Brewery Ride- Day 1

July 25, 2016 by LB

The sun streaming through my window had me awake and excited about a weekend on the bike. Since I only planned to be gone for 36 hours, I was packed and on the road in no time. Just 45 minutes later, I met my sister for breakfast, and then continued the trip by avoiding the interstate and riding the old state road, Rt 11 North. The purpose of this trip, after all, was to have unscheduled, unplanned time. To take my time, stop where I wanted, ride where I wanted, and to explore with no schedule.

When I stopped in Buchanan to check out the swinging bridge, I saw that I had a Voice Message. A good Samaritan had found the wallet that I didn’t know I’d lost 45 miles back in Salem.

So much for leisurely riding! I hit the interstate hard and fast, thinking the whole time how fortunate I was to have a good guy find my wallet. It could have been a disaster! It turned out to be an hour and a half detour, but I was definitely not complaining. Besides, the weather was perfect.

The only definitive plan I had was to meet some highschool friends at Old Bust Head Brewing Company. It had been over 35 years since I’d seen Ike, and I was looking forward to visiting the brewery that he and his wife had opened. After riding 340 miles under clear skies and on dry roads, I rode the last 10 minutes in thunder, lightning, and rain. Thankfully, Ike directed me into an empty garage space and I was able to keep the bike dry.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Chinquapin Chestnut Porter, although rest assured that I am extremely careful when I ride the bike.

Bill, another highschool friend, and his son Bobby, also came out for a mini-reunion.

After hours of conversation, it was time to check into my hotel. It was then that I realized that I’d only taken a couple photographs, and I decided I’d return to the brewery early the next day. Despite being less than an hour from Washington DC, much of Fauquier County is rural, horse country, and the roads back to Old Bust Head made for heavenly morning riding.

The brewing company is located on property that has changed hands and purposes several times as the centuries rolled by.

When the U.S. Army moved out of the secret listening post they had installed on this old Virgina farm called Vint Hill, they left behind warehouse buildings full of history and intrigue (this from the Old Bust Head website).

Ike and his partners have reclaimed these buildings and have plenty of room to brew, imbibe, and expand in their 30,000 square foot facility (again, from the website). With so much redevelopment going on, directional signs are needed.

Even with backtracking to reclaim my wallet, Day 1 of the ride was a blast!

Stay tuned for Day 2!

Sit For a Spell

July 23, 2016 by LB

Last night, I actually did sit for a spell and visit many of your blogs (although I have many more to visit!). For now, I’m off to volunteer at a Dress for Success workday, and THEN I will attempt to work on the photos from my brewery ride last weekend.

** 36 hours / 620 miles / 3 breweries / old friends **

For now, I’ll share this image from Warrenton, VA.

Is “sit for a spell” a term that you use, or are familiar with?

What a Ride!

July 20, 2016 by LB

It was time for a much needed getaway. No schedule. No appointments.

Just 36 hours through the mountains of Virginia to visit a few breweries and see some highschool friends.

The time went far too quickly, and before I knew it, I was back home and back on the job.

I’m working through the photos, and will share them soon. Until then, I’m off to visit you!

Travel: Trains and Bikes

July 15, 2016 by LB

It’s the beginning of the weekend, and while there is still one more day of work, I’m anticipating a weekend on the motorcycle. YAY!

The images you see here are my recent contributions to Monochromia.

If you haven’t visited Monochromia yet, please do! Photographers from around the world contribute some incredible B&W images to this blog, and several of those photographers, including me, will be meeting in NYC in October.

How cool is that?

My travels will prevent me from visiting each of you until next week. Sending peaceful thoughts during tumultuous times.

Seeking Solace

July 8, 2016 by LB

On the way to work this morning, I pulled over to find solace behind the lens.

The news out of America, each and every day this week, has been devastating. Frankly, it’s been this way for much longer than a week.

We are a terribly divided nation.

I’ve seen people asking for prayers for Police Officers, without mention of the victims of racial, gender, and sexual violence.
I’ve seen people asking for prayers for the vicims of racial, gender, and sexual violence, without mention of the Police Officers.

We cannot let violence divide us any more than it already has.

I wish the rain could wash away the hate and the violence, but since it can’t we must unite to Stop the Violence!

