GPS or ESP

       Several years ago, a fellow orchard grower came to visit my farm.  Now, this gentleman lives and farms near one of the suburbs of Cleveland.  Rural Carroll County seemed like another planet to this friend from the North, and after arriving at our farm he commented, “Why, your so far off the beaten path, ya probably gotta have your own tomcat.”  I was not insulted, in fact, I was proud to know that it required more than one glance at the map for my friend to arrive.   These days, its all about technology.  I’ve always been an early adopter of new and fantastic gizmology, but on the other hand, I consider myself a “Polymath”.  Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Copernicus, Francis Bacon, Brent Baker.  My expertise in so many subjects sometimes prevents me from rejecting the old technologies to embrace the new.  “Brent, what dost thou babble on about?” you might ask.  Satelites in outer space, that is what I dost babble about.  Global Positioning Systems, commonly referred to as GPS also commonly used to get to Twigg Winery or at least close to Twigg Winery.   You know what I mean, a handheld receiver that if in plain sight of four or more Satellites in outer space can locate your position anywhere on or near the Earth.  What a wonderful piece of technology.  I don’t own one yet but I have used the technology in a former life as a field cosultant when soil sampling large fields for farmers.  Garmin, Tom Tom, Lowrance, Magellan, all brands of GPS receivers that will get you there.   Now as I have already stated I am an expert on many subjects; however GPS technology is just a little foreign to me, and likewise as it seems the rural routes and address numbering systems used by the governing bodies of Carroll County addressation, are sometimes foreign to your GPS receivers when attempting to enter 4155 Meter Rd, Mechanicstown, Ohio 44651.  John Cabot, Jaques Cartier, Samuel de Champlain, Christopher Columbus, all found their way with a compass and dead reckoning.  That is  how I get there.  This is normally how it goes when on a family vacation,  everyone and everything loaded up, wife asks, “got the map?”, for the hundredth time in our 15 year relationship, I remind her that Brent Baker does not rely upon any silly old map, or silly old GPS unit, follow my nose, the setting sun, the wind in my hair, moss on the West side of the tree ( or is it the North), instinct, dead reckoning my dear.  Many, many times while on a family trip, our vacation has been greatly enhanced because of my ability to get us there.  Hundreds, maybe even thousands of additional scenic miles that my family has gotten to experience because I didn’t use a map.  Stop and ask for directions, not this guy!  For example, I remember the time we were camping at Old Man’s cave with friends.  A shortcut brought us haphazardly down a two track road into the wonderful little town of New Straitsville.  It just so happened, that particular weekend was the annual “New Straitsville Moonshine Festival.”  I rest my case, lives enriched.  Or what about the family vacation to the Outer Banks, North Carolina.  A great time was had by all,  and to increase the joy, I decided to travel home through the mountains of Virginia on nothing but two lane roads.

  Not only did we get to spend the day in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, but the night also, in the car, with no food, or a hotel room, or gas.  I digress.  I can honestly say, I have never been lost.  Don’t ask my wife, she will lie to you. 

Lost is what happened to the likes of Mikey, The Jamaican Bobsled team, Elian Gonzalez, the Where’s the Beef lady, the American kid who got caned in Singapore, Holly, Janice and Dian from the Price is Right.  Yes, they have been lost to us, but I don’t think a GPS would have helped, nor a map.  If you ask me, you are only as lost as you want to be.  Lost in the Blue Ridge Mountains? Nah, I knew all along we were in Virginia.

If you need to use your GPS to get to Twigg Winery and to great wine, try entering the following:

Lat: N 40 39′ 58.2″          Lon: W 81 0′ 16.9″       ( It’s the seat under the picture of the grape cluster).

You could also try the non existant address 4215 Meter Rd NE, it seems to work just as well.

See you soon,

Brent Baker

Renaissance Man.