Go Out and See
There is so much beauty that surrounds us. It is a beauty
that can bring us joy when we take the time to “Go Out and See”. This past week, I had the pleasure of being
part of a beautiful day and a challenging bike ride. It provided an opportunity
to see the lovely landscape of farms, rivers and mountains that form parts of
western Haywood County, North Carolina.
It is that time of year when the leaves are coming back as the green
foliage slowly progresses up the mountainside. Winter is being left behind and the
memory of the cold distant mountain is replaced by soft layers of life and
biological growth.
Our journey begins at the town of Crabtree, where we head
west on Riverside Road. Here we bike for several miles next to the Pigeon River
until we reach the town of Riverside. It is here that we start our first
serious mountain ascent. It is approximately 1.5 miles of winding switchback
climbs. Our fast and perilous descent takes us to the town of Panther Creek,
where we begin the long sweeping terrain of hills and straights. Halfway
through our journey we merge onto Fines Creek Rd. In the town of Fines Creek is
the only gas station in more than 15 miles in any direction. We fuel up on
nuts, fluids and protein, and encourage each other for the mammoth climb to come.
One man, who is fueling his tractor,
asks us are we going up the mountain, in which we reply…yep that’s the plan. He
smiles and laughs and says “good luck”. He obviously knows something about the
mountain we don’t. But we know it is a 1.5 mile climb with a 5% gradient. It is
straight up with one or two slight curves. It is intimidating. We start the
climb and there are times when I look up and all I can see is the road horizon
in the sky. There are times when I want to stop, my will in question, my legs
in pain, but realize how difficult it would be to start uphill without momentum.
The descent at speeds nearing 40 mph is
a test of skill and nerve to say the least, but liberating. For nearly 2 miles,
one can only hold on aerodynamically and hope that no unforeseen problems
arise. Finally, after 18 miles, our return to Crabtree is a quick flowing pace
that allows for some reprieve and scenic viewing.
After the bike ride, the best part of the day is the drive
afterwards. We retrace our journey via the car and take photographs. Eighteen of
two hundred have been digitally retouched and included in the slideshow.
So what do we gain when we “Go Out and See”? For me, there
is the liberating feeling of joy that can stay with you a lifetime. There is also the possibility of discovering things
once unknown in my surroundings and in my soul.
What motivates you to take time out of your busy schedule to
“Get Out and See”? What would you like to discover in nature or local history? What
would it mean, and how would it enrich your life?
Take a moment and think about the last time you made the
extra effort to get out and discover. Let me know what you found.
Race Day April 3rd 2011
Mountain biking race day at Tsali Recreational Park, North Carolina
It is Race Day
Take what life gives us
Let us meet under the great pavilion
Where the sounds of aspirations
Are heard in the ballet of bikes
It is race day
Clutching our forged carbon loves
Sinewy muscles tense with sweat
We dream the dance
The dance of the mountain
It is race day
There is life in every breath
Let us meet silently at the starting gate
The noise of wind and sky to shatter our thoughts
While colors merge
A kaleidoscope forms
A kinetic fleeing pursuing blur
Rotating wheels and quick descents
Gorges rivers trees and falls
Pick yourself back up
Your pain body calls
And look up into the crying sky
To a transformative end
Finding yourself deep inside
It is race day
Transcending our weekday life
We are here to meet in joyous celebration
The sound of Kopeland
The sound of music
Victory for one
Pleasure for all
While arms and smiles embrace
Here at Tsali North Carolina
Its sure to be
A great race
A Mysterious Thing … The Photograph of a Place in Time
Biking around Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley, North Carolina
It was a golden morning and a beautiful start to the day. It was a Monday and there was a
chill in the air as the cold wind made its way down the mountain and across the
lake. I’ve always been mesmerized by beautiful seascapes and landscapes—where
water, mountain and sky meet. Drawn to their spiritual vastness, I sometimes
find (if it’s a good day) revelation and beauty, hidden…deep inside the
soul. When transfixed by such a mysterious place—we question its magnitude.
In-turn, we can at times find our very own inadequacies. We come to know our fears and our doubts. Usually
if I attempt to elevate myself, with pride—by thinking: I can do this…or I can do that—whatever the
thoughts may be, I then know I am no longer centered.
