The Smokies

Barn across from the Caldwell House


Old Man's Beard Lichen


View of the Park


Elk bull eating



The Cataloochee entrace to the Smokies is just 10 miles from my house! Our National Parks are in trouble, to stay informed of issues facing our Parks please visit the NPCA website. Perhaps the biggest threat are fights over land use, hunters, hikers, whitewater folks, and mountain bikers must learn to use the land together. Its all of our tax dollars that pay for Park land, so no one group should be forced out of using the land responsibly. Let's hope the new rule for allowing mountain bikers to use Park land will go into effect smoothly and Parks such as the Smokies will come into compliance with the new rule.

I look over Park land everyday from the view from my house and everday I feel lucky to be able to look and see undeveloped land.

Holidaze

Whoah nelly, the year is almost over. I don't have too much to say this time of year mostly because, I've had too much sugar, food, and alcohol to put a coherent sentance together. However, its been a great year for me despite all the apparent turmoil in the world. I heard a segment on NPR today that made me laugh out loud, about how Bush said he didn't want to leave a big mess for the next President. (This was in regards to the shamefully huge auto bailout package). That is mighty white of ol' President Bush considering the two wars, financial ruin, and educational failure of his administration that Obama will now have to attempt to clean up.

I'm from Washington, DC so sorry I can't get politcal analysis off my brain. However, a buddy of mine was in town a few weeks ago and said how his lifestyle has never changed in past 2 decades so he doesn't pay much attention to politics. Truthfully, mine hasn't either. That economic stimulous package bought a few extra bags of dog food for my two mutts, but thats about it. I do feel being informed is important, but it shouldn't run our lives.

So I am going to continue to go on my merry way (and run a few extra miles) over the next few weeks and get prepared for another wonderful year.

Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias

Turkey Day is upon us! (Wild Turkey's from my driveway pictured above) This year I have a lot to be thankful for I have:

• A great job
• A great boyfriend
• Wonderful friends who appreciate my flakiness and know that if I disappear into the woods all weekend or don't call them for several weeks, I still love them just as much
• An amazing family
• all the toys a girl could want to go have fun in the woods or where ever (mtn. bike, dirt bike, sweet camera, dual-sport, kayaks, rafts, riverboards, a pick-up truck, a new iMAC and much more)
• all the animals one should ever have (two dogs, two cats, a rooster and four chickens)
• and the opportunity to be thankful for things!

Set The Controls For the Heart of Fun (and a little pain!)

I hopped on my KTM 250 2-stroke and took off through the South Carolina pines, for the relatively flat terrain just south of Spartanburg. Enoree OHV offers some busy, fun, and fast riding. Not one section of the trial is straight for more than about 3 seconds. Riding smooth through several berms, I kicked my bike up another gear, the trees got a little more blurry...I see a berm a little too late try to lean and counter steer a little too hard and wham..... Dirt sample with my left shoulder into a few somersaults. I jump to my feet and turn around, my two fitty is laying on the other side of the berm, mocking me.
I pull in the clutch and pick her up, (she is still running in 3rd gear laying on her side!?!) Anyone who rides a 2-stroke knows the power on those things comes from another world. I can hear my little 250 telling me, you should have ridden me more this summer, instead you were out riding that other bike.
My other bike is a KTM 530, I use it as my dual-sport. I plea with the 250, gas prices were so high, I couldn't afford to haul you all over the place, plus I can ride 150 of gravel and dirt right from my driveway. I am sorry little 250, I promise to take better care of you, you are still my favorite. This old gas tastes terrible she says as I ride her back onto the trail.
The rest of the day I spent in a zen like, irie state as the 250 moves through the trail effortlessly underneath me. The whoops, berms, and mud holes and pines trees all cooperated with my movement. There is nothing in the world like cruising through the woods in the Southeast.
(Picture above from the Sumter National Enduro of Jared Bolton from my gallery)

Pimp Your Ride

Lee Walker from Walker Mounts has designed a very clever way to add some personality and safety to your two-wheeled friend. This pics are from the SWANK 65, the bike looked really sweet. Click on the pitures above to get a better view of his ride. He has a variety of shapes and reflective colors available, so go to Walker Mounts and pimp your ride.

SWANK 65 2008

From a photographer's view, the SWANK 65 is quite a production. Todd, Heather, and Paula from Blue Ridge Adventures are some dedicated race organizers who know how to put on a phenomenal race. Here is what I love about photographer mtn bike races:
1) The smiles on people's faces
2) The challenge of shooting digital in not the best conditions (i.e. - ISO NOISE-yeck! Thank goodness for good photo software.)
3) Meeting people that really inspire me - there are some badass chics out there so watch out boys!

So here are some pics from the race...