As I sit here, listening to the pouring rain, I am horrified by the violence. I grieve for the families.

I am saddened and frightened by the divisiveness and hate, and I am angry that we can’t seem to find any solutions to the violence.

Images of Greensboro

July 3, 2016 by LB

Weekends during the month of June were packed with travel, and my shutter finger worked overtime!

I’m still glowing over my time in Atlanta with my son, exploring public art and architecture, cocktails and cuisine, and green spaces. Then last weekend I was able to spend the weekend in Greensboro, NC to photograph a wedding. Some of you have visited Karen’s blog about hiking, and she most recently posted about her daughter’s wedding.

I am not a professional photographer, and definitely not a wedding photographer, so I was a bit nervous (to say the least). I’ve known the bride since she was a young teen, and despite my nerves, it was an honor to try to capture the joy of this fun loving couple.

The time I had to photograph downtown Greensboro was limited, but I wanted to share a bit of it with you. Some of these images were taken with my camera, and several with my cell phone.

The city is a wonderful mix of old and new architecture,

with a proud and tragic history.

During my morning walk, I learned that Martin Luther King was scheduled to speak in Greensboro on April 4th, 1968. He cancelled his visit to stay in Memphis one more night where he was assasinated that same day. If only …

Within a few minutes walk from Elm Street, the main drag in downtown Greensboro, is the Isley House. Built by German immigrants, circa 1845, the log house was moved from its original location when the historical museum took it apart and reassembled it here.

My morning walk took me past public art,

and along the train tracks.

Finally, just a few random images.

Believe me, a cold beer tasted great after hours spent with the camera.

Thankfully, my friend Tim was there to help me!

I’m home for a couple weekends but the next trip in two weeks will be on the motorcycle!

Green Atlanta

June 28, 2016 by LB

This third and final post about Atlanta (#1 Art and Architecture and #2 Cuisine and Cocktails) reveals the green side of the city and surrounding towns. Trees are everywhere, and my early morning walks were much cooler because of the shade. If you saw my previous two Atlanta posts, you’ll see that many of the photos show the green in the neighborhoods and right in the heart of the city as well.

Piedmont Park, whose mission is to “enhance and preserve Piedmont Park as a vital urban green space and as a cultural and recreational resource that enriches the quality of life for all Atlantans” is a 189 acre park located one mile from Downtown. The park has been evolving since 1822, and has gone “through several phases, first from a forest to a farm, then to a fairground and suburban park, and finally to the urban park that it is today”

As Andrew and I walked the trails, we remarked that it seemed similar to New York’s Central Park. In fact, “in the early 20th century, a redesign plan called the Olmsted plan, was begun by the sons of New York Central Park architect, Frederick Law Olmstead. The effort led to the addition of scenic paths in the park and the joining of the park with the Ansley park system”.

We walked along a few of the many walking / jogging pathways, but there are so many more things to do at Piedmont Park.

Green markets, special events, a community garden, sporting events, beekeeping, and a Dog Park offer something for everyone.

Now you see me …

Now you don’t!

Don’t forget to look up while you’re walking!

The Magnolia trees were huge and full of blossoms,

and the hydrangeas were lovely, too.

Speaking of Green and Alternative Transportation, Atlanta has a growing cycling community. As we pulled up to the traffic light after dinner late on Friday evening, we were stopped by the 4th Annual Moon Ride, a 6 mile night time ride through several intown neighborhoods. The event is “open to anyone who wants to hit the streets, whether you’ve got a street bike, a mountain bike, a wheel chair or a good ole cruiser”.

I wish I’d known about it ahead of time as I surely would have joined in. The photo quality is not great, but that might be because I was dancing to the music that was being broadcast from various golf carts.

Much to the embarrassment of my son, my dancing got the attention of the police officer monitoring the intersection, and she insisted on taking my photo.

What a hoot!

Of course, the whole reason I went to Atlanta was to visit my son, so I’m throwing in a few random shots of Andrew and his Atlanta family.

Mother and Son

Jon (how I messed up the settings on this easy shot, I will never know)

Wilson

Tela

Thanks for coming along with me on a fabulous trip to Atlanta! I hope you get to visit sometime. It’s a great city and I cannot wait to go back.

