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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?

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Polished

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My friend Crystal, over at Conscious Engagement is a woman of many talents.

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She is a hard working, home owning, keeper of chickens, and is also an incredible Mom, a passionate hiker and traveler, and a lover of photography and music.

And even though we’ve never met in the physical sense, I am oh so happy to call her my friend.   When I admired the mailbox that she and Tara had renovated with leftover nail polish, it wasn’t long before my very own unique and colorful mailbox arrived.

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Thanks to my nephew Sam, who installed it yesterday, I now have the best looking box on the street!

Thank you, Crystal! Thank you, Tara!

You can read about their creativity here.

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We’re Still Waiting …

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I was walking through the dining room one day last week, and was struck by the morning sun streaming through the window, and the shadows that were created.

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I’m also struck by the fact that while women achieved the Right to Vote via the 19th Amendment in 1920, we are still not protected by the Constitution.  We’re still waiting …

ERA: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

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Lookin’ For Adventure

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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.

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Surprise!

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Illness visited my house last week, and because of that, I was not paying attention to the weather report._MG_1536-2

 Okay, let’s be honest, I never pay attention to the weather report.

Needless to say, I was surprised when I opened the curtains Saturday morning to see snow on the ground.

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We’ve all seen Daffodils push up through the snow, but I’m pretty sure my Redbud Tree had not seen the white stuff before.

Between spring snow and upcoming travel, my bike will remain quietly on the carport for another week.  Sigh …

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Monochromia Struttin’

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If you haven’t visited yet, you are missing out on some incredible Black & White Photography by some very talented photographers.

Be sure to visit Monochromia soon.

LB's avatarMonochromia

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Another image from a morning walk on Siesta Beach

To see this handsome fellow in color, visit this post on Life on the Bike

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Art & Whimsy

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On our last full day of fun in Sarasota, we were able to take another long walk on the beach,

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followed by opportunities to explore some of the downtown architecture, Farmer’s Market, restaurants, and street activity.

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We also visited the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy, where “part of the mission is to collect and preserve work of artistic and whimsical importance.  Our collection is bright and colorful.  The artwork will lift your spirits and, hopefully, inspire creative expression”.  It was a bright, sunny day, and these images do not do justice to the colorful, metal works.

Take my word for it, our spirits were definitely lifted!

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Before I knew it, the time had come to fly home.  What an incredible 3 days! I’m grateful to have friends who value this tradition as much as I do!

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Thanks for coming along with me on the adventure!

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Monochromia Sea Star

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My contribution to Monochromia this week

LB's avatarMonochromia

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I’d never seen a live Starfish before.  What a neat find during a morning walk on Siesta Beach.

A little Starfish research offered the following info:

Starfish come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, but they all resemble a star.  They have spines covering their upper surface and a soft underside.  Starfish are not actually fish. They do not have gills, scales, or fins.  They have tiny tube feet to help them move along.

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