Our Harley Adventures

Two Stars

2012-01-23T12:26:00.000-05:00

January still near sunset
Bundled up
ready to ride
our Road Glide front lights, two stars burning brightly.

Our hearts burst, the road calls.

This front driveway, porch, garden
perfect mountains that ring us
hold us tightly
wonderland beacons home.

Curves & Color

2011-12-31T10:58:00.001-05:00

On the Harley, in Harmony Valley, North Carolina. Warm enough to ride, the sky was a jewel-toned blue and the sun cut through the clouds like a beacon of promise. I love the way this tree curves and the colors that burst toward heavens

Beauty

2011-12-31T10:48:00.005-05:00

“Beauty is truth, truth beauty – that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need know.”~ John Keats

Rode yesterday. Every shot I took was magnificent.

Bull

2011-12-31T10:29:00.000-05:00

Fireworks Celebration: A look back at 2011

2011-12-30T06:46:00.000-05:00

I put together a slide show of photographs I've taken over the past 12 months.

What a great year! I have done a lot, seen a lot, spent time with precious people I love.

So here it is. About three minutes long, featuring 60 photos... And a lot of good memories. Enjoy.

"Let stars stand for those things which are ideal and radiant in life; if we seek sincerely and strive hard enough, it is not impossible to reach them... And how often do we touch stars when we find them close by in the shining lives of great souls, in the sparkling universe of humanity around us!" ~ Esther Baldwin York

Happy New Year, 2012!

Riverside Drive, Asheville

2011-10-27T11:59:00.003-04:00

Glorious late afternoon ride along the French Broad River, north on NC 251, Riverside Drive. Up, up through Marshall and beyond. Spectacular views of the diminishing fall colors along the river. There were hardly any cars. We rode up through to the Tennessee border, lost in the ride.

"It took us longer than I thought it would," Steven said. My camera's battery was depleted halfway into the ride; my backup was stored behind, so I missed some glorious sunset and evening colors. Of course, I have them in my memory and now my words!

Cold and dark, we rode I-26 back. As the sky glowed orange and red, we were exhausted, but happy.

Wonderland

2011-10-19T07:24:00.003-04:00

A wonderland of beauty, really, all ours... Just remarkable...

Nature is throwing a visual party. The autumn leaves are like confetti... Life is a celebration of passionate colors...

Pigeon River

2011-10-17T18:33:00.000-04:00

We shared lunch along side the Pigeon River and Cold Mountain...

Autumn Air

2011-10-17T18:24:00.000-04:00

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air."
~ Eric Sloane

In between visiting company and hectic schedules, we managed a wonderful picnic and ride up NC 215 to the Parkway. The sky was blue blue and the fall colors were spectacular!

Blossom

2011-09-11T12:48:00.004-04:00

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." ~ Anais Nin

Clouds and Flowers...

The air is clean, the world wide blue.

Couldn't resist this shot of my jeans with its appliqué that I created. I'm riding down the road heading toward Greenville South Carolina, on the back of a Harley. Free and happy. An unexpected bonus on this photograph, the blue sky is reflected on the polished saddlebag.

ABATE Poker Run 2011

2011-08-20T05:33:00.004-04:00

We joined our friends Dana and Kathy today on a fundraising poker run.

The Bikers Association/ABATE raised over $6,000 today to support the needs of hospitalized Veterans at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC.

It was a gorgeous morning, blue skies and great spirit. Stellar Asheville scenery at every turn. Here is the beautiful French Broad River near Weaverville, North Carolina...

Chickamauga Battlefield Park

2011-08-15T06:23:00.006-04:00

Chickamauga & Chattanooga Battlefield State Park
Just outside Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia, we visited the remarkable location of the 1863 American Civil War Battle to control the gateway to the deep south. Chickamauga is a Cherokee word meaning "river of death," and over 34,000 were lost during the bloody battle. Today this peaceful park features docile deer and 1,400 monuments and historical markers...
Steven wrote: "Battlefield...is 5600 acres of woods and fields, with hundreds of markers depicting all of the units that took part in the battle..."

"...We saw hundreds of cannons and dozens of memorials scattered about. They have 'restored' the woods to what they would have looked like in 1863, basically clearing out all scrub and leaving the hardwoods, because at the time, loose cattle had done that..."

"Anyway, I’d never seen anything quite like that, on that scale. The park was built in 1887, 25 years after the war’s end."

Satisfaction!

