Fall is Falling...

Fall in the High Country just cannot be stopped!
from the never ending flow of tourists in town gawking at fall colours and spending money in the bar, the shorter days, longer hikes, cooler temps, its a time for change up here - and I could not be more in LOVE right now seriously!!!!

Heres a little photo recap...

THIS ONE!  She was close, I had two bikes... DONE!  Now my city bike is Baltimore as a pre-paid leave behind and a december rendezvous is on the books. Look out Baltimore 50mileradiusadventures are lurking in your healthcare

Virginia is for CREEPERS!!

Got a couple favorite rides in before the air turned too much colder.  what better way to meet your favorite Good Witch for a cocktail?

There has been a lot of Art-ing lately, and both a solo piece, and this weird gem of a collaboration with Beaker Hurwitz (@_dickweed000) are currently hanging in the Nth Degree Gallery on King Street.  And if you know anything about me at all the chills that statement gives me and the feeling of satisfaction and promise of after so many years of fucking around with paints should be of no surprise. expect more - a LOT more!

There was a really fun few days exploring Winston-Salem (The Dash as its known to some) with the flat brim radness of BeersandGears Jake and Aimee Easter are working genuinely hard in The Dash to make cycling safer, more accessible and a ton of FUN!  They are an inspiration to what we can do up here.

The bluest of bathrooms...

first shell station ever

squint hard, thats an observation platform the city is building as a park, 200 feet over the water in a crystal clear abandoned quarry - KEWL!

if you find yourself in The Dash - get thee to Washington park for a little man-pampering at the Wash Park Barber Shop and the best BBQ you have never imagined at Slappys Chicken

had a cocktail with this tequila aficionado and former Boonie

the RAD was had!

There were a couple days on in which so many healthy choices were made, new areas explored, feelings talked about, pumpkins shredded, drinks drank, swimming holes swum - despite the cold, colours marveled at, art arted...

I WILL BE the last one in!!!

2 hands praying for One.

 There was an Art Crawl, preceded with an unbelievable hike up the parkway side of Grandfather Mountain - one of the most amazing natural resources I have ever had access to.  14 miles from my door, silence and views await! If that is not the flicker that started this 50 Mile Radius Adventure fire, then there isnt one!

if I can jump in - I will!

To have all the people close to me out and about to support this important 2 year anniversary, and to gawk at my painted junk was an honorable and heart felt night, made even better to see them all in Red Pants!

Its been a RAD couple weeks up here for me - contributing to this ridiculous grin on my bearded face, and the churning in my brain that make me feel so very much at home here in the High Country. 

But Wait....There's more...a late night jam session with our fearless and outspoken leader left me feeling very well supported, and encouraged to take these ideas, and the selfish pursuits outside and start to think hard about giving them purpose, about connecting with other better funded groups and the efforts they make to preserve and to promote the sustainable development of this place Im calling "Home" Meetings are scheduled, ideas are scribbled on bits of paper, and my overactive rattlecan of a brain is ENGAGED!  Thinking Thinking Thinking... 

How many times have I heard "You Think too much."

"I dont think so..."

stay tuned for more.....

Scotito du Nord (Carolina)

Hair Raising Descents, Spirit Lifting People, and Fund Raising Rides

What an AMAZING three days.
The premise - sign up for a fundraiser ride in Morganton, an adorable little town in the foothills of these majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, but RIDE THERE over the course of a couple days on twisty lonely dirt roads, have enough juice left over to intimidate on the start line of the kids bike derby race, and get home in time to pour beer for the second NC Cyclocross Race in Boone on Sunday.
check

check

check

and CHECK!

Despite getting off to one of the SLOWEST starts to a bike tour ever, it was one of the most gorgeous and lonely rides I have ever been on, with probably less than 10 cars passing me in 2 days!  This is mid-week North Carolina dirt roads!  Loads of time in my own head, perfecting strange accents out loud, singing songs that pop into my Rattle-Can brain for no apparent reason and generally having a pretty swell time.  Heres some of the better photos.

open to interpretation, wrong turns, and spur of the moment ice cream stops!

Always a great support team!

Coffee sponsors CAMP Coffee Roasters were kind enough to hook it up...

...go see them in Blowing Rock!

Rhoddie Bikes is the friendliest damn shop EVER!

so much washboard, so much breaking I had to let air out of my tires 

Looking back to the mountains I cam down...

toughest dirt climb on a loaded touring bike ever!

Legendary HC Dirt loop!

Next time - I camp here!

switchbacks for DAAAZEE!

first cup in the DARK!

second cup by the river!

Apparently these are used to tag trees for destruction by a local logging company but those who know Le Tour de France know that this is the colour of the Hill Climb Champs jersey. Perfect motivation.

TV PARTY TONIGHT!!!!!

the most beautiful 10 mile wrong turn ever!

....buzzards!

saw it on the map and was hoping to see a sign, there's gotta be a Tom Waits song in there somewhere. 

24 hours after a slow start I was already back in civilization

Morganton has a great greenway next to the Catawba river 8 miles out and back.

back to the car to shuttle over to the following day's ride start

with a quick stop at Fonta Flora for tasty beverages of a malted and fermented variety

got to the ride site late and camped out, woke to some amazing views!

whos ready for a 9am start time?

kitty sleeps hard in the autumn sun!

the ride went around Lake James in the foothills, beautiful views at every turn and some great legit rolling hills.

"rolling hills" believe it or not I coasted more than half way up that.

"Win the Party"

3 laps, 1 crash, and a lot of shit talkin"

The drive back was loaded with traffic and cramping legs, but the views of the leaves changing colours in the mountains up here was UNBELIEVABLE!  I really do get to live in an amazing seasonal spot.  All cause I chose to stick out that first tough cold lonely winter, and rejoin the beer industry.  I made it home in time for a Burger at my fav pub, and a hot soak!  Up early the next day to pour beer with this maniac at the #2 NC Cyclocross race - of which I got ZERO photos cause we were busy silently judging everyone's visible bulge, and keeping wasps away.

Spent the wee hours of the night finishing the November Schedule for work and here we are...a caughts up now aint we.

Im going to leave the FUNDRAISER site up a little while longer to make some more dough for the Non Profits so if you like this and want to see more - get over to GoFundMe and donate!  As much as I love the narcisitic selfishness of a good solo bike tour putting PURPOSE behind this one felt good, helped me stay motivated and allowed me to make some really good genuine connections with like minded people - hey wait - I think that's called COMMUNITY!

Perfect.

Get out there this fall

Scotito du Nord.