Spring Is Here in Willamette Valley, Woohoo!

Said to drift along and tossed the anchor whenever and wherever, and I did exactly that in the past week. I have to admit that without my Wednesday regular blog post, I feel odd and have urge to pick up my pen again. I don’t like pressure, but the relief after pressure is amazingly fulfilling.

I began to feel the boredom because I am confined inside a box where a certain blog format and content exist. Searching a break-through point, but I have no clue what that will be and when I will reach that point. Bear with me while I am roaming without aiming specific targets. Life is a working progress and the happenings are within the journey.

Lantern Rose, Magenta Blush

Believe or not, spring is here, in February! I am seeing soft green buds everywhere and some flowers have popped to breathe in the cozy air. Just when I was thinking to do some rainy day photo projects, that lovely sunshine sneaked into my window and dwelled on the breakfast table.

Sunny Day, dream

Finally finished my yearbook 2014 under the gun just before the groupon expired. It is so enjoyable to flip through the pages of a yearbook and I know, it will become even more precious in another 20 years when I won't both to haul heavy camera equipment and just want to sit around and think about good old days... Looking for 'stuff' around the house to shoot some stills, this porcelain bowl was found, the first porcelain piece that I did with my daughter Laura, a memorable piece for me. 

Vacation Day, relax

Flower is no doubt my most favorite subject. Often times I crawled on the ground to get the best focused image I can, but end of the day, I still like the soft look better. Lantern roses (Hellebore) are gorgeous, but they grow with faces down and it is hard to photograph them. I thought it looks interesting to display the flower in three sections. Imagine they are displayed in three picture frames on your wall.

Lantern Rose, Spotted Lotus, framed

It is this early spring lifted my spirit and prompted me to get out of the house... I saw a small herd of animals running ahead of a four wheeler. Thought they were cows at first, but cows do not run as fast. OMG. They are sheep, the tamed and soft looking animals who are usually lying down on the grass and now 'galloping' in front of me. Fun.

Spring March

From what I read, sheep usually give birth to their babies in spring between March-April when the green grass starts to grow and mothers are provided abundant food to produce their milk. Now spring comes early and we see the early arrival of the lambs as well.

Lamb

Biking for a Good Cause

This is the second time that I joined the photo shot for a MS fund raise event. MS Bike is organized by National MS Society, Oregon Chapter. Registration fee is $95 (I believe, is for a team or an individual) and fund raise minimum is $250 per participant. It is a meaningful, fun and enjoyable event that I have experienced.

Multiple sclerosis is considered to be an immune-mediated disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the central nervous system and causes the patients to lose the control of their muscles. 

From what I understand, it is a genetic disease attacking people age 20-50, the prime period of our lifetime. Cure mostly relies on persistent physical therapy and miracles. Progress and improvement can be made, but there is no permanent solution. 

I feel blessed to be able to take a walk or ride a bike whenever I feel like to. And, I am feeling for the person who is ridden by the disease and the family who loves, tenders, and be available to the needy.

Bike is one of the major export items from Taiwan since 70's.  I however could not comprehend why Americans need so many bikes till I live here. Motor vehicles are the essential transportation and yet only bike can serve exercise needs. People's awareness for fitness and the rapidly growing traffic have made bike popular than ever.  Easy strides and harmonious rhythm are appealing. Besides only bikes can access narrow roads and secluded areas where wonders and surprises are often hidden and awaiting to be discovered.

This event is not a race. Participants can pace themselves to start any time between 6:30am to 9:00am.  There are choices of 33 to 100 mile routes which go through scenic Willamette Valley farmland, state parks and rivers.  We took a drive on the route hoping to catch some bikers on the road. The scenery is so beautiful that on several occasions, I could not help myself but to snap a few landscape shots. 

I was told that the first group of riders can arrive at the finish line at 11'ish.  I made sure that I was at finish line to shot the first arrivals.  Surely enough, I took this picture at 11:03am. They are absolutely the first team who reaches the finish line! They looked excited and victorious. I felt as excited as they
were and proud of them.
This guy in the recumbent bike was also among the early arrivals.  Regular upright bike and recumbent bike are different in aspect of technology and performance. I have never ridden in a recumbent bike, but I think seating in a recumbent bike is more comfortable than the saddle on a regular bike. 

When we sit lower to the ground, the legs are bit in the air.  I doubt that it runs as fast as a regular upright bike. However, he is among the first arrivals. I guess bike is eventually just a tool, difference is made by the person who controls it.

I also learned that this is the kind of bikes that MS patients use since they cannot erect their back and sit in an upright position. In the past when I saw this kind of bike running on the street

I thought it was meant to show off. I did not know that it is an alternative exercise bike for people who living with MS.

I like what I see here.  Biker is the Mom. While she was on route biking, the Dad and two preschool boys were hanging out and patiently waiting by the finish line. The moment when she passed through the finish line, Dad took over the bike and Mom grabbed younger boy's hand walking out of the scene. Isn't it a beautiful picture of a supportive young family?  (Too bad that the husband was falling behind and I could not have him included in the picture.) 

Mom has a goal and she goes for it.  Dad supports. Kids learn from their parents.  A giving act.  A  supportive  family.  A  nice  memory  for

them (and impression for me) to take away.

 

This is in fact a very organized event. There are rest stops with abundant water supply and the necessities.  They also provided free bottle water and beer for the event workers and photographers like me. At finish line, there was a misty blind for the riders to cool down. 
My eyes were drawn to this girl who was performing a ribbon dance in the mist. The bright colors of her dress and ribbons stand out in front of the translucent mist and under the bright sun, her cascaded hair is charming...

When the bikers launched their ride at Start Line, I saw smiles. After they paddled several hours in the heat, the smiles remained on their faces.

The cheerleaders stationed at Start and Finish line from early in the morning till the last biker reached the Finish line. A few school kids were waiting in the Finish line to hand out the medals to the bikers. And, many other volunteers were holding their fort to the last... 

American spirit is again at work!!! This is when I really feel proud to be an American.

For MS bike event details, visit following link:
http://bikeorc.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BIKE_ORC_ROUTEDETAILS

A few more pictures to share below: