Summer Update

Wow, I cannot believe two weeks have gone by - time sure flies when you are doing not much... Actually, I've been a lot busier than that. Still in VA, right now I'm holed up at my sister's house for a couple of days, helping out with the nephews and enjoying TV and internet for a change. I am loving staying at my parent's house at the lake but the no TV or internet thing is a big switch from Reston where I had high-speed wifi, every cable channel and a DVR... I got out of the TV habit (no Entourage!) in a week but the internet addiction is much tougher! I heard on NPR a year or two ago about a study that paid people to give up all internet for a period of time (maybe 2 months or so,) that ran into problems because almost all the subjects cheated or tried to pay their way out of it. At the time I laughed, but now, not so much. I've been trying to pirate neighborhood signals to check email! I have to drive in to a bar in Charlottesville to watch soccer games and have met some soccer junkies there. Cheered on the USA in a HUGE victory over the dastardly Mexicans... We're planning on meeting on Thursday for the US vs. Argentina game, go USA!!
So what have I been doing you ask? I've been up to DC a couple of times to root for my beloved DC United, get shots, and visit friends. A couple of parties there and just last week I wangled my way into a rec-league soccer game. They were short a goalie and I modestly offered my services to avoid the forfeit (neglected to mention to my teammates that I haven't played that positiion since I got addicted to scoring goals at age 8.) A bunch of borrowed gear later, I was all set and even managed to keep the ball out of the net. After half-time I offered, "If anyone's tired, we can trade shirts and I'll go play the field?" And before I knew it, I was laughing my way up and down the field, having a blast!!!! Only downside was the lavender jersey, (who chose this??) We held on to tie a much more talented team and I came close to a goal or two, but Oh The Feeling! I forgot how much I missed it - looking back and trying to put it into words I realize I sound like Frank DeFord getting a boner over baseball so I'll spare you. Let's just say I will be finding a team wherever I settle.
My best friend came down to the lake last weekend and we had a great time, cooked out and cruised around - even went into C'Ville for the nightlife.
When in Richmond I've been hitting the pool every day with my nephew, playing with him and doing laps during the Adult Swims. I think the playing may be more of a workout - diving after toys, racing around, and throwing him all over might not be Gold's Gym approved, but whew! It's hilarious but every day, some woman looks at me, looks at CJ, looks back at me and says "You're Melissa's brother the Dive Instructor!" all these Moms have heard about me from CJ or school or something. I think they realize I'm not CJ's Dad, note the turtle tattoo and connect the dots. Then the best part is they all say "I'm ____'s Mom, " while I've got 6 kids in the pool draped over me and I have no clue the names of any of the kids. Interesting how when you have children your name changes.
Other than that, I've been reading, running, biking, canoeing and just started hiking. I've bought a big backpack for my big backpacking trip, (go figure,) and am taking advantage of the nearness of the Shenandoah and the parks around. Nothing overnight, just some strenuous day hikes with about 40 lbs. in the ruck. Trying to get ready for Kilimanjaro, I guess, but not sure if it will help since that will be in January and I've got lots of flat islands and diving between now and then.
Only other athletic plan of note is a 5K race coming up and a swimming race across the lake set for July 4th, I'll let you know how it goes. My sis asked me the other day if I was going to get into triathlons (smart ?, I've been running hard for a couple of months, swimming now that pools are open and just got a bike,) and I actually wondered if I might. But then I imagine triathlete bodies - lean, sinewy runner types and I'm more the broad shouldered swimmer type - and laugh at the picture.
I just realized how much I've gone on without writing the biggest news - I've got my whole itinerary for The World Tour '07! I will put it up in another post, you'll have to check back and tune in but here's a hint (other than the Kilimanjaro thingie,) I may have to rename the blog "Clement's World Tour '07-'08!"
Hope you enjoyed the pics of the pool and hiking...
Ciao and stay wet!
C

Hiking and Pool Pics

Karrie sent me a great Antarctica Pic!

I was in Antarctica on a dive trip back in March and on one day, the sun came blazing out and on the side of the ship sheltered from the wind, it was beautiful! Had to be 60 degrees in the sun, but if I walked around the corner back into the wind --- look out!! Frostbitten knees would not be pretty. The crew thought I was crazy anyway, but it was soooo nice out there...

Done the Wine Trail!

After almost three continuous weeks of driving and wining, and months of trips, the great wine expedition has come to a close. I should probably sit down and total up the miles I've driven and wines I've tried, but there's just too many and I think my brain cells need to time to recover anyway. When my friend's book is published, I'll let you know.
I have realized a couple things:
Virginia is beautiful. From the Shenandoah Valley down the Blue Ridge, from quaint towns like Staunton, Abingdon and Middleburg, all the parks and forests and the thousands of miles of winding back country roads that connect it all... after living in the NoVa DC suburbs for seven years, I've finally discovered the beauty surrounding me and wished it had been sooner. Oh, I knew it was out there - I took some great hiking trips and a wonderful romantic long weekend driving my open-top jeep down the Blue Ridge Pkwy to a B&B at the height of the autumn colors, but there was so much more that I never knew! I'll never regret all the travel I did farther afield, but there was great beauty and experiences in my backyard, too! These past two months I've said over and over that I want to come back and just drive and explore all these out of the way places from a convertible, just enjoying the ride and the view...
Virginians are some of the friendliest people anywhere. Everywhere we went, talking to fellow tasters, getting help or directions, or just trying to find a good place to eat or a safe place to go running in a tiny town - I encountered nothing but helpful friendly smiles and a genuine interest and willingness to share.
Here are my favorites, (please remember I like big, dry, vibrant reds and try to avoid the sweet and blush wines.)
In no particular order - Valhalla, Pearmund, Fabbioli Cellars, Villa Appalaccia, Linden, Horton, Abingdon, Gabrielle Rausse, Gray Ghost, Gadino, DelFosse, and Savoy-Lee. Some others were really pretty or friendly, but these had my favorite wines!
If you want to find them, check here:
http://www.virginiawines.org/
But don't worry if you like the sweet stuff - every winery had at least a couple of these to "satisfy the locals."
Right now, I'm back in Charlottesville and heading to DC tomorrow for a DC United game and a vaccination visit as I prepare to head to Asia.
More on that later...

