle of James and Dolley Madison during their later years.  Unfortunately, the grounds and the house are not very handicapped accessible.  In any event, Elliott stayed at the hotel to take his afternoon nap at the time I visited Montpelier.  Since photography was not allowed inside the house, I can’t share any photos of the interior.  But you can see the exterior and the beautiful view across Madison’s property to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.  

The view from James Madison's house

James Madison's Montpelier

This journey was also significant for Pearl (the vehicle formerly known as Frosty) as it was her first road trip.  Let me explain about the name change.  It seems I have a transgender vehicle.  I originally gave my new car the name Frosty, which seemed appropriate on account of his/her white color.  However, shortly after he/she arrived at my home, Frosty called my attention to the fact that he/she wasn’t actually a bright snowy white, but rather a subtle iridized pearl-like shade, hence the name change to Pearl. 

It’s hard to believe that this was Elliott’s first overnight trip in over a year.  We loaded up Pearl with both walkers (3-wheel and 4-wheel), his medications, and of course, all the oxygen-related equipment.  Yes, it was a lot of work, but travel is always challenging, and it was good for him to have a change of routine and scenery.  Who knows?  Maybe another road trip is in our future.  

On Millicent and Andy's farm (in Ruckersville)