Sept. 18, 2021

A pretty sunrise

Even better with Pongo

Peak of Otter campground

GoCross UCI in Roanoke – the flyover!

This is how fast guys get over the barriers

Sept. 11, 2021

I finally made the time to get to Frying Pan fire tower.

An amazing view

I had planned to stay till dark and photograph the Milky Way behind the tower, but it doesn’t line up well.

When I got back to the trail head, another Tacoma had parked next to me – they are so cute stock ; )

I do like stickers

Bees sleeping

So I found a spot on the blue Ridge Parkway and waited, when it finally was dark enough, clouds rolled in and covered the Milky Way – just visible in middle of the sky.

Oct. 18, 2020

A quick trip to the mountains, the goal was to stay off the Blue Ridge Parkway, once I got on a dirt road, we only drove about 15 miles of pavement the rest of the day.

Our camp spot for the night off a rough forest service road, not one vehicle went by and we were next to a creek…. perfection!

Good night!

Aug. 8, 2020

Road trip to mountains for the night (after tennis match)

a beautiful evening for a walk

and pictures

 

May 2, 2020

Long ride and half was on a closed Blue Ridge Parkway

In fact it was so cool, after the ride I hiked back up just so I could walk the Linn Cove Viaduct

 

A quick macro of a poplar tulip

Oct. 27, 2019

I finally made a start (and finish) in the 2019 North Carolina Cyclocross season.

After a lot of overnight rain, the course in Boone was muddy again!

I had fun, didn’t race well, fell a couple of times, but it was great to be back on the start line this weekend!

After the race, I explored for fall colors

The light wasn’t great, so I went for a hike

Goshen Creek is a pretty little waterway

not much color on the trees

but fun to rock hop

a just enjoy the silence

then I tried another HDR of the sunset

 

Oct. 7, 2019

A foggy start to my ride.

The BRP Linn Cove viaduct was even worse. It was an awesome morning on the bike!

Then it was time to explore… a Forest Service Road I heard about….

pictures never do it justice and I quit taking photos as my stress raised and the obstacles became tougher… this was no joke; several washouts, ravens and wheel lifting later we were halfway through. Each time I walked a route, I was looking not to make sure I could get through it, could I get back up it if the road was blocked a or a closed gate.

An awesome camping spot for a lunch break. My truck is the minimum I would have wanted to take, 33 inch tires, 2.5 inch lift, armored with bumpers, sliders and skid plates… anything less would have resulted in damage!

A good day!

 

Oct. 6, 2019

A weekend that changes. Instead of elk, we ended up in Boone again, since I hadn’t planned anything, we searched for a waterfall I had not been to, this is Laurel Creek Falls (I think) but we rock hopped up the creek for a long ways looking for more. Either way this is an awesome swimming hole.

A corn dog and loaded fries with a gose beer at The Cardinal in Boone! Yum!!!

No sunset tonight, only fog!

June 5, 2019

A busy day, up early for a run at Bass Lake, then time to explore, driving foreat service and dirt roads

a couple of short hikes

the view of Grandfather Mountain from Grandmother Mountain.

Ended the day at USAT summer singles league, I won my match 6-1, 6-3

June 4, 2019

Back on the road, Kodak must see everything.

the threat of rain made a change of plans, so I jumped on the bike as soon as we got to Blowing Rock

All the climbing is worth it with these views, and the screaming descent. (although today the descent had a headwind and I was only able to hit 43mph)

after dinner at the Coyote Kitchen, we headed to our favorite hill top for the sunset. I had figured out how to download Netflix on the iPad for a trip that didn’t happen, so now I can binge watch shows like Sabrina.

Kodak kept an eye on the wildlife

until they got too close.

 

good cow!