the Voo

I can even grab photos from iPhoto!! Isn't "His Royal Furness" regal?

Whoops, old post out of order.

All right, here's my first rookie blogger mistake - I couldn't get this to post a couple of days ago (it's supposed to be my 2nd post,) and now it's out of order. Hmmm, learning experience I guess... Anyway it's from June 3rd and I've already updated the first one to today, grrrrrr, so take that into account if you get mixed up like I obviously am!

In Manassas - just did two days at Vintage Virginia, a huge wine festival with something like 60 wineries!! I even ran into my old head brewer from Cap City days, Bill Madden, who is brewing out in Leesburg. Random meetup! Tasted most of the 17 wineries we hadn't hit before and hung out with Anne & Marianne who are roommates and work around here somewhere. Hot and sunny so much I thought I'd die Sat and then rainy and cool on Sunday, so there was a big difference in the crowds each day. Lots of bunches of friends having a party and couples sharing a cool experience - I'd definitely recommend this activity for either group, just make sure you have a driver, there are cops everywhere!!!
My fave? = Fabbioli Cellar's "Tre Sorelle" and Villa Appalachia's "Toscanella" Also tried a great Sangiovese, but cannot recall which winery right now. I'm definitely into the Italian Reds, big feel, dusty dry and exploding flavors. Yummy!
Other notes, did a 1 hour rain run this morning and saw "Mr. Brooks" starring Kevin Costner this evening - disturbing look into the mind of a serial killer, the people they encounter and their cult of personality.
Tomorrow, I'm going to try and get a vaccination for Japanes Encephalitis and then head to Lake Monticello for the night... after that it's up and out for a looooooooong drive to the far corner of SW VA as we finish up the winery visits for this book. I think there's like 139 in the state and I must have done half of them with my friend the author. We're down to the last 20 or so so it's home stretch time. They are all starting to run together in my mind and I don't know how she is keeping them straight - maybe I should have learned that lesson in school and taken some notes?

Cuisine in Abingdon

So here I am in the far side of VA looking at some wineries and we ask the hotel desk clerk (who can't be more than 17, but that's another story,) for a restaurant recommendation, and he talks up this place called the Pepper Mill, "They have great Bourbon Pecan Pie!". We check it out and it looks like a BBQ joint - with the requisite visible dumpster and "Use side door" sign taped to the obvious door out front. I go into full DC snarky restaurant snob mode and try to talk my dining companion into looking for something better. But it's getting late, it's been a long drive and longer day and I don't feel like wandering all over town, so we stay.

And it's FANTASTIC!!!

Decent, reasonable (really reasonable!) wine list, and the food is phenomenal! Just like I would open - high class food in a funky casual atmosphere. Service knew what they were doing and the owners were great. I had a ginger lime salmon, she had a balsamic sauced ravioli (true,) and got to taste a roasted pork tenderloin from this great table of ladies next door. And was impressed by all - this was definitely the best meal I've had on the road.

I would link their website but when I checked it, it doesn't work - oh well, it is SW VA after all... But if you are ever near exit 19 on I-81, stop in.

Some fun ones for practice - isn't my nephew cute!! At least our feet. I hope he doesn't get my hobbit feet...

The infamous "Uncle Clement" Crocs!!





Multiple pics, too!

Hey look, I can add a post under a picture! I'm so smart...

Let's see how this works...

OK, Friends - you know how useless I am with computers, so we'll see how this works. I figured that with some really interesting times coming up in my life, I might as well start a blog so everyone can check in on me, I can be creative and let my pen, (errrr keyboard,) flow. Also I will post pics and any cool stuff I find about my travels. I'll check some sites...

A word of warning, I don't plan on holding anything back - so take heed: Count on reading strong language, graphic descriptions of 3rd world diseases, and scary dive and travel stories, oh my!

This journal is not totally ready to go just yet, I don't plan on leaving the country until July 31st or so, (starting to worry about getting my new pages-added passport back, actually...) but since I AM homeless and have been travelling since about April 16th, I figured I'd get started with the US stuff - and get my blog feet wet, so to speak...

I will keep this blog mostly travel related, I've debated doing the personal thing to share my mind and heart - but I think I'll do that one anonymously elsewhere. So don't worry Mom - no personal laundry to be aired here!

In other news, I'm on myspace.com, too!! http://myspace.com/clementberard

I'll get started with the wine tour later - right now it's brought me to Abingdon, VA, in the very bottom left hand corner of the state. (Though judging by the bumper stickers, they would HATE to be described that way!! I doubt anyone even admits to being left-handed.) I'm maybe 10 miles from my beloved Old North State, and maybe 20 from Tennessee. Tomorrow is mucho driving and 2 wineries. But I'm off to dindin!

Ciao, Stay Wet, See Y'all and I'll make another attempt later

-C