2011-08-13T06:15:00.002-04:00

"Personal satisfaction is the most important ingredient of success."
~ Denis Waitley

Absolute Satisfaction! Great, full day of riding in the hot Tennessee sun. Day's end and here's my delicious Thai Tea... and Steven...

Exploring Chattanooga Backroads

2011-08-13T06:06:00.003-04:00

We love exploring quiet, winding roads and were lucky to find this backroad along the Tennessee River...

"In wisdom gathered over time,
I have found that every experience is a form of exploration."
~ Ansel Adams

Bennett Lake, Chattanooga, TN

2011-08-13T05:56:00.001-04:00

"To get to heaven, turn right and keep straight."
~ Wesleyan Methodist
Here we are at the lovely (& deserted) reservoir near Bennett Lake, Tennessee.

Sunrise Chattanooga

2011-08-13T05:37:00.005-04:00

Early morning ride through downtown Chattanooga, over the Tennessee River. Barely no one awake. Caught the sunrise over the Walnut Street Bridge.

Then breakfast at Waffle House...

Lake Ocoee, East Tennessee

2011-08-12T05:33:00.002-04:00

Catching our breath...

Scenic Lake Ocoee in East Tennessee

Here we are, "winding between rock bluffs and the spectacular Ocoee River gorge, past the Ocoee Whitewater Center - home to the 1996 Olympic Canoe and Kayak Slalom competitions, and into the historic copper mining towns of Ducktown and Copperhill..." Tennesseeoverhill

Chasing the Sun

2011-08-12T05:32:00.001-04:00

I am always looking up... Heading to Chattanooga, Tennessee, chasing the sun in the Cherokee National Forest along Highway 74...

Looking at Things

2011-08-12T05:10:00.002-04:00

"If we are always arriving and departing,
it is also true that we are eternally anchored.
One's destination is never a place but rather
a new way of looking at things."
~ Henry Miller

Nantahala River Rafters, North Carolina

2011-08-12T04:59:00.000-04:00

Heading to Chattanooga, we of course stopped for a picnic lunch along the Nantahala River and watched the dozens of spirited white water rafters go down the stream. Beautiful, peaceful entertainment on a glorious summer afternoon...

Beaucatcher Tunnel, Asheville

2011-08-09T06:04:00.005-04:00

Cool evening ride east through downtown Asheville and the two-laned Beaucatcher Tunnel...

Completed in 1928, the tunnel "cut" was blasted out of solid granite.

Sunrise, Blue Ridge Parkway

2011-07-30T11:31:00.004-04:00

7:30 am, sunrise on the Parkway together...

Got my new angel tablecloth (One can never have enough angels around). Coffee, camera, tripod. Nothing finer...

"We can love completely without complete understanding."
~ Norman Maclean

Black Bear Cub

2011-07-24T14:10:00.004-04:00

Astonishment and Adrenaline...
This morning at about 7:30, heading north on the Blue Ridge Parkway, just before the Bull Creek Valley Overlook (Milepost 374), I was happy to get this shot of a black bear cub. The bear was in the middle of the road, looked at us head-on, and had a sweet face.

"Life is full of surprises, isn't it?"
~ Charlton Heston

Sunrise

2011-07-24T14:09:00.002-04:00

Sunrise on the Parkway, near Biltmore Forest... Absolutely beautiful to be out on the road early Sunday morning. No traffic and so much to soak in.

Tunnel & Fog, Parkway

2011-07-24T04:14:00.002-04:00

"We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out." ~ Ray Bradbury

Fog on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Riding through the tunnel near Craggy Gardens...

Foglesong Valley, Virginia

2011-07-11T12:20:00.006-04:00

"Nature is always hinting at us. It hints over and over again. And suddenly we take the hint." ~ Robert Frost
We rode Hwy 42 along the North Fork Holston River. Beautiful road, stunning vista of Foglesong Valley, looking toward Griffith Knob, Virginia.

New Oak

2011-07-11T12:09:00.000-04:00

“Everything we do seeds the future. No action is an empty one.”~ Joan Chittister

Burke's Garden, Virginia

2011-07-10T11:28:00.005-04:00

State Route 623, just off Blue Grass Trail 42. Gigantic trees stand, streams meander, and the forest is abloom with fragrant rose-bay rhododendron. No one here for miles and miles...

