I guess I got these posts a little bit backwards today…

This post is really from this morning when the dogs and I took our Sunday jaunt to Pony Pasture. The second post is from the ride I did in the afternoon with Pat. Oh well. Look how green the grass is down there. At this time of year, the first thing the dogs do when they get there is begin eating “salad” – they start gobbling up all the fresh grass:

grazing

Theyre acting more like cattle than like dogs

I never tire of the different looks the river offers:

sunrise

Sunrise facing east

This is the first time we had our picture taken with my new camera – thanks Susan!:

on the path

On the path...

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Pat and I did a great (but slow!) 30 mile ride today

Click on this link if you want to see the route. It’s a nice little spin. Pictures of bikes get boring so here’s a flower – there are flowers around every corner at this time of year:

Fun ride by newfaze at Garmin Connect – Details.

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I had a very relaxing ride today…

Managed to get in a very pleasant ride on this lovely March day:

Just off the bike after a beautiful Saturday ride

Click on this link if you’d like to see the route I rode; it’s a very nice little loop in eastern Goochland: Pleasant Saturday ride in Goochland

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Back in the flatlands…

The girls and I got home late Saturday night from the Maple Festival – it was remarkable. I don’t know about them, but I was exhausted in that way you only get when you’ve spent a full day having a really, really great time. The girls are so much fun and yet so composed. I was talking with my friend Mark about it and I told him they’re like three little buddhas. It’s amazing they’re so well-behaved at such a young age. And sitting in the car for 2 or 3 hours each way! Incredible.

Anyway, it was nice to get back down to the river with my little pack on a pleasant Sunday morning. The river’s coming down from a pretty deep (nearly 15′) flood but it was still nearly at 13′ on Sunday morning. Which means lots of muddy trails. Here’s Ivory by The Altar, which was under ~3″ of water:

Ivory at the flooded Altar

The Altar with the river at 13

Later (away from the river!) we ran across a nice guy named Peter with a magnificent 1 y.o. English Mastiff named Trudy. He was kind enough to take our picture:

Dogs by the Pasture

With my posse by the Pasture; Thanks Peter and Trudy!

When we reluctantly returned to home, the charming fragrance of a dozen hyacinths filled the driveway:

Hyacinths

First in a row of delicious smelling hyacinths

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A few more views from the 2011 Maple Festival

The festival is fun – but this is what we’re really here for:

Testing the clarity of the product:

Testing the clarity

This is where the magic happens (some of it) – Duff’s Sugar House:

Duff's Sugar House

I can’t say for certain, but perhaps this is The Maple Syrup Fairy:

Maple Syrup Fairy

Another of the amazing products available here:

Screamin' Maple Mustard

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For the fourth consecutive year, my brother Kevin and his three daughters met me early in the morning at the Oilville Exxon. We’re headed for the 53rd Annual Highland Maple Festival in Monterey, VA – Virginia’s “Little Switzerland.” This is the four of us, moments before departure. Thanks for the picture Kevin! And for letting me spend the day with your wonderful daughters!:

First order of business as we arrive each year is go to the 107 year old (!) Highland Inn and prepare ourselves for breakfast. This picture was taken in the lobby of the Inn:

We sit down for a huge breakfast of buckwheat pancakes and Highland County’s Finest Maple Syrup; too much is never enough. We waddle away from the table much later. Lauren and Casey were our superb waitresses this year. They provided excellent service and doubled as talented photographers!

The girls composed this shot themselves – they balanced my camera on a soft drink  can!  They’re so talented and creative – just like their mother and father! :

This was also our fourth year of getting Pecan Yummies – wow. Five ingredients: pecans, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla. You would not even believe how good these things are. You can still eat them when your belly is stuffed with pancakes and maple syrup – and they’re gluten free! Amy is the genius behind Pecan Yummies. She remembered us from last year! On her business card her title is “Yum Master.” Admit it, that title is hard to beat. Who in the world would not want to be a yum master? That may be my next career. As it turns out, she doubles as a talented photographer!:

I will say – and I am unbiased – that anyone can take a picture of my nieces and have it come out looking like a work of art.

This post is huge; I’ll put a few more images with the next one.

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Certain things are inevitable

It’s popular to say “death and taxes.” Spring is inevitable too!

Forsythias

Forsythias near Clarks house

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More signs of Spring – flowers come up, and so does the river

First hyacinths, March 7, 2011

Hyacinths

My first hyacinths have opened up. Their beautiful smell is filling the air on the side of the house. Only a few plants are up now. Within the week there will be fifteen. I will smell them every time I come home or leave.

The river is rising, Mar. 5, 2011

Rivers rising

That’s the Pirate Ship of Pony Pasture. Ethan and I visited it this afternoon – I think it will be gone by tomorrow at lunch. Yesterday the river was at 6′. When Ethan and I visited today – when I took that picture – it was at 9′. Tomorrow around noon the forecast is for 13′. As my friend Mijo said, “The ship is ready for sailing”.

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Saturday Spin by newfaze at Garmin Connect – Details

This is a link to a map of the 30 mile bike ride I took on Saturday, March 5: Saturday Spin by newfaze at Garmin Connect – Details.

This is a picture of me after a previous ride, my tribute to Jure Robic, RIP, 1965 – 2010, greatest ultra-distance cyclist in history:

This is The Man himself, after winning the 4th of his 5 Race Across America solo men’s titles:

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Spring is definitely in the air

I got home from swimming today and this lovely daffodil had opened up beside my driveway. It’s difficult to look at that and not smile.

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