Cold January

I could not let January pass without commenting, once again, on the cold. This being the last day of the month, there is a reasonable expectation that the temperature will climb above freezing for the first time in over a week.

Atlanta Regional Roads after January Ice Storm

Yes, it has been that cold.

Even so, our region has been lucky compared to places like Atlanta where the ice storms closed the major arteries three days ago and they were still not open as of yesterday.

It is a crisis of immense proportions. School children spent in excess of ten hours trapped in school busses. Cars ran out of gas while idling in the blocked roadways. Motorists sat for 12 hours in their cars trying to keep warm.

It was bad there. 

It is bad here, too. Yesterday morning it was 5.5 degrees when I woke up and headed off for my racquetball match at the gym. Chris later reported a 4 degree temperature just before dawn.

People are suffering because of the cold. I know that by comparison, 4 degrees is warm compared with some locales. But it still is cold and the temperature does not account for wind chill.

Maybe winter will end soon! Not soon enough.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Winter Vineyards

King Family Vineyards during January

Although the leaves are gone and the harvest is long complete and it appears quiet with little activity, the vineyards of Virginia are busy places during the winter. 

Although it may not look like it, this vineyard is being pruned in preparation for the coming growing season. The piles of wood, as it is called, on the ground are the evidence of the activity that continues even with snow on the ground.

Chris took this picture during our Charlottesville wine weekend. The white snow provided contrast against the dark mountains in the background. And the vines, the stars of the show, are shown just after the pruning that prepares them for the growing season ahead.  

Although there isn't a lot of growing going on, vineyards are busy places during the winter.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Consensus Blending at Keswick

The Consensus Team
George, Sue, Peggy, Chris, Mark

Consensus Blending at Keswick Vineyards near Charlottesville, Virginia, is an awesome way to spend a day. I have written about the Consensus blending before--an event sponsored by the vineyard that brings the wine club members together to blend a winning wine that the winery will bottle and sell.

Our team was ready for the challenge of taking four wines with defects and making a good tasting wine that people would buy. It was tough. We were presented with four wines: Touriga, Norton, Syrah, and Chambourcin; all grown on the estate and ready to be blended into a great wine.

The Consensus Tools:
Four wines, graduated cylinder, and a wine glass

Blending a winning wine takes a lot of patience, the ability to find ways to blend imperfect wines into a masterpiece, and a lot of luck. There is science involved, but as the winemakers says every year, we are being asked to do in two and a half hours what takes him six months to achieve. And we do fairly well. 

This year we had a lot of fun, enjoyed some really imperfect wines, and blended what we thought was a great wine (until we tasted it later) all while spending another awesome weekend in Charlottesville. Our wine did not do as well as we had hoped, but when we tasted it later during the blind judging portion of the day, I felt that it got what it deserved. I rated for the winning wine very high and it was a very nice blend. Our wine, was mediocre by comparison and we rated it as such. 

Although we felt bad that our blend didn't do well this year--we learned a lot and I know that I am already looking forward to next year's event.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Flying--Overhead Bin Wars

I risked life and limb again last week by flying to and from Denver in the not so friendly skies. Not that it was bad, or that I had any irrational fear about the airline upon which I was flying. No, my concern was for the other passengers doing something stupid. 

Too Big Bag in the Overhead Bin

I believe that the most dangerous part of any flight is the boarding and deplaning process when bags are being slung into and out of the overhead bins. I fear that the too heavy bags are are going to go out of control and give someone a concussion. And, it seems, that the most frail people have the heaviest bags. There ought to be a big sign before boarding--if you can't lift your bag above your head--check it!

That written, I had a new boarding experience. Almost everyone knows that the overhead bins are the most sought after space on an airplane--especially in the winter with bulky clothes and coats. On my return flight, I found an nice empty row, yes, I was flying Southwest so I was empowered to choose my seat upon boarding, with corresponding space above for my relatively small bag. I moved a backpack which was taking up an inordinately large amount of space and installed my bag in the bin. Almost immediately I was confronted by a woman who informed me that she was saving that space for her husband's bag which had to go in sideways in order to fit. 

I had a choice to make which would set the tone of the trip for the next four hours. I could tell her how I felt about the oversize bag and that it should be checked because it was too big and that it was poor form to save space. Or, I could go find another seat. Not wanting to upset someone who I was going to have to share fairly close proximity with for the trip, I chose the other seat since I was an "A" group boarder and still had options remaining. 

How did I really feel? I wish the airline would enforce the bag size standard and not let people get away with using more overhead bin space than they are allotted. I wanted to tell her that the bag should have been checked--it is after all Southwest, they check two bags per traveler for free!

But I didn't. I found another seat, stowed my properly sized bag in the still empty overhead bin and slept for most of the flight home never having to confront the woman or her husband about what my "inside" voice was itching to say.

