Well, maybe not art exactly. Just some oil on the sidewalk, made more colorful by the late afternoon light and the recent rain.
So … would you have stopped to take the shot?
Life. Is. Good.
Not that there aren’t roadblocks and hurdles, but those challenges allow us to appreciate the peaceful, soulful times.
I am a fortunate woman.
Training For the Ride!
My friend Dave likes to tell me that it’s important to train for big summer rides. He’s joking of course (well, he’s sort of joking). Dave & Martha are heading out west this year, so they have a long and wonderful ride ahead of them. While they’ll be covering thousands of miles, I’ll be heading to Maryland and Delaware, for a total of only 1200 or so.
I’m so excited about my upcoming trip and I’ve been riding as often as time and clear skies permit. So many things about riding my motorcycle make me happy. The joy of the wind in my face, the thrill of the sweeps and curves of the road, the towns, historical sites, and people along the way, and absolutely, it’s the adventure. You just never know what gift the road will give you.
Two weeks ago, I took a short 80 mile ride through the back roads of Floyd and Montgomery Counties, and for a good 45 minutes I was worried that I’d run out of gas. By the time I came across a gas station that actually had gas to sell, I was down to my last 10th of a gallon. Phew! I have never been that close to running out of gas!
Then while outrunning the rain, I managed to end up on a road that had recently been flooded and provided some challenging riding. And all of this, my friend Michael always tells me, is part of the ride. I agree!
This past Sunday, a glorious day sans rain, found me riding through Pulaski and Montgomery Counties. I just could not keep myself from stopping to photograph the beautiful scenery.
And the reward at the end of the day (like the ride isn’t enough of a reward?) … a lovely single malt scotch on the deck over looking the river.
My new luggage rack came in the mail today and this year’s adventure begins in just 2 weeks!!
The Garden Fence
Another rain free evening (twice in 10 days!) in yet another lovely backyard.
You just can’t beat the golden hour, especially when you’re enjoying it with friends!
Will It Ever Stop???
The RAIN, I mean!
Honestly, I rarely complain about the weather! I walk out the door in the morning without having looked at or listened to a weather report. Hurricanes, thunder storms, floods, heatwaves … I am often unaware that they are in the forecast until I leave the house and someone fills me in. It’s easy for me to be this way; my work isn’t affected by the weather. And besides, I love the energy of a storm.
Recently we’ve been heartbroken about the loss of 19 firefighters in Arizona. I keep thinking that if somehow the western states could have gotten some of our rain, things might have ended differently on Yarnell Hill. And I’m quite sure that all the folks in my neck of the woods would be grateful to see a bit of that southwestern sun.
Our most recent storm caused some pretty significant flooding in Southwest Virginia. In fact, a pond developed in a friend’s back yard. And since I’m a long time fan of puddle jumping, and playing in the water in general, I headed out for some fun!
Yes! I did play in the pond!
I loved the ripples that were created when I moved around the pond …
and the raindrops caused lovely patterns as well.
These sort of looked like abstract water colors.
So, despite the fact that we are all pretty fed up, there’s no doubt that rain helps to create beautiful images.
One More From Deb’s Backyard: Hollyhocks!
If you’ve seen my last two posts, you know that one afternoon in Deb’s backyard led to a wonderful time and some fun photos. Hopefully, you’ve seen the Calla Lilys and the Sunflowers. Please enjoy these Hollyhocks, too.
With all the rain and flooding we’ve had (photos next post!), it’s hard for me to believe we actually saw the sun a week ago!
In Deb’s Backyard: Sunflowers!
Another fun flower from Deb’s backyard, taken during a wonderful afternoon. Don’t you just love a sunflower?
Deb’s Calla Lily
A last minute gathering in a friend’s backyard led to awesome food, “local” drink (if you get my meaning), a fire in the pit, lots of singing and laughing, and the enjoyment of beautiful flowers.
38 Boots 19 Lives
Almost 30 years ago, I was a firefighter. Once a firefighter, always a firefighter, even if just in my heart and in my memories. I loved everything (well, almost everything) about that job.
The adrenalin rush when the call came
The drive / hike / flight to the location
The sights, smells, and feel of fire
And then there’s the work. Back breaking work. Digging fire line; putting out hot spots; mopping up; feeling the ground for heat.
The soot, found later, on almost every part of the body and in almost every orifice.
The post fire meal of steak or burger, and beer.
Whether a Groundpounder, a Smoke Jumper, or on a Helitack crew, fire fighters can’ t wait to get out there and battle the fire.
Thirty years ago, we didn’t see massive fires like we do now. I never fought against such destruction and devastation. I was aware of the danger, and practiced getting into my “shake and bake” fire tent during training. But I truly didn’t worry when I went out on a fire.
Perhaps that is the benefit of being young.
I wear my firefighting boots when I ride. I’ve shown my friends the drops of retardant still visible after all these years. Those boots carried me up and down the mountains of northern Idaho then, and they protect me as I ride the bike now.
After 30 years, I’ve had to have the boots repaired a few times and I always make sure that the cobbler knows not to remove the history
The signs of wear,
the still visible fire retardant,
and the miles I’ve worn them, whether on the ground or on the bike.
I look at this picture from 1982, of myself with my buddies and dear friends, Kevin and Randy. Look how YOUNG we were. Randy, a 30 year smoke jumper who just retired last year knows and lived the danger. Me? I thought of it as the best job ever, but I never really felt the danger.
I see us in this photo and realize that at 21 to 23 years of age, we were the same age of many of the young men who died on the Yarnell Hill Fire.
We can argue the reasons for the tragedy:
triple-digit temperatures, erratic winds, and dry conditions that caused the fire to explode;
years of fire suppression that increased the fuel on the ground
the building of homes too close to that fuel
budget cuts
But what really matters is that 19 wildland firefighters are gone.
The Granite Mountain Hotshots
Andrew Ashcroft – Age 29
Robert Caldwell – Age 23
Travis Carter – Age 31
Dustin Deford – Age 24
Christopher Mackenzie- Age: 30
Eric Marsh – Age: 43
Grant McKee- Age: 21
Sean Misner – Age: 26
Scott Norris – Age: 28
Wade Parker- Age: 22
John Percin- Age: 24
Anthony Rose – Age: 23
Jesse Steed – Age: 36
Joe Thurston – Age: 32
Travis Turbyfill- Age: 27
William Warneke – Age: 25
Clayton Whitted – Age: 28
Kevin Woyjeck – Age: 21
Garret Zuppiger – Age: 27
To Donate to help cover costs for funerals, and family / survivors, please see the website for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation
Finding Beauty in Constant Rain
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 