miscellaneous – Page 9

November 13, 2015

Beach or Bust

As I was planning my latest road trip, I had a few simple goals in mind. One, capture pics of all nine LOVE signs. Mission accomplished.

Goal #2, see three roadside oddities I’d selected on RoadsideAmerica.com and one cool town hall. Check!

Goal #3, spend the night close enough to the beach that I could watch the sunrise. That’s why I drove so far/was in such a hurry on the first day. I really wanted to make it to the beach.

There were a couple of other general goals, too. Enjoy some alone time and see what I could see. When you take time to look, interestingness almost always presents itself.

Along the road from Farmville to South Boston, Virginia.

A South Boston building that could use some TLC.

Look closely at the above pic. See anything odd? I’d just happened to park near something unusual on that street.

What are the odds of my parking by a large metal giraffe — about 15′ / 5 meters tall — simply by chance. I laughed out loud when I saw it.

I stopped at the Halifax County Visitors’ Center as I was leaving South Boston. Mainly because those places usually have bathrooms. It was actually a very nice visitors’ center with all sorts of nice displays, brochures, etc., but it was late in the day and the lady needed to be somewhere so was anxious to leave. BUT, she did ask what brought me to the area. When I told her about the LOVEwork, she told me there was one in Boydton, which I’d be passing through.

I looked for it, I did. Especially since it’s NOT on the current list and may be added soon. But I couldn’t find the dang thing. 🙁

I didn’t see a whole lot of other interesting stuff in my push towards the coast, mainly because it got dark. I did, however, drive past Virginia’s largest lake, Buggs Island Lake, also known as the John H. Kerr Reservoir. I wasn’t expecting that.

Here’s some fun stuff I saw when I reached my destination for the night, Virginia Beach.

Those fun fish were right next to my hotel, which was oceanfront. Yay!!! Gotta love traveling off-season when you can snag an oceanfront room for under $60.

I’ve been to VA Beach before, but just to visit the beach (as in sunbathe and swim), I’d never really looked around. I had no idea there’s a public art program, and that there are fun displays like the school of fish (est. 1993) scattered around the city.

And a cluster of big-ass Hermit Crabs.

I love kitschy souvenir shops. Most of them were closed, unfortunately (it was around 9:00 when I reached VA Beach). I couldn’t resist snapping a shot of this colorful display as I made my way to eat dinner.

Speaking of colorful stuff… I was tired. I wanted something quick and easy for dinner, so was happy to see a pizza restaurant that was open AND served beer. By complete coincidence, it happened to house an “oddity” I’d seen mentioned on RoadsideAmerica.com, but had deemed not interesting enough to go out of my way for.

It’s listing on RoadsideAmerica.com is titled, “Hippy Bus in Pizzeria.” Had I read the listing instead of just scrolling past it, I’d have realized it’s creator was Mark Cline, a name many lovers of large fiberglass Americana will recognize. He created Foamhenge, which I still need to visit, and “has been building fiberglass monsters, dinosaurs, and freaks for the tourist attractions of America for decades.”

It was weirdly warm at the beach — mid-70s! (mid-20s in C) — so I was able to enjoy my modest but yummy dinner on the outside patio.

Then I went to visit one of my targeted attractions… King Neptune. 🙂

I’d selected my hotel specifically with this guy in mind.

As RoadsideAmerica.com describes him…

The statue of Neptune is 34 feet tall and weighs 12.5 tons. It was unveiled along the beach in 2005. The bronze scowling Neptune holds a trident in one hand and a turtle in the other. Sculptor Paul DiPasquale also created the Arthur Ashe statue in Richmond in 1992, which is generally loathed as a work of art, but he seems to have gotten Neptune right. – See more at: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/23107.

I was really looking forward to seeing him at sunrise, but couldn’t resist one or two quick night shots.

As for the sunrise… was it worth it?

Find out next time…

November 10, 2015November 10, 2015

Farmville, Not a Game

Until recently, Farmville was just the name of a town I’d seen on road signs. It probably stuck in my head because of FarmVille, the farming simulation social network game (I have never played).

As I was planning my trip, I did a quick little bit of research on every targeted LOVEwork location to see if there was anything interesting enough that I could see quickly on my way through. I didn’t read much about each location, just sorta browsed images of the area to see what I might see. Of course, I also checked RoadsideAmerica.com to see if anything stood out. Because, you know, if I am going to be in a certain neighborhood, I should at least know what awesome oddities are nearby.

Heading SE into Farmville on US 15 (business).

In addition to the LOVEworks, there were only four other things I noted as must sees. Along the entire 800-plus-mile route. One of those was this cool mural in Farmville, which is part of the Paint Farmville Downtown program.

I don’t know why, but I sorta pictured the majority of the route to Farmville being flat, straight, and uninteresting. It wasn’t. I was pleasantly surprised at the nice roads and pretty scenery. It helped that there are more colorful leaves on the trees south of us.

Images of the car as part of the landscape don’t quite have the same appeal as images with the bike, do they?

Nowhere near as interesting as a shot of the bike.

I immediately saw a face when I spotted that building. How about you?

