Long Commute

Yesterday's commute started in Provincetown and involved a boat to Boston, a bus to South Station, a subway train to Cambridge (for lunch), a commuter train to Providence, a cab to Providence's T.F. Green Airport, a nice, new Embraer jet to Charlotte, then an old crusty, rickety, winged rickshaw from Charlotte to Louisville. Before it all started, there was a 4-miler. Oh, and after I got back at 1am, after a 4 hour delay in Charlotte, there was a quick bike ride around the apartment. So, I pretty much covered the spectrum of intermodal transportation yesterday. Did I miss anything?

As far as airports go, Charlotte's Douglass International is pretty good. However, all of the businesses within close promptly at 10pm. Southerners may seem nice, but you don't want to get caught loitering around one of their airport storefronts in the minutes directly proceeding closing time. They become jackals. It's scary. The word saccharine comes to mind.

In any case, there's a wine bar in the airport that showcases wines from North Carolina's Yadkin Valley. One can do a white or red tasting flight, enjoy a glass or purchase wine to take home. They're generous enough to provide to go cups upon closing time as well. I can't say I've had much in the way of North Carolina wines. I did a red flight and found most of the wines to be tepid and bland. Not sure why one would want to grow Sangiovese in North Carolina, but, if you're thinking of it, I'd strongly advise against it. Call Welch's. Ask them for a jug of grape juice instead. The flavor profiles will be identical.

Strangely, the only red wine I found at all palatable was a 2005 Pinot Noir ($20 from Shelton Vineyards). Unlike the other varietals I sampled, it actually tasted of the grape from which it was made. There was the requisite berry flavor, but with pretty strong earthy undertones. Not too much body. Tasteful oak treament. Good acidity. Naturally, this was the wine that the woman behind the bar was discouraging. People apparently don't like it. Not enough fruit, they lament. Maybe because it doesn't taste like Welch's. I thought it was an impressive showing from a wine region most people (including myself) have never heard of.

Oh, and, as I mentioned several paragraphs ago, I did get in a 4-miler around 6 yesterday morning. My last run in Provincetown was punctuated by a chillingly pleasant last swim in Provincetown harbor. There is no better way to stretch after a run than floating around in a cool harbor.

7 miles Wednesday night as well. Pretty uneventful run. Dusk running is nice in the summer if one can avoid mosquitoes and myopic motorists.