Photography

Autumn 2015

2014 Trans American Bike Ride

Training ride in Chicago

The traditional “dip the wheel” for a transam ride.

Nailed It!

Chickahominy Riverfront Park

A beautiful bike trail with an old plantation on the left.

The sun just peaking out over the Chickahominy river.

It is hard to pick a bad route. Pretty much beautiful everywhere.

A dragon roller coaster at the county fair in Mineral,VA

A ride at the county fair in Mineral,VA

Some swings at the county fair in Mineral,VA

Me at the county fair in Mineral,VA

Path at Monticello

Rolling Hills of VA.

Appalachian Mountains in the distance

Stream in the foothills of VA approaching the blue ridge parkway

Bald Mountain Overlook – 3200 ft.

Greenstone Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Mountain stream on the way up from Afton – 2700ft

This little guy sure was excited!

Farmland just shy of Lexington, VA

Obligatory blurred waterfall shot.

John from Joliet

Reudi & Heida aus Der Scweiz. Ausgezeichnet!

Junction Bike Shop with proprietor Thomas Hash, the nicest guy on the TransAm.

The New River just outside of Radford, VA

Sunrise in Appalachia

Outside Marion, VA: I’m not sure why this part of the railroad needed to be laid 5 feet below grade, but someone went nuts with the TNT.

Beginning of the climb to Hayters Gap.

Beautiful fences on a beautiful (if jarring) gravel road. Near Duffield, VA

Approaching the Cumberland Gap

Persephone loaded on the back of a pickup for the drive through the Cumberland Gap tunnel

Goodbye Virginia. Don’t say I never loved ye.

Sweet riding in Daniel Boone National Forest

The muffled drums sad roll has beat The soldiers last tattoo; No more on life’s parade shall meet The brave and fallen few On Fame’s eternal camping-ground Their silent tents are spread And Glory guards, with solemn round The biouvac of the dead –at Mill Springs National Cemetery near Nancy, KY

A cvaern in Mammoth Cave.

Bridge looks pretty in to me! — Bowling Green, Ky

Federal Grove B&B –Auburn,KY

A stationary train just outside Auburn, KY

At this point, Love is a Long Road by Tom Petty was on my speaker. Appropriate. Near Claymour, KY

Best breakfast of the trip so far. Actually, best breakfast of 2014 so far. At Federal Grove B&B in Albany, KY

The new bridge. –East of Paducah, Ky

The old bridge and the Tennessee River. –East of Paducah, Ky

Fort Massac State Park Trail.

The Ohio River from The Ohio Paducah bridge.

Looking down through the grates of the Ohio Paducah bridge.

Coal being unloaded from a train to be transferred to barges on the Mississippi river.

The Mississippi river and bridge at Chester

HIghway P is very passable. Pay no attention to the signs and barriers.

The beautiful Ozarks.

Roller coasters! Oh Zarks!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Missouri conservation department fire tower. West of Alley Spring, MO

Wildflowers between Houston and Hartville Missouri

Sunrise in the Ozarks –Houston, MO

Grand views between Houston, MO and Marshfield, MO

The road goes ever on. — Everton, MO

The tires on this truck are taller than me. –West of Everton, MO

Hello Kansas!

Jess from SF.

Terry from across the pond.

This plane landed for a stay at the Beaumont Hotel and never left. — Beaumont,KS

The tail end of the storm –West of Chanute,KS

The rent sky just after the thunderstorm –West of Chanute,KS

Yikes!

Leaving the Beaumont Hotel, which is dedicated to aviation I was aware that today in 1945, the allied forces landed in Normandy as the fog over the channel cleared. Meanwhile in Kansas: still foggy.

These pretty trail-side flowers should make my nieces Cora and Paisley happy.

Geared up against the wind and rain.

The Valkyries’ steeds. –at Dighton, KS

John and Jerry whiz past — Near Scott City, KS

A great day for a ride!

I am not the only one excited about good beer. Jess got into the spirit as well.