Heading NE into Farmville on US 15 (business).

Main Street (it was rush hour on a Friday)

I really liked Farmville. It’s definitely on my list of “need to re-visit and spend more time” places. It’s obvious that a lot of love and effort were put into renovating the downtown. Not only is it visually pleasing, there are all kinds of cool shops and eateries along Main Street, too. Oh, and a really, really cool bicycle/walking path, which is a 31-mile rails-to-trails conversion.

Check this out… High Bridge Trail State Park and/or watch the nifty video embedded below to see how the park got its name. Kudos to whoever planned/designed the park plaza on Main Street. Even the bathrooms are amazingly well done and charming. No crap. LOL.

Rather than post too many pics here, I decided to upload them to Flickr for sharing. To see more pics in and around, follow this link to my Farmville album on Flickr.

Do you find it easier to see the pics on Flickr, or would you rather I just added them to the post?

Complete Opposites

I’ve said here before that my Hubby, Mike, doesn’t share my appreciation for roadside oddities. He doesn’t really “get” my signature selfie pose either. Or my need to take pictures to support this blog habit of mine. All of those things together are what make this picture so absolutely perfect. Even down to that grumpy look on the background owl’s face!

The awesome OWLFIE was posted to IMGUR.com by ShadowBun (PsBattle: Burrowing Owls spot a camera).

Oddly enough, it was Mike who found the picture. He visits some unique Web sites.

He and I are very different people, but we’ve managed to stay married for 22+ years. Every couple needs to have a normal and not-so-normal partner, right?

I just have to keep reminding myself of one very important thing. It isn’t his fault that he’s not-so-normal.

I had to laugh the other day when we stopped for lunch. I’d really been enjoying the ride, especially seeing all the different-colored leaves. So when he said, “It’s really been a great ride,” I responded with an excited, sorta lengthy bit of chat/rant that went something like this…

“Oh my GOD, I know! It’s been so pretty, with the beautiful clear, blue sky. And all the different-colored leaves. It’s like we’re riding through a tunnel of color. And the sun is so bright, I just love it when the sun comes through the trees and hits the red leaves and the yellow leaves. You know, so they’re like backlit and sort of glow or shine or whatever as they hang down over the road. It’s like a kaleidoscope or something. Amazing. It really has been fabulous. I’ve picked some awesome roads.”

He looked at me with a very subtle smirk on his face and said…

“I just meant because the roads are smooth and curvy.”

Remember… he can’t help it.

I think it was during that same conversation when I asked him if he didn’t have me to ride with, whether he’d join a motorcycle club/riding group. Not a biker gang, just a club like those folks who have regular ride-to-eat meet-ups or maybe a Victory Owners Group. (He could be a VOG! If there is such a thing.) You know, so he wasn’t riding alone all the time.

Want to know what he said?

“I don’t do that whole ‘people’ thing.”

He didn’t actually use air quotes, but he did emphasize people, with a look of distaste on his face as he spoke. Cracked. Me. Up.

I HAD to type that quote on my Notepad IMMEDIATELY so I’d remember it exactly.

Mike is a nice enough guy, once you get to know him, but he’s shy (I refuse to use that over-abused “i” word.). He can be moody, too, especially when hungry. Oh, and I can’t forget opinionated. He’s a smart-ass, too. And not very patient when it comes to certain things, e.g., character traits like self-centeredness and laziness, and loud/rude behavior(s).

Yes, despite all of that, I still love him. He has lots of good qualities, too.

I'd asked him to pose by the statue for a picture with Shannon. — I’d asked him to “pose by the statue for a picture with Shannon.”

We laugh a lot, that’s for sure.

Are you and your significant other very much alike? Only a little? Or complete opposites like us?

September 28, 2015September 28, 2015

For What It’s Worth

Last weekend, after enjoying a lovely day of riding, which took a bit longer than anticipated, I was scurrying home for my dinner date. Traffic was getting heavier as I headed west, leaving the relative isolation of the Northern Neck and approaching Fredericksburg, a suburban metropolis perched along the busy I-95 corridor.

As I zipped through traffic, dodging the ever-present, inconsiderate left-laners, I noticed another bike approaching from the rear. Its rider who seemed to be in a bit of a hurry, too, tucked in behind me.

I actually managed to maintain a spirited pace for a good bit of time, zigging and zagging, smartly and safely, across the asphalt. I was in that pleasant zone where gaps between vehicles are large enough and the timing of the lights was firmly in my favor.

Inevitably, a red signal at a busy intersection forced me to stop. The bike I’d been seeing in my mirrors for miles pulled to a stop beside me. It was a big BMW sport-tourer, either a 1200 or 1600. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the guy lift his visor. I was surprised to see he was a fifty-ish Black man.

“How long have you been riding that thing? You’re pretty good!” he said with a hearty laugh.

I answered his question, laughing too. We chatted briefly, then the signal changed to green and we were off. Not long afterward, he peeled off and I continued on my own path.

I took what he said as a compliment. Some women may have been offended. I mean, he never would have said that to a guy, would he? You know, since it’s just assumed that a male should be able to ride.

