365 Day Photo Challenge 127/365 “Failed Attempt; Well Sort of”

09 Saturday May 2015

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I took my twin daughters to a band banquet tonight. The event was held at the McWane Center in downtown Birmingham.  It seems that they have a banquet hall that was affordable for the students.  The girls thought is was unnecessary for us to attend being that they only recognize the seniors but they did need transportation to and from the event.  What a perfect time for me to get some good shots of downtown Birmingham at night.

My first stop after dropping the girls off was the Alabama Theater.  That place was packed.  It looked like by the amount of little girls entering the theater in TuTu’s that there was a dance recital going on.  To many people going in and out of the place to get a good HDR image plus there not a parking space in site.

The next stop was the new Railroad Park.  Same thing.  No parking and they had some event going on there as well.  Too much traffic to have to deal with. The next stop was across town to a Methodist church that everyone seems to like to take pictures of.  A wedding was about to take place and the bride and groom was having their picture taken out front.  Strike three.

Near Railroad Park is a set of tunnels that someone had put lights in that change color.  It’s a popular place for photographers to take pictures.  I was bound and determined to take some shots there no matter what it took.  I got there and I found a parking place.  My thought was to get in a position to get the tunnel in frame as well as getting a trail of brake lights going into the tunnel.   I got out of the truck, with camera in one hand and the tripod in the other I started for the tunnel.  I got to a position to where I thought I could get some decent shots when my phone goes off.  It’s one of my daughters.  They’re standing outside waiting on me to come and pick them up.  Needless to say that I didn’t get a shot off tonight. The good news is that I was able to spend time with my daughters even if it was just for a few minutes.

I was able to get my bike to the shop.  I inspected it before loading it up on the bike rack and noticed that one of the spokes was loose.  I don’t own the tools to tighten the spokes nor did I have the time to try and true the wheel myself so I took it to the shop.  I’ll pick it up on Monday.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 126/365 “Bent Rim Made for an Interesting Ride Home”

08 Friday May 2015

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I’ve been riding for three years, two years on what I would call a decent bike, not a Wally World bike but a bike that cost close to $2000 brand new.  I take care of this bike and have regular service done do it.  In fact, I just got it out of the shop about two weeks ago.  I’m on my way home after riding about ten miles I started hearing a rubbing sound coming from where I thought my front tire.  I stopped and adjusted the front brake and thought I had fixed it.  Not only did I not fix the problem, the rubbing got worse the closer I got toward home.  Once I made it home I had determined that my rear tire was way out of round.  So much so that while spinning the tire it would be stopped by the break pads shortly after spinning the tire.

As I stated earlier, I’ve been riding for about three years and I’ve never had this happen to me before.  I’ve been searching for the causes but all I’ve been able to find so far is how to fix it.  It must be a common occurrence because there’s sure a lot of videos on how to true the wheel. Being that I don’t have any of the tools nor the time needed to learn to true the wheel a trip to the shop will be in order for tomorrow.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 125/365 “Art Show”

07 Thursday May 2015

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I’m excited to announce that I’ve been invited to attend a “members only” art show. Only people that have been invited can show up and sell their art work.  I’ve heard about this group for many years but never thought anything about it until I posted this picture of 192 out of Dollywood, Pigeon Forge.  This is a single image that I ran through Photomatirx to convert into an HDR image. I know it’s a little harsh for some but I like it as well as one of the members of the art show.  He said that this as well as some other of my HDR images would sell at the art show.  I’m a little excited about it and said that I would think about it.  I’ve never sold any of my work before other than doing a few weddings and photo shoots but I think that’s a little different.  The art show is open to the public and is not until next month so I’ve got some time to get some of my images printed off.  The guy that invited me said that he would help me with the pricing and displaying of my images for sell.  Maybe something will come of this.  Who knows??

