…represent so much of me.
Please checkout our new blog Monochromia. If you love B&W images, this is the blog for you!
… were made for fighting wildland fires, and I wore them while battling the flames in Idaho over 30 years ago. Now, they serve to protect me while riding the bike. They’re just boots. Worn, scarred, dusty, and bearing remnants of fire retardant still … but they are precious to me.
I hope you’ll visit Monochromia and see the B&W images for several wonderful photographers … and then there’s mine, too! 🙂
Those of us who ride, love doing so on days when the sun is shining and the skies are clear, no matter the temperature. Sometimes though, the day turns stormy, and we’re forced to pull over and wait out the rain. Once the clouds part, we’re on the road again, knowing that, in time, the wind will have us dry once again.
If you’ve visited Life on the Bike and Other Fab Things, you know that I love to seek new adventures while riding my motorcycle. In fact, the whole reason I started blogging was to be able to share my travels with family and friends who worried about me heading out on my own. I’ve long been the one who uses photography to document the events in the lives of my friends and family, and it’s a natural fit to take the camera along with me on the…
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Sometimes all I need is a short ride to clear the brain and lift the spirits. That’s surely no mystery. The mystery comes at the end of this post. Keep on scrolling down, my friends!
I walk in the door, drop the purse, lunch bag, and lap top. Grab the helmet, wallet, and camera, and hit the road.
I typically choose back roads for the scenery, the farms and barns, and the old houses. Yesterday I also added a 20 minute run along a highway. Ahhhh …. the famed wind in the face therapy.
So where’s the mystery?
I stopped to photograph this decrepit home at the intersection of two country roads.
As I wandered around the house, I specifically thought of Mike from Mike’s Look at Life. How would he portray this house?
Mike has a skill with B&W that I do not have and he might have presented the image differently. But I share it this way for a reason. Look what is revealed when I put the image back into color.
A bright shiny door knob and a new propane tank. Hmmm … what do you think goes on in this old place?
(Be sure to check out Mike’s blog … for the photography AND for the comment section!)
One of the challenges for any weekend is to somehow get all the chores on the “to do” list done, yet still find time to play. By 3pm this past Sunday, I’d accomplished enough to be able to head out for a little local ride. Luckily for me, local riding often means country roads, fields, lakes, and historic communities.
Dry Valley
Claytor Lake is a reservoir of The New River, created when a hydroelectric dam was built in 1939. I stopped for a water break and the chance to watch the geese and ducks. It was a perfect afternoon to ride, but the bright sun made for challenging photography.
Yes! That is a lighthouse! On the lake 🙂
Soon it was time to ride on down to the end of the road.
I’ve photographed this slowly decaying barn from many angles … it’s a beauty.
From there, I rode through the community of Newbern, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I’ve ridden through the Newbern Historic District many, many times but somehow had missed these two structures.
The Old County Jail and site of the First Courthouse of Pulaski County
The original reservoir for the Newbern Waterworks
A little beauty, a little history, a little photography … all seen from the bike. Not a bad way to spend a few hours.
Those of you who are new to my blog may wonder where the bike of Life on the Bike is. Rest assurred that the original reason for the blog is back and after being sidelined for 8 months, so are my days riding! I’ve had the bike just 3 weeks and I’ve ridden as many miles as I can squeeze into my schedule. My first ride was with my friend Juli who took me to the dealership to pick up my beautiful new bike.
My second ride was with my friends Dave and Michael, the two guys who taught me most of what I know about riding. I wrote about them here almost 2 years ago.
The other night, seeing that a storm was brewing, and thinking that the evening light might make for great photos, I headed out on the bike. It felt great to feel the wind in my face (even with my new full face helmet).
I took off down a dirt road, near the train tracks, and proceeded to happily shoot the surrounding farmland.
I couldn’t decide which of these I preferred. What do you think?
It was a lovely evening and the storm held off long enough for me to play a little longer.
Even the structure of the new bridge appealed to me that evening.
More riding photos soon!!!
At the end of a day of travel, I was prompted to pull the truck over to capture this golden scene.
Just think! Soon I’ll be pulling over on the bike because Yes! The new bike is in the driveway!
This post was privately published April 17th
The day was predicted to be beautiful and at almost 6 months out, the time seemed to be right. Physical and emotional recovery are not yet done. Several procedures are in the future and the tears still flow occaisionally during anxious moments.
But the time seemed right and I NEEDED to see if I could do it.
My friend Ruth went to the HD store with me. The folks who work at the store have all become friends and each and every one asked how my recovery was going. Jay arranged to have the bike brought in from another location and put it behind the store so I could make my first attempt at riding in private.
I took one look at the bike and felt the tears come, something that happens all too often these days. I wiped my eyes, sat on the bike, and hit the start button. After a few deep breaths and I was off.
It just felt right! When the time is right, I’ll be riding again!
For the observant out there: I have promised to wear a full face helmet and I will keep that promise. This helmet is a loaner. Also, the photo was taken in a parking lot, hence the fist pump.
A friend of mine was the focus of a Women Riders segment produced by one of our regional television stations. Missy and her husband own an indepedent motorcycle shop, and Missy, who has been riding for years, invited several women to come ride with her and help put the spotlight on women who ride.
It’s been 6 months since my wreck and unfortunately, I am still a rider without a bike (although not for much longer!).
Thankfully, I was able to indulge in another passion of mine.
I’ll be posting more photos soon, but meanwhile remember this:
A few months after the wreck, I realized that I had unintentionally created a shrine of sorts, to the bike.
The shrine contains the helmet I’ll never be able to use again;
the one remaining glove, the other left behind in that intersection;
the photo of me, taken on the morning of my last ride on that bike,
the camera that somehow survived,
and a box filled with the many, many cards I was so grateful to have received.
How nice that, through the joy of blogging on WordPress, I was gifted with wonderful additions to that collection. Debby, from Apple Moon Creations, sent me what I like to call Book Art. She folds the pages of books into familiar and favorite things.
For me: a motorcycle and a camera
Debby is so clever and if you want to know how she folds these books into art, check out this link.
Debby made the comment that it is hard to photograph a folded book and I very much agree!
Blogging has brought gifts of friendship, and more blessings than I ever thought imaginable. In addition to the connections with people from all over the world, I have gained insight, been inspired, and grown as a photographer.
Thank you so much, Debby! Everyone – please check out Apple Moon Creations!
We woke to a brief but lovely snow the other morning. The few flakes that fell were gone in an hour, but it was peaceful and pretty while it lasted. Lynda (Life on the Farmlet) – those sparkles are for you!
For some reason, the pace of life has kept me from spending much time with my camera even though I carry it with me everywhere. I am so ready to improve and have the outcome match my vision. No negativity here … I am patient (sort of!).
I do have some trips, for both pleasure and business, coming up in the next 6 weeks and I look forward to sharing the journey with you.
And then, of course, I’ll be test riding some bikes and hoping the joy of the wind in my face is far greater than any anxiety I might feel.
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 