+- WineBoard (https://www.wines.com/wineboard)
+-- Forum: GENERAL (https://www.wines.com/wineboard/forum-100.html)
+--- Forum: Rants & Raves (https://www.wines.com/wineboard/forum-12.html)
+--- Thread: Have fun while I'm gone! (/thread-12475.html)
Pages:
1
2
- dananne - 06-30-2003
Well, I'm off for an approx. 30 mile solo hike on the Appalachian Trail in N. Georgia. I should be back late Wed. evening, provided I'm not devoured by bears [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]
Looking at the weather, it just figures that the SE would be hit by a Tropical Storm while I'm on the trail. I guess it'll be a wet few days!
I'm taking suggestions for my return-home wine for Wed. evening. I'm thinking about a N. Ga winery's norton and/or a port, but I'm open to any other thoughts.
Take care, all.
- Drew - 06-30-2003
Have fun and don't worry bout the bears...hear tell they don't like their food mixed with wine. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]
Drew
- Georgie - 06-30-2003
Have fun! Stay safe! I'll say a little prayer for you!
- JagFarlane - 06-30-2003
Have fun and as far as the bears go, you probably won't see one, but if you do...mostly it'll ignore you...if it charges...walk backwards, keeping your eyes on the bear, but no eye contact...
- Georgie - 06-30-2003
Like I said, I'll pray for you!
- winoweenie - 07-01-2003
Have a great trip[ D and don't worry about
the bears.. Looking at the market last week I'd keep an eye out for some horny Bulls Tho'. WW(the debbil made me say it)
- Tyrrell - 07-01-2003
You all worry too much Dananne is spending vacation days in (IMHO) the wisest possible way.
- dananne - 07-02-2003
Well, I'm back. My trip, though fulfilling and fun on some levels, was a complete trainwreck on others. Consider the following: That tropical storm came through while I'm on the trail, dropping about 5" of rain in 24 hours and leaving the trail either flooded, impassable, or simply dangerous. During the first night, the bag of food (including my toothpaste) that I hung to keep the bears out of the shelter was blown down and/or away, or it possibly fell and was carried off by hungry woodland creatures (all I had left the following day was some shredded wrappers from power bars and dried fruit). My thinking is that the 30+ mph winds knocked it off the cable hook thing and that whatever landed on the ground was like a animal buffet table. So, I went the last 24 hours without food or toothpaste. Sometime during the first night, mice got into my pack and ate my toilet paper. Despite what the accompanying literature suggests, NO pack is truly waterproof, as my spare clothes and sleeping bag will gladly attest. Finally, in a puddle on the trail (which actually WAS the trail, as everything was underwater), I stepped RIGHT ON A COPPERHEAD! Other than that, the trip was great [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]
In short, I need a glass of wine, since a warm bath and meal have already happened.
I'm thinking along the lines of a N. Ga winery tannat or norton, as a tribute to the N. Ga mountains that kicked my rear over the past few days, but I will take any alternative suggestions from folks for the next few hours. A port, maybe? A hearty CdP or Cotes du Rhone? Primitivo? By about 8, though, a cork will be pulled!
Thanks to all for your kind words and thoughts while I was away.
- Georgie - 07-02-2003
Good grief, what a nightmare! I say drink anything you can get your hands on! Before you go on next year's vacation, hope you'll ask for ideas from the group. I am glad that you are safe and sound. As you and Dorothy learned the hard way, "There's no place like home!"
- dananne - 07-02-2003
You're right -- home looks very nice to me right about now.
Despite my tone suggesting otherwise, there were some nice parts to the trip. I managed to hike over 30 miles of very difficult mountain trail in about 2 1/2 days, even with the horrid conditions. Some parts of the hike were breathtakingly gorgeous. One lowlands area was just filled on both sides of the trail with thousands upon thousands of brilliantly green mountain ferns -- it looked like a fairyland scene, or something out of a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream. On rocky outcroppings, you could literally touch the passing stormclouds. As I cursed one section of very difficult trail, I glanced up and realized I was being watched by 3 deer. We stared at each other a few moments, then they bounded off right up the mountain like it was nothing. At first, my response was, "Show offs." Then, I cinched up my pack and trudged along with renewed vigor.
I can't ignore the misadventure aspects of the trip, but it was redeeming, too. Next year, though, I'm thinking of a beach in Barbados. Hopefully, that one won't involve tropical storms [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]
And, yes, there will be some drinking tonight . . .
