This fence just drew me in, but I was unable to get too close without spooking the horses. Since that affected the clarity of the image, I played around with editing. Those who have followed my growth as a photographer know that I don’t do much editing.
Some B&W
A touch of HDR
Oh so soft focus
The plan ol’ image
The temperatures are cooler, the skies are clearer, the leaves show early color change, and the smell of wood smoke is in the air. Don’t you just love fall?
My friends welcomed us to their back yard this past Sunday evening for the first fire of the fall season. Their backyard is a sanctuary of happiness … surrounded by woods, flower / vegetable gardens, an awesome fire pit, and privacy. Deb made homemade marshmellows, and we all brought the fixins for S’Mores, Hot Dogs, Kettle Corn, and a favorite beverage.
Seriously! Homemade marshmellows!
As the moon rose in the sky, our happiness deepened
.
Folks … these are the simples pleasures in life … be sure to take time to enjoy them!
And if you’ve read this far, and would like to offer your opinion: I’m researching and planning my move to an SLR. When I realize that I am more often less than satisfied with the results of my photographic efforts, I realize I am ready.
Your recommendation?
How often do you pass by a building or place, maybe even every day, and even though you know it has intriguing characteristics, you never stop for a closer look? The New Mt Olive M.E. Church has always drawn my attention, but I’ve never taken the time to investigate.
The church sits on a hill in a neighborhood off one of the main roads in my small city.
As I rode by on the bike one day, with rain threatening, I decided to stop and check it out.
The building materials are simple … and reveal signs of wear.
The church was originally built in 1889, but was either renovated or rebuilt in 1929.
I think what attracts me most is the way it sits up there on that hill, somewhat majestic and slightly imposing.
Wonder what it’s like inside?
… people might want to employ someone to bring them coffee in the morning.
It was a beautiful but chilly ride home after the 7th Annual Layne Creed Memorial Ride last night, and so I decided that for once, I was not going to multi-task my way through the morning. You’ve been there … throw in a load of laundry, bake biscuits for a friend, edit photos, and have a cup or two of coffee while checking FaceBook and WordPress, writing out the grocery list and doing the bills. For one hour, I was going to sit on the couch, with a cup of coffee, under a favorite quilt and just enjoy.
A perfect plan!
Until I realized that I would need to get up and out of my warm cocoon and get another cup. Curses! (yeah, I know … life is tough).
The ride was a huge success! In the memory of Layne Creed, over 150 bikes with over 220 drivers / riders set out to raise money for the Children’s Center of Surry County and two Surry County Community College Scholarships. I really didn’t take many photos since I spent most of the day on the bike.
This is the morning of the ride, looking out over Draper Valley towards the Blue Ridge. The morning mist still hovers over the mountains.
Waiting to ride
Halfway home, along Rt 52, near Cana, North Carolina
Now … about those chores (after I check out your blogs!)
Enjoy your Sunday, everyone!
(Update: The 7th Annual Ride raised $8000!)
It’s been awhile since the morning light has prompted me stop on the way to the office. You may remember seeing the Radford Incinerator in a previous post. There’s just something about it that grabs my attention.
This past Sunday found me needing some time on the bike, in a long, solo ride. Too many thoughts were jumbled around in my head and I needed to sort some things out. So I plotted my route and headed out for Burkes Garden.
Bowl-shaped Burke’s Garden is the highest valley in Virginia, and is named after James Burke who “discovered” the area during the 1740s (of course the Native Americans discovered it first). The historical marker notes that “the threat of Indian attack and the remoteness of the area discouraged permanent white settlement until the early 19th century”. It is still a very small community and the only store is closed on Sunday.
The ride to Burke’s Garden and back is one photo opportunity after another.
Old churches
Farms and the product of farming
Images that harken back to another time and warnings about eternity
I loved her little face peeking back at me.
While these 4 photos all have an organized religion theme, they represent 3 different churches.
And of course some fun, twisty roads.
By the time I arrived home, 5 hours and 150 miles later, I was in a much more peaceful frame of mind
I am so lucky to have this view right outside my office door!
I love the variations in color – the greens, tans, blues, whites – and then there’s that trailer!
My friend Ruth and I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia this past weekend, the latest installment in our annual road trip to watch the Hokies. As avid Virginia Tech Football fans (and basketball fans, too, for that matter), we choose one away game to attend each year. We’ve traveled to Chapel Hill, NC; Huntington, WVa; Morgantown, WVa; and to Washington, DC and Atlanta twice. We try to find a town or place to explore along the way, and search out the historic downtown of any community we visit. This was our 5th year in a row, and our 7th road trip overall.
We posed for the traditional start of the trip photo and then hit the road!
The normal 6 1/2 hour trip turned into 9 due to a combination of Friday afternoon rush hour, labor day weekend, and football traffic. A stop in Kings Mountain, NC and dinner at the Cherokee Grill was just what we needed.
We finally saw the lights of Atlanta a little after 10pm. I was so excited about finally arriving that I attempted to take a picture … with my cell phone … while Ruth navigated the interstate at 65mph! This picture doesn’t reflect it, but the night skyline of Atlanta is beautiful!
The next day dawned hot and muggy, but we had plenty of time to explore a few of the neighborhoods of Atlanta while waiting for game time. Theresa, our host for the weekend, was an excellent tour guide.
Photography on a trip with friends is a bit of a challenge. How do you find time to shoot quality images while spending time with friends? I definitely want to document the trip but I don’t want to spend all my time behind the lens.
