You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October 2008.
The drama over image spots began months ago, and I naturally thought it was my lens, not the sensor. Ergo, I cleaned both ends and kept going. Most of my shots were “ok” but there were a few that included blue skys and the nasty buggahs appeared. My “do-it-yourself” attitude arrived just after reading the manual regarding “manual cleaning.” HA! My photos were “ok” prior to my handiwork then corrupted afterward. Thank goodness for Lighthaus Cameras in Kona, Hawai’i. I found them in my (yes, my personal Hawai’i phonebook), but it was the article here that put my not-so-happy ass in the car to visit them. They have a super-kewl store, LOTS of cameras, lenses, filters, bags (Crumpler brand as well), and if you need it they have it. I was TOTALLY surprised – happy I might add. The sensor was spotted up and the dust inside was knee deep. Within an hour Lighthaus took my camera from yucko to perfecto. I returned back to the condo to pack my gear to leave for the day – and snapped this sunny photo prior to venturing South. Aloha.
The images herein are just two of the (many) photos I gathered yesterday while traveling to and from Hilo, Hawai’i. I visited Ken Cameron at Hilo Guitar and purchased a Kanile’a K-1 Tenor ukulele, toured Hilo and basically enjoyed a great vacation day. There is so much to see and do, and honestly I was overwhelmed by the beauty, sounds and views. While I want to share the entire journey, I need to get back to my Kona coffee and the Pacific. Enough for now.
Aloha.
I took these two images last night about 10PM – just before bedtime. The first thing you notice is it’s VERY dark outside. Literally no lights but the stars – and a few lights from Kona just a few miles away. So don’t let these images fool you – it’s super-dark. What you see is a :30 exposure (as in 30 seconds), and I did NOT re-touch these to give them the red glow. When you open them, click all the way to the full sized image – notice the stars in the background. What you see is what I captured.
I’m sipping my Kona coffee (grown and roasted nearby) – about ready to pack and get gone for the day. No need in letting the sunrise be missed. Plenty of time to nap later today. Aloha.
{Lunch location: Kona Canoe Club, Kona, Hawaii. October 29th, 2008}
Can you imagine how difficult it’s been to contain my enthusiasm about a vacation to Hawai’i?
Several months ago I stopped counting the number of people who asked me if I was excited. My external answer consistently was ‘why yes.’ My internal response was vastly different: “No, I cannot live that dream until the wheels touch ‘aina on Kona.” Had I uttered that response I’m certain many of my friends would have wondered if I was smoking pakalolo. (NO – I cannot afford to lose any of my lung capacity!) So, I quit sharing my vacation plans with everyone but the TLGE.
Honestly, what happens when we jump ahead? I mean, it’s easy to jump ahead with a magical thought of “Hawai’i.” Right?! What happens? We set up false expectations of how the journey will unfold, transpire or evolve. I was guilty of that with the TLGE. In fact, so much so that it nearly changed the course of the trip altogether. Nuf said about that for now, but seriously – let’s say you get ‘worked up’ over a trip to Hawai’i and somehow, nearing the date of departure, a close family member dies. Then what?
Change of plans? Yes, of course. Well, unless that family member sucked and you are glad they took the one-way elevator to Hell! LOL.
What goes on in our heads? I tell you what goes on … all sorts of crazy, 99.99999999999% inaccurate thoughts.
The more I’ve focused on staying in the moment, the more my coffee pot full of Kona coffee seemed to brew in my head.
As I picked out shoes to wear each day, the more my Reef flip-flops shouted, “wear me today.”
It gets worse.
When I donned my favorite Aloha shirt, the more my blog posts screamed Aloha and the more I fought the sweet life I live in East Tennessee “today.”
Early in the year I dealt with a particularly nasty asshole in my business world and frankly it was super draining, super disruptive and day-dreaming of Aloha was super easy. Staying in the moment was difficult. I stayed in the cold New England frame of mind because it helped me resolve the issues at hand.
My sister gave me a gift card for Christmas that I saved – for some reason. Each time I thought about going to Guitar Center to purchase a ukulele, I freaked out – thinking it was a leap into the future. Eventually I did purchase a uke, but it was much, much later in the year.
Over the last 9 months the more I’ve focused on ‘right now,’ the more SPF15 I needed. HA! And when my thoughts switched from day-dreaming to living in the future … whew … that’s all I could say. I struggled at times. However, I recognized the shift (just about every time) then immediately turned the channel back to the present moment.
