Tag Archives: Motorcycles

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What Edna Said

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My contribution to Monochromia this week.

Thank you to the lovely Julia at Defeat Despair for introducing me to the poem First Fig by Edna St. Vincent Millay.

My last post was a reflection about the fullness of life, and this one is also about life’s challenges.   Have no fear, though.  All is well and I plan to be riding the bike for a little bit tomorrow.

LB's avatarMonochromia

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My candle burns at both ends;
   It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends—
   It gives a lovely light!
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Thanks to the lovely Julia at Defeat Despair for introducing me to the poem First Fig
by Edna St. Vincent Millay

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Riding on Sundays

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Sunday rides are my therapy!

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My campaign manager and I have carved out 6 hours in the week for time on the bike and time with friends.  While the rest of the week is devoted to work and the campaign, those 6 hours on Sunday are for ME!  This ride was extra special because my friends and I were celebrating my birthday.

Dave led us through Craig County, VA on our most recent ride, and as we traveled along those curvy mountain roads, I was wishing I had a go-pro on my helmet so I could share the beauty of this county.  We stopped at Fenwick Mines, the site of a 19th Century iron mining site.

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Offering a wheelchair accessible trail that winds through woods and across wetlands, Fenwick Mines is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon.

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The reflections on this overcast day kept me shooting.

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The water was so still that the blue sky, breaking through the clouds, was visible in this reflection.

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We rode on to Tizzone, a new wood-fired kitchen and wine bar, owned by a friend.

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We enjoyed the Charcuterie and Cheese Platter, and I followed it with a Wood-Fired Smoked‎ Gouda and fig spread on Ciabatta bread.  Accompanied by a Raven’s Roost Baltic Porter, it was a delicious birthday meal. The extensive wine and beer list will require a return visit with a DD.

We left Tizzone and headed out to Parkway Brewing, a 2 year old brewery with “Fresh Beers, Artfully Crafted in the Heart of the Blue Ridge”.

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Riding a bike significantly limits the intake of alcohol for me (obviously) but learning the history of the places we visit and listening to local music always provides great entertainment.

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Another Roadside Attraction is a “husband and wife duo from Roanoke who perform mostly original songs on a myriad of eclectic instruments: from the Mexican guitarron, to a variety of ukuleles, to the haunting musical saw, and a homemade recycled percussion setup”.  Can you see that Jordan is playing the musical saw in this image?  Be sure to check out the link.  Another Roadside Attraction travels the length of the US and will be heading to Mexico later in the year.

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Sunday Riding: a great way to celebrate a birthday!  I walked in the door and the downpour began, as did the campaign phone calls.  I’m already counting down to next Sunday!

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It Really IS About the Bike!

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Life on the Bike and Other FabThings has been about much more than motorcycles, especially through this very cold, icy winter.  Thankfully, photography and travel are a big part of this blog, too.  Now that warmer temperatures are finally here, I can once again combine all three.

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Photo Credit: Cherie Yost

Seven bikes with ten friends riding, set out yesterday morning for Burnt Chimney, Virginia, a small community in Franklin, VA, near Smith Mountain Lake.  Led by Dave, we rode 150 miles on back roads and the Blue Ridge Parkway, where this view was our reward for the ride.  You’ve heard me praise the beauty of this part of the world many times, and this photo is just a bit more evidence to support the claim.

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The next stop was Sunken City Brewing Company, a small, fairly new craft brewery near Smith Mountain Lake.

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We were all so happy to be out of the house, out of the routine, and enjoying time with friends and on the bike.

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Next stop: Mangos Bar and Grill at Smith Mountain Lake.

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We toasted a return to warm weather riding, live music, good pub food, and friendship.

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I wished I’d gotten this guy’s name.  He sure entertained the crowd, and gave me the opportunity to play with my camera.

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(this is an advanced peek at my Monochromia post for Saturday … shhhhh)

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What a great day on the bike!

We’ve built a Sunday ride into the weekend campaign schedule.  Saturdays are for knocking doors, and I’ll be on the phone making calls for four hours on Sunday evenings.

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Photo Credit: Cherie Yost

But Sunday daytime?  It’s all about the ride!

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Life on the Bike: A New Journey

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Some of you may remember a post from November called Gifts, where I hinted that a major life decision had been made (it’s a post I’m particularly proud of, so please check it out if you have time).  I’m finally able to reveal what that big decision is, and it will explain while I’ve not been as active on WP this week.

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Yes! I’m running for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, District 12!

I’ve contemplated running for years, from back in my days serving on Radford City Council, and I am excited about this new endeavor.  The election is not until November so this will be a year long journey.  I plan to travel to events on my bike when able and to photo-document the journey as well.

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Many of you already know Joe from three different blogs on WordPress – The Visual Chronicle, X-Tended Vision, and Monochromia.  Joe has adapted a few of his photos, and one of mine so far, to use on my campaign website and FB page.  Aren’t they fun?

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I’m hoping that Joe will be able to find time to add this logo to more of my photos from around District 12 as the campaign progresses.  How lucky am I to have Joe on my team?

It’s going to be a wild ride and I’m looking forward to it!  Motorcycle rides and photography will remain the dominant focus of my blog.  Yet truly, this journey is more of Life on the Bike and Other Fab Things.

