I almost didn’t do it this year, but in the end, a pot of chili simmering on the stove at 8 AM with all of the dishes done is just too satisfying to pass up. I’d tried for years to do the turkey thing. Even got by once pretty decently when I discovered a recipe (which I lost) that involved stuffing the bird with nothing but onions and celery. Excellent result. I think the deal was that the celery has such high water content that it basically steamed the thing from the inside out. It’s the only turkey I’ve ever made that wasn’t too dry.
So chili has become my Thanksgiving thing for quite some time now, and it’s absolutely worth it (especially if you’ve got a good recipe). I made it completely from memory this year (by necessity — I can’t find the recipe at the moment), and it turned out pretty good. It was good to have it ready and on the stove after a nice 50-mile ride.
And about that ride…
When I walked the dog this morning, the weather was amazing. Although it was later in the day than my usual start, I just had to hit the road as soon as possible. Winds light out of the west (picking up in time for a good tailwind coming home), and I hadn’t been off in that direction for a while, so I set out for the coast just after 9.
The route was a bit of a classic for me. I was riding alone (which doesn’t happen very often these days), so I didn’t put much thought into it. Out toward the north end of the ROK Navy Second Fleet, do a lap around the Kia factory, and make my way back however I wanted to go. There are plenty of interesting things out there, so it wasn’t too boring, although riding by the river does tend to get a bit monotonous in spots. Plenty of migrating waterfowl to see though.
The sky was a bit crap today — hazy and a sunny gray. Fortunately, I came across a lot of wall art, and the light was just fine to get pictures of that. I found some work just north of base that told the history of the area in villages. I got plenty of pictures of that, and I’m sure you’ll find them both colorful and interesting.
