You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October 2007.
The Diamond of today is on Oahu – just a stroll from Waikiki Beach – looking in all directions around the island. The photo is cropped in the photomotolog header – and one of my favorites. I could see nothing but blue stretching out in front of me – and so I pulled out the Pentax and snapped away. Rock on. I’ve enlarged this photo for friends and everyone asks, “where did you purchase the photo?” I usually reply, “on Oahu.” (with my own eyes).
Aloha.
Waimea Bay is a great sun spot on the North Shore of Oahu. It is spectacular. Some view huh?! The water is righteous blue and green. Turtles swim among the swimmers. Lots of colorful fishes nibble at your toes (just kidding). And the sun is endless most days due to the winds that blow from the east.
Typically when it’s raining in Honolulu it’s clear on the North Shore. If it’s overcast on Waikiki Beach, it’s sunny on North Shore. Heck, it can be cloudy inland about five miles and sunny on North Shore. Rock on with your bad self – just bring the proper SPF to ensure you aren’t cooked sunny side up.
I’ve thought a lot about my two trips to Oahu – one stay was centralized in Honolulu near the University of Hawai’i and the other on the North Shore. I prefer the North Shore. Why? Other than the fact that I like surfing but don’t surf, the area has little noise pollution, very few shopping areas and a lot more maluhia (peace).
Aloha.
Is that a ‘micro’ sized version of “nesia?” Think not. It’s a real place that’s some 3,800 west of Hawai’i. Some travel. With jet travel by Continental Airlines (only), Micronesia is 4 or 5 hours from Hawai’i. Umm, so that’s a real haul from little ‘ol Tennessee. Attached is a photo that I uncovered from my searches of – specifically – the Marshall Islands. WOW. Can you soak that up or what. Robert Louis Stevenson called it the “Pearl of the Pacific.” More wow. I’ve thought about this photo most of the day (during free thinking moments), and there were so few that I’m now thinking about it again and WOW. I’m going there. Period.
I learned about Micronesia from a flight instructor I met while on the island of Oahu. His wife, from Micronesia, was lovely and they were a neat couple. They spoke so lovingly of Micronesia that – it was better than any brochure or website. It was – WOW. So – if and when the work-gods allow me to take a break, I’m haulin my happy ass to … Micronesia. I may stay there for a year or two or forever. Yeah.
Iokwe – translation – Welcome.
The personal mecca that I enjoy riding to is the Institute at Tremont, just inside the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This beautiful site is just 21 miles from my back door (yeah). And if I could ride there on a daily basis I’d be most happy indeed. My favorite stop on the trip to Mecca is the wooden bridge that carries you across the creek to the Institute itself. I’ve stopped on this bridge many times – in each season – and in all types of weather. My trusty Pentax is with me usually to help remember the visual image my eyes truly enjoy. The panoramic photo from today is actually three images that were stitched together – providing the perspective of what the eye sees when standing on the bridge. Visit the Park and stop at Tremont – it’s mecca. Enjoy.
Another grand and glorious day riding the Foothills – with many more cars than motorcycles today. I hope the traffic subsides soon, I’m tiring of the motorists who insist on shaving the left side of my body with their mirror or other vehicle extensions. Oh – and let’s not forget the wanna-be race car drivers in their “mufflerized” piece-of-crap jap cars — who love to punch the gas when near you to “hear their muffler.” Did you hear the word compensate come up?
Now to the photo. This hog was originally 8900 x 2560 (WHOA) – some photo. It’s four photos stitched together. I’ve exported the photo at 1500 wide to reduce the size of the file from 10mb to a bearable 270k.
The colors are still with us even though the rain helped pluck many leaves this past week. I believe we’ll have about two weeks of color and then we’re talking brown. The best thing about brown – less cars and bikes. Ride on.