Today when I heard “wheels up,” I officially went “live” with my vacation: Hawaiian tunes on the iPod, travel book in hand, and the MacBook ready for a pre-blog arrival post.
The fact is many folks consider a trip to Hawai’i a dream vacation. In other words, a vacation somewhat out of reach and if enjoyed it would be only once in a lifetime. As such, living it before it’s real can sabotage the enjoyment, relaxation and creation of unique memories. I liken it to folks who live out the Holidays long in advance and then are depressed with the outcome.
This trip marks my sixth visit to Hawai’i – which is an overt way to say Aloha wau ia Hawai’i. As long as I’m alive and the Islands of Hawai’i exist, I’ll continue to go – albeit at the expense of some retirement fund (who wants to surf when they’re 80 – or who can??).
The challenge of financing it, organizing it, making way for it, and living in the moment day-to-day makes the trip even more special (to me anyway). The process, in other words, is enjoyable and rewarding. That’s what I call “living in the moment.”
Now then, it’s here! Let’s get busy with vacationing “in the now.”
Aloha.
Over the last few days I’ve had plenty of time to think about my life, values, perceptions and direction. Much of it feels good, but there are areas which I want to improve in the coming calendar year. The energy of those around me, over the last few days, helped make the attached photos even better. Enjoy.
Yesterday was full of meeting people and capturing images of the COSD National Conference. The highlight of the day was the concert given by Marleena Coulston last evening. I’ve injected just a couple of photos from last night due to the limitation of time. However, a larger gallery will follow soon. Enjoy.
I woke up at 5AM (PST) and decided to get my camera out so I could snap some early photos of the atrium below my room. Interestingly, the whole room seems to glow on digital but is much softer in real life. It’s time for some coffee before the crowds arrive at the StarChuck’s stand (Starbucks). Later.
At this very moment what I miss most (along with my BGE) is the ability take my bike outside and ride the 22 miles of the Foothills Parkway from Highway 321 to Highway 129. It’s an hour into my trip, I’m headed toward the west coast and I miss the Foothills Parkway.
Honestly, I love that stretch of road.
Figuratively.
Literally.
Sure it’s just a road, a passage or a gateway to 129 for many folks. For me it’s a passage to something I’m addicted to – a heart rate monitor which reads 88-90%. The feeling of riding the first three miles at 13.5mph or even 15mph at times is like nothing else. Sure, it seems slow but it’s a CAT3 climb and I’m 47 (racing age).
I love the Foothills Parkway because it’s smooth, scenic, elevated, and it recharges my batteries as much as it drains them.
People ask me if I bored (or boring – ha!) with riding it. “Nope” is my answer. There is so much to see … and because you’re traveling slower you can soak it up. Sure, the fall leaves usher in motorcycles, leaf-peeps, and crazy locals driving their trucks loaded with huntin’ dogs.
However, the dogs don’t’ chase riders and people usually yield the right of way. Except for drivers from Florida, people are generally kind with cyclists. And, during the bulk of the year, the Look Rock campsite is open and water is accessible – which is a good thing when you ride 80 miles in the mountains of East Tennessee. I suspect I’ll ride the road in the dark this winter (after work) and certainly on the weekends. As I said, it’s a gateway to 129 that leads to Deals Gap, which leads to North Carolina, which gives way to the Cherohala Skyway (and it too is on my diet of winter climbing this year and next).
I’ve learned a few things riding and racing this year, and asked for lots of advice. (I like to learn from others who are more accomplished than me.) One piece of advice stands out (from my friend Dave Hickson) and it’s straight up: either get strong and race like there’s no tomorrow or become pack fodder and tell your buddies a bullshit story about “why you got dropped.”
Getting stronger requires commitment, the ability to suffer and a lifestyle of “discipline.” This is especially true when you ride 95% of your miles alone. Solitude on the bike can become a degrading nightmare or a point of pride when you’ve got to leave the group to make your own way against the wind. Lots of guys race, but very few are willing (or able) to move to the front and make the race happen. Being at the front doesn’t mean you are going to win, it just means you’re not out to be pack fodder.
For me the love of cycling isn’t about the bike nor making the point that I am disciplined. It’s about staying connected to the world in a way which moves a little slower, is fresher and more authentic.
Enough for now. In my mind’s eye I am riding oneth.
Last Friday, after a particularly tough week, I stopped a few miles from home to snap some photos. It felt good to pause and look around for a few minutes.
A lot of the “work-related” tension seemed to flow outward toward to mountains … the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
While this photo has a lot of “noise” due to the low light and exploded view, it’s indicitive of late afternoons in the fall near my home in Maryville. Enjoy.
I visited my client and friends at Jackson Mountain Homes today. Along for the ride was my Canon 400d – and a little help from the ambient sunlight. Arriving about 15 minutes early, I opted to take a few photos of the roses in the roadside flower beds. Enjoy these fall photos because the frost will get them soon enough.
After many thousands of miles (and I emphasize many), the Flite seat I bought about a year and half ago is toast. I kept it long enough to wear the leather coating, then the raw leather and then down to the padding. I replaced it with another saddle which is “broken” in (LOL) and might last until spring. Funny thing, once you get them softened up, they tend to wear quickly down to the padding. Maybe I’ll have a saddle in my goody bag this coming Holiday. Ride on.
This photo treatment is based on a smaller photographic file (less than 2MB) with excellent definition. I’ve applied my personal DAE to this photo which took about an hour to assemble. Click on the file to view – it will take a few seconds to load.
Aunt Lucy is a dear lady – who still plays a serious game of cards, wins at dominoes and knits huge afghans to pass the time. I’m not sure she’s seen this photo (maybe), it was taken at Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. Enjoy.
The photo retouch herein suggests what’s possible when working with a warm-colored photograph, which shows good flesh tones and natural light, and then opting to take advantage of Photoshop’s range of colorization effects. Using these effects in moderation — or more importantly — with subtlety, will likely yield spectacular photographs that your friends and family will ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over. Naturally I pushed the levels, saturation and hue to make it dramatic. Photo one is the original and photo two my color treatment now known as the DA Effect (DAE for short). Click to enlarge.
People from all walks of life are drawn to the seducing curves of the Dragon at Deal’s Gap, also known as US Hwy 129. They make their pilgrimage to test their skills, or in some cases, to be bitten by the Dragon or photographed by no less than three independent photographers.
The area surrounding the Dragon was one of the last areas of North Carolina to be settled due to its inhospitable terrain. For thirty-six miles along the TN/NC border the GSM are more than 5k feet in altitude with 16 peaks stretching to more than 6k feet. All of this altitude translates to treacherous travel, especially for the pioneers in their day, but also for us as motor-sport enthusiasts today. Earlier today I traveled exactly 40 miles (by bicycle) to the Dragon and stopped at the tree you see pictured herein.
Yes, I marked my territory (LOL) with a brief bio-break, sandwich, gel-pak, and a turn around to head home. As I departed four Tennessee Highway Patrol officers were parked on the northbound lane shooting radar. They clocked me at 13mph (going uphill). They laughed outloud as they told me my speed. I “politely” asked if they thought they could ride a bike moving their jelly donuts any faster than me? Their faces turned from smiles to … well … I headed home on my bike!
Have you noticed how some people don’t really hear what you’re saying? Ever had a conversation with someone (over and and over again) only to have it misinterpreted at some later date? Ever been frustrated with the lack of listening? Well, you’re not in the minority. The fact is, most people “hear” what they want to hear. Why? Because listening is “active” and hearing is simply the act of perceiving sound by the ear. Thus, it’s the laziest form of interplay between people. If you are not hearing-impaired, hearing simply happens.
Listening, however, is something you consciously choose to do. Listening requires concentration so that your brain processes meaning from words and sentences. Listening leads to learning. Most people tend to be “hard of listening” rather than “hard of hearing.”
Plumeria are lovely, colorful, and fragrant flowers found in tropical regions of the world … especially Hawaii. Interestingly, they are most fragrant at night. So, the scent is stronger in the evening and used to make leis. Got it ; )
Even more interesting, they have no nectar. They are pollinated by moths which, in following the scent, transfer pollen between plants.
Plumeria are most known because they are one of the primary flowers used to make leis, the Hawaiian garland or wreath often associated with welcoming family or friends but are more commonly used in various celebrations such as birthdays and graduations. Though other flowers, such as the lehuna blossom, the orchid, and the maile leaf are used to make leis, plumeria (though a newcomer, historically) is the choice flower used. Naturally it’s beautiful to observe in nature (wild) and as a lei. The attached photo will serve as a good reference tool for those seeking a plumeria tattoo. Aloha.