We explored the neighborhood near Emory University and had a delicious breakfast at the Rise-n-Dine.
Theresa drove us through the Krog Street Tunnel, which is known for it’s street art. I jumped out of the car and had less than a minute to shoot what the locals call their “living bulletin board and urban art gallery”.
The CNN Center and Olympic Park were both crawling with Tide and Hokie fans, although Virginia Tech fans were far outnumbered.
Virginia Tech met Alabama in the Georgia Dome, and while we did not beat the #1 team in College Football, our defense was outstanding. We held them to fewer yards and our offense gained more yards than most teams did in 2012.
Sunday morning came quickly and it was time to head back home. We briefly stopped in Spartanburg, SC and I wish we’d had more time to visit. The downtown area, while quiet for a Sunday, showed evidence of historic renovation and revitalization.
Loved this Urban Art installation called Artcycle.
The sun was bright at midday and the photos aren’t the best, but the artcycles were great!
Locally owned businesses have the most creative signage and curb appeal.
We were back in Radford in the late afternoon and had a short visit with friends who had gathered for labor day. A lovely way to end the weekend … even if we did miss the music.
While in Atlanta this past weekend (watching my beloved Virginia Tech Hokies) my friend Ruth and I were given a tour of several local neighborhoods. Theresa, our friend and tour guide, was good to let me jump out of the car at various times to capture some of the flavor.
These shoes were hanging over the Krog Street Tunnel, which is known for it’s street art.
Locals call it “Atlanta’s living bulletin board and urban art gallery”.
More Photos from the Road soon!
The final day of the ride is always a little sad for me. I am just not ready to go home!
Bethany Beach was in my mirrors by 8am as I had a long road ahead of me. The plan was to stop somewhere along the way for breakfast and of course, I was thinking local business. Fifty miles before I reached the restaurant, I saw the sign for Holly’s and that became my breakfast destination. If it was the hometown diner that I expected, I knew that I’d be eating more calories than I needed.
Holly’s, a restaurant celebrating 57 years in business, is advertised as the “Meeting place of the Eastern Shore”. I was hopeful, based on appearance, that I’d be a happy customer.
Doesn’t this remind you of the good ol’ diners from yesteryear?
Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite the nostalgic experience that I’d hope it would be.
The staff was uninterested, not a smile on a face to be seen, and the food was just so – so. I did like the memory of the 50 States placemat and the gun over the door. The cash register is no longer in use, but I love that it still sits there on the counter.
My timing was perfect as I made it back over the Cheapeake Bay Bridge (woo hoo!) and around Washington DC without hitting rush hour traffic. Once near Warrenton, I was able to leave the beltway / highway system behind, and get back to smaller state roads.
Warrenton is a town of less than 10,000 people in Fauquier County, and like many Virginia localities, has a history that spans the Colonial-Revolutionary Era, the Civil War Era, and the Reconstruction-Civil Rights Era. My very brief stop and walking tour was no where near long enough to explore this town, whose historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
On the grounds of the Courthouse is a small collection of historic items. This first item, according to the marker, is a naturally formed, ancient stone that was used as a mounting block for carriages and horses … but also as a slave auction block.
That sure stops you cold, doesn’t it?
As I rode those last 200 miles towards home, several things crossed my mind:
1. Produce Stands – all along the road through Delaware and Maryland I passed produce stands. The fruits and vegetables looked so fresh! This is NOT the time to be on the bike!
2. Bus Stands – many of the rural homes have covered bus stands at the end of the driveway to provide protection for children waiting for the school bus. The stands are evidently paid for by local businesses and it was disconcerting, to say the least, to see advertising for the local funeral home on the side of child’s school bus stand.
3. Money – I’d be riding down a road in the most rural part of a county and I’d see houses and farms falling down at the seems. The Churches? New construction, flashy signs, big paved parking lots. Hmmm ….
4. Bikes – I saw very few bikes throughout the 7 day ride. I’m guessing bikers don’t think of this year’s ride route as a bike destination.
I knew that I was drawing near to home when I began to see mountains behind me …
… and mountains in front of me.
Around 5pm, after being on the road since the morning, I was thirsty for that end of the ride day beer. Unfortunately, by riding Rt 11, and not the interstate with it’s multitude of restaurants, made finding a beer difficult! I finally found a small place that was open outside Buchanan, and pulled up to talk with the elderly gent sitting on the porch.
“Do they sell beer here” I asked?
He replied with a “Maam?”
I repeated “Can I get a beer here?”.
He looked at me with a long look and said (picture the guys outside the Courthouse in Mayberry) “Nooopppe” (said with a long drawn out drawl). Sadness!! Now, please understand, I LOVE Andy Griffith! I still faithfully watch the show whenever I can! And I love Appalachia and SWVA. But I really, really wanted a cold one!
Ah well, it was time to just kick it in gear and get on home.
Even though I am rarely ready to go home, I am comforted by the view of local scenery and the realization that home is a good place to be. The rain started to fall as I pulled into the driveway of Liz and Wilson’s home. They took the traditional end of the trip picture, and handed me a bag that contained some food for dinner … AND also inside that bag? A lovely cold beer!!
Nothing like friends to welcome you home in style!
Yep … that’s me … after 12 hours on the road!
And that’s my helmet … boasting several new stickers.
So after riding almost 1900 miles in 2 weeks (1400 during this 7 day trip), I was home.
A cold beer in my hand, my family and friends checking in to make sure I’d arrived safely, and the sound of rain falling on the roof. Seriously?
I could not have been more content!
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 