A displaced Texan and other matters

[RocketMan]

Took a nice little ride last Sunday up to skyline to enjoy the colors, really great this year with all the rain we've had. I knew it was going to be crowded but figured I just doing the middle 30 miles and was planning on lots of stops anyways to enjoy the views so puttzing along for a while didn't really bother me, esp. since the rest of the 250 miles was pretty empty of traffic...

Stopped at Big meadows for a dog and coffee and am happy to report the coffee was just as bad as it always is! Dog was decent (if overpriced) but again, that's just part of the charm of the place! Ha Ha!

Oh, yeah the displaced Texan mentioned in the title.... Saw him on 211 on the way back...



A Texas Longhorn, pretty kool, he even raised his head to pose for me before returning to his grazing..

a few Panos

First a two shot pano of Big Meadows



link to full pano below
http://roadrunes.com/photo/main.php?g2_ ... emId=70266

Looking west around the 38 mile maker..a 7 shot pano of the valley

version one, a bit darker but more vivid colors

http://roadrunes.com/photo/main.php?g2_ ... emId=70256

then one taken 1-1/1 f stops up

http://roadrunes.com/photo/main.php?g2_ ... emId=70271

and one taken along 340 in the section between 211 and 33



and a link the full size pano

http://roadrunes.com/photo/main.php?g2_ ... emId=70276

these were all rendered with a new improved version of the Hugin Pano tool that came with the Ubuntu upgrade to 11.02 I ran on my system this past week.
It is much easier to use than the old version and works better overall though not as many user configuration options as the older version, well at least until I figure out where the config files for it are hiding.

Great ride, beautiful weather for a day on the bike! Got more pic, will load as time allows..

RM

[Rick F.]

Oh, yeah the displaced Texan mentioned in the title.... Saw him on 211 on the way back...




RM

RM,

Good Lord A'mighty!

Glad you got out for a fun and scenic ride. Don't forget about posting the additional pic's...

Rick

[RocketMan]

Ok so here are the rest of the photo's I took on my little ride. My route was down 211 to 340 south to 22 east up to skyline and along the center section north back to 211 then thru some nice roads between Warrengton and Rt. 29 along Old Ashburn Rd.

No need for details as most of these images you all know well.....




















































enjoy

RM

[Unity]

Looks like you caught the color at just the right time.

This one jump-started childhood memories I didn't realize I still have. When I was a free-range kid, exploring the world on my Schwinn (back before balloon tires were retro), milkweed stood out, during both its growing season and its non-growing season, like here. Monarch butterflies depend on it -- spread the seeds!



--John

[RocketMan]

Looks like you caught the color at just the right time.

This one jump-started childhood memories I didn't realize I still have. When I was a free-range kid, exploring the world on my Schwinn (back before balloon tires were retro), milkweed stood out, during both its growing season and its non-growing season, like here. Monarch butterflies depend on it -- spread the seeds!



--John

Thanks!

I did seem to have lucked out on picking the perfect time, colors were stunning, all that rain this year really made the colors pop this year.

funny but at first I wasn't going to post this version (HDR) due to the blurring induced by the motion between shots, but then I decided I kinda liked the surreal nature of the image so decided to keep it. Everyone knows what milkweed looks like so I thought maybe an image that (tried) to capture its "whispyness' might work here. looking at it again I think i'd do well to crop it tighter, there is too much blurry that is a bit hard on the eyes!

RM

[Rick F.]

RM,

Nice pic's--and I'm glad to see you found some Fall Colors. I think I've managed to miss any good FC pictures this year.

Rick

PS: Nice-looking bike, too!

[biometrics]

Looks like a nice set of handlebars, but the OEM seat looks like it would be a rough ride!