Hank, Merle and Waylon. West Asheville.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Polk County Waterfalls

Hiked with a small group to the towns of Saluda and Columbus for a chance to see three lovely and unique waterfalls:  Little Bradley, Pearson's and Shunkawauken Falls.  One was in a rugged area, on a trail that was short but challenging.  One was in a private park where we had to pay an entrance fee.  And one was a 150 ft. drive-by.  Got a little bit lost on the trail to Little Bradley Falls, but it ended up adding a very worthwhile couple of miles to our day, giving us just under five miles.  We had a decent workout!  In addition to the forest and waterfalls, we stumbled upon some impressive wildlife - two snakes and a deer.  I even videoed a buzzard flying from a perch at the top of Shunkawauken Falls.
 

 
 


Perhaps you can spot me?
 



 


Monday, May 26, 2014

Hiking the Art Loeb Trail


Went exploring today on the Art Loeb Trail.  Our small group hiked the Art Loeb Trail to Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain before returning on the Ivestor Gap Trail to the parking lot.  It was about 5 miles of moderate to difficult hiking.  Afterward, we drove down the road to Skinny Dip Falls for a short one-mile hike (rt) and a chance to play.  The videos below reveal the beauty of the day.



 
  


kissing the dragon


All but the third photo are the property of Kassie Moore.
“The greatest gift of life on the mountain is time. Time to think or not think, read or not read, scribble or not scribble -- to sleep and cook and walk in the woods, to sit and stare at the shapes of the hills. I produce nothing but words; I consumer nothing but food, a little propane, a little firewood. By being utterly useless in the calculations of the culture at large I become useful, at last, to myself.”
Philip Connors, The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2009

Friday, May 23, 2014

Put Some South In Your Mouth

At perhaps my favorite breakfast joint in town, Biscuit Head.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Cedar Rock Trail

Went hiking with a small group in the Dupont State Forest, about 45 minutes from Asheville.  Our destination was Cedar Rock.  In all, including a short stretch to Little River, we hiked around 4.7 miles.  We ended with lunch at Sora Sushi in Brevard.
 

 

Cedar Rock Trail intersects with Big Rock Trail
 

 

the two flower photos were taken by Missy Bell

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

One Day, Three Waterfalls

Led a small group of hikers to three waterfalls in the Pisgah National Forest:  Looking Glass, Moore Cove and Daniel Ridge.  Have a couple of good photos of me I will add in a couple of days.  Enjoy the video!
 

 
Looking Glass Falls


Moore Cove Falls


Daniel Ridge Falls

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Another Happy Day



Elliott: Death is actually a more unifying force within family than love. And that's a mind-blowing concept.

Saw this movie the year my dad was dying, and I thought in certain ways it really reminded me of my blended "family." And the line that stood out the most was the one above, spoken by the protagonist, Elliott.  I recall sharing this (the movie and line) with my dad and aunt, during my visits with them.  I had just seen this movie. Truly, death was magically doing what love should have. That's not a good thing.  Just reality.  And almost everybody, from the dying to the survivors, had a role.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

To Douglas Falls We Go

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” ― John Muir, The Mountains of California



A video of a short hike I led yesterday to Douglas Falls.  On the drive up to the trailhead for Douglas Falls, we pulled over to see Walker Falls.
Walker Falls
Douglas Falls
 
This spectacular, 70' falls is located in an old-growth forest. You'll walk a gently sloped trail to the base of the falls. The hike is marked by change; though the hemlocks in the area are dead, you'll travel through an otherwise beautiful woods and discover pleasant forest scenes along the way. Enjoy the falls from in front and from behind! The drive to the falls is an experience of its own, and along the way you'll pass many more scenic and interesting features.  Source

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

The Jefferson Bible


In the mid-2000s I ordered a copy of the Jefferson Bible online from the Monticello estate and had it mailed to my dad. We had had a bit of a conversation about Jefferson before - about his Christian beliefs. Years earlier I had been to Thomas Jefferson's home and museum, Monticello, in Charlottesville, VA, and had started learning more about this giant figure in American history.  Dad had never heard of the Jefferson Bible, and presumed, and believed, like a lot of evangelicals, that the founding fathers were all Christians.  So once Dad saw this, it surely altered his paradigm a bit - the way it did mine when I first saw it.  Here's the story of how the Smithsonian worked to save the Jefferson Bible.

 My brother Mark at Monticello, on our trip there together





We drove from Atlanta to Charlotte, then on to Roanoke.  In a Roanoke bar and grill, we watched Tiger Woods win his first green jacket.  After Roanoke, we went up to Charlottesville.  After that, it was Lexington, VA, then the nation's capital.  In time I will try to add a few stories.  Mark planned out the trip.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Mount Pisgah Trail

“Mountains seem to answer an increasing imaginative need in the West. More and more people are discovering a desire for them, and a powerful solace in them. At bottom, mountains, like all wildernesses, challenge our complacent conviction - so easy to lapse into - that the world has been made for humans by humans. Most of us exist for most of the time in worlds which are humanly arranged, themed and controlled. One forgets that there are environments which do not respond to the flick of a switch or the twist of a dial, and which have their own rhythms and orders of existence. Mountains correct this amnesia. By speaking of greater forces than we can possibly invoke, and by confronting us with greater spans of time than we can possibly envisage, mountains refute our excessive trust in the man-made. They pose profound questions about our durability and the importance of our schemes. They induce, I suppose, a modesty in us.”
Robert Macfarlane, Mountains of the Mind: Adventures in Reaching the Summit


 
Above is my video from today's hike to the top of Mount Pisgah.  It's a 1.5 mile (one way) hike to the 5.721-foot summit. 
 
