Summertime 2009

So we're past the halfway point in our summer break-from-school time. A little poignant, but Gayle and I are already thinking about the coming year and the new crop of 3rd / 5th graders. This is the week between stuff -- last week was 5 days away from Orlando for both of us, and next week Gayle is teaching summer school to rising kindergarteners while I'm doing some house projects.
Last week Gayle went to Manhattan with Emily for 5 days. While Emily had seminars for plays, Gayle visited museums, parks, and buildings. And went to two Broadway plays. They also had some sight-seeing time together, notably riding in a pedi-cab around Central Park, touring the Cloisters, and a boat trip around the Statue of Liberty & a tour of Ellis Island.
I brought Gayle to OIA Wednesday morning about 5:15 AM, got home, hopped on the motorcycle, and rode north to the Great Smoky Mountains. I spent a delightful three days in the mountains enjoying God's Creation and some really fun "twisties"! I covered the Cherohala Skyway, Route 28 / Fontana Dam road, US 129 / The Tail of the Dragon (318 curves in 11 miles), the Foothills Parkway, Little River Road & US 441 in the national park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. My rain gear paid for itself several times over -- stopped for a couple of thunderstorms and drove through rain / clouds several times. I had temps in the 50's on Saturday morning when I was near 6,000 ft elevation on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Got back early afternoon on Sunday, and picked Gayle up at the airport in the evening. Traveled over 1,500 miles!
We enjoyed our time away, and were glad to be back home again, safe & sound!

Rt column pictures:
#1 Broadway outside Gayle & Em's
hotel
#2 Ellis Island
#3 Statue of Liberty
#4 Brooklyn Bridge
#5 Manhattan from the top of the
Empire State Building

#6 Pedi-cab & driver who took
Gayle & Em around
Central Park

Left Column pictures:
#1 Rob @ the state border on the
Cherohala Skyway
#2 Fontana Dam
#3 Tree of Shame @ Deal's Gap, NC
at the beginning of the Tail of

the Dragon, an 11 mile run from

NC into TN w/ 318 curves
(Those are bike parts from
accidents along that road!)
#4 along Little River Rd in the
Great Smoky Mountains NP
#5 Rob & bike @ an overlook
on US 441 in GSMNP
#6 along the Blue Ridge Parkway