Surry Nuclear Power Plant Tour 2-2-16

On the first Tuesday of February in 2016, we had planned a nice indoor activity knowing full well that the winter weather would remind us how smart that was. February 2—the middle of Tidewater Virginia’s winter—and it was 75 degrees at 1 p.m. O well, 23 hardy folks were rewarded with a physically restful but mentally challenging educational tour of the Surry Nuclear Power Plant. After loitering extra long in the parking lot—everyone hesitated to go inside with weather like this—we entered the Visitors Center and began to play with their exhibits that put energy generation, usage, and odd energy facts into perspective. Then the head operations manager of the Surry site briefed us on the facility and answered the groups questions till the magical 11 o’clock hour. I think he was enjoying himself as the group was asking intelligent questions and he appreciated the interest. We then split the group in two and one smaller group went on the bus tour of the facility. A corporate PR guy accompanied the bus tour and kept us in conversation for a full hour (as he also did for the second group). The second group spent the hour in the small power plant demonstration model room with two power plant supervisors. These guys enthralled the group with all the facts of nuclear power generation. It was a fun and interesting day—so much so that we exceeded the allotted time by an hour!

After the group expended all that mental energy, we headed off to get refueled at the restaurant at Smithfield Station on the Pagan River in Smithfield. So far we were blessed with great weather, a fun tour, and then we find out that this week isRestaurant Week in Smithfield—they have a special priced menu that most of the group ordered from. The Smithfield Station was able to accommodate 21 people easily. Except for the noisy ones, the Tuesday Group was well behaved—we only took two hours for lunch. Sated with lunch and ready for naps, we all took our goodbyes till next Tuesday. It looks like snow for that day.

Brian

Click on the link to view Bill B’s pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/137344663@N04/sets/72157664278044045/