Here we are near Tazwell, Virginia in Burke's Garden, sometimes referred to as "God's Thumbprint" because of its view from the air. At just over 3000 feet, the bowl-shaped Burke's Garden is the highest valley in Virginia and the story goes that it was George Vanderbilt’s first choice for his mountain retreat before Biltmore Estate.

Looking Glass Rock

2011-07-04T09:17:00.004-04:00

Late afternoon ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway. With all the Independence Day activities in downtown Asheville, we had the road virtually to ourselves.

The weather was perfect. We had to stop and put on our jackets and I took this photograph of Looking Glass Rock in Brevard, NC. How stunning a view, amid all of summer's green. I love the rock's beauty and enjoyed hiking to the top of it. We need to do that again soon.

"Truth comes to us from the past, then, like gold washed down from the mountains." ~ Carter G. Woodson

Snack & Shaka Sign

2011-07-03T21:27:00.000-04:00

Fun times. Stop for a snack and shaka sign along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Western North Carolina.

"Getting there isn't half the fun-- it's all the fun."
~ Robert Townsend

I-26 Storm

2011-06-27T11:19:00.000-04:00

I-26, near Erwin, Tennessee

We tried really hard to beat this storm, but were drenched coming over the Tennessee-North Carolina stateline. The bike rose up to 4,000 feet with the metamorphic rocks to meet these massive clouds. We decided to push through and not stop. By Mars Hill at a little over 2,000 feet, we were down in elevation and the road was dry.

Civil War Re-enactments

2011-06-25T14:00:00.000-04:00

Virginia had more Civil War battles than any other state. Because of its location, Breaks Interstate Park has a wealth of Civil War Re-enactments and Living History.

Lunch

2011-06-25T13:41:00.002-04:00

We had another great picnic lunch, with the area all to ourselves. A cathedral of cool trees surrounded us. Here is Steven pulling out of our spot.

Encompassing 4,500 acres of greenwood lands and mountain scenery, Breaks Interstate Park is named for the 1,000 foot "break" in Pine Mountain created by the Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River.

Breaks Interstate Park, Virginia

2011-06-25T13:25:00.001-04:00

Up in the mountains of Virginia, here we are at the Pinnacle View of Kentucky's stateline from the Breaks Interstate Park, called "the Grand Canyon of the South."

That Is Life

2011-06-25T11:00:00.003-04:00

Bristol, Virginia

"You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems and suffer and understand, for that is life."
~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

John Douglas Wayside, VA

2011-06-25T10:52:00.000-04:00

Riding north from Bristol, Virginia, here we are at John Douglas Wayside, just alongside Highway 19/Alt-58, between Lebanon and Abingdon, VA.

Walmart Sunset, Bristol, Virginia

2011-06-24T12:10:00.002-04:00

We took an impromptu ride north to Bristol, Virginia. Beautiful ride, great area. We stopped at Walmart and met this beautiful sunset.

Rosebay Rhododendron

2011-06-24T00:04:00.001-04:00

Beautiful Rosebay Rhododendron blooming throughout Laurels Park, Tennessee.

Mount Mitchell State Park

2011-06-21T07:32:00.002-04:00

Stunningly beautiful, high above, in the clouds, rising over a mile high. Here we are at Mount Mitchell State Park. With a spectacular view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this is one of our favorite places to stop for a great snack at the nearby restaurant and soak in the natural beauty.

Slick Rock Road, Lake Lure, NC

2011-06-13T05:35:00.003-04:00

Lovely ride yesterday through lush forest surrounding Slick Rock Road, near Lake Lure, North Carolina. Clear blue sky and hundreds of wild orange lilies burst along the road.

Limestone Cove, Tennessee

2011-05-29T16:58:00.007-04:00

Nice campground, beautiful trees that seem to go up forever!

Great photo! Just loving the life... Seems like the world is just waiting for us to see it...

Here we are in the middle of Tennessee's stunning Unaka Mountains at Limestone Park along Indian Creek. Surrounded by lovely tall trees and lush green, next to our newly-shined bike.

"I love meeting life halfway."
~ Peter Max

Laurels Park, Tennessee

2011-05-29T16:12:00.003-04:00

At lunch along the creek at Laurels Park, Tennessee. Steven said this was his favorite photo of the two of us.

Path of Pebbles

2011-05-27T09:19:00.004-04:00

"A journal is the path of pebbles you leave behind you, so you have the security of knowing you can always return." ~ Samara O'Shea

Four years, 285 posts later, I continue to try to use this blog to capture the sights we discover on our Harley. I have shot thousands of photos and have still missed a lot, I know, but I have also managed to save some.

