IKEA Run to Charlotte

OK.  My frau LOVES IKEA.  All I really want there are picture frames.  IKEA really has the best photo frames for the best price.  I like simple, black frames with cream colored mats.  IKEA is the place to get these.  The frau likes everthing else at IKEA.

I thought I would merge this little trip with a visit to the Light Factory.  The Light Factory is a center for photography in Charlotte.  There was an exhibition of photos taken at the 1968 Democratic National Convention that I wanted to see.  This would be a perfect time to go.

The Light Factory

The exhibit was great!  We happened to stumble on the curator for the Light Factory and he explained the circumstances that each photo was taken under and how it related to the history of the event.  He also explained how the music for the exhibit was chosen.  While looking at these photos there was 1960's protest music playing in the background.  It was a strong multi-sensory experience.  I really enjoyed the exhibit and received a lot of inspiration for my own photography.

After the Light Factory we walked some in downtown and enjoyed a couple of fancy lattes that were poured to create art.

Latte Art 1

Latte Art 2

Afterwards we headed for IKEA.  We dined on the obligatory Swedish Meatballs and then hit the display floor.  The frau looked at everything and I headed for the picture frames.

The frau shopping at IKEA

  About three hours later with an aching credit card in my hip pocket we headed home.

Saint Augustine, FL

Every year the frau and I take a trip over the Thanksgiving weekend to either Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA, Cumberland Island, GA or St. Augustine, FL.  This year was St. Augustine's turn.  We drove down the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and spent the evening walking in the St. George area of downtown.

Then next day we had our Thanksgiving dinner at the Acapulco Mexican Restaurant on the bay and spent the rest of the day walking it off in the city.

Friday we went to St. Augustine Beach, Flagler Beach and Ponte Vedre Beach.  My frau is very much a "beach" girl and we spent the entire day beach hopping.  I used the time to do a lot of photography.

Saturday we returned home.  Winter is setting in here in Western North Carolina and we are beginning to plan our travels for the next year.  Next week we are making a quick trip to Charlotte.  Check back to see if anything interesting happens!

Pink Beds Loop Trail in Pisgah National Forest

The wife and I took a short little five mile hike in Pisgah National Forest Sunday.  The weather was overcast and resulted in lower temperatures.  The Pink Beds Loop Trail is unique in Pisgah National forest in that there is only about a 100 foot gain in elevation on this hike.  That is considered flat in this part of the country.  You can check out the Everytrail site for the GPX file of this hike.

 

Dupont State Forest

The frau and I went on a little hike today in Dupont State Forest.  Dupont State Forest is best known as the location where the wooded scenes for the recent film The Hunger Games were filmed.  The weather was perfect for hiking.

Vols vs. Gators

I am going to use this blog to keep my friends and family around the world informed about my non-motorcycle travels.  Some entries may be simply a weekend trip to the national forests with my wife or a  weekend getaway to some destination in the southeast or it may be a major trip to California or Germany to see relatives.  I have a blog for my motorcycle travels that I have had for years, but I have never blogged about my other travels.

The first entry will be our trip last weekend to Knoxville, Tennessee to see the University of Tennessee Volunteers play the University of Florida Gators in football.  Both my wife and I are graduates of the University of Tennessee with Masters Degrees.  Unfortunately the Gators won the ball game, but it was still great to be back on campus and to watch a game in Neyland Stadium with 102,000 of my closest friends.

A sea of orange!

 

The greatest tradition in college football, running through the "T"!

Coach Dooley leading the Vol Walk.

he ESPN College GameDay Radio crew

After the game my wife and made our way back to our car.  We were not impressed with the Florida fans.  They picking fights, vandalizing cars with Vol stickers, shouting vulgarities at people and we even saw one girl passed out drunk on the sidewalk with her skirt hiked up to her waist.  I was embarrassed for my wife and just wanted to get away.  I was also embarrassed for the University of Florida.

We drove back to Asheville that night and made it back about 1:00AM.  Thank goodness we had the next day to recover. 

Stay tuned or check out my motorcycle blog to see where I will be next weekend!