It is a golden morning and a beautiful start to the day. It is early April 2011 and spring is
on its way. There is anticipation and a longing for the discovery of beauty and
the Self in recollection. I am still mesmerized by beautiful seascapes and
landscapes—where water, mountain and sky meet. There is a planetary energy, a
Consciousness that lifts my Spirit. Transfixed I find it is a mysterious thing—the
photograph of a place in time. I remember the beauty of the moment and my
present fears and doubts are washed away. I will elevate myself today, with joy—by
thinking: I can do this…and I can do that—whatever the dreams may be.
It is April and it is spring and all the growth of my soul and Spirit is before me.
If you have a photograph of a place in time that transcends your life experience, embrace it and share it with others.
Namaste
Last Night a Dream and a Celebrated Life Deeply Loved.
A dream can be like a blooming rose touching all our senses.
Several nights, in the last two weeks, I have dreamt of loved ones whom have passed on. And still their love remains. My daughter and my mother came to me and shared their life energy and love with me. They brought moments that had been forgotten and weaved them with the essence of my own thoughts, perceptions, and desires. Dreams always seem to be about people, places and life’s moments intertwined. There are waves of reality, sometimes in a surrealistic manner, merging us with the floods of memories, emotions and deep aspirations. We at times never want to wake up, as we reach across the void to touch and hold on just a moment longer.
What does a dream mean to you? How does one interpret those dreams? These are questions that we have, on many occasions, asked ourselves. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a dream as; a series of images, ideas etc., occurring in certain stages of sleep.
There is always a deeply hidden, yet revealing message in a dream. The nature of a dream is its ambiguity. When we sleep with a dream, we see and feel the unknown, and when we wake, there is the longing for connectivity, revelation and a glimpse into the meaning of our lives.
This post is an invitation for you to describe what a dream means to you, or share a dream that has given you a sense of a life celebrated and deeply loved.
In Celebration of a Life Deeply Loved 02
An excited young "Lady" looking forward and enjoying life
In Celebration of a Life Deeply Loved 02
“I’m Free”
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free. I’m following the path God laid out for me. I took His hand when I heard him call. I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way. I found that peace at the close of the day. If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss. Ah yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life’s been full, I savored much; Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief. Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me. God wanted me now, He set me Free!
In Celebration of a Life Deeply Loved 01
Dionanna Lady McFadden-Smith
In Celebration of a Life Deeply Loved 01
A Rose
A long slender Rose represents my life
The Rose is sensitive, elegant, delicate…
But Vicious
Harsh to the touch
Manipulating…Deceiving
She makes you want to touch but
You may not touch
Sharp thorns protect her
The Rose is peace, love, beauty
Her red petals speak of love,
Passion, deep down feelings
The Rose needs care
Lots of care
Water, water…constantly
Soil…Rich soil nurtures her mind
Makes her beautiful
The ground is her home
Hard, solid, tough
Nature is her world
By
Lady McFadden
February 10th 1992
At the Summit, the Tree of Life Love Art and Faith
The Blue Ridge Mountains at the Summit of Waterrock Knob
At the Summit, the Tree of Life Love Art and Faith
“Just as the sun shines equally on the cedar and the little flower, so the Divine Sun shines equally on everyone, great and small”.
“Love can accomplish all things. Things that are most impossible become easy where love is at work”.
“Faith and hope give way to love; we had found already the One we were seeking”.
Quotations from:
Sermon in a Sentence: A Treasury of Quotations on the Spiritual Life
ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX
Trees have always presented themselves as being unique and mysterious to me. When I began drawing years ago the most interesting structure in a landscape was the tree. There are so many forms in the roots, trunks, and branches that can create beautiful art and design. As an abstract and surrealist artist, trees seemed to embody a great mystery. And for me, sitting under a tree provides a place of rest, visions for creative thought, and spiritual recollection.
Walter W. Smith
At the Steps of Wall Street and the Powers that Be, Our Price for Freedom
Sometimes In the Waking the Reality Is More Pressing than the Dream 2011 remix
Sometimes in the waking the reality is more pressing than the dream.
Last night, I awoke after a troubled sleep. A desperate sense of uneasiness embodied my Spirit. I really wish the soul of the world somehow was different, had been different, since the beginning of time. Perhaps then, millions of people, of all races, throughout creation and evolution would not have had to fight so hard for their freedom. That fight certainly continues today, in the streets and at the steps of institutions throughout the land with a fervent oscillation of desperation, purpose and will.
