Summer Picnic

Today was the day of the Airbus summer picnic, run by the staff association and held at the Marriott Ranch, some 40 miles to the west of Reston, below the Blue Ridge mountains.

Open countryside rolled out around the ranch, which comprises more than 4,000 acres around a restored 19th century manor house which is run as a bed and breakfast location.

There were few cattle to be seen in the fields but some were sheltering from the (35C) heat in this traditional red barn.

The ranch was bought by the founder of the Marriott chain of hotels and is a venue for large semi outdoor events such as today's picnic, a western style cook-out.

Trail rides were available (real horses - although these inflatable hobby horses were very cute!).  We decided against riding out for a couple of hours in that heat, but it is apparently beautiful and we may well return to the ranch in the autumn when it will be a bit cooler!

The guys doing the cooking had a warm job but we were lucky to be able to sit in the shade of a covered barn for lunch..

Over lunch (there were other people there - some 400 in all), we were serenaded by a Country and Western singer.

There were lots of activities for children..

After lunch we headed to the nearby Desert Rose Winery for a tasting.

A good day but a very warm one!  This evening it is still around 30 C at 10pm.