Sometimes I am so tired or busy after a ride, it is tough to throw the photo and words up here. Or I am energized by the sheer wonder of the ride and can't wait to share. In either instance, I know because of time limitations, I do not have most of my writing of this topic in my journal. (Which is hard to conceive.)

Life just continues to happen too fast to keep up with.

My digital camera and blogging has been revolutionary. It’s taken away from my work on dailycelebrations.com for sure, but it has given me a historical perspective, a keepsake, and a timeline. The writing has strengthened my observations, memory, and imagination. Never before have I had this much creative freedom and confidence... Over and over I think, what an exciting time to be alive.

Balsam Gap Overlook, Milepost 442

2011-05-22T07:56:00.009-04:00

"How lovely a tree is, straining toward the sky." ~ Carl Sagan
We are so small in comparison to these trees...
"The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness." ~ John Muir

Milepost 442, elev. 3630'

"Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!" ~ Andrew Carnegie

Near Waynesville, North Carolina, we got on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Balsam Gap is where the Black Mountains and the Great Craggies connect. The forest at the lookout was spectacular. Green giant trees, reaching up to the sky. Of course, I walked around and caught the sun through the trees. I could have stayed here all day...

View Larger Map

NC 151, Heading home…

2011-05-22T06:01:00.003-04:00

We ended our ride down NC 151, my favorite road almost in our backyard… I just couldn't resist...

"How good is life, the mere living!" ~ Robert Browning

View Larger Map

Another Beautiful Day

2011-05-21T04:13:00.006-04:00

"We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count."
~ Neil A. Maxwell

They say the world will end today at 6 pm, the apocalypse, the rapture. For me, it's just another beautiful day in Hominy Valley, North Carolina. Blue skies, green all around, and the sun shining brightly. Look at this day--paradise on earth. Blessings. Celebrate!

Florida Palm Trees

2011-05-14T17:03:00.005-04:00

Graceful, lovely palm trees, proof we are in Florida... Looking at the trunk, I believe this one is a date palm...

Florida palms are so different from the coconut trees I was raised with in Hawaii.

Destin, Florida

2011-05-13T23:45:00.001-04:00

AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar, Destin, Florida

Our delightful lunch was at AJ's, along the Destin inner harbor fishing docks.
Steven ordered two dozen raw oysters, fresh from the Apalachicola waters. At $5.99 a dozen, it was a delicious treat.
Yum! (Happy yum.) Steven paid $2 - $3 per oyster in Boston. Very happy he could enjoy many fresh ones here.

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

2011-05-13T17:12:00.005-04:00

Harley Davidson of Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Not getting killed in these congested streets is difficult. Too many cars near Eglin Air Force Base! Friday the 13th and we nearly got hit hard by a car pulling out of Arby's. Guess it's good that Steven's able to smile. I was still shaking from the near collision, taking this photo.

Again, Steven says there needs to be higher standards to obtaining a driver's license...

Florida Sand Dunes

2011-05-13T16:54:00.000-04:00

A work of nature's art: Beautiful rolling sand dunes with sea oats, formed slowly, over time...

South Walton Beach, Florida

2011-05-13T16:43:00.001-04:00

Ah, the Emerald Coast-- sugar-white sand beaches, coastal dunes, and aqua ocean. Here I am with my nice new bathing suit (inspired by the color of the ocean) at very pretty South Walton Beach, which is located between between Destin and Panama City.

Panama City Beach, Florida

2011-05-12T16:37:00.003-04:00

White, white sand, blue skies, and volleyball in Panama City Beach, Florida...

They say that the sand here is nearly 100% quartz. No wonder the beach sparkles.

Sharky's Beachfront Restaurant

2011-05-12T16:30:00.000-04:00

Panama City Beach, Florida

Lineville, Alabama

2011-05-11T16:28:00.002-04:00

Always nice to see and take a picture of a town's library... This one in Lineville, Alabama was built in 1976. According to its website, "300 adult and 200 juvenile library cards have been issued. Visits to the library by patrons is now approximately 100 per week."

Central Alabama

2011-05-11T16:20:00.005-04:00

"No one ever understood disaster until it came."
~ Josephine Herbst

We live in a world of contrasts and fleeting understanding. We'd still be shaken emotionally by seeing all that terrible tornado damage, then we'd go around the next corner and see this breathtaking beauty of green and blue splendor.