We want freedom they shout!
Last night I was dreaming that I was in a Wall Street Bank that had been converted to a video store. I was attempting to return three videos and was told I had purchased a video that I knew that I had not, a video whose contents I was at odds with….
It was the stripping of my freedom.
It was a beautiful building. The architecture was designed to rise above all in its majesty and prestige. It once was a symbol of power and hard earned wealth. And now the money terrorists had taken over…literally in the dream and in life….
Scenes of surrealism abound….
In the dream I spent several minutes walking the aisles viewing such great documentary and feature film titles such as Food Inc., Gas land, Citizen Kane, District 9, Sunshine, and Inside Job. While cruising, I simultaneously began noticing a sense of tension in some of the patrons. However, most had come to grip with the situation and seemed to be not at odds with their oppressors, the money terrorists. A group of Tibetan Buddhist Monks (who I must say are at the forefront of courageous freedom fighters) are reciting mantras, handing out pamphlets and inviting everyone to India, Tibet and Nepal. A group called Meet the People Time Forgot is touring America e.g. the Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall, and the Philadelphia Zoo. The organization is known for its strict membership requirements i.e. only the downtrodden, the young, the old, the disabled, the unemployed, the underemployed, the disenfranchised and those lost at sea may apply. During short interludes, in life, when all their possessions were not being taken from them, they were to be found in the rear vaults; amusing themselves and passing time by playing games of pinochle, gin rummy, strip poker and blackjack. The Buddhist Monks, after having given out the pamphlets, gracefully sat down (yoga style) and held a ‘throw-down’ Zen tea party…unreal Tea Partiers were not invited. Everyone seemed entranced, even one of the money terrorists could not resist the enticing smell of freshly baked goods such as biscuits, cookies, cakes, chunks of butter, lard and manure, and jelly-filled pastries from Dunkin Donuts. On the winding staircases that circumvent the bank, teenagers (e.g. two or more black youths (a “Wolf Pack”)), hip grunge girls from Seattle (listening to Nirvana on their IPods) are strolling (oblivious to the stealing of their constitution and American values) while sipping from designer tea cups; their right hands delicately holding small thimble sized cups of licorice, jasmine, ginseng and caffeine free Echinacea tea. The aroma and taste is downright toxic, I shake my head in affirmation; I pause, center myself, and prepare to “take on the man”.
Yeah, he puts up a good fight. They all do, the money terrorists—a lot of power and influence they possess and wield. And he is nonetheless persistent in his disillusionment, dreaming of ways of putting me down, kicking us to the curb. So I have to be as willful in my rebuttal, in my response, in my voice…..
So I protest, and line the halls of institutions and squares all over the world shouting… I am willing to die for my freedom and yours.
Join me….
And never give up the fight.
At the Steps of Wall Street and the Powers that Be, Our Fight for Freedom
Faith and Choice that Move Mountains
Faith and Choice that Moves Mountains
When it comes to faith as a guiding light, and planting a seed, it is true that the smallest of gestures can produce a life altering experience. At the heart of these moments in life—there is a decision. It is a decision born almost overwhelmingly, of fear, doubt and hope. In these overwhelming moments we can be distracted by our emotions, by our circumstances. And find that there is beauty in madness and in faith, and sometimes they exist in us simultaneously.
I can remember looking back at the moments in my life wherein decisions had to be made that would change my life dramatically. Those moments were so intense that only faith or fear could move me—could move the mountains in front of me. In one instance, I remember looking up to the sky, on a cold Wisconsin night, knowing that speaking, declaring, just a few words would concretely change the course of my life for years to come.
And I spoke those few words….
And in days my life changed….
Was I acting on faith or fear? Do we really understand the mysteries of our decisions? Are they our own? And what is the value of the question, will I regret this moment this decision? As life goes on, it all becomes the past. Looking back, into that past for answers to the present is ultimately meaningless. Life is only the present moment with many paths leading to it. Yes we can learn from the past, but ultimately, it cannot change this present moment, this opportunity for awareness, nor to move forward in faith. Each present moment has its own decision, its distinct opportunity to exhibit faith and trust in the mystery of life.
We do “move mountains” with faith, with the words we speak, with our alignment with Source.
And we also “move mountains” with self reliance, accountability and knowledge…
Choice.