Atlanta: Cuisine and Cocktails

June 26, 2016 by LB

Knowing that the food and drink in Atlanta would be incredible, I was careful with caloric intake before I left Virginia, and I exercised every day during my trip. That turned out to be a good decision, as Atlanta cuisine did not disappoint! The only difficult part of the visit was choosing where to go and what to eat. So many choices, and chain restaurants were not part of the equation!

** Disclosure: I am not a food critic nor food blogger. I’m just offering some suggestions should you get to Atlanta anytime soon. **

My first meal was at Leon’s Full Service.

Housed in a former gas station, the owners “long for a time when you pulled up to a gas station and immediately about 4 people would descend upon your vehicle with smiles”. Their philosophy is to provide the restaurant version of Full Service.

My Trout Po Boy with house remoulade, b&b pickles, tomato,
baby iceberg on toasted ciabatta was so flavorful, and my cocktail, the Corpse Revivier No. 2
with ethereal gin, cointreau, lemon, cocchi americano, and la muse verte absinthe was divinely refreshing.

The appetizer? Goat Cheese stuffed Peppadews.

I love that the bartender dressed as if working at a Full Service Gas Station.

My second meal, at 4th and Swift also featured trout, a main dish frequently found on Atlanta menus. Evidently there are some wonderful trout farms in Atlanta. Pre-dinner cocktails were as creative at 4th & Swift as at every other place that I visited, and my Green With Envy cocktail (Clement “Canne Bleue” Rhum Blanc, Cucumber & Basil Syrup, Fresh Lime, Cucumber & Basil Cube) was the perfect summer drink, and incredibly refreshing.

(Photo Credit: 4th & Swift)

I have no photos from this meal, but my Bramlett Farms Trout La Plancha (Sauteed Green Tomatoes, Red Spring Onions, Smoked Shitake, Miso, Sunflower Seeds) was fresh and delicious. A dessert of Stickey Toffee Pudding (vanilla ice cream, candied pecans, toffee sauce) was the perfect birthday dessert for Andrew.

Saturday morning began at Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit. Originally started in Charleston, SC, the Atlanta restaurant opened late in 2015. Each biscuit is made by hand, baked while you wait, using simple, fresh ingredients including White Lily flour, buttermilk, butter and cream cheese. No calories here! The biscuits are insanely good!

Amidst all the eating and drinking, we visited Krog Street Market, a “destination for Atlanta’s intown culture; those who are always searching for unique, specialty creations. It’s designed to be as authentic as the 1920’s warehouse it’s built into”. You walk in, order your beer, and shop!

The Ponce City Market “breathes new life into the historic Sears, Roebuck & Co. building in Atlanta. The classic structure, which is the area’s largest adaptive reuse project, has been reinvented as a vibrant community hub housing the Central Food Hall, various shops, flats and offices, all while pointing back to the roots of its inception”.

The Beltline runs right next to Ponce City Market, and cyclists are able to leave their bikes with the bike valet, and step inside for lunch, a cold beer, and some shopping. The place was buzzing with energy, the smell of delicious food, and a diverse crowd of people. So fun!

Before heading home for the day, we stopped into the Brick Store Pub, “a neighborhood pub where conversation dominates, pints are served properly and in the appropriate glassware, service is friendly and knowledgeable and the food is made from scratch every day, all accented by a beautiful historic building located on a bustling town square”.

Almost done, I promise! Before leaving town on Sunday, we visted Rreal Taco, a casual Mexican taqueria. The chef owner wanted to create authentic Mexican flavors —all natural, local, and organic whenever possible”.

The food was so yummy that I didn’t even stop to take a picture 🙂 Photo Credit: Rreal Taco

Phew! You made it to the end. Are you hungry now?

Next Post: Green Atlanta

Atlanta: Public Art and Architecture

June 24, 2016 by LB

You all understand the challenge. You travel to a new city / country / place and arrive back home with a zillion photos to work through. It takes time, but it also offers the opportunity to remember the experience and relive the fun.