Shana Powell and Beth Roberts Getting Ready to Race

The Infamous LeMans Start

Ryan As Sweep - Always Smiling!!!

The First Climb

The Demise of the English Language

Okay, we all use incorrect grammer from time to time. However, I have noticed among all people that the English language is being abused. Not only that but quotes from commercials pervade our daily expressions (including church billboards as seen above). It is hard for me not to correct people when they make glaring errors. Mispeaking is one thing but getting the whole use of a word wrong repeadetly is another. Along with intentional mispellings, such as Kountry Kitchen. Up until this year, the Ingles grocery store near my house had a sign up on the muffin and cookie display saying "Muffins and doughnuts must be rang up separate". Now I know I live in rural America, but this is entertaining. I heard someone saying they can "make pretend" something for Halloween, hopefully they meant "make believe". Another favorite I have heard recently with the political debates is, "the point being that". Yes, there are too many words here a point already exists, it does not have to be. In case you are wondering, it should be "the point is that".

Maybe I should just accept the dumbing down of America and not let these things bother me. Really, I think we need to spend more money on education.

Valentino Rossi MotoGP Title #6

Valentino Rossi is one of the best racers in the history of the world. In September, I went to Indy to see the first MotoGP race at Indy. Last weekend, he won the race at Motegi, confirming that he has won his 6th MotoGP Title and his 8th World Chamionship overall. Funny enough his current winning percentage is 46%, which is his race number. If he wins this weekend in Australia, he will bump up his ratio to 50%.


I am continually amazed by his skill, sense of humor, and dedication to his sport. He is the Michael Schumacher of the MotoGP world. In fact Valentino Rossi, once tested a Formula 1 Ferrarri and came just seconds to Schumacher's time! During his break from the MotoGP he will drive a rally car, his other favorite past time, in the Wales GB Rally.


(Picture above by the author at Indy MotoGP Race Qualifying #2)

P.S. Would someone please buy me a Rally car? I swear I'll drive it nicely if all the trees stay out of my way.

Say No to the Bailout Package!!!

I am puzzled that every single hardworking American is not up in arms over the potential bailout package! Oh wait no I'm not, we are a Nation of lazy, pass the blame, spend more than we have idiots. Cause and effect has escaped the minds of all Americans.
There is still a chance for hope! This is people like you and me who care about the future of America and will stand up and write to our legislators and make our voice heard.
It is easy. Here is a link to contact your Congressperson - Write Your Congressional Rep
Here is the link to contact your Senator Write Your Senator(s)
You can write something like this:
Dear Congressperson/Senator You Let Me Down:
The economic bailout package is a scandal. Why should your taxpayers go into more debt financing insurance agencies, financial institutions, investment bankers and corporations? The people who created this mess, knew that selling mortgage securities was a volatile idea from the beginning. I do not want my tax money to go to helping out corporate America. Please oppose this bill and this package, it will do nothing but bring this country more financial ruin in the future. You were voted into office to represent and support your consituents and you have let us down. If you are going to throw our tax money away of bad securities debt, then you might as well just give it back to us instead. I do not want my hard earned tax dollars to go to bad decision making. I need to pay off my own debt not other people's. This package is completely unsound. Sincerely, Your Name

Please get educated on this issue and stand up for your rights as a taxpayer!

Indianapolis Motor Speedway MotoGP 2008

There was a time when I thought sportbikes were for big egos and little privates. But 4 years ago, I went to watch the AMA Superbike race at Barber Motorsports in Alabama. When you see those guys go over 150 mph on a precision motorcycle, you change your mind very quickly. Then I got into watching the MotoGP and I was entirely hooked on the motorcycle racing scene. This weekend I had the once in the lifetime opportunity to see the Ignaugural MotoGP race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hurricane Ike decided to pay us a visit up there, but despite the rainy conditions, these riders pushed themselves and their machinery to the limits. My favorite rider is of course, 5 time world champ Valentino Rossi. Let me tell you this guy is the epitomy of smooth.

The picture to the right is of Rossi -
The Doctor, buzzing by at probably over 170 mph in the rain with his front tyre off the ground. If I could just have once ounce of his skills on a motorcycle I would be completely stoked. The whole weekend was completely amazing.


Red Bull (where they get their funding I have no idea) put on race called the Red Bull Rookies Cup, this race was for these junior riders. These guys were bornin the late 80s and early 90s and were charging it just as hard as the MotoGP Premier Class riders. Below is a picture of their little 125cc KTM bike, that they rode in the race. Every rider had the same bike, same tyres, and were only allowed to change the rebound and compression in the springs to fit their weight.

Norweigan rookie Sturla Fagerhaug won the Rookie's Cup. Of course, I ended the weekend with big smiles, as Valentino Rossi took 1st place giving him a significant lead in the points standing. Hopefully he will claim another World Championship title this year.