“Life Goes On!!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 124/365 “Thanks for the Encouragement”

06 Wednesday May 2015

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I’m following several blogs that deal with working out, weight loss and cycling.  You people give me a lot of encouragement.  There are some days where I just want to give up and come home, sit in my recliner and watch tv until bed time.  In the morning I  start off doing ok but as the day wears on I start thinking of relaxing with my feet up and doing nothing.  Then my phone starts going off with emails from WordPress about some of your adventures.  Don’t get me wrong, I love to ride my bike but sometime it takes a little prodding from you guys to get my butt in gear.

Keep those adventures coming in.

“Life Goes On”

365 Day Photo Challenge 123/365 “Ride of Silence”

05 Tuesday May 2015

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Ride of Silence

http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php

In just a few short weeks, the Ride of Silence will take place.  Last year about 200 riders took to the roads in Birmingham’s southside and rode about ten miles.  Not a word was spoken.  It’s in honor of all those that were injured or killed on bicycles within the last year.  A list of names is read out before the ride begins.  It’s all escorted by local police throughout the whole ride.  A small fee is collected to help with the expenses plus a nice bbq plate is served at the end of the ride.  I’m not sure if this is available in your town but if it is I would encourage you to participate if you can.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 122/365 “May the 4th be With You”

04 Monday May 2015

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If I heard that phrase once I heard it a hundred times today.  At first it was kind of cute but it quickly grew old rather quickly.  The sad part of it is that I’m a huge Star Wars fan.  I guess that tomorrow catch phrase will be Cinco de Mayo.

Tonights bike ride started off late due to having to pick up my truck from the tire store. I had dropped it off yesterday afternoon to have  a couple of tires put on the rear.  Once I finally got my truck, I ate supper with my son, who is home for college, I changed clothes and started off on my ride.  The only down side to riding in such a small city is that you get to know everyone and everyone wants for you to stop and talk.  Tonight was one of those nights.  I bet I got stopped ten times.  And then there was the suspicious activity going on at a house that was being remodeled.  Two cars and a van taking material out of the house in the dark with no lights.  I called the police just to have them check it out.  Don’t know the outcome but at least I think I did the right thing.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 121/365 ” Great Weekend but Here Comes Monday”

03 Sunday May 2015

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Where did this weekend go?  In fact, where did April go?  I can’t believe that it’s May already.  School will soon be out for the summer and all three of my kids will either be working or going back to school.  It’s going to be a lonely summer.  My girls will be seniors next year in high school and my son will be graduating in December from college.  Hopefully he will have a job when he gets out of school.  I just hope I have enough vacation time built up before my girls have to go back to school in August to have some sort of vacation I can spend with them.  These doctor appointments are killing my time.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 120/365 “A Beautiful Day to Ride”

02 Saturday May 2015

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Today was absolutely gorgeous.  Beautiful blue skies with just a few passing clouds with just a slight wind.  It took me a little longer to do my 21 mile route because I kept seeing people that I knew that wanted to talk.  I enjoyed my visits with everyone.

I recently changed the bar tape on my bike.  The bike came with white tape but it soon turned gray with all the dirt and and chain oil from changing flats. I decided that I didn’t want white so I went with red.  The jury is still out on whether or not I like it.

I’ve got a new goal, well sort of.  My son will graduate from college in December of this year.  I’d like to see myself at least 25 pounds lighter than I am right now.  More if possible.  That’s a lot of riding and treadmill time but I think I can do it.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 119/365 “Retired Locomotion”

01 Friday May 2015

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As stated in an earlier post, I love steam powered locomotives.  The one pictured here is the 1218.  Built in 1943, it was one of the strongest pulling machines ever built in the world.  I had a chance to to ride in a car pulled by her about 22 years ago.  We went from Birmingham to Chattanooga and back again.  Norfolk & Western decided in 1992 to discontinue the excursions and have her scrapped, but the public had other plans.  She was restored to her original specs and placed on display at the  Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke Virginia.  I hope one of these days to travel to Roanoke to visit this beautiful beast again.

“Life Goes On!”