Velo et vigne : Bordeaux in winter.   The best area for riding that has interesting hills and valleys, climbs and descents, is in and around St.Emilion.  Just a few impressive wineries as well, Lalande de Pomerol, Pomerol, Petrus right in the middle, and the beauty and exceptional quality of St. Emilion as a crown jewel, and culmination of the riding and of the tasting.

More Velo et Vigne, this time on another continent; in a developing area for quality wines.  Canada's Okanagan, in central British Columbia.  Excellent cycling, home of the KVR, the Kettle Valley Railway, transformed into cycling paths with unbelievable trestle bridges over impressive gorges.  Through the Okanagan valley these trails wind among the 180 vineyards with production of excellent Cabernet Franc, Syrahs, refreshing Pinot Grigios, and developing French blends.  Vines aging among the sage and the thyme, lakes below and mountains above and a sinuous trail for the bike through it all.  It's hot and dry, the smell of mountain herbs is in the air as you ride.  A winery visit to wind up the day?  Few better possibilities for French Chardonnays, Syrahs or French style blends than Painted Rock.

Blood Whispers, a developing draft of a story

What is an avid European skier to do if there is essentially no snow in Switzerland and northern France in December?  Grab the bike and head for Barolo, in the Piedmont region of Italy for more velo and vignes.  There is nothing like cycling through vineyards, getting to know the beautiful towns, the slope exposures, the soil and the sights, and then settling down in the evening to explore those same areas in the nose, la bouche and the belly.  Barolo Italy is one of the best centers of wine in the world, the kingdom of the Nebbiolo grape, the Slovakian oaken casks, and wine that needs at least 10 years to reach an unbeatable peak that will then last and improve for another, very long time.  Cycling through the towns of La Morra, Monteforte D'Alba, Serralunga, Castiglione Falletto requires a pleasure in climbs and descents, all wonderfully compensated for by the wine and food from those same villages in the evening.

Explorations:  Velo and vignes; there really are few explorations as enjoyable as cycling through vineyards.  This time through northern Côte du Rhone.  I was centered in Touron, riding north to Ampuis, and the Côte Rotie, and south through Condrieu, St-Joseph, Croze Hermitage, Hermitage and finally south of Touran to Cornas.  Lovely small roads, some very steep climbs.  Wide variety and exposure between the regions, especially St-Joseph with its 50 km or so of length.  Côte Rotie, Hermitage and Cornas, are small discrete vineyard packing their respective hillsides, a bit like the beauty and quality of the Corton hillside in Burgundy. I was happy to have the hybrid bike for its comfort and climbing gears.  Ride in the morning, relax and enjoy the wines and food of the region in the evening, I have found few better ways to spend time in this life, once we are out of bed.  Four days this time, but much left undone.

Will start teaching a philosophy course soon; with the study of ignorance, we know and understand so little.  Check out Agnotology.

Truth and Debris, a novella