That decision that day did change my life for years to come. And at times, I still question did I do the right thing. But as the years have come and gone, I’ve learned to train my mind, to live closer to this present moment and the life, that decision, in part has given me.
Transcending the Ambiguities of the Heart (at sea remix 2011)
Transcending the Ambiguities of the Heart (at sea remix 2011)
Transcending the Ambiguities of the Heart
Prologue from Miles Ahead / Everything But the Girl / From Life and Stolen Innocence by Walter Smith
“Life on the oceans of the world is sustained by the luck of the draw—same as on land. At times it is called, (in recent history) the ‘American Dream’—the need to discover, possess and to be miles ahead. We find ourselves by looking beyond the impending realization, (everything but the girl) —reaching for it with fervent desperation. At other times it’s a sighting too late and the course not taken. Drifting for what seems like the duration of timelessness on the empty sea of lost love. For centuries man has sailed the seven seas and oceans of the world—in search of…”
He paused, smiled and then continued, “A couple of good stories to tell a young seafarer.”
Maybe Tomorrow a Similar Question a Different Answer 04
The Backyard in Meditation 04 2011 remix
Hi Liz
I woke up today, far away, in The Backyard of Meditation…
Thinking and Imagining…
Art.
Major effects for The Backyard in Meditation 04: Multiple layers, Displacement Map @ 48 % blur, Displacement Properties @ 2D offsets, intensity 24.00, and edge mode: wrap. Artistic Effect: Chrome @ 4 % flaw, and 50 % brightness.
The Backyard in Meditation 2004 Digital Collage / Multiple layers and photographs a urban / nature transformation
Maybe Tomorrow a Similar Question a Different Answer 03
The Backyard in Meditation 03 2011 remix
Hi Liz
The question is the method in which one creates art… Sometimes in the waking I have a kinetic dream… I love the mystery of art, and find the meaning in the process of creating.
A series of posts in fragments explore the possibilities. And as John Cage the avant-garde artist and composer would see it; art by random chance—whatever the computer dictates.
A series of effects upon the landscape the Backyard in Meditation 03, a soft focus and a repeating of the displacement map—finding oneself, losing oneself—melting into the process.
Abstract Art and Surrealism are early influences: Jackson Pollack and Salvador Dali fuel the fire and stroke the process.
The meaning, the how, and the essence is in the process.
Major effects for The Backyard in Meditation 03: Multiple layers, Displacement Map Repeat (3) @ 48 % blur, Displacement Properties @ 2D offsets, intensity 24.00, and edge mode: wrap. Soft Focus @ 90 % softness, 100 @ edge importance (Focus), 80 % amount, 50% halo size, 90% halo visibility (Halo). Edge Effect, Erode.
Maybe Tomorrow a Similar Question a Different Answer 02
The Backyard in Meditation 02 2011 remix
Hi Liz,
You asked about the process of creating my work. That question is perhaps leading me to think about this as a series of posts that in fragments will convey the answers visually and instructional. So with that in mind, here is a collection of answers highlighted in large type. I have a large inventory of images from over the years. And as I have said on my website, the computer allows for what seems like infinite possibilities of creative choice and energy. I have certain steps that are basic such as photo correction (done first and throughout the image manipulation). I then create a series of effects, which are based on the photo style itself (portrait, landscape, abstract, etc) and in which direction I want the image to go (sharp or soft, but always rich in color and form). I love to layer my images when creating large conceptual pieces. However for the posts I am usually looking at more simplistic imaging to correspond with the immediacy of the posting. I find this to be like “sketching”. Sometimes I can complete an image for a post in 30 minutes or less. The internet and social networking provides a new art medium in-of-itself. It can dictate how an artist approaches his own work. It also forms a new way of communicating with large exposure. In the past the concentration was on gallery exhibitions, and producing hard copies, (prints) etc. But now, I can also hope to find various internet vehicles to promote, and to create, new visual processes for the future.
Major effects for The Backyard in Meditation 02: Multiple layers, Glowing Edges @ 3% intensity, 20% sharpness.
Maybe Tomorrow a Similar Question a Different Answer 01
The Backyard in Meditation 01 detail 2011 remix
Hi Liz,
Thank you for the wonderful comments on the series entitled “Biking to a Place Inside and Out”. In this four part series entitled “Maybe Tomorrow a Similar Question a Different Answer, I will be using the element of repetition (the heart of my work is in repetition) both in prose and image to answer the question… How do I create my art? For this series the piece I will be reconstructing is a detail from the 2004 collage “The Backyard in Meditation”. My goal is not to convey a step-by-step explanation of the process, but to hint at the intuitiveness that is inherent to the process.
