Category Archives: The Bike

Unknown's avatar

Above and Below

by

A week or so ago, I was able to ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway with a couple friends.  It was a bright, summer day and clouds filled the sky.  What a joy it is to ride along that curvy parkway, feeling the wind and the sun, and to view this incredible scenery.

_MG_6158

We stopped at the Peaks of Otter Lodge for a short break and this time saw the clouds reflected in the water of the lake.

_MG_6172

Clouds above.  Clouds below.

**********************************************************************************

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I’m very much looking forward to my vacation, which is coming up in just 6 days!

The Chesapeake Bay.  The Delaware Coast.   Kentucky.

Very different destinations and different modes of transportation.  There will be stories to tell and photos to share and I cannot wait. These past 9 months have not found me traveling much.  It is time to get back out there!

Be sure to visit Monochromia and check out some incredible B&W Photography!

Unknown's avatar

300 Miles for A Cold One

by

The text came in on Saturday night. “Meeting at 9am for a ride to Devils Backbone Brewery.  It’ll be an all dayer”

_MG_6309

It was indeed an all dayer, with enough stops along the way to see the big perspective …

_MG_6314 _MG_6319

… and the small.

_MG_6316 _MG_6323

While the ride is the reason, this day’s destination was pretty great.

_MG_6332

Devils Backbone Brewery, established in 2008, is an award winning craft brewpub in Virginia.  There’s nothing like pulling up, all hot and dusty, knowing that inside awaits a cold beer and a delicious plate of Fish and Chips.

_MG_6329

Quite simply, a wonderful day … on and off the bike!

_MG_6328

If you’re in the area, be sure to stop in.  Joe, that means you, too! It’s well worth the visit.

Unknown's avatar

These Boots …

by

…represent so much of me.

Please checkout our new blog Monochromia.  If you love B&W images, this is the blog for you!

LB's avatarMonochromia

LaurieFour (1 of 1)
… 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.

View original post

Unknown's avatar

It’s All a Part of the Ride

by

I hope you’ll visit Monochromia and see the B&W images for several wonderful photographers … and then there’s  mine, too!  🙂

LB's avatarMonochromia

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…

View original post 83 more words

Unknown's avatar

It’s a Mystery

by

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!

_MG_5947

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.

_MG_5952

As I wandered around the house, I specifically thought of Mike from Mike’s Look at Life.   How would he portray this house?

_MG_5953

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.

_MG_5954

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!)

Unknown's avatar

Join Me on a Little Local Ride

by

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

_MG_5646

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.

_MG_5667_MG_5647 _MG_5662

Yes! That is a lighthouse! On the lake 🙂

_MG_5665_MG_5670

Soon it was time to ride on down to the end of the road.

_MG_5671_MG_5673

I’ve photographed this slowly decaying barn from many angles … it’s a beauty.

091_MG_5679

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

_MG_5692 _MG_5681 _MG_5682_MG_5686 _MG_5690 _MG_5691

The original reservoir for the Newbern Waterworks

_MG_5699_MG_5694 _MG_5697 _MG_5698

A little beauty, a little history, a little photography … all seen from the bike. Not a bad way to spend a few hours.

Unknown's avatar

Life on the Bike!

by

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.

IMG_5128

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.

_MG_5166

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).

IMG_20140620_182943

 I took off down a dirt road, near the train tracks, and proceeded to happily shoot the surrounding farmland.

_MG_5533

I couldn’t decide which of these I preferred.  What do you think?

_MG_5534

It was a lovely evening and the storm held off long enough for me to play a little longer.

_MG_5536 _MG_5546

Even the structure of the new bridge appealed to me that evening.

_MG_5544

More riding photos soon!!!

Unknown's avatar

A Golden Stop

by

At the end of a day of travel, I was prompted to pull the truck over to capture this golden scene.

_MG_5205

_MG_5201

Just think! Soon I’ll be pulling over on the bike because Yes!  The new bike is in the driveway!

_MG_5214

Unknown's avatar

Done!

by

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.

IMG_20140412_131512

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.

photo2

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.

photo3

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.

Unknown's avatar

Women Riders

by

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.

_MG_4157 _MG_4155

I’ll be posting more photos soon, but meanwhile remember this:

10177448_10154150836295061_9218131217248384331_n