Holly's Garden May 2008

While the plants haven't matured yet, you can get an idea of what Holly has planted. The white impatiens along the walk way, as well as, the white bulbs will grow together eventually and make a very nice white border. The Japanese Maple was trimmed in the early Spring and will not be as "bushy" and tall as last year, giving a little more sunlight to the plants below. The bird bath was pressure washed and a noticeable number of birds have increased bathing in the clean water. Before pressure washing the birds didn't care for the yucky water. The marigolds in the clay "hen" have really blossomed.
These pictures were taken at mid day yesterday, Memorial Day, May 26, 2008, should have waited until late day when the daylight would have been softer!

Bicycle Ride Across Georgia

In two plus weeks, seven of us and maybe more will load up my 15 passenger van and trailer in Savannah and drive to Oxford, Georgia to begin the Bicycle Ride Across Georgia! This will be my 12th time, I think to participate in BRAG. At my age, I don't have the interest in bicycling the whole ride, so I drive my van in support of the people who I take to Oxford, ride at the mid-point from one rest stop back to where I started and get about 30 miles a day, which is plenty for these old legs

Need one more person to ride with this group and share my room expenses.

Day #8, Bobby Nathez/Chattanooga Ride

The last leg on this bicycle ride from Clinton, MS to Chattanooga, TN was a very strenous ride over three mountains and into Chattanooga most had to walk the last little hill because storng legs had become weak legs over three mountails. But, I should say all these people were excellent, experienced, conditioned cyclist. They all were simply great people who really enjoy the rides Bobby Rone puts together. They are now planning a ride across the USA! This weeks ride of 524.9 miles is nothing compared to across the USA!
One of the riders, Bobby's niece had not been on a bicycle in some time, but showed true grit in riding all three mountains on the last day. I had kidded her and a few others about riding the van up the mountain the previous day to Monteagle and told them they didn't qualify to ride the down hill today. Well, Jennifer (see video) said I owed her an apology becuase she had ridden two mountains UP today! Little did we know she had one more, Signal Mountain before down hill to Chattanooga. Then there was the little hill right before the end that most walked!
Many thanks to all the riders who allowed me to come on this Bobby Ride.

Day #7, Bobby Ride

A number of the Murfreesboro Bicycle Club members joined us at the town square to ride to out to Bell Buckle, TN this morning. The rain from last night left the streets wet, but no rain. At Bell Buckle, we set up a rest stop (picture at left) we got lost twice on the way here in the big van and trailer. Bell Buckle is the home of Webb School, a very fine boarding school.

Ginny drove the big van and Dave was the navigator, we missed a turn and got into a situation where the trailer had to be backed up! Was a chore for both Dave and Ginny! Today's ride ended atop a mountain in Monteagle, TN. There is a 1000+ foot climb for about 2.5 miles which only the experienced riders should attempt, unless you wish to walk your bike for a long way! But all the riders who climbed this mountain made it without walking.

Day #6, Bobby Natchez Trace Ride

This day brought a lot of traffic as we were leaving Nashville on back roads on the way to Murfreesboro, TN for this days 68 mile ride. Plus there were many small hills with curving roads, but the scenery was beautiful with views of horse farms and estate type homes. We asked and got permission to use a church shed they use for "all day singing and eating on the ground" and were lucky to avoid a nice rain shower that passed this rest stop. So, our riders avoided getting wet. We were expecting bad weather later, but if it came, I slept though it. Two notable instances today. First, the person who provided us with the route to Murfreesboro and to Chattanooga lives in Murfreesboro and invited us to dinner at her home to be joined by several couples from the Murfreesboro Bicycling Club. Had a feast of BBQ, beans, slaw, and Key Lime Pie! Wow! Many thanks, Sarah!!! A number of that club joined the Bobby Tour the next morning to Bell Buckle, TN.
The second instance for this day was the riders waiting out the rain shower got into a little singing as Wade played his harmonica! The video today show Bobby "Two Heart" Rone, the ride leader in a rare situation.

Day #5, Bobby Nathez Ride

This beautiful day, the riders pedaled from Hohenwald, TN to Nashville, TN a distance of 65.5 miles. But, some chose to get in the van at the terminus of the Natchez Trace and avoid bicycling in the traffic to the Microtel Hotel in Nashville, TN our overnight. The pictures today are of the Gordon House, probably the only house remaining along the Trace. Please read the history on the sign and imagine his wife running this place as a widow with little or no modern conveniences!

Day 4, Bobby Nathez Ride

Today, April 30th, we rode Iuka, MS to Hohenwald, TN about 73 miles. A beautiful ride and visited neat the end at Meriweather Lewis Park. You probably know that Merriweather was the first President of the Louisiana Purchase territory and teamed with Clark in the famous Lewis and Clark exposition to establish a route to the West Coast. Merriweather Lewis dies at this site at an early age of 40 (approx) from self inflicted gun shot wounds. His grave is marked by the monument in one of the pictures below of cyclist going through a part of the park. The picture above was made as we crossed the Tennessee River. The other picture is a portion of the actual Natchez Trace. Maybe you can imagine wagons being pulled by Oxen from Nashville to Nathez and the Mississippi Rive, about 500 miles!!