Trails I've Ridd'n on My Mountain bike and a 1970's hybrid




In talking to a local gentleman here in Charlottesville, I found out that what is now a mountain biking trail on Observatory Hill use to be an equestrian trail that allowed bikes to be ridden on it back in the day. Now, it's a fun spot that's nearby town's folk go to for a cheap thrill and the enjoyment of a little mountain biking. The trail is up a tough climb from any newcomers experience, but it's worth the climb for the sake of getting away from the city grime, and traffic noise. I've often ridden it for the fun of it, and it's a quick ride thru the woods on a good sized hill. Some people go a breakneck speeds on the trail itself but I enjoy taking a look around so I'm more inclined to take my time.
Thinking back, I've ridden from Philadelphia, Pa. to Mt.Vernon along the eastern shore and back again during the hottest part of the summer of 1972. I lost a lot of water-weight on that ride but I was memorable 9 to me at least) as a feat not easily matched.
I've ridden four times on the MS 150, on two of which we rode from here in Charlottesville to the North Carolina border. Two more we rode to Appomattox Virgina in two days, and it was over some of the most beautiful countryside I've ever seen. I've also ridden the longest downhill run in the state which is the Virginia Creeper Trail down in Abington Virgina where the ride is a seventeen mile downhill run. You never have to peddle, and it's very scenic. I've been on the Cape Fear Bike Trail down just south of Virginia Beach, Va., the Cumberland State Park trail which wasn't much of a ride, then on the Hanncock Rails to Trails twenty four mile trail along the Potomac in Maryland, and the many trails up in Northern Virginia around the Washington DC area. Those were mostly Rails to Trails supported creations of which I am an ardent supporter. I've ridden on the Walnut Creek Park here in Albemarle County Virginia. In that park are single track trails through some wooded areas and those were some of the most enjoyable rides for this biker. Then, I've been on The Fairmont Park Trails up on Philadelphia when I lived their, I rode on many an alley and along Chestnut Street and then back westward on Walnut Street to my home on 45th Street and Osage Ave. I've been on a trip to Baltimore that was a disaster. We won't go there right now.
I've been on many trips from here up to the Blue Ridge Mountains almost too numerous to count. Then down in Florida, I've ridden on the Pinlellas Trail thru downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. I rented a bike that time with a friend who didn't quite fit the bike he chose and he had a miserable time of it. Lucky for me I enjoyed the ride over bike bridges and thru a trail in a living city. I've ridden recently on the GW Parkway trail to Mt Vernon. It was nice to see my old home in Stratford Landing thirty years after I had left it. Memories memories!!
All in all, I've seen many a mile inbetween the handlebars

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What Has Worked;

Wyant's Store in Whitehall,Va.

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  It is noted that Whitehall Virginia is a throwback to an earlier time, a time when people knew who you were whenever one was to shop in the store such as this....its something found in the rural areas of this state and not so much in the cities of Virginia. This is one of my paintings of such a place, where the guys inside it are all gathered talking about what's news in the area over some snack food of one kind or another. They were all very kind to me once I stopped in to see the inside of this store once I was done painting for the day. I enjoyed working on this one...it is the second of the same subject, the store was interesting to work on so I took a second look as it were and painted it again. It's wasn't so much that I didn't like the first painting of this country store it was more that I enjoyed working on it so I thought I would prolong the joyfullness by doing it a second time. I'm sure you have no idea what I am talking about..well just have a
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Walking Along W. Main St.

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I found the scene along West Main is soon to change into an newer style cityscape of brick and glass with less ornamentation to its buildings. With this in mind I photographed some West Main Street buildings in the hopes of finding interesting scenes to paint. The signage is all a part of West Main and in that thought I painted this one with its graphic street crossing signage featured prominently in the picture plane. I highlighted the bricks in intense reds and developed the windows in a bizarre abstract display for each one of them. Each featuring one color being themed inside its frame as if each window display had its own abstract painting going on inside its area. Its all for the fun of it, I play with what is being viable to the view when I can. Nothing ventured nothing gained. It was nice how this one came together piece by piece with each painting session. Intense color came about as I developed its' scene on the sidewalk windows. I was going to bring in
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Painting in the Public Domain

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Firecycle in Kamahura: 1954 or So

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Its been a long time coming but I finished another in my Japanese style paintings this past weekend. It's of a fire cycle, they didn't have enough money to build a fire truck although they did have a few in the station instead they made a cycle which could fight fires. I thought it was kind of unique and looked very different that anything I'd seen before so I painted it. Using one of my Dad's black and white photos I did a rendering of it. I enjoyed working with the strong red colors even though the photo is in Black and White I could remember some of the colors involved in this vehicle so I went ahead and played with it. It took a good deal of work, but I continued on with it until it was completed. I just couldn't let go of it very long while I was painting it. I guess I did another marathon painting session last weekend. I know I felt it after I was done.
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The County of Nelson's Courthouse

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Life's interest often takes us to the law and where the law is practiced. Recently there was a trial where it drew statewide interest due to the unusual manner in which the prosecution held its case. They didn't have the right of habeas corpus to carry on a conviction with yet the trail went on, and in the end the man was convicted of capital murder. There seems to have been enough evidence to convince the jury of the man's guilt. It was only the second time in Virginia criminal law cases that this has happened and it happened here in Nelson County. The Courthouse where this trial took place stands alone on top of a hill (the highest point in the city of Lovingston, Va.) The courthouse has a newer extension put onto its northside but if one sees it from one spot where I painted this canvas you can't see it. But what you do see is the old structure in all its grandeur. Such was the place from which I chose to paint this rather unremarkable yet noticeable b
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