Vacation photos...

[Chris_]

Okay, so I went on vacation with some old HS pals.  We did an unconventional trip, by going along with one's parents in their RV to Michigan, and had a blast up there.  I finally got around to getting some photos into Photobucket, so here they are:



This vineyard is owned by Madonna's parents.  I was totally blown away by some of their wines (Bella Ciliegia, a cherry-based wine) and underwhelmed by some others (bad aftertaste was the main culprit).



They named some wines after their daughter.  But I wasn't interested.     I did buy the Bella Celiegia, though.



this particular vineyard (name doesn't come to mind right now, but I'll go through my souvenir pamphlets I picked up from each winery later to try to remember. LOL) had the most fantastic views. 



Same vineyard.



I don't know which type of grapes these were, but I was excited to get the chance to take a photo of the vines. 


This is the ENTRANCE to Blackstar Farms, a winery/creamery/inn/equestrian center.   




At the equestrian center, they had the cutest little shetland ponies, a mom and daughter pair.   Figures that this one is Georgia...





And this cutie pie is Peaches.

I'll post more later, but since I've been having to e-mail the images, this took quite an effort, since I can't bulk e-mail them.  I have to do it one at a time.

[jendf]

Beautiful pics! One day, I would love to visit the vineyards of Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. I probably wouldn't remember much though since I would plastered. 

[Chris_]

Beautiful pics! One day, I would love to visit the vineyards of Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. I probably wouldn't remember much though since I would plastered. 

LOL!  Some of us younger folks definitely got a little plastered.   Considering we visited several wineries in the course of a few hours, we were quite tipsy when we were done (having never had that much wine before). 

[Chris_]

Beautiful pics! One day, I would love to visit the vineyards of Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. I probably wouldn't remember much though since I would plastered.  :-)

LOL!  Some of us younger folks definitely got a little plastered. :uhsure:  Considering we visited several wineries in the course of a few hours, we were quite tipsy when we were done (having never had that much wine before).  :lmao:

Ah wine tastings -- I used to be a wine nut and loved to do wine tastings in Napa, SB and Sonoma.  There is (or at least used to be) a great train ride you can take that hits several wineries.

I am not quite sure when my palette turned -- I just don't appreciate wine like did in my 30's.  But I can still evaluate it well -- check tannins on the cork, swirl using the stem only, aerate the sip, etc.  But I just do that stuff for show ;)

[Chris_]

Beautiful pics! One day, I would love to visit the vineyards of Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. I probably wouldn't remember much though since I would plastered. 

LOL!  Some of us younger folks definitely got a little plastered.   Considering we visited several wineries in the course of a few hours, we were quite tipsy when we were done (having never had that much wine before). 

Ah wine tastings -- I used to be a wine nut and loved to do wine tastings in Napa, SB and Sonoma.  There is (or at least used to be) a great train ride you can take that hits several wineries.

I am not quite sure when my palette turned -- I just don't appreciate wine like did in my 30's.  But I can still evaluate it well -- check tannins on the cork, swirl using the stem only, aerate the sip, etc.  But I just do that stuff for show

As much as I was hoping to go to Cedar Point on this vacation, the road trip up north was definitely a pleasant surprise (they showed up at the airport in the RV, ready to go).    I actually did focus on enjoying the wine like a connoisseur: sniffing, swirling, etc.      I tried to make sure I ate enough to hold back the effects of the wine, but given how small I am...that didn't work.  LOL

I ended up bringing 3 wines home:

Shady Lane 2004 Serenity

Ciccone Vineyard Bella Celiegia

Cherry Republic Cherry Sangria (The Cherry Republic: nowthat's a fun place to visit, getting to try all sorts of cherry products.  Loved the hot cherry salsa). 

[Carl]

Pretty country there ACC,glad you had a nice time.

[RobJohnson]

Great pictures!

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

Okay, so I went on vacation with some old HS pals.  We did an unconventional trip, by going along with one's parents in their RV to Michigan, and had a blast up there.  I finally got around to getting some photos into Photobucket, so here they are:



This vineyard is owned by Madonna's parents.  I was totally blown away by some of their wines (Bella Ciliegia, a cherry-based wine) and underwhelmed by some others (bad aftertaste was the main culprit).



They named some wines after their daughter.  But I wasn't interested.     I did buy the Bella Celiegia, though.



this particular vineyard (name doesn't come to mind right now, but I'll go through my souvenir pamphlets I picked up from each winery later to try to remember. LOL) had the most fantastic views. 



Same vineyard.



I don't know which type of grapes these were, but I was excited to get the chance to take a photo of the vines. 


This is the ENTRANCE to Blackstar Farms, a winery/creamery/inn/equestrian center.   




At the equestrian center, they had the cutest little shetland ponies, a mom and daughter pair.   Figures that this one is Georgia...





And this cutie pie is Peaches.

I'll post more later, but since I've been having to e-mail the images, this took quite an effort, since I can't bulk e-mail them.  I have to do it one at a time.

I take it you were up in The Leelanau Peninsula? Did you get to go into Traverse City? Or Sleeping Bear Dunes? The Lake Michigan shoreline is very pretty,would love to have a home someday up there but it's very pricey. Where else did you go in The Mitten ACC?

[jtyangel]

Those are beautiful pics. My mother would love it there. I love the way vineyards look, but I'm not a fan of wine. Glad you had a great time, ACC! Look forward to the other pics!