First, I have a large collection of photographs and remixed images that I can use. I have been creating digital art since 1985. I always start a piece with photo correction techniques before creating effects. Depending on the image (portrait, landscape, abstract) determines where I want to go in relation to effects (soft, sharp organic, geometric, opaque, transparent etc). I always let the computer contribute its own “ideas” as well. It is important to note that for my posts, I usually utilize a single frame image and not a multi-layered, multi photo, image that I produce for my more conceptual collages. The images for the posts are similar to “sketches” which are quickly created… unless it is a previous image already found in my portfolio. One of the things that I am discovering in this process is the immediacy of the internet and social networking i.e. YouTube, Facebook, blogging etc. I want these various internet mediums themselves to become the vehicle for art, individual and collectively. That is why blogging is exciting. It provides a challenge to produce regularly and also provides tools for creativity and a diverse audience. I recently thought of the idea of creating an avatar of me, as an artist, and a real-time internet gallery space to create work in and interact with visitors who come to the gallery.
Major imaging effect for The Backyard in Meditation 01: Multiple layers, Displacement Map @ 48 % blur, Displacement Properties @ 2D offsets, intensity 24.00, and edge mode: wrap.
Our Super Admiration and Grandiose Celebration of Violence American Style
It's a Super Bowl football thing
On a recent Sunday most Americans found themselves glued to a television set with friends and family, at home, in bars, and in parking lots to watch a game called football.
I was NOT one of them.
Of course I am not talking about any football game. I am talking about the highly revered Super Bowl. It’s a day when America will stop virtually everything to watch a game. The Church will cancel its evening services, the NBA will make sure it does not schedule any night games which may come in conflict with its consumer viewing, government dignitaries will stop serving the people to attend, weekend workers won’t show up at work, and kids won’t go out to play.
And drunk drivers will kill people on the roads of America.
I can never understand this fascination for a game that, for lack of better expression, celebrates violence.
But then America does love its violence….
We love war, guns and the death penalty. I have to chuckle just a little bit when I think of the millions of Texans, in particular, who just love the fact, and can boast that this monumental testimony to violence was being played in their home state. All hail Texas, the death penalty and the right to carry a gun!
What is it about men, dressed as Gladiators, running into each other at full speed with the single intent to “knock the other person unconscious”, or to “knock the %*$# out of the other player” that brings so much pleasure, so much delight, to a cheering fan? What is it about this over exaggerated state of machismo that fuels the imagination of so many people?
Have we lost our minds?
Well, there is a certain awakening or awareness in my mind. Needless to say it does not engage in, nor feel, nor know, nor need the connection to this or any celebratory and fortuitous act of violence. Am I immune to rising thoughts of violence or distraction? Of course I am not. However, I’ve come to understand through innate intuition, a daily practice in mindfulness, and structured study—the need for love, compassion and non-violence….
In a world, that often celebrates violence fortuitously, as people simultaneously struggle against tyranny, in which to build their own democracies, there is a need to step back for a moment and ask ourselves honestly….
Does this make any sense?
I say … NO, it does not.
Now, it should be noted, that I am not against sport or competition. I too have a love for athleticism that brings out the best in us. Some of my more recent posts via my blog explore my own love for athleticism (biking) and the sense of achievement that can be found in the mastery of self in athletic pursuit. I think we all have our reasons for challenging ourselves. Maybe a closer scrutiny of the “why” is needed.
But our admiration for violence in and out of sport leaves me puzzled, and to this final question….
Is this REALLY the America we TRULY want?
