Keale,
I must say that looks great! I just had a craving flung on me looking at your photos. And that bread still looks awesome. Wlh3 has a great recipe, don't he? My best guess as to why the bread blackened on the bottom is that you didn't have the rack high enough in the oven...?
Who knows? But, as you said, cut off the black and enjoy just the same.
One last thing, I have been to your beautiful state twice and loved every minute of it. I am way jealous that you get to live there!