Very few people know the name of the number 1 ‘attraction’ in all of Hawai’i. It’s not the hidden beaches of Lanai or those that are frequented on Maui. No – it’s not Pearl Harbor nor the Memory Exhibit. Some might guess that it’s Mt. Haleakala. None of those answers are correct. All of which are very popular (well, some people would not agree with the hidden beaches of Lanai but we’ll save that for a future post). So the number one most visited “attraction” in the state of Hawai’i? It’s the National Cemetary of the Pacific!
More than 33,000 veterans are buried there – some dating back to the Spanish-American War. In comparison to the ‘attractions’ in all of Hawai’i, more than 5 million visitors pay their respects at the NMCP. Known as the Punchbowl, because it’s location is within an extinct volcano. The 68 acre site is known locally as “Puowaina” – translated to “Hill of Sacrifice.”
The photo of Columbia (above) was taken on my last trip to Oahu. The 30-foot high statue of Columbia gazes down upon the Court. Beneath her are the words of sympathy written by President Abraham Lincoln to a mother whose five sons were killed during the Civil War. It reads as follows: “The Solemn Pride That Must Be Yours to Have Laid So Costly A Sacrifice Upon the Altar of Freedom.”
The Hawai’i Five-O show was filmed mostly on Oahu – in and around Honolulu. As a favorite show from my youth, it was a catalyst in driving me to the Hawaiian Islands – as a visitor. On my most recent trip, I raced in a time trail up Makiki Heights, a famous uphill section of Tantalus Drive.
This exclusive residential area of Oahu is spectacular. Other than homes (many of which are multi-millions), there are a few roadside pull-off areas. Terrific views – and that’s it. Jack Lord – who played Steve McGarrett in Hawai-i Five-O, visited Tantalus in several episodes. One of the most talked about, “Death Wish on Tantalus Mountain.” The very road we race our bicycles up – ha. The view from above is magnificent because you look out toward the Pacific and are above Diamond Head. Enlarge the photo and find Diamond Head in the distance. Enjoy. I did.
The new panoramic photo-splicer is a charm. With multiple photos Doubletake gives you what a much more expensive camera delivers … panoramic photos. The view in today’s photo is from my den — where there were two distinct light sources offering very different emissions – yet the photo blended very nicely. This was the first attempt at using the software and the shutters are not even. I’ve had better success since then, but I thought of sharing this as an example. If you enjoy digital photos, take two or three and download the ‘FREE’ version. It places a watermark on the photo (at the bottom); when you purchase the software online and then register, the watermark disappears. Try it out
Did someone tell me it was a work day or what! I’m so into the blogster and now I’ve missed a day. Oh what fun it is to slave away the day. I did create a little ditty from my photo archive taken this past weekend. Herein. Me and Ames traveled to — you guess it – the Parkway. She was ready for home – I wanted to ride. Ha. More later – peace.
Ever wonder why the days pass quicker as we age? Seems like the days zip along with amazing speed the older we are – or are not. I caught myself looking into 2008 – today – as though it were a New Year next week. Sometimes we live the whole week before we experience it – in part due to the stress of travel, business, people, events, work, the girlfriend, traffic … whatever. Life moves along with such amazing speed that we best think about each and every day or time is not our friend. What does this have to do with today’s photo? I’m not sure. Nothing. It was a cloudy, rainy day with lots of drizzle. I road after work for 1 hour in the rain. Rock on with iPod. My best friend while I’m traveling on the road. Rock on.
The photo of the day is from the Parkway (ha, I really don’t life there – I just ride there!).
And you’ll see the Foothills of the Smokies rising up. It’s a grand place to be – to ride – to enjoy. I’m a fan – and I’ll be there tomorrow soaking up the sites, sounds and views. This view was from earlier this year and it’s a favorite photo. You can find the mountain views peaceful or you can find them to be paintings — with lots of things to discover while gazing over the trees and the horizon. It’s spectacular. Peace.
Traveling the Parkway yesterday was a little crazy. LOTS of motorcyclists, even more cars, leaf-peepers, dead squirrels (cause they think their invincible), very few clouds and some random turkeys trotting the roadside. Other than that – it was a wonderful day. Evident in my photos, the view is looking like a luxury lifestyle you’d only experience … well … on the Parkway. A mere 11 minutes from home, the Parkway is a must-see for tourists and a must visit for cyclists. (Click the photo below to see the full framed version.)