Woohoo 3rd time zone!

The first sign over the border is a Share the Road sign. Not a speed limit or anything else. Colorado! I love ye already!

The approaching storm. See the dust cloud to the left and some kind of crazy blue color on the right. — at Sheridan Lake, CO

Hummingbird on a flowering Cactus — Arlington, CO

Halfway! –at Eads, Colorado

Paul & Terry after a great day of riding — in Scott City, KS

Colorado with the five valkyries

Paul is a bit homesick. Terry wants him to get on with it. –Pueblo, CO

Ya Soft Nancy! –Pueblo,CO

30 windmill blades on a train. –Pueblo, CO

Paul and Terry cycling steadily towards the front range of the Rockies

Chuck at Royal Gorge

Me at Royal Gorge

Beautiful views past Royal Gorge by Grimble Mountain.

Chuck, Bill, and Terry on the way up to Guffey, CO.

Guffey, Co announces its welcome to cyclists.

Connie greeted us just past the pass.

South Park, CO.

A wonderful bike path from Fairplay, CO to Alma, CO.

Mike & Persephone at Hoosier Pass.

A bike path turned bike bath –Silverthorne, CO

Beautiful Colorado mountains — Silverthorne, CO

Chuck enjoys the grand Blue River valley of Colorado

The view from my tent next to the Colorado River.

“Brrrrrr”, neighs an ice-covered Persephone –Hot Sulphur Springs Wildlife Area

View from our campsite over the Colorado river –Hot Sulphur Springs Wildlife Area

–Hot Sulphur Springs Gorge

This cool rock structure looked a lot like a wall. –On route to Willow Creek Pass

Mountains in the distance. –On route to Willow Creek Pass

At the top, I crossed the Continental divide for a second time, bringing me back into the Atlantic Watershed.

The road to Walden.

A final view of some of the big Colorado mountains as we left the state — Walden, CO

Goodbye Colorado! I loved ye!

Hello Wyoming!

Some horses hanging out in the shade –Riverside, WY

Ride on Faith. Good advice. –Riverside,WY

Chuck says goodbye to Paul and Terry. –Rawlins, WY

In the background is Split Rock. –Wyoming.

Split Rock. –Wyoming.

We’re headed North, and the clouds overhead are headed East. We set out just after the storm had passed us by and zipped along the tail end of the front. Didn’t get wet at all. –Sweetwater Station, WY

Looking at the West-end of an Eastbound thunderstorm. (Much better than looking at the West-end of an Eastbound goat!) –Sweetwater Station, WY (Persephone has her flag pole back, now improved with two flags)

Headed downhill towards Lanerd, WY (Persephone has her flag pole back, now improved with two flags)

#winning

Red rock cliffs near the Wind River. –Southeast of Dubois, WY

The Wind River. –Southeast of Dubois, WY

These thrusting boulders are a sharp contrast to the green rolling hills immediately around them.–Southeast of Dubois, WY

This field of snow looked like bunkers on a golf course. This one is for you, Milton.

Persephone is excited about reaching the Tetons. –Grand Teton NP

Sunset over Cascade Canyon — Grand Teton National Park

The start of the ascent up to Togwotee Pass, WY

Pinnacle Butte. Near the top of Togwotee Pass, WY

A moose near Togwotee Pass, WY

Closeup of a moose near Togwotee Pass, WY

Togwotee Pass, WY. My fifth crossing of the continental divide.

Me at Grand Teton National Park

The cyclist campground at Jenny Lake. –Grand Teton National Park, WY

The sun setting over Rockchuck Mountain. –Grand Teton National Park, WY

A Stag Elk in the foreground and Rockchuck mountain in the background — Grand Teton National Park, WY

Another Closeup of the Stag. — Grand Teton National Park, WY

Rain clouds roll in over Jackson Lake. — Grand Teton National Park, WY

A preying mantis on a wildflower. — Grand Teton National Park, WY

Entering Yellowstone National Park

Obligatory blurred waterfall shot with Mike

Obligatory blurred waterfall shot with Paul

Obligatory blurred waterfall shot with Terry

Obligatory blurred waterfall shot.

