Oktoberfest in the Mountains

Early October was spent mostly waiting for Fall to actually arrive. First off, Kai and I went to a small town in the Shenandoah Valley to a winery for an Oktoberfest party. From all the descriptions, it was supposed to be quite fun with a polka band, German food, and all. We left early that Saturday morning and drove the three or so hours to the winery, beautifully nestled in the northern part of the valley. We were some of the first ones there, so we explored some of the vendors (German product booth, blacksmith, quilter, cheese maker, baker) and sampled some of the wine. Soon, after many of the dedicated Germans/German fans arrived (many in lederhosen and dirndls), the polka band started to play and we got our plates of yummy sauerkaut, red cabbage, and knackwurst. I very much enjoyed the band and their polkas, some of which they got the audience to sing along. At one point, a woman started to have an attack of heat stroke (since it was indeed that hot, even in early Oktober), though she was taken care of while the rest of us started to do the Chicken Dance (apparently not German, but Dutch). (photos: Our souvenir Oktoberfest cup, Virginia apples, and the German flag under the festival tent; me with my cup (note the tank top in October -- last year there had been the early snow storm on the Island); my yummy German food; the Alp horn guy with his lederhosen; and Kai in front of the festival site at the winery.)





Kai and I left in the early afternoon and decided to take the scenic route back home through the Shenandoah along Skyline Drive. Little did we know that, being Columbus Day weekend, everyone was out trying to get a taste of what they thought would be one of the last weekends of summer and the drive took forever. We did catch some great views of low-lying clouds coming over the mountains and at last got through Charlottesville and back onto out highway heading East. Instead of going home, we were actually heading to a burger burn at our coworker Don's house and were really trying to move to get back. At long last, we made it and I was thrilled to get out of the car, and a couple of hours later, to be on the ferry back home. (photos: A tree along Skyline Drive with the low clouds; a view looking North on the other side of the mountains from Skyline Drive; and the view looking South from the same spot.)



A couple of days later on that holiday Monday, some of us had decided to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving at the home of our resident Canadian couple, Heather and Morris. I made a fantastic apple pie and some mashed potatoes to add to our actual turkey, stuffing, and even poutine. Morris had prepped their apartment for us that day by getting out anything Canadian that they had, including their Canadian action figures and also by his alternating between his two Canadian shirts. (photos: The Canadian action figures; Stephanie excited for poutine; Morris carving the turkey; more of Morris' holiday decorations; and the final array of Thanksgiving food.)





The following weekend, I went up to Richmond for their final year of the National Folk Festival. I had a ton of fun watching everything from a family of Guatemalan marimba players, amazing blues music, African dance, all sorts of bluegrass, a DC go-go group, and apparently a revolutionary of autoharp music. A day in the sun (yup, still hot in mid-October) with marvelous music, food, and Guiness. October was a busy month, and the first half was full of weekend trips, hanging out (as always, and of course work. (photos: Some Ivory Coast dancers at the National Folk Festival; a dancer dressed as a traditional god come to give his blessing; part of the Richomond skyline over the festival; the Holmes Brothers playing some of their terrific blues music; and leaving the Folk Festival.)





(photos: Jeff, Varia, and me from an evening hanging out in the 'Burg; fun artwork; more artwork; even more fun artwork; and me from when we went to see "Superman: The Musical" at William & Mary.)