Alabama's Tornado Damage

2011-05-11T15:17:00.009-04:00

On April 27, 2011, thunderstorms, severe winds, and over 50 tornadoes ravaged much of Alabama with historical magnitude, intensity, and path length.

As of today, 236 in Alabama had died.

We witnessed the shocking tornado damage throughout the state's North and Central areas. We saw debris scattered and the splintered remains of houses. Fallen trees, mangled metal, and belongings strewn in fields of green. Photographs do not adequately capture the devastation. Chilling. Upsetting. Sobering.

Riding through the wreckage made me think about how fragile life is. How each moment is a precious gift. In life, you never know what is around the next bend.

What we saw wasn't the worst of it. We chatted with a fellow at a service station near Stevenson who said power had just been restored to his Northeast Alabama community. He warned, "Don't go toward Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa is gone."

Honeysuckle

2011-05-11T14:37:00.001-04:00

On the road, the honeysuckle smells so sweet. The air is a fragrant oasis around every new turn.

2011-05-11T13:18:00.002-04:00

Looking up, the sun glows behind the tree...

John Snodgrass Bridge

2011-05-11T13:06:00.002-04:00

John Snodgrass Bridge, Alabama

We stopped for a break along the Tennessee River in Northeast Alabama, along AL 117 near Stevenson.

"The sound of water says what I think."
~ Chuang Tzu

Alabama Roads

2011-05-11T12:11:00.004-04:00

Steven pulls the bike up. It's just a beautiful sunny day in Alabama, along the river...

Looking up river, toward Bridgeport, Alabama...

Nantahala River, North Carolina

2011-05-10T19:35:00.005-04:00

"I know the joy of fishes in the river through my own joy, as I go walking along the same river." ~ Chuang Tzu

Nantahala River, North Carolina

Here we are at the picnic table along the Nantahala River, just an easy pull off the road. Cool, peaceful, and relaxing. Clean water. Green everywhere. Perfect front row seat for the area’s rafting. From our $1 million perch, we waved and smiled at the many river riders.

Going My Way?

2011-05-10T19:09:00.001-04:00

Nantahala River, North Carolina

North Carolina Waterfall

2011-05-09T08:51:00.005-04:00

The stream flowed high and the waterfall was strong flowing under the road. Just a stunning surprise of beauty...

"I want to proclaim out loud that life is only rhythm and rhythm within rhythm."
~ Guy Tirolien

Just back from a memorable weekend in DC with my brother and daughter. Feeling great. Life is rich with blessings. Steven and I had another lovely evening ride up the Blue Ridge Parkway, then down NC-215. The colors, the rhythm, were stunning. Made my heart glad.

My Perspective

2011-05-01T07:49:00.002-04:00

I absolutely love this photo, my Harley perspective. This is the view I usually see (and take photos of) over Steven's right shoulder. I love the view and that you can see my reflection with my camera in the right rear view mirror. Steven's gloves and the "live to ride" plate up front are the pièce de résistance. This will probably be my new journal cover photo.

Listening Heaven

2011-04-30T06:20:00.006-04:00

"Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven."
~ Rabindranath Tagore

Look. Listen... Heaven.

Delightful ride along Green River Cove Road in Saluda, North Carolina. Winding to the river bank where tubers and fishermen huddle. A biker's secret, perfect ride through the forest for bicyclists. Full of spring green, mammoth trees. Imagine what history those trees hold, what they’ve seen.

Clean, beautiful running Green River.

Moment of Grace

2011-04-30T06:19:00.003-04:00

Green River, Saluda, North Carolina

"In a moment of grace, we can grasp eternity in the palm of our hand. This is the gift given to creative individuals who can identify with the mysteries of life through art." ~ Marcel Marceau

All Your Heart

2011-04-30T06:13:00.002-04:00

"When you wholeheartedly adopt a 'with all your heart' attitude and go all out with the positive principle, you can do incredible things." ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Active and Dynamic

2011-04-30T06:11:00.001-04:00

"Why indeed must God be a noun? Why not a verb--the most active and dynamic of all?"
~ Mary Daly
Green River Cove, Saluda, North Carolina

Choo Choo Cafe

2011-04-23T16:20:00.005-04:00

Barbara Hawley, Owner of Choo Choo Cafe, Erwin, Tennessee

Looking for coffee at 4 pm, we stumbled on this delightful cafe, tucked inside the Market Square Gallery on South Main Street. The former railroad store is something to see. Charming. Unique. Rich with history, good food, and southern hospitality.