The Madison River — Yellowstone National Park

Firehole Cascades –Yellowstone National Park

A woodchuck — Yellowstone National Park

Montana! — Yellowstone National Park

Earthquake Lake, MT.

Along the route between Yellowstone, MT and Ennis, MT.

Greg, Spencer, Zach, and Leslie are all headed East. I saw 11 Eastbounders today. By far the most of any single day.

View from the top of the pass between Ennis,MT and Virginia City, MT

Virginia City, MT

Very old wood rail carriages in Virginia City, MT. Note the smokestacks for burning fires inside the carriage to keep it warm.

Beaverhead Rock for which the county is named. I was very pleased to pass this rock and get out of Sherrif-thinks-he-is-a-cyclist-but-really-supports-wreckless-truck-driving Madison County.

Looking back towards Dillon,MT from atop a railroad bridge

Ospreys near Dillon, MT

Torrey Mountain from the South

Torrey Mountain from the West

Terry — between Big Hole Pass, MT and Badger Pass, MT

Torrey Mountain from the North.

Paul at Big Hole Valley, MT

National Forest on the way up to Chief Joseph Pass.

My ninth and final crossing of the continental divide at Chief Joseph Pass.

A monument to the Lewis & Clark expedition in Sula, MT.

The Bitterroot Valley, MT.

Mike leads a band of harleys into Hamilton, MT

The bike path from Hamilton,MT to Lola, MT

This bike trail ended in a grove of trees, with a gully between us and the road. We nearly gave up hope of ever finding a path to the Pacific. —Lolo, MT.

Lolo Mountain. —Lolo, MT.

The road up to Lolo Pass, MT.

Hello Idaho!

Goodbye Montana. Like all wildlife, this bear only likes presenting its ass to the camera.

The view on the Idaho side of the Lolo Pass.

At Devoto Cedar Grove. My fingers span 37 rings. —Clearwater National Forest, ID

At Devoto Cedar Grove. —Clearwater National Forest, ID

Our campsite at Whitehouse Campground is among the most beautiful and peaceful of the trip. —Clearwater National Forest, ID

The Lochsa River — Clearwater National Forest

A packbridge over the Lochsa River — Clearwater National Forest

Approaching the top of White Bird HIll, ID

Leaving Grangeville, ID

Crema Cafe in Grangeville, ID

Mid day stop at the laundromat. –Grangeville, ID.

Rolling hills leading towards Grangeville, ID.

Camas flowers on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation, ID.

Fertile land in the Nez Perce Indian Reservation, ID.

Purple flowers at the top of the Lamb’s Grade climb. –Stites,ID.

Overlooking the Clearwater River (Middle Fork) canyon. –Stites,ID.

Switchbacks up Lamb’s Grade road. — Stites, ID.

Sunset on the Lochsa River — Clearwater National Forest

Just 20 feet off the road at Rye Patch Creek — Clearwater National Forest

Rye Patch Creek — Clearwater National Forest

The Lochsa River — Clearwater National Forest

Approaching the top of White Bird HIll, ID

At the top of White Bird HIll, ID

Salmon River, ID

Cliffs of the Salmon River Gorge, ID

Pinehurst Resort in Idaho was a welcome stop. Juanita, the owner, gave us lunch and takes care of all the cyclists who stop by.

Honeysuckle on the way up towards New Meadows, ID

Elk running across a field as the sun sets over Payette National Forest, ID.

The sun’s final rays light up the clouds with the moon brightly shining down on me. –New Meadows, ID

The view into the next valley after New Meadows, ID.

The Valkyries waiting for the pace care to take us through the one lane construction zone. –Mesa, ID.

Approaching Brownlee reservoir on the ID-OR border.

Brownlee reservoir on the ID-OR border.

