Day #5-Segways!

(And a Happy #37 Birthday to DaddyP!! He doesn't look a day over 25...or so. Have I mentioned that 5 different people have asked us if we're on our honeymoon? When I tell them we've been married for 12.5 years, they're amazed. Maybe it's because we're immature? Hehehe.)
I hate to leave out a description of our Rooftop tour that we took of the Biltmore House this afternoon, but it's just going to have to take backseat to our Segway excursion! Hands down, this was the MOST fun I've had in a verrry, very long time. After checking in and meeting our guide, Joshua, we spent about 30-40 minutes doing a "rigorous training" for off-road Segwaying. This training included learning how to drive the machine, how to stop (most important,) what NOT to do, how to crash, what NOT to do, a cone driving course--oh-so-much fun, and oh...what NOT to do. Our group consisted of about 3 other couples, all of them were in their 50's-60's...one was the owner of the Tractor Supply stores. He was just an average guy, except he drove a really nice car. Where was I? Oh yes, so we trained in a small grassy field with Josh. He was a really nice kid who loves his job! We had a good time with that guy.
After our training period was over, we started off on our 2.5 hour trek around the estate. I mean, learning to operate a Segway is one thing, but taking your Segway around a place as beautiful as Biltmore, it was like Segway heaven! We stopped several times to rest. You wouldn't think it's tiring, but in a weird way, it really is. If you've ever used a Wii Fit balance board, you sort of have an idea of what it takes to off-road Segway. So, we started out on some paved paths that looped around the outer limits of the estate, and we moved on to greener pastures (haha) to test our off roading abilities. The Segways that we were on are different than the typical version (basically it's the tires that are the differences...that and the off-road version costs about $5,000 compared to $2,000 for the regular version.) Our tour was extremely organized, and Joshua let the group set the pace. Eventually, we vamped up to the chip that lets you smoke around at 12mph. This doesn't sound like much, but when you're controlling your every movement with the balls of your feet and a computerized gyroscope. Trust me, 12mph is booking! But oh the fun! At one point, Joshua gave us "Segway recess" and turned us loose in a grassy field. I'm sad to say that DaddyP was involved in the only crash of the entire outing. And I'm even more sorry to say that I was the target of his crashing. Yes, he took me out in a blaze of glory, right there in the green pastures of Biltmore. I have a slight bruise/goose egg on my shin where his Segway pinned my leg to my Segway and a bloody scratch on my forearm, but other than that, we survived. Somehow, I should've expected a crash out of the Crash King. Haha. Luckily, HE wasn't injured! That's the truly miraculous news!! Hahaha. We were up and back on our way with minimal assistance (once we were able to stop laughing,) and back on our way to the Finale of the ride which ended on a cliff overlooking Biltmore House. Totally, totally an morning well spent!