Fireworks Celebration: A look back at 2011

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!

Biker on a Swing

French Broad River Park, Asheville

Mile Marker 384

Sunset at Autumn

Mile Marker 384 Asheville. The setting sun dwindles. The colors of autumn are barely hanging on to the trees. The air is cold. It feels like our last chance to ride. Is this our last ride until winter? 


And so this evening, the road opened up one more new surprise, with the wind of delight and amazement. We saw another black bear. A fat one this time. On Elk Mountain Scenic Road. Just right off on the side.

Riverside Drive, Asheville

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.