I remember my Air Force days when passengers were considered self loading cargo. I wish we could have left that cargo on the ramp.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - January 27, 2014

1. 27 days into the new year and I continue to wonder why the year is passing at what seems like light speed.

2. There is something very unsettling when the lead story on the national news is about a shooting at the mall where I shop. 

3. The frigid weather is continuing. No end is in sight and unless I can find a way to get a trip to someplace warm--like the Caribbean, I will have to continue to deal with it.

4. I figured out that there are 90 days until pool opening weekend--provided the freezing weather ever goes away.

5. I think the stock market is beginning to follow the temperature.

6. Wine weekends are a great way to get away and engage in something that Chris and I both enjoy doing--especially with friends.

7. We participated in our fifth Keswick Vineyards Consensus blending weekend yesterday. We had a great time even though our wine was not selected as the Consensus champion. I learn more and more about wines and taste by participating in this event.

8. Tomorrow is a sobering day as we remember the Challenger disaster which occurred 28 years ago on January 28, 1986. 

9. Ground Hog Day and Super Bowl Sunday are the same day this year. I wonder if the ground hog will see its shadow and if that means the Denver will win the game. Is there any way to make these two items somehow related?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On the Virginia Wine Trail -- Monticello Region

Saturday was devoted to friends and wine exploration. Although we planned to visit five or six wineries, only four were visited. And that is really OK, we had fun.

During the day we revisited King Family Vineyards, Pollak Vineyards, Pippin Hill Farm Vineyard; and made our first visit to DelFosse Winery. 

Statue at DelFosse

We began the day at DelFosse Winery and found a scenic setting well off the beaten path. The setting was particularly bucolic and the tasting room was very nice. The wines were solid and provided a good representation of the winemakers efforts. While the wines were good, we did not find them exceptional.

For our second stop, we turned into Pippin Hill Farm Vineyard just off US 29. We had visited this vineyard about two years ago shortly after they had opened their impressive tasting room. The view from the tasting room is impressive and the food looks very tasty. The highlight of the tasting here was the two examples of sparkling wine that are offered. Both were solid sparkling wines and the Rose was the highlight of the visit. We found the other wines, both reds and whits, to be good, but again not exceptional.

Lunch at Pollak

Our next stop, at Pollak Vineyards was the highlight of the day. IT was also the reason that we only visited four vineyards during the day. This was our second visit to Pollak, the previous being over two years ago. Our visit here highlights how wines change

Lunch at Pollak

from season to season. Two years ago we found the wines to be unremarkable. Yesterday, however, the wines were definitely the highlight of the day. The tasting room remains beautiful, but it is too small--and we had to wait about 15 minutes to be able to be served. It was worth the wait. We found exceptional whites, the 2011 Chardonnay and 2012 Vigionier were great; but the 2012 Pinot Gris was truly exceptional. For the reds, we enjoyed an exceptional 2010 Merlot and 2010 Petit Verdot. We spend a lot of time at Pollak enjoying the wines and the ambiance. This visit was the highlight of the day.

Stables at King Family Vineyard

We closed out the day at one of our favorite vineyards: King Family. This vineyard never disappoints and we were able to sit at a table in front of a roaring fire and enjoy a very nice Viognier while chatting with friends about the vineyards visited during the day and the plans for the rest of the weekend. The wines are drinking very nicely, especially the 2012 Viognier and the 2011 Petit Verdot. The 2011 Seven, port style wine, did not disappoint either. What a beautiful day. 

King Family Vineyards vines in the afternoon

As we were departing King Family Vineyards, the colds broke and the sun finally began to shine, Chris took this image which represented the day fairly well--wine and dark skies. 

Another great visit to the Charlottesville region to sample wines of the Monticello AVA. But like I have written before--the key to enjoying wine is not about the drinking, but about the conversation and the friends which surround the experience.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Charlottesville, VA

Out the Hotel Window - Charlottesville, VA January 2014

I must be in one of those fun travel periods. Beginning the week enjoying the warmth of Denver, I am now back into the freezing temperatures of the East.

Out the Hotel Window in Charlottesville, VA

It is cold. But, you know that.

Too cold!

This morning, I awoke to the sunrise over Charlottesville, Virginia, outside my hotel window and through the glass of the multiple stories high atrium than helps to keep the freezing wind away from my window sash.

At the End of the Road at Pearmund Vineyards

Yes, for those who know me it can only mean one thing, my return to Charlottesville--a wine weekend to start off the new year. We visited four wineries/vineyards/cellars (funny how even though they are the same they call themselves different things) on our way here yesterday afternoon. I have another few lined up for the travels today. 

I revisited Pearmund Cellars yesterday and refreshed my remembrance of their wines and some good times that I had with Mom and Dad late last year. What a memorable day that was! Good wines and good wineries seem to get better with age.