Ok then. The first three miles are uphill – a CAT 3 climb. It takes a good cyclist about 13 minutes; the average joe on a Trek, about 22. The Parkway drops then for a gradual descent that is about 1.1 miles and you climb yet again. The second climbing section is again a CAT 3 that is about 2.5 miles and has a false flat. (Click the photo below to see the full framed version.)
The road turns up again for another 1.7 miles and a brief downhill before you arrive at the summit. It’s a very easy climb – if you’re climbing easy. It can be a leg-full if you drop the chain to – let’s say – fifth gear (cog-17). Then it’s a WORKOUT. With the right legs, a 17 delivers 13.5 minutes on the first section and a sub-40 minute to the actual descent on the other side. Which – bTw – is 8 miles downhill. The roundtrip to the end of the Parkway (at HWY 129) and back is 52 miles from my back door. I’ll blog about it tomorrow after I ride this route – today.
Whoa. My first instinct was to look for the gun turret. Then I realized I was looking at my dad’s new duck blind. Some blind: seats 6 men, houses the requisite dog, has a heating unit (!), fridge, satellite TV (kidding), a fridge (not kidding), room for the john-boat to get you there. What else – room for lots of dead ducks, shell casings and such.
This thing is so camoed-up that ducks will likely land near it for protection only to find that 18 shells can be emptied quicker than you can say, “INCOMING!” (Quietly you say ‘incoming.’) I’ll get my first up close view of this blind later this year. More from the field then. Otherwise, did you see the blind or was the camo too much?
Long week. So I’ll be brief. With a 6:15AM arrival time and a short lunch, I’m done. I thought about this photo most of the day and the warmth that I felt while on Waimea Beach was life-long. I felt it today. I smelled the ocean today. I heard the laughter. And I saw the water rise up to greet me. Yes-sur. I’ll be back — even if only in my memory banks, I’ll be back.
Over the Arizona, floating in Pearl Harbor, Old Glory flies — brilliant — the Stars & Stripes are powerful in red, white and blue. She’s beautiful and full of life. For those that see this particular flag, you cannot help but understand what she represents. It’s a powerful and an inspiring image. So many have died fighting for her – defending her – proving that freedom is worthy of life itself.
I’ve visited the Arizona twice. Both visits yielded the same observations: young people (those less than 25 or 30) walk around and chatter about what they see and hear. Older than 50, the look is somber, the eyes wide open and the mood is very different. The younger group has no real sense of what occurred at Pearl Harbor – even with the video they see. Anyone over 50 years of age and you notice the tears. Imagine this — it’s been more than sixty years since its occurrence, and the site still affects people very deeply. Their sadness is highly evident as they reflect and ponder what occurred December 7, 1941.
Before you exit the land-side exhibit, a movie about Pearl Harbor is shown. The movie is etched in my mind so clearly (and I’m sure thousands of other people) – the images are so vivid, real and believe it or not, very ‘current.’ Touring the “Remembrance Exhibit” reiterates why: 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians killed, 1,178 wounded. Of those that perished were 1,104 men aboard the Battleship USS Arizona. The men aboard the USS Arizona were killed as a result of a 1,760-pound air bomb that penetrated the ship’s forward magazine.
I respect the flag of the United States of America … Old Glory.
Forever may she wave. 
The photos you view (good or bad) are mine. Unless I note it (and I will do so when appropriate) Copyrights belong to me. I plan to create a section, at some point, for “other” photos. Hey, if something kewl rolls across my iBook I’ll share it. Or – I may trip back into my archives of shiznet and share the stock images of ‘film’ days.
With that thought in mind – here is post #3 for Wednesday. Most people cannot imagine that I eat candy (DLOL), but I do. The favorite lately are jelly beans. JBs to be certain. The attached is the mecca of beans. Conveniently located atop the counter in my kitchen. Taste one soon at a store near you.
