Sunday, September 7, 2014

Seize the Day!


For some reason I thought we were going to ride to the Wild Flour Bakery in Saluda. You know, take a little ride, see the sights, grab a quick cup of coffee and some sweet buns...
What are you nuts??? This ain't no Novice Ride. You just signed up with the pros. 
So it was more like saddle up, hang on tight and maybe kiss your buns good bye!
Thank God I packed food and drink like I was going camping for a week because once you hit the road with Brian and Many and their Olympian friends Alan and Karen  you are in for the long haul. Not Wild Flour, but one hell of a Wild Ride. The dynamic duo and company pushed us to the limits and it was Fun Fun Fun til Daddy took the T-Bird Away!
The basic strategy once we hit Bob's Creek Church was Praise the Lord as we pass, then pray we reach the top of Cabin Creek before the Pearly Gates.

I lied to myself several times on the way, one more turn, you can see the horizon, you're almost there... you know the usual self deception that baits you into giving just enough effort to see one of those lies finally turn true. In this case the survival mantra is Don't let it get your goat until you see them.

See the goats, that is, which we did and then it was all downhill from there. And what a downhill it was. A sharp right off Pinnacle Mountain onto the private Bear Rock Road. There is actually a sign that says it's a crime to open the gate if not a resident. What they don't say is the punishment is having to ride down it with Knievel Karen and Moguls Mary leading the way! Lord have mercy what a Screamer! I know I wore down a new set of brake pads. My knuckles are still clenched and I'm typing this thing with my thumbs. Meanwhile Knievel and Mogul were tickled pink and tempted to ride back up and do it all again. 
Yeah right, I'll be right with you...
Next time, I'm going to the Bakery. (just kidding)

It was One Great Day!


Saturday, September 6, 2014

Oklawaha Greenway - Clean Sweep!

Donnie "KWood" Kirkwood, Manager of Sycamore Bicycles and Joe Sanders, President of the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club rounded up the faithful to bust some moves on the Oklawaha Greenway Clean Sweep!


 Reaching for the sky
 to let the Sun Shine 
 from above.

 Clearing the way

For Hikers, Bikers
 
People and
Pups!

 Joe tangles
 with a
 testy Vine

 while Charley
 clears a Path
 for Pedestrians 
 to Find.

 Under Joes Supervison
 The Crew took a Break
KWood - Denise - Charley - Craig - Joe
Grab your Pick Axe and Shovel and don't forget the Rake!

Volunteers from the Blue Ridge Bike Club in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Hendersonville spent about two hours on Saturday morning to make a clean sweep of the the first half mile of the Oklawaha Greenway from Jackson Park to the Four Seasons overpass.
Oklawaha Greenway Trail travels through the Jackson Park Nature Trail, passes by King Memorial and Sullivan Park, through Mud Creek and ends in Patton Park.
The City of Hendersonville recently announced that it has been awarded a 1.2 million dollar Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Grant to extend the Oklawaha Greenway from Patton Park to Berkeley Mills Park on Balfour Road. The grant is administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportaion and utilizes federal and state funds to support bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects.

Tour d Apple 2014

 http://nebula.wsimg.com/e7a1744689e9ec52e907c59cded44441?AccessKeyId=767494BDC6B4CB57AB73&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
It is the annual Labor Day Festival that puts the village of Henderson on the map



 The Apple Festival in Hendersonville North Carolina
 Welcomes One and All
 and so too
 on this misty summer morn
 the parking lots of Blue Ridge Community College filled
 with participants near and far
 for the annual
 The Biking Event
 of the
Summer!
 Riders of all Skills

 and Ages
 Experienced

and New
 Trikes, Bikes
 Pedal Powered

and Electric



 the field is Diverse



 and Eclectic.
 We Stop for one Moment
 then off on our Quest
 This isn't a race
 with each other

but for Our
 
 Personal Best!


It was a Beautiful Day!