Cedar Mountain Practice Match

This past Saturday I made the short drive out to Culpeper for the Cedar Mountain Youths monthly practice match. Match organizer Mike had set up four stages based on USPSA classifier stages and two larger USPSA-style field courses. The previous matches this year all consisted of classifier-type stages only, so the two larger field courses were a change. Fortunately it occurred to me the morning of the match that I should probably bring my USPSA belt setup, which I've not used all year, in order to carry more mags. I've typically shot the Cedar Mountain matches using my IDPA belt and two mag carriers.

The morning was sunny, and quite cool. While I was waiting for the match to begin, I was really wishing I had brought a jacket. It did warm up as the sun got higher and it turned out to be a very pleasant morning, although the low sun was a bit of an inconvenience on the first stage.

Glare

Our squad shot the four classifier stages first. The shooting went very quickly, with just four of us on the squad, and we waited a short time for the other squad to finish the larger field courses. I went out fast on the fours stages, with the expected results. But, it's all just for practice and fun anyway.

I was looking forward to the longer field courses. As I was doing my walk-throughs I realized it was a good thing I remembered the USPSA gear, as that allowed me to make reloads on the move and drop partial mags, a stage plan I've gotten out of thinking about after shooting IDPA this year. At the end of my run on the first field course I felt really good. I felt even better as I quickly checked the targets. Then I heard the RO clear his throat and point to a target I had skipped. A target that not only had I failed to engage, but one that I never even noticed in the walk through! It was a low and close target, an easy "2 Alpha." It wasn't even that hidden; I think I had tunnel vision on the steel plates and swinger to be shot through the same port. That will teach to me to not check the target count against my stage plan. That hurt, and I admittedly needed a few minutes to assuage my frustration.

That's the one

The final stage, and second field course, was another mix of steel and paper, with lots of options for engaging all the targets. For my own ego, I needed a good run on this one to finish the day. And I got it. I may have been (purposefully) slow, but the score was 18 A and 2 C, with all the steel being hit one for one. It was a fun run and a good way to end the morning. Both of the field courses were my best stages of the morning; that whole "watching the sights" thing really works.

All in all it was an exceptionally fun morning. We were done shooting a little after 11:00 AM and had the stages torn down in short order. This was the last practice match at the club for 2015 and I'll miss the monthly low key events until they resume next Spring. Not only are the sessions a fun way to get in some practice, but I've introduced a number of new folks to practical pistol shooting at Cedar Mountain this year as well. I'll be looking forward to next year and the quick Saturday morning shoots.

Whither the Men?

As the left continues in its quest to redefine destroy marriage and the family, the loss to society is becoming more apparent. Bill Whittle, and others, get to root of so many of society's ills — the absence of fathers and strong men in the home. Watch below.

Bobby Jindal also spoke out last week regarding the inane whimpering of so-called "father" of the Oregon killer.

"And who is it that generally commits these evil acts of mass murder that are becoming routine? It’s almost always young men who have either no father figure in their lives, or a broken relationship with their father. Is this just a coincidence? Of course not.

"Now, let’s get really politically incorrect here and talk specifically about this horror in Oregon. This killer’s father is now lecturing us on the need for gun control and he says he has no idea how or where his son got the guns.

"Of course he doesn’t know. You know why he doesn’t know? Because he is not, and has never been in his son’s life. He’s a complete failure as a father, he should be embarrassed to even show his face in public. He’s the problem here.

"He brags that he has never held a gun in his life and that he had no idea that his son had any guns. Why didn’t he know? Because he failed to raise his son. He should be ashamed of himself, and he owes us all an apology."

Despite a precipitous decline in violent crime in recent years, the left maintains a laser-like focus on "the gun." But they must, otherwise it will become obvious that it is their own agenda which is fostering the rise in unstable people carrying out these heinous crimes.

Larry Correia recently gave a proper fisking to the metrosexual ramblings of the self-proclaimed "modern man" to whom Bill Whittle refers above. It also worth your time to read.

Living In The Twilight Zone

Meme of the week.

Sadly, we don't have to imagine it, we're living it.

Flying Dog Dogtoberfest

I do look forward to the Oktoberfest beers showing up on the store shelves and local taps each fall. The rich, bready malt flavors just seem to go with the cooler weather. During the rest of the year I lean towards the bolder citrus and hoppy styles, but for a few weeks I take a respite from Pale Ales and IPAs. One of the Oktoberfest beers I manage to grab each year is Flying Dog Dogtoberfest.

Flying Dog Dogtoberfest Märzen pours a deep orange-amber color with a moderate beige head. The aroma is a rich, bready malt. The flavor profile brings in roasted and caramel malt, with just a touch of sweetness. A hint of nuttiness comes through as well. The finish leaves a mildly astringent bitterness and mouthfeel is moderately thick and creamy. The Fying Dog influence in the beer is apparent from the slightly notched up flavor profile compared to the average Märzen.

I probably won't enjoy as many Oktoberfest beers this season as I have in the past, but I have more Dogtoberfest in the fridge, so I'll be having more of this one at least.

