GEBA 2010

Our Great Bicycle Adventure this year was a 260 mile
ride from Cleveland to Springfield.
We followed the Ohio to Erie Trail, a combination of rail-trails
and roads connecting them together.
Probably 60 percent of our trip was on trails.

Bob and Lorena hosted us the night before our adventure began.
Thanks Bob, thanks Lorena.

Our trip began at the terminus of the Ohio & Erie Towpath.

A blue herron taking off.

A muskrat.
As soon as we got this picture he disappeared.

A hiccup in our plans.

Fortunately the backtrack only added a few miles.

A look back at where we'd been.
This is the Sippo Valley Trail.

An Amish farmer using horse drawn equipment.

An Amish horse and buggy.
We never encountered any going the same direction as us.
If we had I'm not sure who would've been faster.

This is the beginning of the Mohican Valley Trail.

Another milepost for the collection.

The Kokosing Trail at Howard, Ohio.

Somebody we met along the way.

Julie on a train display at Gambier, Ohio.

Taking a break above Westerville.

All in all a great trip.

Cades Cove

Our house is only about half an hour to the park entrance.

Inside the park is Cades Cove, a meadow in the middle of the mountains.
A one-way one lane road loops around it. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings
the park services closes the road to all motor traffic.
It's a great place to ride the bike.

A bit foggy this morning.

A typical view of the road.

The road up to the cove winds along a mountain stream.
In the spring the water is really really cold.

Critters in East Tennessee

We have lots of critters in east Tennessee

This little guy was on our back porch.

Our horses. Actually they live in the pasture behind us.
They love apples and carrots.

A pileated woodpecker we spotted in Cades Cove.

Stump? No, it's a bear cub. I wonder where mama bear is.

Graduation

Our Emily this spring.

We knew she was smart. Now she has proof.

It was a beautiful sunny day.

Emily and her roommate, Andrea.

Things we learned in Tennessee

While searching for a new home in eastern Tennessee we learned a few interesting things. We once lived in Louisville Kentucky and learned the correct pronunciation is "Loo-a-vul". We're buying a house in Louisville Tennessee and locally it's pronounced "Lewis-ville". Nearby is Maryville. The locals pronounce it "Mer-a-vul". Siever County? It's pronounced "Si-veer" County. Gosh, we're gonna' sound like Yankees for a while.

Lenten Rose

Hellebore is also known as Lenten Rose and Christmas Rose. I have several but none have bloomed for me this early until this year. Most of mine bloom late February and into March.






A flash of color caught my eye yesterday when I was filling birdfeeders and I was very surprised and pleased to find this flower blooming near my patio. This little guy is mostly yellow which is unusual for Lenten Rose. I just planted it this year and since it was a seedling, I had no expectation that it would actually be yellow. It sure brightened my day!

The outside maroon color is much more typical for hellebore. I like the two toned effect it gives. The streaks in the face are good too.

The bonus for hellebore is the deer won't touch them! It's just since they bloom in winter, it's easy to miss them.

Happy Birthday Robin

Another December landmark birthday. We celebrated Robin's birthday during our Christmas gathering at Dwight and Julie's.

Happy Birthday Robin. It's good to have you in our family!

Family Gathering Dec 27

It doesn't get much better than this. How much fun can be had at Christmas. Cousins and sisters are the best toys!









Kenady explains how it is done. Sara and Keylee prepare.













Who needs music when you have giggles?














Julie said this was our largest gathering since we've been celebrating our group Christmas in their home.

Beth and Jim's grandkids.

Beth and Jim's kids with spouses. Scottman is in there too...he just evaded my camera.

You can always find our family congregating in the kitchen. It has always been a nurturing place to visit (oh yeah and eat!)

Dean

Vickie

Molly, Olivia, Daniel, and Robin in the background.

It was good to have Brooke, Jamie and all four kids this year. Kyler has grown so much and has become quite a charming young man.



















Scott and Christine












The younger crowd enjoying time together.


















Kyler and Brooke

Brooke and Jamie's new son was quite popular with the ladies.

Sydney and Olivia.










A great time was had by all. We greatly missed Jamie, Mary, Drew, and Kat and Kai but feel very lucky that so many family members could make it. Thanks so much for hosting Dwight and Julie. Sorry I didn't get photos of everyone uploaded.