- Innkeeper - 07-02-2003
OK, Dan, now you're talking to the ole guy. Guess the copperhead didn't get ya, since you're still talking. You've got to watch your step, even in water. I could tell you lots of stories, but won't. Better luck on your next hike.
- Thomas - 07-02-2003
Wow! I had a great time reading that trip. Send your story to Reader's Digest--it is a cinch to sell.
And now you know the real reason for wine consumption...
- Tyrrell - 07-03-2003
Well my "wisest possible way" comment seems a bit unwise at this point. Still I'm glad to hear that you were able to enjoy many moments of the trip. Shame about your bear bag though.
If nothing ever went wrong you wouldn't have any stories to tell around the fire next time.
- dananne - 07-03-2003
Well, I decided upon a tannat from a N. Ga winery called Tiger Mountain Vineyards. Popped it at 8, and it was finished by 11. Then, a nice, looooong sleep [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]
Muscles a bit sore today but, thankfully, my soccer game this evening was cancelled due to poor field conditions (go figure), so I get some needed quality rest time. I resolve to not do anything active until my next soccer game next Monday!
IK: No, the copperhead didn't get me, but it's not for a lack of trying! I'm usually very careful down here when I'm out on the trail, but with all the water . . .
Foodie: Glad to have entertained!
Tyrrell: Yes, I've got some stories for the next campfire. Assuming, of course, that the next time I'm camping there isn't a tropical storm limiting my ability to actually START a campfire [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]
- JagFarlane - 07-03-2003
Well actually most bags aren't waterproof, though Dana Design and Gregory are working on it. These days the only true waterproof bags are the ones you see for canoeing/kayacking. They have a heavy plastic material and fold over tightly, and are waterproof. Anyways, glad to hear you made out ok...and if worse comes to worse about lighting a fire...road flares always work so wonderfully. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img] hehehehe....
- Tyrrell - 07-03-2003
I've always been a fan of keeping _everything_ that is in my backpack in a second bag and making that second bag a Ziploc bag if I want to keep the contents dry. (A bit late for sharing techniques though.)
I just read "The Complete Walker IV" by Colin Fletcher. One of the things he said is that on his trek through the Grand Canyon he had stowed a bottle of claret with each of his food caches. He found that he didn't enjoy the wine when he had it on the trail. Has anyone here had similar or contrary experiences?
I rarely take any alcohol with me (think of the weight) but I've always considered stashing a bottle or two in the car so that I can drop my pack at the campsite for the last night and go for a walk to where the car is parked and pick up libations for my final evening meal on the trail.
I worry that visiting my car might just drop me right out of my backpacking mindset about twelve hours sooner than I'd like.
[This message has been edited by Tyrrell (edited 07-03-2003).]
- dananne - 07-03-2003
Jag: Thanks for the pack tips. Also, thanks for the flare advice [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]
Tyrrell: Actually, I did have several things in ziplock baggies -- camera, cell phone, first aid stuff, book, trail guide and map, etc. Of course, that all stayed dry. However, in hindsight, I did put too much stock in the waterproof abilities of my pack, as my sleeping bag and spare clothing were soaked. I even had my extra clothes in a spare garbage bag, but alas. Regarding wine on the trail, when I'm tent camping overnight, sometimes I'll put some red wine in an old water bottle with a screw top, but it seems I rarely feel like drinking it that night. I do, but only to lose the weight for the next day's hike. Only once, when the overnight temp dropped to 28*, with a wind chill of 15*, did it really hit the spot. I savored every sip that long, cold night [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]
- JagFarlane - 07-03-2003
Hey its not a problem, just some things I picked up when I worked for a camping store. [and it was a real camping store...not your Wal-Marts type UGH]. If you're wondering where to get flares...galls.com sells them [I do appologize for the advertisement, but they are a very good supplier with decent prices]. Have fun on your next camping trip, hell who knows...I might wander your way and join ya someday [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img].
- Innkeeper - 07-03-2003
The volume of "Complete Walker" that I read said, always carry a DIME with you incase you have an emergency and can only find a payphone.
- dananne - 07-03-2003
Jag: You could probably make it in about 3-4 months -- just pick up the AT in NW NJ just N of the Delaware Water Gap and head South [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]
IK: A dime, huh? I don't know -- that adds some weight [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]