New Sport, New fun!

Since starting my athletic life at 30 (ish) I have often wondered why I did not start sooner. I always thought I just liked learning new things... when what I really like is learning a new physical actitiy. I should have seen this coming, baseball with the brothers, loved being on my bike when I was a kid, taking dance lessons (this was very brief,, the tights were just too much!) all of it early indicators that being phyically challanged by learning a new sport was something that I enjoyed...so naturally when I entered back into this world again Triathlon was a great choice, lots of variety.. and LOTS to learn... but as some say.. been there, done that, and guess what... I am doing it again! Not triathlon however.... but a new sport, Rowing...... not the row, row, row your boat kind of rowing... in the club its called scullling. Now I can hear all the people that know me.... "of course you did!"

Don't I look happy :-)

Well, I am ...  not only is this sport physically challanging, it mentally challanging as well. This is one of the most technical activities I have ever done... and for good reason, if you dont do it properly you end up very, very wet!

I started last year... why pick this sport? Well there is a wonderful resturant called The Lift, yeah I know, wait for it, and it just happens to sit perched out into one of the prettiest harbours in Canada... sitting in  the sun facing Stanley Park watching... yes you guessed it, rowers... they looked so at ease, so happy, so graceful.. I turned to Dwight and said.. I would like to try that some day.

And so I did.......

I joined the Learn to Row program last year... level 1 & 2 - both done in two months.. September and October.. so I got a nice taste of "winter" rowing in October.. but I could not stay away.. worked hard over the last couple of months and finally got accepted into a program at the Vancouver Rowing Club out of Coal harbour.

Some good news is that I have NOT flipped a boat yet! But they do say, don't worry.. you will.. everyone does.. at least once ! I would relate it to when I first started clipping into bike pedals... you just know that it is going to happen, that day that you take your focus away for just a minute, usually at a traffic light.. and down you go!

So hopefully when it does happen, its warm.. and the water is clean :-)

In the learn to row prgram you start in an eight man boat "sweeping" so only one oar.. its really something to see, 8 brand new rowers trying to get coordinated and not go in the water.. I think I spent the first three classes with images of me swiming back to shore floating through my mind constantly... but we made it through and surprisingly we did not get wet, and we actually got to a point where we were.... if only a little.. rowing togheter.

The level 2 program has you in a four man boat "scullling" so two oars... that is even more interesting. The fact that I would be willing to rist my life with strangers on the water is knowing that I have a coach boat beside me... but I am not sure they would be so motivated to save us... at least not at first, its cold in the Pacific!

So I have started on another learning journey.. I have always said I like to do activities that make me feel like a kid again... cycling, rock climbing, trail running... and now.. rowing.. its like being in a big bath tub with a great new toy!

My New Playground!

Rowing is a sport that I expect to take a long time to learn, thats a good thing.. at least I think. So that brings me back to the question of ... why did I not start in sports sooner? The only answer that I have is.. I just didn't.. my path became one of smoking and eating potato chips.. with that behind me now I certainly have a passion for staying healthy and being fit.. its rather addicitve actually.

Hopefully I will be able to share some great stories of my new experiences here... and I might even get that picture of me in the water ....... some day... but lets say.. some day not too soon!

But for now I will enjoy my new adventure… and always..and I mean.. always… enjoy the post effort reward! 

Till next time......... Happy chatting......

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

Was 2001 a good year? Would you know? Would you care? you should…..

 

Why, because when you drink Bordeaux that is properly aged you will realize what the fuss is all about, trust… I didn't know until I did.. and now… I do…and I learned a lot... as you will see !

 

Dwight recently came home - yes remember the whole French Wine Scholar torturous classes he must attend.. yeah, one of those.. they spent time in Bordeaux… from that knowledge, tasting and experience.. I got to try… a really tasty bottle of Bordeaux.

 

this was it.. Yum.. Yum

 

So up front you need to know that Bordeaux when its released it not meant to be drank, Bordeaux is made to age. It is expected to spend a considerable amount of time in the cellar.. or your closet :-)

 

 



So if you have this........



or this.... keep it safe!

 

Most of our experiences with Bordeaux is that we drink it too young, this means it has some unsatisfying flavours… mainly; lots of tannin,  jammy fruit, or its overly woody. All of these things are there all the time however they are there in an overpowering way when the wine is young, but meld into a beautiful bouquet when aged.

 

The little number above is one that Dwight picked up to convince me that I would like Bordeaux…. I said.. bring it on.. I am not an easy push over… I might not be a FWS… but I drink A LOT of wine…!

So.. he did, and he was right…. it was awesome….without the education of the very scholastic language, I would say… it was smooth, it was balanced, and it most importantly for me.. did not have heavy tannins.

 

Some tips about Bordeaux:

 

$50 or less - hold for 5 to seven years, anything over this hold for at least 10 years.. (trust me it worth it)


Always decant a Bordeaux, it has just been sitting for a long time, it will have sentiment , thats ok.. you just don't want it in your teeth!

 

***as a note, the concept of "breathing" wines really only works well with young wines… oxygen is not a friend of old wines… decant to get the sentiment out.. then drink.. don't over agitate the wine… its not needed… its rather fragile.. and if I see you doing it.. I will hurt you…..

 

The regions in Bordeaux are the Left bank and Right bank, there just happens to be a major river that splits them.. yeah I know.. picture yourself in cottage there… enough said. The vines on the left bank (south side) are predominately Cabernet Sauvignon based and the soil is mostly gravel.

 

The right bank (north) are predominately merlot based.. and there the soil is mostly clay. Because of the terrior they both have a distinct flavour profile… again a situation where you have try to see which you like.. this may help!

 

 

 

I find the issue with Bordeaux is that we can't drink it… so waiting until its ready to drink makes it expensive, hard to find, and usually.. not something we pick up. For the finance people reading; they actually sell futures for each vintage… so every year the Chateaus will release tastings for the pervious harvest, these are evaluated to set a market price, the following year another sample will be released and again they will do another evaluation.. then a second price will be set…then just before they put it in the bottle the final price is set….... so the lesson of this economic story.. is know your wine! 

Yes, in case you have not already figured it out... Dwight right helped me write this … :-) Well, I kind of just typed !!!

Till next time.. happy chatting!