Dad's Day 2015

Matt, here.

In the Rasmussen clan, it seems as though we do not always live by the rules of the Gregorian Calendar.  For most people, Father's Day 2015 will fall on June 21st.  For the Raz boys, we decided that it should instead fall last weekend.  So, for the 2nd year in a row, I joined my brothers and dad in Prince Edward County for a Father's Day Weekend of biking and wine.  

Last year we stayed in Wellington, which was closer to a number of wineries.  This year we chose Picton, with a better airbnb house and more culinary options (thankfully, as there turned out to be an unscheduled need for a Friday night pizza after the failed bbq sausages).

Saturday was bike / wine day.  Due to some creative map reading, we ended up cycling 30 kms before hitting our first winery.  These 30 kms included some very beautiful countryside, as well as quite a few hills.  In fact, while biking up one hill, a local drove by and yelled out his window, "I'd walk it if I were you!".  It also seemed that, regardless of whether we were cycling to the south, east, or north, we were always cycling into the wind.  I'm just glad that I had the newest bike (and the newest legs!).

This creative map reading did have its benefits, as it led us past the old CFB Picton from WWII.   

Tower at CFB Picton

The route also took us past a great lookout.  We could even see the windmills on Wolfe Island across the lake towards K-Town.  As "they" say, it is the journey, not the destination.

Raz men taking break from the hills and wind at the lookout

 

With a bit of a view

"They", of course, have not been to the Waupoos Winery, which was our destination after 30 kms on the bike.  Once we arrived we all grabbed some gelato and took a load off, then toured the grounds.  After the rest, I took my brother Karl up on his suggestion to sample some of the wine.  While sampling, we asked the wine barista (?) about the best route back into Picton.  She advised taking the longer route  (of course), due to the scenic opportunities.  So, after my dad and brother Jud took off with a head start, Karl and I finished our samples and then loaded up his saddle bags with wine, chocolate, and licorice (again, Waupoos was a great destination!).

The next 20 kms took us along the Loyalist Parkway with great views of the water on our right and the "Lake on the Mountain" (who knew?).  There were quite a few places for sale, if anyone wants to buy and invite me!

Lake on the Mountain in Glenora, beside the Adolphus Reach

So, after a morning with 50 kms of biking, we parked the bikes and used Jud's van to check out some other wineries in the area.  Not as fancy as the ladies we ran into being driven around in the white stretch limo, but it did the job!

All in all, another successful Dad's Day in Prince Edward County.  Now if only one of us would get a boat, next time we could just dock and stay in the harbour!

Picton Harbour