While I plan to keep View from the Mountain focused on information that might be of use to people in our technology enhanced society, I do not plan to abandon some of my traditional topics.
One of those is our annual "Great Tomato Race." This started years ago when a childhood friend of mine who still lives in Lewisville, NC and I started competing to see who could get the first tomato.
Since I lived in the mountains of Virginia, Mike, my friend, did not have much trouble beating me in the early years. I think I managed one win in about five years. In late 2006 we moved to the coast, but it took me a year to figure out the climate and varieties. Last year I won with a June 1 tomato.
Now rumors of me moving to the coast just to win the tomato contest are totally unfounded. I moved for the beaches, fish, water, and laid back life style. However, I did enjoy winning last year.
We also picked up another contestant last year in my fishing buddy Dean who also lives at the coast. This year there has been a fair amount of jockeying and suggestions that I might have an unfair advantage living close to the water.
In fact I could hear the moans yesterday when I sent out the picture of our first tomato blooms. We are on track to have another great year unless the fiddler crabs attack early.
Tomato wars are something you are born to fight if you have southern blood running through your veins. My mother was a master tomato grower as was my wife's dad.
Victory or not I will be enjoying great tomato sandwiches early in June. Watch this page for announcements.
The pretenders to my crown will be crushed.
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