On Defending Christianity

"How does a man love according to divine precept his neighbor as himself when, knowing that his Christian brothers in faith and in name are held by the perfidious Muslims in strict confinement and weighed down by the yoke of heaviest servitude, he does not devote himself to the task of freeing them? . . . Is it by chance that you do not know that many thousands of Christians are bound in slavery and imprisoned by the Muslims, tortured with innumerable torments?"  --Pope Innocent III

Sadly, little has changed since those words were written. Little except for the Christian's willingness to defend against oppression and violence, even when the attacks are faced here at home, rather than in far off lands.

Trio: Good Food and Drink in OBX

Each year when we visit the Outer Banks, the Trio Wine, Beer, and Cheese shop is a regular stop to stock up on tasty beverages to enjoy during the trip. However, we've never taken the time to stop in to the bistro and enjoy the food and beer offered there. Finally, during our last trip we visited for lunch, on not one, but two occasions.

The Trio menu offers cheeses and other appetizers, soups, salads, panini and desserts. There are also 24 rotating beers on draft, including several served on nitro. The beer selection is prominently displayed above the bar on a large TV screen. During our first visit I tried a beer I have not had previously, Tyranny Hoppy Red Ale from Wicked Weed Brewing in Asheville, NC. Colleen opted for Rogue Brewing Shakespeare Oatmeal served on Nitro. For lunch we ordered an Olive and Feta Dip appetizer, and a couple of paninis. 

All of the food was well-prepared and very tasty. My Gouda and Roast Beef Panini with roasted tomato and arugula was quite good; the sandwich lightly grilled and flavorful. The Tyranny Red Ale was an especially good beer. The aroma was a mix of pine and citrus. In the flavor, the bitter grapefruit and pine hop notes where balanced by a slightly sweet caramel malt. A lingering tea bitterness completed the flavor profile. After lunch I searched the Trio retail shop hoping to find some bottles to take home, but was unsuccessful.

We returned for lunch second time during the trip. This visit I enjoyed another panini and a Hoppy Wheat from Hi-Wire Brewing, also from Asheville. (Sounds like we need to take a trip to Asheville someday.) The Hoppy Wheat was a tangy wheat ale with predominately grapefruit and orange citrus flavors. Another of Trio's tasty paninis completed my lunch menu. Colleen enjoyed a Belhaven Scottish Ale, again served on nitro.

We enjoyed all the foods we tried at Trio. The ever-changing beer menu is very interesting and offers a variety of beers sure to please most craft beer fans. I know we'll be back the next time we visit the Outer Banks. 

Eight Years of Musings

It's hard to believe, but today marks the 8th anniversary of Musings Over a Pint. The time flew by, so I must be having fun! This is the 2,199th post I've made to the blog. I realize that October posting has been a bit light so far, but I promise, there's more coming. There's a bunch of beer in the fridge. I've got some range trips planned. (But I'm trying real hard to avoid commenting on the diarrhea of the mouth being exhibited by the left after the recent mass killings in Oregon.) There's plenty of content in the wings. Stand by.

My thanks go out to those who actually take time to read these Musings on a regular basis. It's a thrill to hear from you, either via comments here, or even in person. I hope you'll keep coming back. But if you don't, don't feel too bad, I'll still enjoy reading the old posts and reminiscing about those fun times myself.

Cheers!

Capt'n Rolo's Raw Bar and Grill

During a recent trip to the Outer Banks, we took a drive from Kitty Hawk down towards Hatteras. It was one of the few days during the week when the sun made an appearance, so it was a very enjoyable and scenic drive. Eventually we decided to stop for lunch, and pulled into Capt'n Rolo's Raw Bar and Grill purely by chance.

Capt'n Rolo's is a small place and was quite busy when we entered. We had a seat at the bar, and soon realized that a single person was taking orders and serving food. The waitress was working hard and in constant motion, but soon got us our drinks with a smile, even taking time to offer a sample of a beer I was not familiar with.

My lunch beer choice was Double Barley Brewing Touche' IPA. This easy drinking beer has a floral and citrus aroma. The flavor leans towards citrus with a touch of bitterness. The creamy mouthfeel finishes clean with just a hint of bitterness. A moderate 6.8%ABV and well-balanced flavor made for a nice lunchtime libation.

For the food portion of lunch, I opted for a Fried Oyster Sandwich. I've ordered a lot of fried oyster sandwiches over the years. I've had some good ones, and some less than good offerings. Often I've been disappointed in the bread-to-oyster ratio. Well, the basket that was set in front of me was a sight to behold! Plump, lightly breaded oysters were piled high on the slightly toasted roll. I turned to Colleen and said, "I'm not sure how to eat this."

I put the pieces together and attacked with both hands. The sandwich tasted as good as it looked. The oysters were juicy and flavorful. Even the "salad" pieces of the sandwich were crisp and fresh. At the end, I had plenty of extra oysters left on the plate to enjoy alone. This was definitely one of the best fried oyster sandwiches, even oyster meals in general, that I've had in a long time. Colleen opted for a Caesar Chicken Wrap that was also flavorful, and huge. It reminded me, in size, of those giant California burritos we had out west many years ago. Half of her sandwich was brought home to be enjoyed later.

We finished our meals well after the mid-afternoon closing time of Capt'n Rolo's, but we were never rushed and the server was attentive, despite being busy and running the place by herself. (They reopen for dinner, BTW.) If Capt'n Rolo's wasn't about an hour's drive from where we were staying, I would have gone back for another meal. The food was delicious and served in generous proportions. We'll definitely return the next time we visit the Outer Banks.