It couldn't have been a more perfect day for the first bus trip of the year.  And after a string of cold, dreary days everyone was ready for a day outside.  First stop was Historic Sotterley Plantation.  One of the oldest plantations still standing in Maryland, the estate includes the house and an array of outbuildings, including an original slave cabin, set amidst 95 acres of rolling fields, gardens, and riverfront.  The house began as a simple two-room house evolved into an architectural masterpiece.  The Chinese Chippendale staircase and shell alcoves in the drawing room are among the finest examples of 18th century woodwork.  After our tour, the group enjoyed a box lunch on the lawn overlooking the grounds and the river.  There was time afterward to explore the estate, walk down to the river and bask in the beautiful weather.