Lights and minature villages, a huge Christmas tree decorated with Easter eggs. Is this a restaurant or antique store? Yes, both. And More. It's a museum and a walk through time with photographs of the town in the 30s and the railroad that plays such a vital role in the Erwin economy. The dining tables feature decoupaged photos of trains and ancestors. There's a dance floor and live music on the weekends.

We came for coffee and couldn't resist the homemade desserts, so we shared a triple layer, just-made chocolate cake. Melted in your mouth. Dinner nightly, says owner and hometown girl Barbara Hawley, is a $7.95 buffet.

A remarkable tribute to a remarkable heritage. Don't miss it.

Love & Main Streets

2011-04-23T05:28:00.003-04:00

On the corner of Love and Main Streets in downtown Erwin, Tennessee, Steven expresses his delight at this perfect day...

Limestone Cove

2011-04-23T05:27:00.000-04:00

Just off Hwy 107, here we are alongside the peaceful North Indian Creek in the Limestone Cove Recreation Area, East Tennessee...

This area was part of the Cherokee hunting grounds. In the 1800s the area was known for its ore banks, timber industry, and railroad...

Steven and his cathedral forest...

Earth & Sky

2011-04-23T05:26:00.001-04:00

"Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books." ~ John Lubbock

East Tennessee

2011-04-23T05:22:00.004-04:00

Lunch at another secluded picnic spot along a gentle creek with lush forest. We had the area all to ourselves.

Like the 16th century Cherokee Indians who initially explored the area, we were delighted by the beauty and spirit of this special place near the Unaka Mountain Range of East Tennessee.

Sweetest Passions

2011-04-23T05:21:00.004-04:00

"Literature and butterflies are the two sweetest passions known to man."~ Vladimir Nabokov

Butterflies everywhere... and this one paused to spread its wings for me...

Forest Friend

2011-04-23T05:20:00.001-04:00

Steven's got a "friend" hanging on to his right shoulder...

Beauty!

2011-04-23T05:16:00.006-04:00

"Let us worry about beauty first, and truth will take care of itself."
~ A Zee

The Civilian Conservation Corps helped construct the picnic area in the early 1930s.

Transcendent Moments of Awe

2011-04-23T05:16:00.005-04:00

"Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world." ~ John Milton

Steven said this place, this moment, was "his favorite..."

My Pink Vest

2011-04-23T05:15:00.003-04:00

Here I am, listening to this beautiful creek sing my name. You have to admit that my new pink leather vest looks great against all this lush, vibrant spring green.

God's Grace

2011-04-23T05:14:00.000-04:00

"God’s grace flows like water, steadily downward to the lowest part. Indeed, how could we experience grace at all except through our defects?" ~ Philip Yancey

Campbell's Covered Bridge, SC

2011-04-17T16:37:00.005-04:00

Near the small South Carolina town of Gowensville, just off SC 14, we discovered the placid area surrounding Campbell's Covered Bridge. Built in 1909, the red bridge is the only covered one remaining in South Carolina and extends across a gentle, meandering stream. With the spring green and stunning dogwood trees bursting color all around, this was a lovely surprise.

The bridge is 38-foot long and 12-foot wide. Made of pine, it stretches across the Beaverdam Creek.

Lake Cunningham, South Carolina

2011-04-17T16:30:00.001-04:00

Gorgeous riding today south, along the border of North and South Carolina. Up and down side streets near Landrum and Tryon. Just a great day of exploration.

We stopped and had a picnic lunch at Lake Cunningham, just off of SC County Road 135 and Highway 101, northwest of Greer. A very pretty lake with a wildfowl sancuary at its western edge. People were fishing, enjoying the sun. Boating is allowed but no more than 5HP motors.

Hendersonville, NC Dogwood

2011-04-17T04:47:00.003-04:00

The splendid dogwoods are out. Bursts of white! Fireworks amid the evergreens. It is Spring in North Carolina.

Indian Creek, Unicoi, Tennessee

2011-04-10T21:16:00.007-04:00

Pristine water... lovely sound of rushing life...

Indian Creek, near Unicoi, Tennessee

“Valley Beautiful” ride through Unicoi, in the northeast corner of Tennessee, near the Unaka Mountains. We pulled off of Highway #107, near the North Carolina border and walked along the beautiful, isolated Indian Creek.

