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21 Gun Salute

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Participation on Radford’s Annual Memorial Day Service committee is one of my most favorite volunteer duties.  Working with veterans and other civic minded folks is a great reminder that Memorial Day is more than cookouts and blockbuster sales.

Don’t get me wrong … I do love a cook out!  Volunteer service on this committee however assures me that each year, I spend a few hours on the last Monday in May remembering the men and women who have died in military service.

Towards the end of the program, a 21 Gun Salute is provided by the Veterans of VFW Post 776.

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In this next image, you can see the spent shells in the air after being fired.

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More to come from Radford’s Annual Memorial Day Service.

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Here She Comes!

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The day was beautiful so while on the way home after a lovely visit with friends, I pulled the truck over along the New River.  It was the middle of the day and the sun was bright.

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Only a couple minutes had gone by before I heard the familiar whistle of an approaching train.

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We love our trains here in the New River Valley (you may remember a post about the steam engines that recently came through).

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Once the train had passed over the trestle, I reflected (pardon the pun) on the fact that from this view the new Memorial Bridge can be seen in the distance, and the remains of the old, original train trestle as well.

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The beauty of the river, the architecture of the trestle, and the romance of a train … not a bad way to spend a few moments.

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Ride of Silence 2014

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The 7th Ride of Silence in the New River Valley (NRV) of Virginia was a great success.  We had over 100 participants in this annual event to honor and remember those injured or killed while riding on public roadways.  I’ve not seen the total numbers from around the globe, but I do know that there were 313 rides held in the United States alone.  It is incredibly powerful to know that you are riding with people from all over the world … on the same date, at the same time.  It is also incredibly sad to think that these events have to be held.

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The Ride of Silence – NRV began, as always, with a very brief program.  Advocacy news and updates, and then instructions about the ride are given.  I’m proud to serve as one of the event organizers (of all my volunteer interests, this is one of my favorites) and amateur photographer (clearIy need to work on the photography of moving bikes)

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Cyclists of all ages and riding ability are escorted by local police officers in a slow procession through the city, sending a message that we will not be silent about those injured or killed on the road.

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We do ride in silence and it’s an incredible moment.  One of the riders wrote about the event in her blog The Chronicles of Cort the Sport.  I encourage you to check out her account.  Cortney commented that “Cycling is therapy, it’s transportation, it’s freedom, it’s happiness. But sometimes it’s also tragic. This ride, with the ghost bike of killed cyclist Fess Green, was both a reminder of the dangers and a celebration of the community. I’d encourage others to take part in (or start one!) a Ride of Silence in their community next year”.

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We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of the City of Radford local government and the Radford City Police Department.

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and this next shot from the 2012 Ride.

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Thanks so all cyclists around the world for participating in the 2014 Ride of Silence.

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Please Remember!!

It is not just cars that use the road … pedestrians, runners, cyclists, and motorcyclists, too.

SHARE THE ROAD!

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We Will Not Be Quiet

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THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET

Tomorrow, May 21, 2014 at 7:00 PM, the 11th Annual Ride of Silence will begin in North America and will roll across the globe.

Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

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Here in the City of Radford, we’ll be hosting our 7th Annual Ride of Silence, an effort that was started when friend and fellow cycling advocate and enthusiast, Fess Green, was hit by a motorist and died from his injuries.  A Ghost Bike is placed at the site of the tragic accident each year a week or so before the ride.

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It’s a solemn, thought provoking event, and an incredibly powerful ride.

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In the next day or so, I’ll be posting a summary of this year’s ride.  Be sure to look for a Ride of Silence event in your area and check out this link to last year’s post for more information.

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Cluck!

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Morning coffee at Kate and Bob’s home offered a few moments to enjoy their chickens.

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Clearly content, they clucked and coo’d quietly while I quickly took a few shots.

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A peek inside the coop revealed freshly laid eggs

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Check out the decorative touches and and bright colors of the chicken yard.

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Kate and Bob have created a space that would make any chicken content (yes! the chickens told me so!)

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Done!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Women Riders

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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.

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

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The First of Many

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It happened almost over night

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The first Rhododendron bud opened

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My Rhododendrum shrubs (or Rhodies, as we like to call them) are full of buds

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By the end of the day, a few other buds had started to bloom.

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Soon, the entire shrub will be full of gorgeous blooms such as this one from last May.

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Rhodies are abundant in this part of the world.  “Tall, wild varieties can reach over 35 feet high, and are found throughout the coastal mountain ranges from New York to Georgia. Designated as West Virginia’s state flower, rhododendrons are particularly abundant in the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge mountains. Species in the Pacific northwest from northern California to British Columbia vary in heights” (www.library.illinois.edu)

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Wine at Night

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Most of you know that I enjoy a glass of wine occasionally (just occasionally mind you – quit snickering!). A few friends and I gathered on my screened porch for a spring birthday celebration this past weekend, and of course I had to document the evening.

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As the day waned and the darkness gathered in, I decided to bring out my new tripod.  I’ve been resistant to using one because I like to shoot on the fly and from the motorcycle, and I feared the tripod would take the spontaneity out of my fun with the camera.  (I’m sure the photographers reading this are rolling their eyes right now).  I sure did like the result, though!

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Liz’s home baked Orange Sponge Cake with Mangoes and Ginger Cream was so yummy!

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Happy Birthday!