Long shadows this afternoon created a dramatic scene along the Foothills Parkway. Temps were perfect, as were road conditions. This short stretch of the the Foothills Parkway is “sweet.” The Foothills are considered a national parkway which, if completed, will traverse the foothills of the northern Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, located in the Southeastern United States. The 71-mile (114 km) parkway will ideally connect U.S. Route 129 along the Little Tennessee River in the west with Interstate 40 along the Pigeon River in the east, passing through parts of Blount County, Sevier County, and Cocke County. However, it’s been under construction since 1944. (Alaska’s built more bridges to nowhere and we can’t complete the Parkway?) Go figure.
Eventually large sections of the Parkway will cross a series of high ridges running roughly parallel to the Tennessee boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and will offer unobstructed views of the Great Smokies to the south and the Tennessee Valley to the north. When this road is completed I intend of riding it end-to-end. For now, enjoy the photo. Make sure to click the photo for the 2000 pixel-width version. Ride on.
If you are still talking
about what you
did yesterday,
you haven’t done
much today.
~Author Unknown
Kilauea is the youngest and southeastern most volcano on the Big Island of Hawai`i. Topographically Kilauea appears as only a bulge on the southeastern flank of Mauna Loa, and so for many years Kilauea was thought to be a mere satellite of its giant neighbor, not a separate volcano. However, research over the past few decades shows clearly that Kilauea has its own magma-plumbing system, extending to the surface from more than 60 km deep in the earth.
In fact, the summit of Kilauea lies on a curving line of volcanoes that includes Mauna Kea and Kohala and excludes Mauna Loa. In other words, Kilauea is to Mauna Kea as Lo`ihi is to Mauna Loa. Hawaiians used the word Kilauea only for the summit caldera, but earth scientists and, over time, popular usage have extended the name to include the entire volcano.
‘A creative man is motivated by the
desire to achieve,
not by the desire to beat others.’
— Ayn Rand
The weather was spectacular this year for the Smoky Mountain Wheelman Fall Century “ride.” Just warm enough to keep the warmies safe at home in the drawer. The crowd seemed larger this year, but I’m not sure of the total. It certainly was larger than 2007.
The SMWFC is a “ride” – and it’s supposed to be more of a training ride than a tempo ride. I emphasize ride because one of my riding buddies elected to charge the first 15 miles as if we were in the race season. Oh well, warming up wasn’t in the cards. LOL.
Inevitably there are a lot of riders who charge to the starting line as “if” they are going to show their stuff, but are usually not seen ‘pulling’ or taking their turn putting their noses into the wind. This year was no exception. With Jeff’s race pace antics and Kent’s consistent 25mph pace, few riders were going to hang on long enough to ‘attempt’ to pull through. HA. Tim made sure the pace was even and kept forcing the peloton (those working anyway) to stay smooth. Somewhere around mile-45, the starting group of 60-something big shots was down to 20-something.
Edging over two hours we past the 50-mile mark and kept trucking. There were 7 of us working while the rest tagged along. Don’t get me wrong, I realize that some of the riders tagging along were working hard, and as such weren’t capable of pulling through. Or, had they pulled through a few times they would have been dropped sooner.
And drop they did. When we started spinning some of the more significant rollers, I tested my climbing legs and repeatedly pushed it. 20-something was reduced to the 13 riders very quickly. With a tight group, we sat up and everyone started chatting – which was a nice break. Look at it this way, the darn ride is a 100 miles and every rider has ample opportunity to “work.” Alas, enjoying the day IS part of the ride.
Somewhere around mile 75-ish we took a 5-minute food/bio break so everyone could reload and prepare for the finish. About 4 miles outside Madisonville the only real climb of the day helped us drop a few more riders. I actually led the climb and left everyone behind – except for Joseph who accelerated away from me at the very top. (All the hard work on the Foothills Parkway paid off. Yeah.) The last 15 miles were uneventful – except the group was reduced to 7 riders. We finished together @ 4:41 and some change. Not bad considering we took a 5-minute break and the course has almost 3,100’ of climbing elevation. I think we averaged 22mph.
The Centuries are done. Continue to ride oneth.
If you visit Rock Bottom Music Center in Augusta, Georgia you might find Ray Hutto repairing an instrument. My recent visit to RB didn’t find Ray at all. He was out on the town with family. Ok then. Ray has been working on stringed instruments most of his life. It could be your violin, cello, modern and vintage guitar, mandolin, banjo or even a monster double bass.
