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We Remember

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Memorial Day is the most solemn American holiday.

Originally called Decoration Day, it is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to the United States of America, and this year is the 150th Anniversary.

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It is an honor to serve on the committe that plans Radford’s Annual Memorial Day Service.  A couple of the veterans on the committee arrive at the park the night before Memorial Day each year to set up the Field of Crosses, and to hang the flags that represent each branch of the Armed Forces.

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I stopped by this evening, to deliver some home baked cookies, and spend a little time with these devoted vets.

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Armed with only my cell phone, I tried to capture the scene.  It was slightly cool, with a gentle breeze, a truly beautiful evening, and I couldn’t help but think of the soldiers, sailors, airmen/women, and marines who are in harms way every day.

One of the vets on the committee made this memorial, and it remains in his front yard year round.

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As we celebrate the holiday weekend, let’s all take just a few moments to remember the reason for this day.

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As noted in my previous post, the month of May is a time of significant civic obligation. I’ll be back to visiting all of you soon!

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The Fullness of May

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The month of May is always full … of flowers, and rain, and a lift in the step of folks who have been longing for warmer weather.

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  For me, it is also filled with planning and implementing the Ride of Silence and the Annual Memorial Day Service.

It is such an honor to work alongside others in remembrance of those who have died in the service of the US, or on our public roads.

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Despite the full schedule, there is still time for book group.  I read late into the night on Wednesday in order to be prepared for our Thursday discussion.  We met on the new porch, surrounded by flowers made even more beautiful by the late day sun.

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Have you read “How to Tell Toledo From the Night Sky” by Lydia Netzer?

Life is ever full … of friends, of flowers, of books, and service, and I am thankful.

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Ride of Silence 2016

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The first Ride of Silence (ROS) took place in 2003 in Dallas, TX, after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was killed by the mirror of a passing school bus.  Out of that tragedy grew an annual international event where cyclists worldwide participate in a silent slow-paced ride in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.
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We have been holding a Ride of Silence event in my community since the death of our friend Fess Green 9 years ago, and I’ve written about it twice.  The posts here and here offer more history and photos about the ROS.

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Cyclists take to the road at 7pm their local time, and this year there were 416 Registered Events, from all 50 states, all 7 continents, and 38 countries. The Ride of Silence – NRV is one small part of that massive international ride.  It’s incredible to know that thousands of people the world over, are riding at the same time, for the same cause.

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Our small locality has had as many as 100 cyclists, of all ages, turn out to ride.  This year the cold temperatures and drizzling rain kept some folks at home.  The 35-40 riders who showed up despite the weather were safely escorted through the ride route by officers from the Radford City Police Department.  We are fortunate to have the support of the local government and police department year after year.

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We ride in silence, at a slow, reflective pace and whether on bright, sunny evenings, or when it is chilly and damp, it truly is a powerful experience.

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 I’m thankful to have a passionate group of people on the planning committee who believe in the mission of this organization, and work together every year to make the event happen.

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The Ride of Silence organization exists:

To HONOR those who have been injured or killed

To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here

To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

http://www.rideofsilence.org/

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Deerfield Valley

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This gorgeous meadow is in a place called Deerfield, Virginia. I’d never been here before and I was taken aback by the beauty.  I cannot wait to return on the bike.

I’ve returned from a three day trip, for business and pleasure, to four different localities around Virginia.  Visits with my parents, and with friends, were wonderful, and the day long meeting, productive.

I look forward to popping over to your place for a visit later in the week.

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Life

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As you view these images, I am off to see my parents for some Mother’s Day / Father’s Day celebrating.

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Following that, I’ll participate in a Saturday Board Meeting for the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners.

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Then I’ll get to spend the evening with a long time friend and fellow photographer.

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And hopefully, all of that work and play will be followed by a belated birthday celebration with my sister.

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These images were taken during an evening with friends last week.  Life, and all it’s gifts and challenges, has prevented this group of women from gathering lately.  On Friday, we finally got to sit around the fire, enjoy delicious food and drink, and the company of folks who know you well and love you despite your, shall we call them, less attractive, traits.

Enjoy the weekend, everyone!  I’ll catch up with you when I get back.

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Riding on International Female Ride Day

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In it’s 10th year, International Female Ride Day (IFRD) is a one-day, globally synchronized ride exclusively for women motorcyclists.

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Having found out about IFRD too late to organize a group ride, I was none the less determined to get on the bike.  Okay, let’s be honest.  I was determined to get on the bike even if it wasn’t International Female Ride Day.

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I met Dave and Michael, two of my favorite biker buds who I’ve written about before, at 11 on Saturday morning.

