June 21, 2020

Happy Father’s Day. I started early with a bike ride, fixed a lawn mower, then James, Elizabeth and I headed to Morrow Mountain State Park for a hike and picnic before kayaking.

The summit road was closed, so we hiked from the bottom.

Along the way we met a couple walking their cat on a leash.

I can’t take James and Elizabeth somewhere that doesn’t have a waterfall…. Moccasin Creek Falls on Falls Reservoir

For those who know the paddle, the dam was releasing water and the spillway was sending water over the rock island… the water was faster than I have ever seen it. I really thought there was no way we were going to make it to the caves today, but Beth was determined. We tried the right side, Clay attacked the middle and finally Beth said we had to go up the left bank, portage over the rocks and then all we had to do was cross the river – sounds easy enough. I was sure I was going to be swimming again like the last time I tried to make it during a release, so no pictures, I put everything away.

After long effort over the rocks we made it!

Nobody was flipped and Beth got to paddle into the cave.

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

March 7, 2020

Hirshhorn Museum

Part of Manifesto: Art X Agency

Walking The Mall

Washington Monument

reflecting the sunset

as seen from the Lincoln Memorial

Jan. 11, 2020

Rainy square

Aug. 31, 2019

Kodak and I went for a sunrise walk on the beach

and back the the Taco

We drove around a bit and went seashell hunting

I wanted sand dollars

Then the sunset and the high tide rose to the truck

We moved the truck twice before calling it a night.

Aug. 30, 2019

Long weekend trip to Cape Lookout. It’s  along drive, but the reward is a camp spot like this.

and a view of the Milky Way like this.

July 24, 2019

Another day in the Jefferson National Forest and the Falls of Dismal

We had the place to ourselves, we hiked up the creek, explored the rocks and I swam around to see if I could jump from the top (I couldn’t) This is a great spot on a warm day to swim and picnic!

The afternoon was spent packing up camp to move further west, getting stuck behind an accident and waiting for Lifeflight (which circled and left) setting up a new camp, and visiting High Knob Lookout Tower for the sunset.

Love

I always tell my students, when photographing a sunrise or sunset, turn around and photograph what is being illuminated by the light!

June 15, 2019

Back to the track

I love riding the steep banks and this was a racing workshop for new track racers

There were several college riders in the group and so much strategy to think about

It is a blast going all out on a fixed gear bike, I just have to remember I have to keep pedaling as I crossed the line.

 

Then time to bar hop/eat. We passed a place called The Pump House on the way to the velodrome, so we started there, drinks and wings while sitting on the roof top bar watching tubers on the Catawba River.

Then following a recommendation, it was a seafood dinner at the Rock Salt in Charlotte (this is a wall on a bike shop)

a night at my favorite camp spot in Uwharrie National Forest

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!