Sunset at Marterella Vineyards

In addition to revisiting two other wineries, I also checked out a new one, Marterella Vineyards and enjoyed a spectacular Sangiovese and also an awesome view of the setting sun behind a ridge in the distance. 

Visiting wineries is fun, and I don't just mean drinking wine. The fun comes from conversation with the people I am with and also from meeting new people in the tasting rooms. 

I am convinced that wine is more about relationships and conversation than it is drinking. Conversation begins with the first scent of the wine and continues through the last sip. 

-- Bob Doan, writing from Charlottesville, VA

Out the Hotel Window - Denver, January 2014

Pre-dawn on January 23, 2014
Denver, CO

The forces of nature smote me!

I wrote a couple of days ago about how I was enjoying 60 degree temperatures and snapping images of Pikes Peak while in Colorado while friends and family in the East were suffering through a massive snow storm.  

I woke up in Denver, Colorado, yesterday morning to single digit temperatures, the thermometer in the car actually recorded -1 during the drive to work, and snow! Yup, snow.

Just After Dawn, January 23, 2014
Denver, CO

The scene out my hotel window reminded me of the scene I imaged while in Alaska during February of last year. AND, it was warmer in Alaska when I took the image.

What a terrible thing to do to a guy. Provide enticing warm temperatures one day followed by below zero and snow two days later.

Anchorage, February 2013

I went back into my blog from February and found the Anchorage image. 

It is scary how similar the scenes look!

Snow covered cars and parking lots. The difference of curse is that the snow in Denver will be gone today as the temperatures are supposed to creep close to 60 again. Conversely, I'm not sure the snow ever melted in Anchorage--just kidding.

So, I am duly chastised by the forces of nature for writing the inflammatory blog entry about my warm weather while my family and friends were suffering in the cold and snow. 

-- Bob Doan, back home in Elkridge, MD

EC-121T: Aircraft History Lesson of the Day

EC-121T at Peterson AFB, CO

I find aircraft intriguing, perhaps that is why I joined the Air Force when I was younger. The other day I ran across a venerable old reconnaissance aircraft on display at the Peterson AFB, Colorado, museum. It is an EC-121T. 

I have been especially lucky on previous visits the museum to receive a personal tour of the interior of this Cold War warrior. Not on this trip however. 

This aircraft is impressive and is the largest on display at the museum. She has an impressive history and I even know at least one person who admits to being a crew member on the aircraft. 

This aircraft is one of only 22 of this model that were built and coincidently, it carried a crew of 22. I took a pretty good image of the information placard to capture at least some of the history.

But what about the deeper history of this aircraft and the men who manned the stations in its interior. I enjoy thinking about the missions that this aircraft flew--recovering safely after every one with its precious cargo of brave airmen. They were on the front lines of the Cold War between Russian and the United States. They were also on the front lines of the Viet Nam conflict. I am sure there were some very impressive or even downright scary missions completed by this aircraft and its crew.

Although my favorite aircraft of all time are the B-17G and B-52G aircraft, I really appreciate all of the different aircraft I see, and I remember their names and missions. During this trip I had the opportunity to see some other old favorites, an F-102 Delta Dagger and an F-104 Starfighter. Seeing these fighters reminded me of times gone by during the Cold War. I wonder how many missions each of them flew before retiring to be permanent displays stirring the yearning for jet flight in the hearts of little boys and old men?

They certainly stirred memories in me. I remembered being a young Second Lieutenant some decades ago and supporting the 49th Fighter Interceptor Squadron equipped with F-106 Delta Darts while at my first duty assignment of Griffiss AFB in upstate NY. They were fast and they were loud.

During November 2012, I wrote about a KB-50 refueling aircraft that I ran across during a visit to MacDill AFB, Florida. Another old Cold War warrior on display. I received a really great input form the Tanker Association which provided a lot of additional information about the specific aircraft and how it was one of only two remaining out of 112 which were converted.

It is good to pause for a moment and remember. So many men and women have gone before us it is easy to forget the sacrifices they both they and their families made to bring us to where we are today.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO
   (Home of the next Super Bowl Champions!)

What I did on your snow day

I was fortunate not to be back East suffering through yet another Nor-Easter blowing up the coast, pounding the land and dropping tens of inches of snow on my family and friends. 

Pikes Peak

But, because I was not there I had to work and did not get a free pass for a day off.  Which is really OK because I had some important work to do, people to see and people to meet.

I did, however, enjoy 60 degree temperatures and awesome blue skies. I enjoyed scenery that included the Front Range behind Denver and an awesome image of Pikes Peak framed by some evergreens outside the restaurant window where I enjoyed some lunch.

No, it was not out my hotel window--but it was outside the restaurant. 

And it was awesome!

-- Bob Doan, not in Maryland