Maybe he wasn’t thinking I ride well for a girl. Maybe he was just another rider who wanted to let me know he’d been having fun with me leading him swiftly through traffic. Perhaps most women he’d encountered were rookie riders. Or just plain pokey.

And what about my surprise that a middle-aged Black man was on a big BMW? Could he have been offended? Would he have known that, based on my personal experience, most Black men I’d seen riding were either on sport bikes or fully dressed HDs and/or Goldwings? (I’m not a brand snob. A ride is a ride.)

Getting even a little miffed about what he’d said would have made me an uptight person. There are FAR too many of them already in this world. It would’ve firmly planted me in the camp of people-who-take-shit-far-too-personally.

As much as I like people, I can’t help but get discouraged by society. Folks trashing each other on social media, just because they can. Or getting their panties/boxers all in a wad over something someone said, did, posted. Something they, the observer, took the wrong way, or didn’t take the time to even think about. People harboring petty jealousy and hate, unaware of the malignant blackness those feelings feed in their hearts.

I didn’t mean for this to be a rant, really. It’s been a difficult year. Not so much for me, personally, although I’ve been a bit of a victim, too.

I just wish people would be nicer. No one enjoys a bunch of sour grapes.

September 26, 2015

Granny T’s Kids are Real Animals

My friend Tracey, aka Granny Trace, invited Carol and I to her house — Turtle Tree Farms — for a girlfriends’ sleepover on Friday. Tracey, Carol, and I have known each other for 35+ years. We don’t get together for stuff like that nearly as often as we’d like, so it’s always fun when we do.

I left my house on Friday as soon as I finished work and drove to Tracey’s, outside of York, Pennsylvania, arriving just in time for dinner.

I love, Love, LOVE hot dogs cooked over a campfire. Really.

We had marshmallows for dessert. Some of us had LOTS of marshmallows. 🙂

Like I said earlier, just getting together is always something to look forward to, but this time was extra special. This time, we got to meet some new family members.

Tracey adopted two kids earlier this year. They were a Mothers’ Day gift from her husband. How cool is that?

Carol and I had seen a few pics of the kids, twin girls (not identical), and heard some stories about them, but we hadn’t met them.

They were already in bed when I arrived last night. I was excited to meet finally them the girls this morning. They’re cute, even if they are real animals.

That’s lounge wear, by the way. I didn’t go out in public dressed like that!

They’re very curious, too.

It was pretty funny just how curious they are. Every time I’d stoop down to take a picture, they’d run over.

Tracey has other animals, too.

She also has three cats, a family of ducks (parents and three babies), and some more chickens who weren’t at all keen to be photographed.

Tracey has a lovely country farmhouse. It’s always very warm and welcoming.

Hanging out with girlfriends is priceless. Really. I’m lucky to have such great friends.

And you know I love Tracey’s critters.

Speaking of critters, my girls were happy to see me when I got back home. They were quite interested in my dirty laundry, too. LOTS of new and interesting smells, that’s for sure.

Thanks again Trace! I had a wonderful time. Thanks to you and Carol, too, for the goodies you sent me home with (Halloween decor, homemade jam, and frog wine).

I’m already looking forward to our next gathering. Love you girls!

September 19, 2015

Signs of Fall

A lovely postcard arrived in the mail yesterday. My buddy, Ry Austin (TwoWheelstoThere), had visited “not-even-a-grocery-store” Pioche, Nevada and thought of me. He said, “Believe it or not, this was the best postcard in town.” Ry, I’m surprised the town even had a postcard! Thanks for thinking of me. 🙂

Ry also said, “Get it while you can, Kathy, Old Man Winter is on his way.”

He’s right. Slowly, but surely, signs of Fall are starting to appear.

Schools are back in session. Football season has begun. Stores are selling Mums. Pumpkin-flavored everything is being sold everywhere. The nights are getting cooler. Some leaves are starting to change. The cornfields are browning-up.

I love Fall. Cool temps are always welcome after Summer’s heat and humidity. The days are still on the warm side, but we’ve had a couple cooler ones.

Hubby has been working on a house project, which he’s been meaning to do since we moved into this house. Since he’s busy, I’m free to amble about on my own.

I could probably do some stuff around the house, too, but I’d rather play with my toy.

Last Saturday, I drove to Baltimore — it was pouring rain most of the day — for my friend Bill’s a surprise 50th birthday party. The party was lovely. I got to visit with old friends AND I brought some steamed crabs home for dinner. YUM.

Good crabs are hard to find in this part of Virginia. They’re expensive as all get-out, too — $67/dozen — so we don’t get them often.

On Sunday, while Hubby worked on his project, I moseyed around southeastern Fauquier County on my motorcycle.

It was a pretty day.

I finally managed to visit the local-ish winery with the LOVEwork that’s only open on weekends, too.

After that, I went to a local farm store for some corn on the cob. Gotta get THAT while the getting is good, too. The corn is just about done for the season.

Field of Zinnia’s at Messick’s Farm Store

Temps today are supposed to top out in the mid-80s. Hubby needs to finish his project. I could find some chores to do, but, like Ry said, I gotta get my riding in while I can. 🙂