Steven By the Creek

2011-04-10T20:34:00.002-04:00

Surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest, Steven enjoys the beautiful day... and Unicoi creek...

Waynesville, North Carolina

2011-04-03T20:14:00.006-04:00

Waynesville, North Carolina

"the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them."
~ Charles Bukowski

Everywhere I look, bright blue sky and spring green... Take a chance on life. Breathe in the colors and the endless delights of being alive!

Spring. Now.

2011-04-03T18:53:00.003-04:00

4/3/2011, Candler, North Carolina

April soaks color through
Blues and greens Vibrant.

Mt. Pisgah slopes,
rises nearby.

Warm earth, fertile
ready.
Branches pushing life
out up in.

Spring.
Now.

Hominy Creek

2011-04-03T18:45:00.001-04:00

Hominy Creek, Candler, North Carolina...

Roads converge. We cross over a bridge and this creek, going from Lower to Upper Glady, on our way to NC-151 and the Parkway.

Phlox in Candler

2011-04-03T18:32:00.001-04:00

Phlox in Candler, North Carolina... beautiful pink, purple, and white against a canvas of spring green...

Green River, Saluda, NC

2011-03-17T18:50:00.001-04:00

Definitely a Green River, flowing around Saluda, North Carolina. Great water for swimming, tubing, and kayaking.

Hendersonville, NC Apple Trees

2011-03-17T11:11:00.006-04:00

Hundreds of trees, with so much character...

Gnarly apple trees...

“All art is erotic.”
~ Adolf Loos

Hendersonville, North Carolina…

Gnarly apple trees, bare branches are stunning patterns of strength. Nature’s work of art. Steven says he loves these rows and rows of tree. "They're cool."

To me, they look powerful and dangerous. Life fine erotic art.

Forsythia is out in WNC

2011-03-17T07:35:00.011-04:00

“Human rebirth has no end.” ~ Pablo Neruda

The forsythia is out and glorious gold. Swaying in the wind with carefree brilliance. On the bike, Spring is so noticeable. It pops from the earth and trees. Each bend, a new cathedral rises. And the forsythia... Just stunning beacons of hope.

According to aboutforsythia.com the forsythia is named for William Forysth, director of the Chelsea Physic Garden in 1770, maker of the first rock garden in the UK and one of the founders of the Royal Horticultural Society.

These “golden bells” herald rebirth and the coming of spring. The bursts of gold are beacons of inspiration and hope. And after a "long cold winter:" Ah, spring!

Tryon, NC

2011-02-27T19:10:00.001-05:00

Blueberry pancakes & country ham at Tryon, NC's TJ Cafe. Simple Country Comforts are best...

Real and Imagined

2011-02-27T19:08:00.004-05:00

Saluda, NC

"Motorcycles enable us to enter landscapes that are both real and imagined."
~ Wayne Johnson

Blue, blue sky. Bright sun. Open wide creativity & freedom. On the back of the Harley, I just glide down the road and soak in the day.

73° in quaint downtown Saluda, NC. Really, a lovely little town for landscapes real and imagined...

Candler, NC Backroads

2011-02-17T13:54:00.003-05:00

A beautiful, warm afternoon ride through Candler towards Hot Springs, North Carolina. We hit a dead end and had to turn around here, but I was overwhelmed by the clarity and simple beauty of the area...

2011-02-17T13:01:00.002-05:00

More Freely

2011-02-14T05:32:00.001-05:00

"We seem to breathe more freely, a lighter air, an air of adventure."
~ Che Guevara

Glen Bridge Road, Asheville, NC

2011-02-14T05:19:00.001-05:00

Glen Bridge Road, near Asheville Airport

Beautiful day. The world opens up wide, like our hearts... Bright blue sky and a strong tree leans into the French Broad River...

Biltmore Lake, Asheville, NC

2011-02-13T05:45:00.000-05:00

Biltmore Lake, Asheville, with Mt. Pisgah in the background. Just minutes from our house...

Welcome 2011

2011-01-29T18:03:00.002-05:00

Beautiful winter day with the temperature in the 50s. Blue sky, clean air, and our first opportunity to ride the bike in 2011. Wonderful to be out on the road! There were lots of folks on the road. We did not go far, just around Hendersonville and back, but it sure did feel wonderful.

Cows in Winter

2011-01-29T17:12:00.001-05:00

Even the cows were out enjoying the day...