Let's be honest here. Cleaning isn't the most fun anybody's ever had. But it has to be done, right? Right. Especially when you're going to be making expensive wines in the tanks that are being cleaned.
Today, we were assigned our first real tasks: clean as many of the fermentation tanks as you possibly can. When I say "fermentation tanks", what I mean is this:
Hint: Don't look for me in that photo. That's from last vintage (I think).
See the enormous metal thing that ten people are standing in? Yup. That's an open-top fermentation tank. It holds 1,027 gallons. It has to be completely sterilized before any fruit, juice, or wine can even touch it. That tank right there? It's just one of 60 that we, the interns, get to clean before fruit arrives. And by "clean" I mean "clean five times each, with a wide variety of chemicals". So, how many did a team of 6 interns manage to clean today? About 15. Maybe only 12 or so. It's really slow going. But let me also stress that those tanks are clean when we're done with them. Also keep in mind that it took us all day for such a small number of bins because, well, we had to get our forklift trainings in, as well as move some barrels around (manually), which ate up a couple of hours. Oh, and speaking of forklifts.
The 2010 Forklift Games will have to wait. Something about safety hazards and management being around during the day. Ah well. At least we got some solid practice in on the machines. Which leads me to the first big proclamation of the internship: I can operate a forklift! It's kinda neat, just because it's heavy machinery. But I think the coolest part is that while operating it, you're moving several tons of stuff without breaking a sweat. That's pretty cool.
Well, I don't really have any more to report from Day Two, other than, "I am completely exhausted." So there you have it. We did stuff, and I'm tired. But, to be sure, I am satisfied with having accomplished a lot today. We're definitely making huge strides in being able to process fruit when it comes in.
What! No Day 3? I was looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, Alan has flown the coop to France about an hour ago. I was reminiscing with him about last time he was in Oslo when we stayed at the Grand Hotel, swam in the roof top pool. He did not recall much of it but was impressed that he had been to Oslo before. You will of course recall "Ode to Joy", Alan's favorite song at that time. Phew!
Later, dad