Virginia is for Lovers...And Work

I find myself on the road again after a productive day of walking, travel, and minimalism. I headed south again, and based on all the signs along the way, I'm convince beyond a shadow of a doubt that Virginia fulfills the billing as being for Lovers.

Virginia is for Lovers

This sign at a rest area on I-64 represents one of many Loveworks installation pieces throughout the state that promote the notion that Virginia is for Lovers and offer scenic stops along the way to capture that feeling. The simple lines of this particular rendering appeal to my newfound asceticism (both deliberate and by circumstance). I even managed to find a donation center in VA to offload ten books today on the tenth day of my path to a greater feeling of freedom and minimalism.

Minimalism Day Ten

All of these books stayed with me for so long because they came to represent a part of my identity. There really is no explanation other than that. "Elementary Applied Partial Differential Equations" represented a very challenging and difficult phase, and if I never have to conduct a Laplace or Fourier Transform again, I probably won't shed too many tears. At any rate, it was good to lighten my load a little to make room for whatever the future may have in store.

On the way down to Virginia, I stopped off at the Washington Navy Yard to pick up some clothes and capture a shot or two of the USS Barry in her final days at the Navy Yard.  She's been there for three decades or so after having served the fleet ably, and I find a bit of nostalgia poking up through my normally tough and crusty exterior.  Today, it became clear that preparations for her departure in early May (currently, Saturday, 07 May 2016, 0600) are beginning in earnest.  The crane barge Columbia NY owned and operated by Donjon Marine, Inc. was moored beside the USS Barry along with two Donjon tugs.

USS Barry with Donjon Marine, Inc. Crane Barge Columbia NY

The last time I worked with Columbia was during recovery efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita . We spent months pulling primarily shrimp and fishing boats and tank and deck barges out of the bayous of southern Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. A fairly comprehensive accounting can be found in the US Navy Salvage Report - Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (S0800-AC-RPT-010). A picture of Columbia NY refloating shrimping vessels in Venice, LA can be found on page 4-3 of the report. Nostalgia ruled a good hour of the day. 

It's a bit sad to know that this river view will undergo a major change in the coming weeks, and I share history with the equipment and company that will play a role in that change.

Anacostia Afternoon with USS Barry and Columbia NY

Change is inevitable, I suppose, and moving out old possessions to make room for new possibilities seems to be a thematic element for my life this spring. It will be interesting to see how the universe conspires to shape the unfolding, but until it does, I'm looking forward to what dawn may bring tomorrow.

On the Eve of a Road Trip

Tomorrow, I get on a couple of planes and head south to Alabama for a series of work related meetings next week. I've been feeling quite rushed in my daily practice over the last couple of weeks catching up after the Christmas holiday, so I'm planning on trying to keep things as low key and focused as I can next week.

In spite of the rush, I got in just a touch over the required distance I need to keep just ahead of the threshold goal for the month. I covered the eleven mile distance all in one shot, and although the pace lagged what I'd like, a nagging tendon irritation in my left foot seems to be waning. It was good to cover a medium distance all in one go, and I really feel like it's getting to be time to practice a relatively long day sometime in the near future.

In addition to the format, the temperature was quite a bit more temperate than it was earlier in the week. There were even hints of blue sky which is always a welcome surprise this time of year in the Mid-Atlantic region.

College Creek Reflecting the Hint of Blue Sky

I have really grown to appreciate the quality of the reflections on the water from in this part of the world when the air is calm. I've heard it said that the master painters used to travel to the Mediterranean because of the quality of the light. My own theory holds that it was the quality of the beaches and Spanish and Italian women as well as the wine and that the light was just a convenient excuse. My own hypothesis aside, if it truly was the quality of the light, I suspect they would have found the same sort of effects here in the coastal Chesapeake regions of Virginia and Maryland. The proliferation of calm water really amplifies the effects seen in the sky and add a richness to the natural lighting that I've only seen duplicated in Hawaii and Key West, FL.

It is a wonderful thing to be treated to the riches of nature on such a regular basis, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to experience it. 

A Forgotten Wallet and and Opportunity

While waxing philosophically (or sophomorically) about yester being a rather unremarkable day, it slipped my mind that my wallet had been left at work.  The very fact that the wallet had remained at work and the day had remained unremarkable is a testament to some of the ways my outlook on life and the changes that are being implemented.  Three years ago, a wallet left at work would have evolved through my own imagination as a full blown catastrophe with the accompanying anxiety, drama, and worry that those imagined full blown catastrophes caused. Instead, it was unremarkable.

One of the results of the mislaid wallet was the opportunity to execute a rescue mission this morning.  This led directly to another opportunity that has been rattling around in my head for the last several weeks.  Since the wallet rescue brought me to the general area, the opportunity to walk in Great Falls Park  in McLean, Virginia.  In spite of some light rain, it was really refreshing to put some actual trail miles under my feet, and the scenery was indeed remarkable.  Yesterday's consolidation yielded a "big reveal" much sooner than I had anticipated.

