If you need me this weekend, just head out on the highway.
Hope the next few days offer you the chance to do something that brings you joy.
Category Archives: The Bike
Gratitude: And Then I Met Anne
Lynn from Life After 50 offered us wise words this past week. Give yourself a gift: read this post, and take the 10 minutes to watch an incredible video.
For those who strive to be grateful, to express gratitude, and to remember the gifts in our lives, please watch.
For those who love photography and nature, please watch.
Thanks Lynn!!
There are people we meet who leave an impact on us.
After a particularly stressful week, I have been feeling overextended & quite honestly, a little sorry for myself.
And then I met Anne.
Anne lives in the same retirement residence as my Mom. She suffered a stroke 3 years ago, after being left unattended after surgery. One might think she would be full of anger & resentment, filled with rage at the unfairness of her situation.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps she has private moments of self-pity, but every time I run into this beautiful person, she is filled with a positive energy that would put most of us to shame.
Grateful for her life, grateful for the sun shining, expressing concern for others & all but brushing aside her limitations as a result of her stroke.
Without the use of her left side, she has…
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February Ride
Sixty Degrees on Feb 28th. Guess where I was?
For at least a few hours, I was able to ride, to breathe, to smile, and to soothe my spirit,
Then I parked the bike and wandered along the train tracks,
visited an old historic school building,
and had a little fun shooting some interesting architecture.
After a quick stop at the local Pizza House, which I’ve written about before, it was time to head home for the day.
Hope you were able to spend some time this weekend doing something that brings you joy.
Walking By History
During that same morning walk last Sunday, where I saw a few signs of spring, I also saw signs of history.
Signs that cause a distinct sense of sadness and pain,
others that show the effect of time and weather,
and some that showcase pride.
I’ve passed by these markers hundreds, if not thousands of times, mostly on the bike or in the truck.
Walking though, offers time for reflection and commemoration.
Walkin’ Around
In an effort to deepen my understanding of the intricacies of my camera, I was up and out early on Sunday to walk and shoot.
Despite the remnants of snow, the signs of spring were everywhere.
The warming temperatures created a subtle mist that softened this next image.
Don’t get me wrong. If it snows again this week, as the forecast predicts, I’ll enjoy that, too. I’m all about trying to embrace, and capture the beauty of, whatever Mother Nature throws my way.
Even still, it was lovely to hear the birds singing all along the way.
Time on the bike will be here soon!
Cold Outside, Warmth Inside
As it is where many of you live, it’s a wee bit chilly here in Southwest Virginia. The subfreezing temps with furiously whipping wind, provide the perfect excuse to stay inside, work on photography, catch up on my own blog, and with yours, too.
Sadly, the bike sits outside in the cold, waiting for the temperatures to rise.
Yesterday morning, instead of being in my office at 8:15, I had a meeting at Radford’s new locally owned coffee shop. Radford Coffee Company is located in an historic building, recently renovated by a favorite local developer, Joe Fortier.
The Company gives its profits to help in the education of over 1200 students in 14 communities along the Rio Coco, the river that is the boundary line between Nicaragua and Honduras.
The details of the renovation and the warmth inside the shop allow patrons to forget the chill for a little while.
The furniture and decorations include a curved church pew and a Whizzer Motorbike.
And on this particular day, a Radford mentoring program called CAMP was holding a fundraiser. CAMP “offers a chance for Radford’s kids to explore their community and to discover how many opportunities are out there just waiting for them”.
Soon enough, though, it was time to head to the office. With the warmth to sustain me, I stopped to take a shot of the cold, beautiful sky.
And at the end of the day? An opportunity to warm up with a little single malt scotch and time with a friend.
Stay warm, my friends.
First Ride, and First Pictures, in 2016
The day dawned bright with sunshine and 40 degree F temps, and soon the text came in to ride. I worked quickly to get the groceries purchased, the Sweet Potatoes baked, and the Chicken Noodle Soup made and finally, it was time to pile on the clothing for a cold winter ride.
It should go without saying that I brought the camera, so not only did I get to ride, I got to shoot! Happy, happy me!
We stopped for lunch at Beamer’s 25, a local restaurant in Roanoke, and since it had warmed up a bit, we were able to sit outside.
We weren’t the only ones sitting outside, even though you’d never know it by these images.
The Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale was the perfect photo subject … and tasted good, too!
Don’t you love the reflections in this one? and yes, that is a photo of Coach Beamer on the wall.
My buddy, Dave, was willing to sit for a portrait, and I learned that he used to have his own light room. We’ve ridden together for years, and I had no idea!
What a great way to start off the year … 90 miles on the bike, with the camera, and a good friend. A short ride but oh so sweet!
Hope the year has started off just as well for you!
Enough
I had another post ready … but the latest mass shooting in America made me put it on hold for tomorrow.
There has to be more of a response than “Thoughts and Prayers”
The Snake Part 2
If you found time to visit my last post about being back on the bike, you will know that my friend Dave and I tackled The Snake, a 33 mile ride with 489 curves. It was a blast, and it ended up being a 285 mile day!
In addition to getting some much needed wind in the face therapy, I was also able to enjoy some photography time. We rode over South Holston Lake via the American Legion Memorial Bridge and found a place to park and shoot.
These scenes also caught my eye
If you like to ride, be sure to visit my previous post. In the meantime, know that it’s been so, so great to visit your blogs this week!
Back on the Bike: The Snake Part 1
I’m back!
Election Day has come and gone, and I did not win the day. I challenged an incumbent, in an off / off year (one without a Presidential, Gubernatorial, or Senatorial race) when less than 30% of registered voters cast a ballot. Even still, I garnered 42% of the vote. While I of course wish I had won the day, for healthcare, for women, for equality, and for the working poor, I am very proud of the campaign, and my team. I consider this good, and a huge accomplishment.
The other good news? I finally have time to ride and to shoot!! Happy, happy me!
On the morning after Election Day, my good friend, Dave, sent a text with the following message “sorry you didn’t win the election, however you need some riding time to put it all behind you”. Within 24 hours, we were headed to Shady Valley, Tennessee to ride The Snake.
Without a GoPro, it is hard to capture images of those 489 curves on US Rt 421 as there is rarely a place to pull over. The signage in the image below, however, offers an idea of the fun to be had on this ride.
While I have to confess to feeling a bit stiff at first, I was thrilled to be back on the bike and getting some big time wind therapy! It turned out to be a 285 mile day and I could not have been happier. I came home with many images to process and that made the day even better.
Peak leaf time had come and gone but we still saw a bit of color,
even more so, when we stopped at Holston Lake.
The reflections on the lake kept me shooting. Gorgeous, right?
It was the perfect antidote to an election day loss,
and ended with a delicious BBQ plate at Farmers Barbecue & Grill in Mountain City, Tn. Yum!
I’ll share a few more photos from this Tennessee ride soon! Thanks for being here today. I’ve missed you!
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 