Always pack your beer cellar carefully when you move!

Nobody was injured in the use of this meaningless picture.

Eugene, here we come! My family and I arrived Saturday night after a very eventful journey from Illinois.  During what was supposed to be a relaxing “vacation” before starting at Oakshire, we ran into quite a conundrum.  We did get to see a few friends and family along the way and try some new beers (another post later), but while traveling we got to experience tornadoes, snow, wind, ice, rain and sun. Plus our truck went into the shop twice along the way for a bad coil. Good times!  But the “highlight” of the trip was the poor decision to drive through the spring snowstorm that hit Denver/Boulder/Ft. Collins.  While driving my Honda Civic on I-25 near the Colorado/Wyoming border the blizzard set in.  My wife following behind with my two kids Nick and Ella could barely see my taillights. The road became ice covered and we came upon a southbound pile up-30-40 cars worth of pileup

A video of the carnage can be seen here:

http://cbs4denver.com/local/wellington.interstate.25.2.968539.html

(edit:it appears they may have removed the video, but the story and a pic is there)

Sadly a large Ram truck was avoiding the accident and crossed the median and slammed into the side of my car.  It, of course, is totaled. However, all is not lost! I had 8 cases of beer with me, most of which is rare, aged or just special to me.  Guess what? It all arrived in Eugene unscathed. Woohoo!  My car and glass top to my coffee table, on the otherhand was not so lucky. We shot the car in in Cheyenne Wyoming and continued on west. Fortunately we were all safe and learned a valuable lesson-more than just using styrofoam to protect your beer-don’t take unecessary risks with your life folks.  I did and got lucky.  Blessed, I guess.

Now I look forward to sharing a beer with you soon. It may be one from my cellar that I ripped from the carnage, or it might just be a freshly brewed Oakshire beer.  Either way, we’ll enjoy it together!

Cheers!

Matt