I’m trying something unprecedented here, liveblogging on my iPhone while out enjoying my surprise birthday weekend getaway.

Selena planned a weekend for the two of us for my birthday. I still only know a very limited number of details, only that I had to get over this flu and dress comfortably. More to come.

9:45 – Selena gave me a gift as the drive began, I unwrapped this tin to find a well-designed piece of paper with a series of letters spelling a location: RYSDNAIEV.

10:12 – The anagram does not spell Sad Vinery, Ansy Drive or SDN Aviery.

10:43 – We’ve been travelling deep into central Virginia, it looks like we are heading to Montpelier.

10:54. – No Montpelier, still can’t get this anagram.

11:12 – It’s VINEYARDS! We’re going on a wine tasting tour.

12:00 – First stop was Barboursville. This place was everything I would expect a winery to be. Tried 13 wines, bought two bottles.

12:43 – Selena packed a wonderful picnic lunch of cheeses, crackers, fruit and bread. Had our first picnic on the grass by the Barboursville ruins.

1:20 – Doubled back to Horton’s because they were known for great fruit wines.

1:34 – People very friendly, but facility disappointing. Bought two fruit wines. Heading down towards Charlottesville.

Had to switch iPhones, minedied, using Selena’s now. BTW typos are result of iPhone miscorrecting, not too much wine.

3:00 – Arrived at Oakencroft near Charlotteville only to find it closed on weekdays. Boo! It took a lot of time to get here.

3:39 – Arrived at Kings Family Winery, wow is this area of the country beautiful.

3:58 – Having a post-tasting picnic on the open patio at King Family. Bought a bottle. There is a large group of JMU students sharing a few bottles put here and playing frisbee. Why didn’t we have classy places to go like this around our college?

4:13 – Ear infection been plauged with all week starting to irritate as we go up and down the mountain road to Veritas winery.

4:24 – Veritas is gorgeous too. This was on our list of potential wedding destinations last year. It could have worked for sure (still like where we were more). Bought two bottles.

5:12 – Thanking Selena for a wonderful day of wine tasting.