I was in Atlanta for just 48 hours, but oh my gosh, I had a blast! My son Andrew, who has only lived in Atlanta for 2 years, knows the city like someone who has lived there much longer, and he was an excellent tour guide around this diverse, exciting city. He took me to the Jackson Street Bridge, a local landmark known as THE place to get a shot of the cityscape.

With this post, and the two that follow, I’ll introduce you to the Atlanta that I experienced. The posts are longer than typical for me, but years from now I’ll look back and be able to remember everything.

While quite the tourist attraction, and evidently a bit controversial, the Atlanta Skyview allowed me to see Downtown from on high.

All images were taken through the glass of the gondola.

What fun it was to ride high above much of the city!

The Skyview towers over the 21 acre Centennial Olympic Park, created for the 1996 Olympic Games. Today the park performs a dual mission: it serves as Georgia’s lasting legacy of the Centennial Olympic Games and it anchors efforts to revitalize residential and commercial development in Georgia’s capital city of Atlanta.

We spent much of my visit in various parts of Midtown, which is the “second largest business district in the city, situated between the commercial and financial districts of Downtown to the south and Buckhead to the north. Midtown is known for it’s cultural attractions, architecture, and urban layout”.

We visited walkable, intown neighborhoods, each one unique with shops, restaurants, and public art.

Visit my post on Monochromia to learn more about Celebration by Gary Lee Price.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, the current Dekalb County Courhouse was completed in 1918. The four previous structures were destroyed by fire, war, and demolition.

I’m sorry to say that I did not document the name or purpose of this next building, but I loved the architecture.

Whether commisioned or not, public art is everywhere. On the sidewalk, seen during my morning walk,

and along the Beltline, the city’s bikeway / walkway system.

“The Beltline is transforming the city with a combination of rail, trail, greenspace, housing, and art. It will ultimately connect 45 intown neighborhoods”.

Public Art can be found in Piedmont Park,

in neighborhoods,

and sadly, along the streets.

If you’ve visited my blog in the past, you’ve learned about Ghost Bikes.

When taking shots from the Jackson Street Bridge, Andrew pointed out a sticker for Tiny Doors Atlanta, an Atlanta-based art project bringing “big wonder to tiny spaces. With the installation of a door, what was once a wall or the column of a bridge becomes an entrance to collective creativity and an invitation to whimsy”.

As we walked along the Beltline, Andrew pointed out this tiny door. How cool is that?

I was also enamored by the messages posted on various streetlamps. The words of Harry Crews, an American novelist, playwright, short story writer and essayist, are posted here.

“So far as I can see, nothing good in the world has ever been done by well-rounded people. The good work is done by people with jagged, broken edges, because those edges cut things and leave an imprint, a design”.

Next Post: Atlanta Cuisine and Cocktails

The Perfect Recipe

June 22, 2016 by LB

The photos and stories from my trip to Atlanta are not quite ready for prime time posting, but the photos from an incredible day on the motorcycle are. It was the perfect recipe for a day ride: great weather, good roads, and wonderful friends.

This past Sunday I rode a little over 200 miles through the back roads of Virginia and North Carolina with three of my favs.

We also spent some time on the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) which offers wide sweeping curves and great views. The BRP which is America’s longest linear park, runs for 469 miles (755 km) through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, mostly along the Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains.

The BRP celebrated it’s 75th Anniversary in 2010 and while I do not know for sure, I believe these stone walls have been around since the parkway was constructed.

You may remember that I celebrated my 50th birthday that same year with a solo ride on the BRP, the first of several solo rides.

5 Days / 3 States / 925 Miles.

You can see photos from that incredible trip here and here.

Despite the various stops along the way, which offer the chance to bring out the camera, it is the riding that makes the day so great. The bike and I rolled smoothly over the miles, and we flowed through the curves with ease. I was completely content.

Seriously, wouldn’t you be?

Life on the Bike and other Fab Things

Whether it's one simple yet somehow perfect day or a dreamed about journey finally realized, I never want to forget the joy of the moment or how fortunate I am!

Brewery Ride- Day 1

Sit For a Spell

What a Ride!

Travel: Trains and Bikes

Seeking Solace

Images of Greensboro

Green Atlanta

Atlanta: Cuisine and Cocktails

Atlanta: Public Art and Architecture

The Perfect Recipe

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