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Monthly Archives: October 2014

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

28 Tuesday Oct 2014

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Uncategorized

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Alabama, Birmingham, Botanical, Flowers, Gardens, Japanese, Nature, Statue

Birmingham Botanical Gardens is Alabama’s largest living museum with more than 12,000 different plants in its living collections. The Gardens’ 67.5 acres contains 25+ unique gardens, 30+ works of original outdoor sculpture and miles of serene paths.

The Gardens features the largest public horticulture library in the U.S., conservatories, a wildflower garden, two rose gardens, the Southern Living garden, and Japanese Gardens with a traditionally crafted tea house. Education programs run year round and over 10,000 school children enjoy free science-curriculum based field trips annually.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the most visited free attraction in Alabama, is open daily, offering free admission to more than 350,000 yearly visitors. (Copied from the Birmingham Botanical Garden’s website).

I’ve been going to this place for years and over the years I can tell that this place has lost a little of it’s luster.  I imagine that the economy has made a huge impact on the finances this place gets.  Don’t get me wrong, this place is still beautiful and full of life.  But to be honest, there’s a lot of maintenance that needs to be done.  The maintenance staff was working hard while I was there this past week and I guess it takes time to bring everything up to date.  Then again, they may just be trying to get everything ready for winter.

If you’re ever in the Birmingham area I would highly recommend spending a couple of hours in this place.  You can sit on one of the many benches and listen to the sound of chipmunks playing around in the leaves.  Of course, right now with the constructions going on across the street you can also hear the sound of jackhammers off in the distance. You can also hear the sound of the train whistle located nearby at the Birmingham Zoo.

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My Whole Body is Sore

26 Sunday Oct 2014

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cycling

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Tags

Bicycle, bicycling, Cycling, Silver Comet Trail

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/776383875#

I took a trip to Dallas Georgia yesterday to ride a few miles on the Silver Comet. Fifty to be exact I haven’t ridden by bicycle since the end of June and I believe I did too much yesterday.  The back of my neck and shoulders are feeling the worst and my legs come in a close second.

It was a beautiful day yesterday with the temps being in the sixties to start off with and the high in the mid 70’s by the end of my ride.  I started off with a hoodie but had to take it off about midday.  I am so bad out of shape that it took me longer than I had expected but I didn’t have any problems until about mile 40 when I started having leg cramps.  I slowed down and started taking mini breaks.  I was in no hurry so I just took my time getting back.

The Silver Comet Trail is 61.5 miles long, and starts at the Mavell Road Trailhead in Smyrna, Georgia. It ends at the Georgia/Alabama state line, near Cedartown and The Esom Hill Trailhead.

At the Georgia/Alabama state line, the Silver Comet connects to the 33-mile long Chief Ladiga Trail. Plans are underway to extend the Chief Ladiga an additional 7 miles. Both the Silver Comet Trail and Chief Ladiga are fully paved rail-trails built on abandoned railroad lines. The combined Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga trail length is estimated to be 94.5 paved miles from Smyrna, Georgia to Anniston, Alabama. (Copied from the Silver Comet Website.)

Riding on the trail is very pleasant and you can meet a lot of nice people along the way.  In fact yesterday I had a chance to give a helping hand.  About 14 miles from the trail head in Dallas, I ran across an elderly couple walking their bikes.  I stopped to see if they needed help.  They told me that he had a flat and his hand pump wouldn’t work  Just so happens that I carry two tubes and two CO2 cartridges with me on any trip.  He borrowed one of my CO2 cartridges and he was on his way.  He did say thanks and offered to pay but I declined payment.  I just hope someone is as nice to me as I was to him if I’m ever in his shoes.

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