Biking to a Place Inside and Out / 07
In addition to challenging biking opportunities there are hundreds of trail to hike as well
One of the best places to road bike is along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. The BRP stretches for hundreds of miles (approximately 470) through North Carolina and Virginia. It is one of the most beautiful scenic rides in the country. The parkway follows the Appalachian Mountain chain. From Shenandoah National Park the parkway follows the Blue Ridge, eastern rampart of the Appalachians. It then skirts the southern end of the massive Black Mountains, named for the dark green spruce and fir that cover them. Then it weaves through the Craggies, the Pisgahs, the Balsams to end up in the Great Smokies. I had the pleasure of staying at the famous Pisgah Inn located on the southern end of the parkway, at Mount Pisgah about 30 miles from Asheville, NC. You can marvel at the forest-clad mountain peaks, mist filled coves, and the slopes of fragrant balsams, rhododendrons, mountain laurel and flame azalea. It was a great week of biking, hiking (Graveyard fields to the Upper Falls), art galleries (Blue Spiral and galleries in the River Arts District), independent films (La Vie En Rose, the story of French singer Edith Piaf) and fine dining (organic, Thai and Indian). But I must say that for a spectacular view, and good food, the restaurant at the Pisgah Inn with its panoramic view overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains is unsurpassed. And finally, a perfect end to an evening is sitting on your private back porch watching the sun set beyond the mountains.
Stopping to take in the view from another vantage point along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Biking to a Place Inside and Out / 06
Sometimes on the bike the reality of life and the beautiful dream become one
I am very fortunate that were I live, I can immediately access miles of rural back roads to immerse myself on my road bike. I spoke earlier about the sense of transformation that is achieved while biking. Here on these winding roads and gently sloping hills, I pass by farm lands, historic areas, woods and beautiful estates. What enhances a great ride is the right music. There is a distinct difference in the selection of music for road and mountain. On the road there is a need to be able to hear your surroundings for safety measures. Hence, my selection is always, soft, slow dancing ambient. My favorite band for a ride is the neo-classical ambient band from Austin Texas, Stars of the Lid. In fact, this has been the most prolific band for me in the past two years. This is aural mastery of the highest order. In contrast, when mountain biking, there really is no need to be conscious of your surroundings. Now your music can flow anyway you like. For the mountain, I prefer long flowing electronic sounds from bands like AES Dana, Bombay Dub Orchestra and Near the Parenthesis, or French Pop artists like Etienne Daho, France Gall, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Alizee to name a few. It is here on the mountain when you need that extra aural drive to push your rhythm to its fullest—to make that climb.
Music plays a significant part in creating the aural soundscape in which to find transformation in physical movement
Biking to a Place Inside and Out / 05
Biking @ 5000 ft on the Blue Ridge Parkway from the Pisgah Inn to Water Rock Knob
And to achieve a great ride you’ve got to know and trust your bike. I ride a Trek 4300 on the mountain and a Giant OCR on the road. Both bikes have served me well and have maintained their riding integrity in spite of the miles and punishment I have put them through.
When climbing the mountains of life we come face to face with many obstacles
Biking to a Place Inside and Out / 04
Road biking at high elevation on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
But here in the South biking takes on a whole new dimension. It explodes with energy and beauty. Both road biking and mountain biking provide a means to an enriching and trans-formative end. This post entitled “Biking to a Place Inside and Out” includes a gallery of images that records visually that magnificent end. And it is an attempt to express the color, beauty, emotional, and physical essence of biking. It is difficult to say what I enjoy most–road or mountain biking. They both provide their own unique challenges. The mountains of Western North Carolina, and the forest areas of South Carolina harbor great recreational parks such as Tsali, DuPont State Forest, Bent Creek, and Laurel River in NC and Paris Mountain, Southside and FATS (Forks Area Trail System (named one of the top 10 machine-made trail systems in the country)) in SC. These are moderate and difficult level trails with hundreds of feet in elevation changes. They are comprised of single track, access roads, and some, like the Left and Right Loops at Tsali, a single track that the rider navigates around a large man-made lake (Fontana Lake). In a recent conversation with a fellow rider, we discussed the horrible consequence of making a riding error and going over the edge into the lake (not good). In the winter the lake is drained and in the summer it is at full capacity. Until then, it had not occurred to me that the prospect of losing one’s bike to the lake could become a reality. But a challenge is a challenge, and in mountain biking especially, there can be no room for fear. Both the Left and Right Loops are each approximately 12 miles in length, and any lapse in concentration could be costly. In contrast to the obvious hazards, Tsali is a very beautiful recreational park located on the borders of Swain and Graham counties with the Great Smokey Mountains as its magnificent playground. One can only marvel at the beautiful surroundings that become infused with every fiber of your being as you push, pedal and commit yourself to go one yard farther—to make that climb. Throughout most of these parks are rivers, gorges, tree roots, rocks, creek crossings, ravines, dead drops, imposing trees everywhere, and some that provide mountains summits that climb to 5000 feet. Expect to fall, expect to get hurt. These and numerous other challenges test the will, the level of oxygen deprivation to the muscles, balance, hand/eye coordination, timely decision making, and your overall physical stamina.