It’s the message of what our eyes see and the camera delivers. It’s the view from the road while free-wheeling along at 40mph. Sometimes it’s the sound of iPod clicking in my ears telling me to go faster. Better yet, it’s a magical moment when the chain is being forced up or down the cog because of some immediate need to climb faster or go faster. Chain-flap is all about fast – it’s all about telling us something. Sometimes worthless. More often than not it’s just a conduit for presenting a photographic image of the world I live in.
My friend Lori taught me about making the world bigger. Her view is simple: engage with the world and experience what it offers – ergo – the world never shrinks. It grows. If you allow the world to narrow, it gets small very quickly. Much like a business, if it’s not growing, it’s shrinking. So is life. If it’s not growing (in terms of experiences, adventures or memories) it’s shrinking.
For me – I’m all about keeping life large. Rock on.
Tennessee, as in Clarksville, Tennessee. Yesterday a friend of mine and I traveled to meet with some folks in the Mayor’s office regarding ‘branding.’ “Let’s put on the map,” the rally cry for the day. Most don’t know it but Clarksville is the fifth largest city in Tennessee and ‘owns’ (stakes claim to) two-thirds of Fort Campbell. In any case, the trip was terrific having plenty of time to rehearse and even more time to catch up on what’s going on and not going on at the office. BLAH. Who-knew.
My photo of the day is taken directly across from ‘city hall’ which isn’t like the city hall you would imagine. It’s a five story building with lots of glass – and it faces the Cumberland River. More about this adventure later.
The depth of rust carries a hew of early 19th century (1807 to be exact) in this photo of the day. Parked near Cookeville, Tennessee we saw this rust-bucket next to a BBQ stand …
… operating out of a defunct SubWay shop! Ha. With good smells nearby (hickory wood and BBQ cooking), it gave me a ‘yesteryear’ experience … just for a moment.
Then I snapped the photo and laughed. Why is this sitting here? The owner of the gas station bought it at an auction 15 years ago with hopes of restoring it. Guess his passion for cooking good BBQ got in the way. As evident in the defunct SubWay shop (remember it’s the number one selling franchise in the world for a reason). “Russ-ted.”
The clouds above look like there’s rain coming but without enough moisture, due to a very weak front, we’re not getting any rain today. Why rain? It’s extremely dry in Blount County. I’m an avid cyclist and love the sunshine – and an absence of rain makes the riding days plentiful.
The enclosed photo is taken from the Foothills Parkway during a rain storm earlier this summer. One of the RARE days it actually clouded over, thundered and dropped some drops.
It was a single day however. Love the photo.
The sunset at the Country House is spectacular this time of year.
It’s due to the low humidity and moderate heat.
The view from the porch is wonderful.
The second photo is another view from the porch of the Country House. The Bradford Pears are turning and the leaves will likely be more brown than true fall colors, but we’ll see.
The large pano of the back lot is a reminder to step outside and feel the sunshine. While I’m not in favor of randomly taking photos, it’s a nice feeling to see the world we ’see’ from the camera view. More of the surroundings as I capture it. .
Today of all days I need the help of a digerati – aka – a person knowledgeable about computers and technology. My style sheets need modification and I am not a programmer. Therefore, I am in need of a digerati. Use this word carefully – it’s better than geek btw.
This is a favorite view from the Foothills Parkway, just northeast from Townsend Tennessee. In early fall, the low humidity makes the views seems endless. The wind was blowing in this photo but it certainly gives you the perspective of mountains and more mountains.
As we travel along on our bikes it’s difficult sometimes to stop and soak up the views. More often than not we’re looking at the back wheel of another rider while staying in the draft. Or, we’re so concerned with an average speed – or time limit – that we forget to soak up the views. I soaked up the view in this photo. Enjoy.
Living at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains is spectacular. Morning sunrises can be beautiful and the sunsets even more so. Today’s sunrise made me feel as if I were on the Parkway – looking out over the valley toward Mount LeConte. It was captured via my trusty Pentax and an upload to iPhotos.