I call this one, Selfie at Brownleee.

The Brownlee Dam on the ID-OR border.

Final State. Woohoo!

After lots of Northwesterly and Southwesterly routes through the mountains, I’m excited to be heading West again. — Oxbow, OR

The final few miles of Hell’s Canyon in Oregon.

Dusk over the valley outside Halfway,OR.

The final few miles of Hell’s Canyon in Oregon.

Terry has gone Native –Oxbow, OR.

Glasgow Butte. –West of Richland, OR

This is the sign for the interpretive center, which overlooks the highway from hundreds of feet above. No chance I’m cycling up that beast. –Baker City, OR

The only green patch between Richland, OR and Baker City, OR

Sunrise over Baker City, OR.

Powder River, OR.

Willoma-Whitman National Forest in Oregon.

Sumpter Valley Railroad cars. –Sumpter, OR.

One of only 100 steam engine in operation in the US. I got to pester the engineers with questions as they warmed it up and pushed all sorts of levers and twisted all sorts of knobs. Then I went for a ride in the cab. If you aren’t jealous, you were never a child. –Sumpter, OR

Check out the flames! Sweet! –Sumpter, OR.

Sumpter Valley. OR.

The road up to Dixie Pass in Malheur National Forest, Oregon.

The view down to John Day Valley, Oregon.

Looking North from John Day Valley — John Day, OR.

Looking North from John Day Valley — Mount Vernon, OR.

The view South of John Day Valley. –Dayville, OR

Paul has met his end. Terry is distraught.

Turns out Paul is OK, but Terry was found guilty of foul play anyhow.

My air mattress sprung a leak a couple of days ago. This is my third patching attempt.

Dayville Presbyterian Church runs a wonderful hostel for bikers.

Approaching Picture Canyon in the sunrise. –Dayville,OR.

Portland 224 Miles. Getting Close.

The climb up to Keyes Creek Pass, OR.

A shoe tree on the climb up to Keyes Creek Pass, OR. Paul thought this might be a memorial to a runner’s life cut short. I think Paul is a bit morbid.

Having just heard about the closed road and fire, the Brits adopt a stance of steely determination in the face of adversity. One might go so far as to say they planned on keeping calm. They might even carry on. –Mitchell, OR.

Where there’s smoke there’s fire. –Ochoco Pass, OR.

ODOT workers giving me a ride through the pass. Ochoco Pass, OR.

The smoke intensifies as I ride up towards the pass. –Ochoco Pass, OR.

Seriously. WTF. –Ochoco Pass, OR.

The fire has already burnt through this area. –Ochoco Pass, OR.

The smoke is intensifying over the road. –Ochoco Pass, OR.

Flames are still burning in this area. –Ochoco Pass, OR.

Ok, hit the gas already. –Ochoco Pass, OR.

WTF! –Ochoco Pass, OR.

Selfie at Sal’s Fruit Stand. –Powell Butte, OR

The poorly named Deep Canyon, OR. The hazy horizon is from all the smoke. As far as I can tell pretty much the whole state of Oregon is on fire.

A strange mix of arid landscapes and Pacific Northwest Conifers. –Sisters, OR.

In theory the sky should be blue, but there’s too much smoke from all the fires in the area. –Sisters, OR.

Persephone and me hauling an old skool Oregon Trail wagon.

The Three Sisters –Oregon.

The semi-arid landscape of yesterday is gone as everything gets all PacWestish. –Willamette National Forest, OR.

Climbing the final mountain pass of my TransAmerica trip. –McKenzie Pass, Willamette National Forest, OR.

Selfie at South Sister. –Willamette National Forest, OR.

5,000 feet downhill towards the coast. –Willamette National Forest, OR.

Lush forests cover the Western side of McKenzie Pass in Willamette National Forest, OR.

These trees have survived our modern economy and been spared from any forest fires. Paul refers to these groves as Ancient Stands. I’m not so sure about that, but golly, they sure is tall! –Willamette National Forest, OR.