[Lord Undies]

Great photos.  Thanks for taking all the time to post them.

As you know, the older the grape - the sweeter the wine.  I'll bet those Madonna wines are sickeningly sweet.

[Chris_]

I take it you were up in The Leelanau Peninsula? Did you get to go into Traverse City? Or Sleeping Bear Dunes? The Lake Michigan shoreline is very pretty,would love to have a home someday up there but it's very pricey. Where else did you go in The Mitten ACC?

Yep, that we were.  We did go to Traverse and Sleeping Bear Dunes (have pictures of the latter)...I'll try to post them later this evening.  

We pretty much stayed up north the whole time, and also went to Mackinac Island (where I got some of that famous fudge  )

[Chris_]

Great photos.  Thanks for taking all the time to post them.

As you know, the older the grape - the sweeter the wine.  I'll bet those Madonna wines are sickeningly sweet.

It was a mix.  Some of the wines weren't sweet enough (for my taste and also had the worst aftertaste) and some were definitely too sweet.  IMO, the  one I bought was perfectly balanced between the two extremes. 

[PatriotGame]

Beautiful pics! One day, I would love to visit the vineyards of Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. I probably wouldn't remember much though since I would plastered. 

LOL!  Some of us younger folks definitely got a little plastered.   Considering we visited several wineries in the course of a few hours, we were quite tipsy when we were done (having never had that much wine before). 

Ah wine tastings -- I used to be a wine nut and loved to do wine tastings in Napa, SB and Sonoma.  There is (or at least used to be) a great train ride you can take that hits several wineries.

I am not quite sure when my palette turned -- I just don't appreciate wine like did in my 30's.  But I can still evaluate it well -- check tannins on the cork, swirl using the stem only, aerate the sip, etc.  But I just do that stuff for show

There is a taste to wine?
Not when you guzzle it.
Hmm.. tasting...I will have to try that sometime. 

[asdf2231]

Me Too!

Just got back yesterday from a 3 day fishing/drinking/eating fest with my brothers up north dere.

Cabin:


Lake:


7 Pounds of sirloin:


Four retards :

[asdf2231]

ACC the vinyards look gorgeous!

Looks like you had a hoot of a time as well.

[BEG]

Me Too!

Just got back yesterday from a 3 day fishing/drinking/eating fest with my brothers up north dere.

Cabin:


Lake:


7 Pounds of sirloin:


Four retards :

Mmmmm meat....make mine still mooing.

[BEG]

Great pictures ACC, looks like you had a great time.

[guest]

Thanks,  y'all!  Looks like y'all had a blast, asdf,  and that cabin is lovely. 

Here is the loot from my trip... photo is rather grainy, but it's all I could get my cellphone to do.  Yes, the wine is hidden in a cold dark closet for multiple reasons (hiding it from certain folks is the main reason for the moment, given their knack for stealing things ).

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

Me Too!

Just got back yesterday from a 3 day fishing/drinking/eating fest with my brothers up north dere.

Cabin:


Lake:


7 Pounds of sirloin:


Four retards :

HEY! Thought you were a true northerner! Where in the hell is the beer?

[Chris_]

Great pics -- them steaks look great.

Why don't you sic your brothers on your roommate?  They should be able to intimidate her without saying a word.

[Chris_]

Great pics -- them steaks look great.

Why don't you sic your brothers on your roommate?  They should be able to intimidate her without saying a word.

My HALF- brothers are 15 and 12.  I don't think the younger one could do it... but the older one might.  He's almost 6 feet tall now.  LOL

(Those other pics belong to ASDF, not me, btw).

[asdf2231]

Great pics -- them steaks look great.

Why don't you sic your brothers on your roommate?  They should be able to intimidate her without saying a word.

My HALF- brothers are 15 and 12.  I don't think the younger one could do it... but the older one might.  He's almost 6 feet tall now.  LOL

(Those other pics belong to ASDF, not me, btw).

Hey anytime you need me and my brothers to punch someone in the pants you just whistle babe!

[Chris_]

Great pics -- them steaks look great.

Why don't you sic your brothers on your roommate?  They should be able to intimidate her without saying a word.

My HALF- brothers are 15 and 12.  I don't think the younger one could do it... but the older one might.  He's almost 6 feet tall now.  LOL

(Those other pics belong to ASDF, not me, btw).

Crap -- I got all confuzled!!!

[Chris_]

Great pics -- them steaks look great.

Why don't you sic your brothers on your roommate?  They should be able to intimidate her without saying a word.

My HALF- brothers are 15 and 12.  I don't think the younger one could do it... but the older one might.  He's almost 6 feet tall now.  LOL

(Those other pics belong to ASDF, not me, btw).

Hey anytime you need me and my brothers to punch someone in the pants you just whistle babe!

I'll definitely be keeping that in mind.   

[guest]

Great pics -- them steaks look great.

Why don't you sic your brothers on your roommate?  They should be able to intimidate her without saying a word.

My HALF- brothers are 15 and 12.  I don't think the younger one could do it... but the older one might.  He's almost 6 feet tall now.  LOL

(Those other pics belong to ASDF, not me, btw).

Crap -- I got all confuzled!!!

Don't worry about it. 

Meet my brothers ( Yes, they and a couple of friends (brothers are the blondes) are dragging a remote control car behind the family golf cart Dunno why they like doing that... the destruction I guess.  LOL)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y27A8AKCzLQ