The tree obstacle on the trail at Laurel River, North Carolina
Biking to a Place Inside and Out / 03
Taking a break at FATS (Forks Area Trail System) in South Carolina
Biking in the big city is quite different from biking in rural areas such as here in South Carolina. In the city, it’s about taking your time and blending in with your surroundings i.e. talking with strangers (girls mostly), stepping in and out of stores (got to have a lock), cruising downtown (looking cool), and going to the park for that “getting away from it all feeling”. Philadelphia has one of the largest city parks in the nation called Fairmount Park. It embodies four sections of the city, with beautiful trails and drives (most notably the East and West River Drives). Rivers, creeks, long stretches of trails and scenic vistas can be found only by biking, horseback riding or hiking.
Bike and helmet in a surreal setting at Laurel
Biking to a Place Inside and Out / 02
Biking across the tracks and taking photos at Laurel Creek.
In Philadelphia, growing up as a teenager in the 1960’s and 70’s, I enjoyed the freedom biking gave to my friends and I. We had back then what we called “Vroom” bikes. These were the bikes with the big V-shape handlebars (before the smaller BMX). As a group of young riders we were very competitive. We often challenged others boys from rival gangs in competition to see who could do the longest “wheelies” (lifting the front wheels and pedaling for blocks at a time, turning corners, and riding backwards). Needless to say, we sometimes found ourselves in fights, arguments and riding for our lives. Gangs were a prominent fixture of Philadelphia in the 60’s and 70’s and although we were quite young we were not immune to the violence in rival neighborhoods.
Meditating next to a river of glass and rock at Laurel Creek
Biking to a Place Inside and Out / 01
Resting at the end of the Laurel Creek Trail, Madison County, NC
There is something about biking on a trail or on the road that leaves one breathless—sometimes literally breathless. The energy consumed, the movement imposed, and the feeling of space and time standing still. In all of this there is the sense of traveling without moving, yet always a feeling of perpetual flight.
I love biking, then and now…
Reaching the summit at Tsali Recreational Park, Graham County, NC
Transcending the Mundane
Finding the path to Liberation and the end of cyclic existence
Our daily lives at times are filled with what seems like perpetual forms of the mundane. This is when the life around us appears to slow down and things appear to stand still. The thinking mind is no longer centered, but restless—searching for something to attach itself to. It is moments like this that we long for distraction. We may at this time unknowingly appear to be succumbing to this longing, but it has been there all along. It is the ego and it is at the foundation of our cyclic existence: (samsara): uncontrollably being reborn under the influence of disturbing attitudes and karmic imprints.
Today, I am experiencing such disillusionment or distraction. I am not at all centered. I want to think of something to do or find a profound gesture to give my life greater meaning. I say to my-self “you can create some art, or write a post for the blog or rehash thoughts about what I want out of life.” Now that (rehashing thoughts) is certainly a great way to keep one-self distracted—to be out of the present moment. The quickest way to address these moments of being “lost” in our thinking is to sit quietly and just observe the thoughts through our practice of meditation. Let the thoughts, like the waves of the ocean, rise and fall. We can say to ourselves, “I am thinking.” This is the beginning of Liberation: freedom from cyclic existence and Nirvana: the cessation of unsatisfactory conditions and their causes.
So today, I see the mundane for what it really is: a distraction from what is: We may call it mundane, but it is life itself in this present moment, and we can learn to embrace it.
And when we see it for what it truly is, we are free from any misconceptions that may arise.
We are on the path to Liberation and the end of Samsara.
The Spark that Ignites Our Dream of Love Soon Fades Away
A 2011 remix for Life and Stolen Innocence with poem
four point two million sympathy cards hallmark dissipating blue-clear skies to purple gray skies vertical sky-cam a gun in hand aisle four
the sound of a distant airplane voices behind closed doors clear skies, green grass, eternity hand-held sony super 8 interviewing clips from serial mom and fourth of july picnics
christmas morning echoed screams polaroids father knows best sleep in pain, wake to fear, live without love family sitcoms circa: 1960’s
n e w d i g i t a l s c a p e s 