The clouds emphasize the low humidity and the extreme cold where clouds are formed. I’m amazed at the splendor and all from my backyard. Enjoy. October morning. A sunrise.
The sunset closes the day on the North Shore, Oahu. This a favorite photo looking toward the tip of the island. It’s a great section of the island because there is a strong flow of winds aloft that keep the area sunny most days. The clouds that form over the mountains pictured here give great lift for soaring. More in a future post.
Ok. I resigned my typepad account in favor of wordpress. I’m starting over – which many people would not want to do. However, I wasn’t happy with the whole carbon junkie thing. After talking with my friend Paul, the creative bent he shared was about the energy of riding. I naturally like the energy that is stored and released via carbon – in my bike frame, handlebars, wheels, etc. So I am a carbon junkie – I’ve got multiple pieces laying around and any time I can lighten the bike with more carbon, I do so. However, as much as I love bicycling – and specifically racing them – I’ve got more going on than that (some question the truth in that statement though).
The new blog is much more about “chain-flap” and that is basically – conversation about what I see, hear and do. Nothing more – rather – it’s the important shiznet to me. It’s my blog -
Enough said. Today’s photo is the the masthead. And that is to become the true test of my blog. I am a “junkie” or sorts about panoramic photos and aspire to own a real panoramic camera. The photo of the masthead is was taken from Diamond Head – in the early afternoon last summer. The sky – the Pacific – the mood – all were rich and vibrant. Some photo considering it was taken with a (!) point and shoot Pentax 6m waterproof camera.
The Pacific is like home to me. Don’t know why – but it is. With five visits to Hawaii (where I amassed some 30 days on the islands), it will be my home one day. Why? Take a look at the photo and you’ll find it to be a mecca of sorts. The image is burned into my head and it’s a huge driver of my daily thoughts. Enough for now. WordPress is in order and working.
I hauled my Pentax around with me today – but it never came out of the backpocket. Why? Well, we hauled ass in the 100 miles we covered today. The starting group was about 79 riders (riding 100 miles). And by 55 miles the group was mostly intact. We were – however – moving at tempo (a fast pace). Somewhere around 80 miles we covered on significant climb and that ended the “group” thing (which I don’t like – just so you know).
We dropped about 20 riders and narrowed the group to 12.
At the completion of the event, we covered 101 miles in 4:32 – averaging about 21.5 mph. Not fast – but way beyond a pace that the typical cyclist can endure. Especially for 100 miles.
I’ll make sure that next year I DO NOT begin my fall weight lifting program until this ride is completed. I was fatigued and honestly – I hung on. My ability to endure is directly proportional with the races that I entered and completed this year (32 total). With that much racing, suffering is accepted. Fatigue is a given. Haulin ass is welcomed. Because, frankly, dropping riders who can’t maintain the pace is fun.
While I’m hopeful to share my photos, I have lots of illustrations that I’ll copy and digitize. Several are worth publishing. More on the artwork of David Avery as the site unfolds.
I’m just about to dig into the depths of writing some serious shit over the next few months. Hoping to create a vent-point to release the steam. If you asked about David Avery – and what he loves the most … well, pick a category. But with food, it’s chocolate and peanut butter. Those are the best in combination. David Avery also like to take photos and you’ll find many in the Hawaii section.
The site I’m about to launch via WordPress is hopefully going to elevate my rankings on the search engines. For some time now I’ve seen an artist hold the number one spot. David Avery and his photo moto blog are creating some waves though! I’ve hoped to own the number two or third position but alas I’ve not been there done that just yet.
The Photo Moto Blog of David Avery – more in the photos – look ahead.
This weblog is all about photography, riding my bike, travel and my friends. I’ve been careful to expose only small segments because one never knows what might offend another. But the photography angle is what I do best – and many folks seeing “David Avery’s” work agree: he’s got talent. Give me some real equipment and I’m dangerous. Whatever.
Check out the mountain panoramic photos -