From what I’ve heard, Ray can repair almost any stringed instrument. When he’s not working on instruments, his passion is the guitar. If you’ve heard of Hutto mandolins – and yes, I have seen several and they are sweet – Ray’s father, John Hutto has built some of the finest and most sought after mandolins around. Next time I’m in Augusta, I’m visiting the “city store.” Rock oneth.
Little did I know that my visit to Augusta would include so many beautiful sites, sounds and delictable meals. Having visited August on six other occassions, this trip was vastly different. Prior trips were associated with Augusta National or business meetings that just happened to be held in Augusta. This trip was diffierent because I met with the Augusta CVB team. More so than any trip, I learned a lot (!) about the community and its product offering, and I enjoyed some great meals. While the weather didn’t cooperate my first evening here, and I was super-tired last night, I’m certain the camera will emerge today as will a few photos. Play on.
To accomplish great things,
we must not only act,
but also dream;
not only plan, but also believe.
Waipiʻo Valley is a valley located in the Hamakua District of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. “Waipiʻo” means “curved water” in Hawaiian. It was the capital and permanent residence of many early Hawaiian kings up until the time of King Umi. A place celebrated for its red pepper tree known as the “Nioi wela o Paakalana” (The burning Nioi of Pakaalana).
The valley floor at sea level is almost 2000 feet below the surrounding terrain. A steep road (25% average grade) leads down into the valley from a lookout point located on the top of the southern wall of the valley. The shore line in the valley is a black sand beach, popular with surfers. A few taro farms are located in the valley. Several large waterfalls fall into the valley to feed the river which flows from the foot of the largest falls at the back of the valley out to the ocean. The trip up and down will be well worth it. More photos are soon to follow.
Aloha.
Nature, like us, is sometimes caught
without her diadem.
Emily Dickinson
Keep your sense of proportion by regularly,
preferably daily, visiting the natural world.
˜ Catilin Matthews
Newfound Gap (elevation 5048 ft./1539 m.) is a mountain pass located near the center of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of the southern Appalachian Mountains in the United States of America. Situated along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, the state line divides the gap, as does U.S. Highway 441 (also known as Newfound Gap Road), on its way over the mountains between Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Cherokee, North Carolina. The Appalachian Trail also traverses the gap, as do a small number of other hiking trails. From ‘Light 10′ in Gatlinburg, Tennessee to the Newfound Gap is just shy of 18 miles … uphill with 3,600′ of elevation gain (that’s the part I like).
I rode my bike up to Newfound Gap in order to capture the images herein. Yes, I could have taken my car, but the bike was in the car. The workout is “moderate” but I would not suggest attempting the ride unless you’re comfortable with lots of cars, crazy drivers who love to hog the road and of course going uphill for well over an hour. The temps were low-50’s at the top – and even brisker at Clingman’s Dome.
(I’ll savor that trip for another visit before the season closes it down.) Upon reaching the summit, a couple asked me if I rode up … “yes, it was a nice day to ride” (my answer) to which they replied, “all the way up?” LOL.
Enjoy.
Few people live an authentic life. Very few. I’m unclear at times if I’m living an authentic life. Uncertainty acts as a helper and keeps me honest. It forces me to check in with my inner self to ensure I’m doing my very best.
To live an authentic lifestyle requires re-thinking the importance of life itself. It was, and is, challenging to say the least. However, I do know that when you live an authentic life (even in short bursts), you are living in a way that resonates with your inner being. You avoid connecting yourself with destructive habits, relationships or lifestyles. You are in touch with your real self.
From minute to minute each day, you are the same “you” and people around you don’t guess who you are … they just know. At work, at play and at home you are the same person. Authentic “self” means possessing inner strength. It also means living a life void of manipulation, power plays, and hatred.
Being authentic means creating a path in front of you (and in your wake) that feels somewhat spiritual but wholly natural. Authenticity means you aren’t afraid of truth. It also means you deal with fear in a way that builds character and strengthens you rather than debilitating you. The path is hard to follow at times because life throws plenty of diversions to test us. In reality those tests are just ‘tests’ … little sign posts to guide us … if we elect to listen.
For the past year this blog site has acted as a compass of sorts – giving me some direction and enlightenment about authenticity. Sure, I’ve had plenty of moments (and days) where I was not authentic. But when those events occurred, I made course corrections to realign my thinking.
As I’ve aged I see more, but need glasses to read. I eat more, but weigh less. I ride further, but recover slower. As I’ve become more authentic, I realize how difficult it is to try. Frankly, being authentic is all about choice. It’s a choice to either do or not do. There is no “try.”
I shall doeth.
