A day in Geogia

It is my last in Geogia. I am am headed towards the Azerbajian border, hoping not to have too much trouble with the border crossing. I stop when i see two men wih backpack standing by the side of the road. As it turns out they are French hikers who are 1 year into a 7 year trip walking around the world. We chat for while until a car pulls up. After some quick words which i try hard to understand we are loading my bike into the back if the van and heading back the way i have just come. We are off to a picnic it seems. I have a slightly ominus feeling that i am somehow not going to get to Azerbajian today.....

We arrive at the a house and a greated by Tika and her family. She is the only one who speaks english and soon becomes our translator. It seems today is the vintage festival- celebrating the end of the harvest of the grapes. An imporstant day in Geogia. We are invited to go and help with the picking and we acceppt the offer.

3 big glases of Vodka later ( time...about 9:30) and we are out in the fields. The burning sensation susbsides a little as me, the two French hikers ( Tierry and Killian) and the family work our way down the rows of vines. A horse wagon is soon filled with grapes and we return to the house to help with the unloading.

A small box sits on top of a big metal vat. The horse waits paitiently as we bucket the grapes from the back of the wagon into the box. A handle is then used to turn two gear wheels as the grape juice, seeds, stalks and leaves come out the bottom. We all take turns at the handle as the smell of grape juice fills the barn. The trailer is empty and its back to the field. Reversing a horse and cart is never a safe process epsecially if you are the todler that nearly gets under the wheels. A few tears from both todler and mother and we are off...

Its 4:00 and the harvest is finally done Well i never really planned to get to Azerbajian today anyway. Back to farm we go. Tika does as wonderful job translating as the crowd of family and friends want to know all about us. What we think of Geogia, if we are single, what we think of Georgia....etc. The table is set like its chirstmas dinner and its time for a toast. 1 Vegemite jar size glass of wine down the hatch........ its going to be a long night!