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We flirted with rain all day but stayed dry, and thankfully so, as the roads we took were full of fun curves and twists.

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We stopped at Big Walker Lookout, a 100 ft observation tower on top of Big Walker Mountain.

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Built in 1947, the tower offers great views of mountain peaks in 5 surrounding states.

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 It costs $6 to climb to the top, and while I’ve made the climb in the past, today we enjoyed the views from the bottom.

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In addition to the observation tower, there’s a General Store, a swinging bridge, and this collection of old license plates.

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At one point during the day, we got caught at a railroad crossing.  This building caught my attention and I literally ran back, huffing and puffing in my helmet and boots, to take a photo while waiting for the train to pass.  I managed to take a quick shot, but had no time to gather any history, as the crossing bars started to rise signaling that it was time to ride on.

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My friend Karen gave me an action camera, similar to a Go Pro, and I cannot wait to start using it.  If I’d been riding alone, I would have stopped far too often for photos.  Since Dave and Michael like to keep on riding, the action camera will allow for some fun shots and video without having to stop so often.

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As always, we finished the ride with a cold beer, a great meal, and the chance to make a new Gravatar.

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I’ve already marked my calendar for the 2017 International Female Ride Day, and if I get my act together, I’ll try to organize a ride.  Until then, here’s a bit more information about IFRD.

The guiding principles of IFRD are:

  1. Freedom – women are encouraged to participate and enjoy the day in any manner they choose.  Just Ride!
  2. Brandless – the event is not to be taken over by any one motorcycle, manufacturer brand, product, or country.  The idea is to UNITE not exclude
  3. One Fixed Date – IFRD occurs on the first Saturday of May every year.
  4. Open Good Will – to not impose on any rider, group, or club’s charity purpose.

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Around Radford

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Saturday dawned with a list of errands that needed running, and despite the expectation of rain, I decided to ride the bike.  It should surprise no one that I also made sure to find time to shoot some of the local scene.

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I wish I could give you a little back story about this courtyard and the wall that surrounds it, but I have no history.  The plan is to go to Facebook and see if some of the Radford locals can help me out.  Many is the time that I have tried to capture a photo to reflect the wall’s uniqueness, and many times I have deleted those images.  Not today!

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It was quite overcast, but clouds always make for intriguing images.

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The post processing here reflects the historic trestle over the New River, and a monochrome image will be posted on Monochromia sometime in the next few weeks.

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In order to get these images, I had to stop the bike and walk over the bridge.  Thankfully, this fencing only briefly obscures the view.

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Some friends have purchased, and while still running the business, are renovating this 50 yr old Pizza House.

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A quick stop at a friend’s home yielded these Rhododendron images.  Such a gorgeous bud and bloom!

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Every item on the To Do List was checked off, and I enjoyed a cool, slightly drizzly ride.

Satisfaction indeed!

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It Is About the Destination Sometimes

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A visitor to my blog might wonder where the name Life on the Bike came from considering that I haven’t written much about riding lately.  Between the campaign and starting a new business, my 2015 time on the bike was limited.

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2016 will be different! And in fact it already is.

Last weekend, I took at 500 mile ride to Virginia’s capital city of Richmond to have a reunion with friends.  It’s about 250 miles to get there and for efficiency in time, I took the interstate.  Bikers can often be heard to say “it’s the journey, not the destination” and sometimes that is true.  Every now and then though, time is of the essence, and the interstate is the way to go.  I was just glad to be on the bike.  It was a beautiful day and I was a happy woman.

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A quick stop on Afton Mountain, Virginia’s main passage across the Blue Ridge, offered a break for water, a handful of almonds, and a beautiful view.   Meanwhile, my roommates from Old Dominion University were waiting on me, so I was off and riding again in no time.

I met Jan and Angie 38 years ago, and we have maintained contact in one form or another ever since.  Isn’t it amazing how friendships can endure the test of time?

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Soon enough, we were sitting on the porch of this lovely Richmond home, reveling in the fact that even though it had been many years since all three of us had been together, we were completely at home with one another.

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It was a very late night, filled with lots of talk, laughter, and wine and I was glad that we didn’t have to do any driving (or riding).

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While opportunities for photography were limited, this curved brick wall caught my eye.

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The next morning, we enjoyed a delicious, homemade brunch,

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and of course, made time for pictures!

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Back roads carried me home to Radford, and while I didn’t have much time to stop for photography, something about this salt and pepper shaker made me bring out the camera.  You know me!

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So, sometimes it is about the destination, happily so.

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Symbiotic

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I’ve always been told that Peonies and Ants have a symbiotic relationship, but a little research revealed that not all believe this to be true.

What say you, my gardening friends?