Autumn on the Trail in Great Falls Park

After retrieving the wallet, I managed to enter the park early enough to avoid the $10 user fee.  This wasn't part of the plan, and the user fee is pretty clearly justified given the easy access to what amounts to a natural wonder only a few minutes from Washington, DC.  That being said, it was a welcome bonus...a sort of cherry on top of what amounted to a great experience.

Warning Sign Near the Northern Boundary of the Park

The National Park Service has made it abundantly clear through signage that the waterfall on the Potomac River is nothing to be trifled with, especially from the upstream side.

The Great Falls of the Potomac from Overlook #3

From high above the river, it is not difficult to see the wisdom in the warnings.  The waterfall itself is a series of technical Class V+ drops of up to twenty two feet depending on water level.  It's a picturesque oasis literally minutes from the city.

Experiences like this continue to provide confirmation that the Universe is conspiring with me to provide what is needed.  A misplaced wallet provided to opportunity to conduct one part of the daily practice near an awe inspiring backdrop.  Another great day in the books.

Bourbon Chase and Associated Road Trip Wrap Up

I've been in six states (MD, VA, WV, KY, NC, and AL) and the District of Columbia in the last five days, and the Bourbon Chase 200 mile relay took me on a road trip for the first time in a very long time.  The posting here has been sporadic, and for that I apologize, so I'll try to wrap up some of my thoughts and observations and get back into the standard drumbeat of once a day posting going forward.

My part of the 200 mile relay was only 15.3 miles in three segments.  I really didn't train to run the race other than putting in the miles in my usual pedestrian fashion.  As such, I wasn't really sure how things were going to turn out on the running front.  All in all, I was pretty pleased with the result of an overall pace for my distances coming in at 9' 33" per mile.  I had committed to the team captain to get my paced down to 10' miles, so overall, I returned about 7 minutes of usable time back to the team.  The walking was surprisingly effective at preparing me for this pace and distance, and I was pleased to be largely mobile on the couple of days following the race.  In fact, I put in about four miles of walking each of those days, and my muscle soreness is all but dissipated at this time.

The race itself was an fairly amusing experience, but I do find that I prefer the experience of walking over running.  This holds true for the road trip distances covered by van.  The walking pace compared to the driving pace and even the jogging pace provides a much more holistic experience of the environment.  I saw some great things while driving (actually being driven) and experienced even more while jogging, but that higher pace just doesn't allow me to take in all I've become accustomed to while walking.  The sounds are not as vibrant, the smells didn't even really register, the interaction with the air temperature and the road surface was a bit washed out by the higher paced activities.  I'm glad I did it, but I'll stick with walking.

I did manage to capture some of the more interesting moments when not running, and a few of them are pictured below.

Maker's Mark Distillery

Our first major exchange point occurred at the Maker's Mark Distillery.  This was about 33 miles into the race, and our van was scheduled to take over for the first van with the first six runners onboard.  Having put only car distance on the old body, I had a pretty good time exploring the distillery.  It is surprisingly small, but the continuous flow operation results in all the Maker's Mark Bourbon that you might find on a shelf at your local liquor establishment.  The whole area smelled like fresh baked bread as a result of the mash cooking, fermenting, and distilling process.  There were quite a few teams here as well as a band and a couple of barbeque trucks.  It was a festive environment where everyone still had the energy to channel into festivities.

Race Team Vans in the foreground with the Maker's Mark Distillery in the background

I ran my first race leg about three hours after this photo was taken and the hills, distance, and darkness began to abrade away some of my joviality.  As a whole our van kept things upbeat, but the social interaction really peaked overall at the Maker's Mark exchange.

Moving on from here we ran a series of legs that took us the rest of the way through the evening and into the following morning.  Those legs were defined by a dash of stiffness, a dearth of sleep, and some pretty cold weather.  The next morning, we ended up at another major team exchange at the Wild Turkey Bourbon Distillery.

Team Vans in the foreground and Bourbon Aging Warehouses in the background at the Wild Turkey Distillery

Wild Turkey was a much larger and more industrial distilleries that we passed.  It was also one of the most scenic although the pictures don't really quite capture the majesty of the countryside.  I'd finished my second leg of running at this point, and my photography was probably impacted a bit by fatigue.  It was clear and cold and beautiful, and it was a great relief to hand off to the other van at this point.

Wild Turkey Distillery

Unlike the smaller batch plant at Maker's Mark, the Wild Turkey Distillery was a much more industrial looking operation with what appeared to be significant advantages in economies of scale.

Wild Turkey Visitor Center

The Wild Turkey Visitor Center was completed last year and had an impressive display of the history of the brand and bourbon in general, and a modernity that was in keeping with the overall feel of the property.

View of the Kentucky River from the Wild Turkey Visitor Center

The view of the Kentucky River and the highway and railway trestles was particularly picturesque and impressive.

We wrapped up the run in Lexington, KY with a finisher's' party in the downtown area and a much needed rest at The Campbell House, and antebellum hotel with quite a bit of natural charm.

The Campbell House at departure the day after the race

Overall, it was a good experience and a welcome break from my usual walking routes and format.  That said, the experience solidified my resolve that covering the distance on foot and at a pace that allows me to become more of a part of the surroundings is a better and more fulfilling way of interacting with the world for me.