If you’d like more information, visit me here:

Website: www.LaurieBuchwald.com – the site just went live yesterday so it’s still a young site

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurieBuchwaldForDelegate

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Chrome for the Holidays

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Clever title, eh?  Since the bike has been absent from the blog for several weeks, I decided it should be front and center for Christmas.

May your holiday be full of laughter and joy, and find you surrounded by the love of family and friends.

As we open our hearts and arms to those in need, may our roads be dry, our travels safe, and our adventures abundant.

Peace to you, my blogging friends, no matter what holiday you celebrate.

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Harley

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How wonderful to have a photo of me on my bike serve as an illustration in a blog post. Please visit Meditation Travelogue to view the photos and read the thoughts from Noelle. Her blog is a lovely place to visit.

noellevignola's avatarMeditation Travelogue

Photo by Laurie Buchwald from http://lifeonthebikeandotherfabthings.com Photo by Laurie Buchwald from http://lifeonthebikeandotherfabthings.com

On the soul highway it doesn’t matter if you’re souped up on a Harley or riding a tricycle. Speed is not determined by the vehicle, but rather the clarity in vision of the driver.

Thank you Laurie Buchald for the great Harley shot. If you’d like to see some other great photography from her travels on her bike please visit her blog at http://lifeonthebikeandotherfabthings.com

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Warm Enough to Ride

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Just one week ago, it was so cold that I had to jump start the bike.

 Today though, for a brief time it was 60 degrees and while I had not yet finished with the post Thanksgiving clean up, I knew I wanted to ride, even for just a little while. With the sun low in the sky, I pulled away from the house.

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I’d only been riding for 20 minutes when I pulled over to get the camera out of my the saddlebag.

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The setting sun cast everything in a golden glow, and when back on the road, the wind was cool but comfortable.

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Safety dictated that I get on back home, but I’m grateful to have had even a little time with the wind in my face.

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Scenes from The Shop

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It was hard for me to believe, but it had been FOUR weeks since I’d been on the bike!  While travel, weekend conflicts, and sub-freezing temps kept getting in the way, Saturday promised a break in the schedule and from the 20 degree temps. It was time to ride!

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Friends who own an independent bike shop called The Shop, were hosting a party to celebrate the end of another great riding season. Many of us will continue to ride through the winter as weather permits, but that didn’t keep the owners from throwing a “thanks for supporting our business” party anyway.

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Despite temps in the 40s, it felt so great to be riding!  The sky was blue, the sun was shining, and I was smiling the whole time.  When we got to The Shop, we heard the music, and saw adults and children alike enjoying the food, drink, and sunshine.

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The party was a time for enthusiastic conversation,

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festive bike decoration,

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 smiling face masks,

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 colorful clothing,

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and the shedding of leather coats.

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 And me? After shooting a few pics, I put up my feet and set to relaxin’ before heading back down the road for home.

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Happiness!

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Full Circle

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Family and Friends.

I’m so very fortunate to have been loved and surrounded by both this past year, and I truly believe that I would not be where I am today without them.  One year ago this coming Saturday, the final destination of a 4 day fall bike trip was the Harvest Festival at a winery in North Carolina.  After being struck while riding my motorcycle through an intersection, the plans changed dramatically.

As the anniversary of the wreck drew nearer, friends and I talked about ways to recognize the one year mark.  If I think too much about the wreck, it freaks me out (just a bit!), so I just keep focusing on celebrating life!

My friend Amy suggested that we come full circle and “finish” last year’s trip.  So despite the rain, we headed off to North Carolina’s Wine Country.  Home to more than 100 wineries, we decided to visit 3 of them.  Amy doesn’t ride, so we took off in the truck.

I’m sure you’ll not be surprised to hear that I have many, many photos to process, but I wanted to share a few with you today.  It rained on and off the whole time but we had a blast none the less.

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Thank you, Amy, for coming full circle with me!

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As you read this post, I’m driving to Pittsburgh with my friend Ruth to watch the Virginia Tech / University of Pittsburgh Football Game.

Life never offers me a dull moment, and I’m doing my best to practice gratitude daily!

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Sunday Afternoon Ride

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Fall is here and while the morning temperature was under 40 degrees F, by early afternoon, it was over 50 and it was time to ride! Make no mistake, I ride in the winter when the roads are clear, but the first cool ride of the fall is such a change that it requires a bit more thought in terms of gear and clothing.

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We set off for Floyd, a small county in Southwest Virginia known for it’s music, artisan products, and local restaurants / businesses.   The Friday Night Jamboree, held at the Floyd Country Store, features traditional, old time, and bluegrass music.

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Floyd Fest showcases roots and progressive world music, and each year draws thousands of music lovers from all over the world (these photos from 2012).

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We stopped at Dogtown Roadhouse, and while waiting for our pizza and craft beer, I wandered around town to capture the scene.

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Once back on the road, the others headed for home, but I kept on riding.  I just wasn’t ready to get off the bike.  First, I rode to the old Radford Water Tower,

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and then down to the river.

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I could have ridden even longer, but evening was coming on and I still had chores to do.

Some rides are short on miles, this one only 85, but it was long on curvy roads, beautiful scenery, and fun times with friends.