(All pictures by the author)

Babylon By Bike

This State Trooper from SC is indeed spitting his dip into a mini-powerade bottle! Is this safe? I think not.

Tired but good

Have you ever felt completely exhausted but good? This is how I have felt the last two weeks. The weekend before last, I shot some pics of the NOC Dagger Competition. My friend Cystal Gustin (above) rocked out on the wave. More are coming on my photo site when I get the motivation to post them. That week, I took friends kayaking after work that had never been before, twice.

The week flew by and one of my closest friends Maddy came and visited. We went to the Tuckaseegee and paddled and hung out with our friend Barry K who takes pictures of the Tuck at Tuckshot.com. On Sunday I went to the USACYCLING Pro Chamionships in Greenville, SC. Tyler Hamilton won. It was incredible to see Roadies flying around downtown Greenville at high speed. The coolest thing was the BMW K75 Photo Bike support. I will have to add pictures of this incredible moto set up later.

Monday was Labor Day, I should have labored. Instead, I worked on playing disc golf and making my stomach hurt from laughing with friends.

BOULDERS ARE BIG

Several years ago when I didn't have as many domestic duties, I used to boulder along with the mutltitudes of other outdoor sports I did on a regular basis. Bouldering like motoring, kayaking, mtn. biking, is a sport that lends itself well to expanding your brain capacity via deep thought (like I am going to die if I miss this move). On my property, there are lots of boulders, I didn't really think much about "bouldering" on them until earlier this year when my friend Heather said we should check out one particular rock visible from the road. Well, I finally bought a new pair of climbing shoes and check out that rock I did.

It is a nice rock with lots of fun features, it also has a plethora of poisonous weeds on and around it, as evident from its portrait above. I am excited to get it cleaned up. Not that I need another sport to take my time away from more grown-up duties, but it is a nice activity to take my mind of the sadness of the last two waterless boating seasons.

Jeranimo my new cat came with me to check out the boulder this week. Here is is looking for a piece of poison ivy to pounce on and rub on me.

J E A L O U S Y . . .

This is a strange emotion, but sometimes you have a reason to feel jealous. In my case, my man is going out to Brianhead UT to go Dual-Sporting and watch our buddy Todd B. compete in the National Mountain Bike Super D Series, where he will most likely be the Champ again. Two weeks out West is like a dream vacation for me.

If I didn't work for El Corporation, I would definitely love to go there. Brianhead has got to be one of the coolest places ever, surrounded by Bryce and Zion National Parks. Oh well at least I do like working for said El Corporation and will wait for my vacation time to accrue so I can go to the MotoGP race in September at Indy.
P.S.: BTW- I am rocking out to Smashing Pumkins right now which I am going to see on the 15th of August in Charlotte, NC.
P.S.S.: My mouth is very numb right now from getting a tooth drilled, I hope I am not drooling everwhere.

ORAMM 2008 Photos

So on the 27th of July, I shot photos of the Off-Road-Assault On Mt. Mitchell. Here are the photos . This was my first Mtn. Bike Race and I have a feeling I will be shooting more of these events. Typically, I shoot Enduro Races for SETRA series and I can't wait for that race season to start.

The ORAMM race was fantastic, most of the people were super nice and Todd puts on one of the best races I've seen. The Enduros are a self-service event. You get to put what you want on the trailer for the gas stops (usually 1 or 2) and that's it. An Enduro is anywhere for 60-80 miles through the woods with times sections on single track, dirt road, gravel, etc.

I can't wait to shoot more Mtn. Bike races in the future either. I love to see people smile and there were tons of great smiles at this race even though I was shooting mostly at the climbs on Kitsuma and Curtis Creek.

...Solo Ride

This is my first blog. I think that most blogs are a very self-centered way of communicating to the world how incredibly awesome you are, but I decided to start one anway (see there are two I's in that sentance, well now three.) "I" am writing down my random thoughts here if you are bored off your ass enough to read them, good for you!

Okay enough about you and back to me, I have a KTM 530 Dual-Sport, I rode it 118.7 miles this weekend on a solo ride. I rode from Clyde, NC to Mills River via 276, Yellow Gap Road (FR 1206) - here I saw a head-on collision with a Subaru and Explorer, then through N. Mills River to get gas, back up to FR 5000, across the Parkway, then back down 276. It was sweet. My bike is one bad machine.

Riding motorbikes is a great way to think about nothing except riding, still I had two predominet thoughts this weekend. 1) How can two people's sense of morals be so different? (Not that I am an angel or the moral police or anything, but this questions fascinates me) 2) Sometimes I'm sorry just isn't good enough.