More on the Mount Pisgah Trail here.

photos below are property of Mark Schmidt




Sunday, May 11, 2014

Comic Timing


One of the things I miss about Mother is her sense of humor.  Back in 2004, when the comedian Chris Rock was rolling out his new HBO special Never Scared, I thought it was hilarious that the promo commercial for his special was "I'm blaaaack."  It had the double meaning, of course, for his race and for the big announcement of his return to the stage.  And over the next few years, when I arrived at the in Headland (AL) or returned to Asheville from a trip, I would say or text Chris Rock's "I'm blaaaack" line.  One weekend Kade and I were in Headland staying with Mom.  One night after Mom had taken her dogs out for a walk, she opened up the door and, with a big smile on her smile, said, "I'm blaaaack."  It was priceless, and was perfect timing,  Chris Rock would have been proud! 

A Graceful Lady


This heartfelt and thoughtful tribute to my mom was in The Abbeville Herald recently. I appreciate her classmate's kind words and the sincerity I believe in which he shared them. Mother was indeed a rare beauty, she did have a heart that was kind, loving and caring, she did think fondly of her Shorterville church and she did live a life full of grace. Thank you Mr. Wills for expressing this so beautifully in the paper.

There is one aspect of the tribute that needs to be carefully corrected, however. Mother did communicate very clearly with her kids and her husband about her health, and did so throughout the years. It was never a burden to us. Also, let me be clear about this: there were no life-threatening health issues Mother was dealing with prior to the tragic episode that led to her death. If there had been, and if doctors had known and communicated this to Mother, she would have certainly told her closest loved ones. Her medical records and the information we received from her doctors bear this out. Therefore, the statement in the tribute above is very misleading. I certainly believe Mr. Wills did not intentionally intend for that happen. My feeling is that Mother's unexpected death, which shocked us all, and Mother's desired wishes not to have a visitation and public memorial perhaps led to some confusion about the circumstances surrounding her death. As her child, I just want to set the record straight.

Mother was looking towards the future in a strong, vibrant way. She had told us numerous times that she was destined to live a long time. I always believed that. She had many plans for the remainder of this year: visiting Sarah Beth in Auburn, possibly seeing Mark at Amelia Island, coming up to Asheville and much more. In addition, she was always asking about when Kade and I were having a baby, and she was excited about the prospects of having a half-Asian grandbaby. She said she was looking forward to coming to Asheville to spend however long she needed once Kade had a baby. It was a big source of joy for her. She had other big plans for the future as well. We had even talked about going down to live with her someday or her coming up here so we could take care of her the way she did Dot. I remember Mom being tickled by the prospects of this, saying with a laugh, "I won't be thinking about that till I'm 75." Mom was thinking long-term, and that's what's most heart-breaking. I never anticipated this happening, and losing her is enormous.

Our family is relying on fabulous memories, strong faith, old-fashioned time and close friends and family to help us deal with this huge loss. The Headland, Abbeville and Shorterville communities have been extremely kind and thoughtful, and we appreciate it very, very much.

September 23rd is Mom's birthday. On that day, I plan to post Mom's obituary and perhaps share a slideshow of old photos using one of her favorite songs. Stay tuned.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

25 Things


When Facebook was off and running several years ago, one of the most popular things being posted was a list of 25 Things about yourself - a narcissistic exercise.  It was supposed to be a way to help your "friends" discover more about you.  I wrote mine out, but never actually posted it.   Here's my original list, with a few updates:
  • Asia was my home for five years.
  • My wife is Thai, and we married in Bangkok.  My great-uncle, Jim Vann of Headland, AL, was my best man.  My wife is a damn good cook and a helluva person.  She’s been a jolt for my family.
  • I’m named after both grandfathers:  Major Watt Espy, Sr. and Victor Allen Grace.  I am the sixth generation in my family to have the name Major.
  • My short and long term memory is Grade A. This brain activity comes from quality sleep, which, for me, means nine hours per night!
  • I once raced Bo Jackson and shot free throws with Charles Barkley.
  • I was baptized in the Gulf of Mexico and have been on mission trips to Canada (for a summer) and Uzbekistan.  Today I am more of a free-thinking person who’s apt to ask many questions. 
  • I have seen three US presidents:  George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.  In elections I’m four for four now!  However, the rogue Ron Paul would have been my ideal choice in 2008.
  • Good Will Hunting is a movie I have seen over and over.  It does help that it’s come on Bravo numerous times! 
  • Thanks to my grandmother Dot’s genes and training, I play a mean game of Wheel of Fortune and obsess over crossword puzzles.
  • In 2009 I recorded all my dreams in vivid detail.  There were water rescues and near-drownings, lots of family intrigue, and, of course, sex. ;)
  • I’m really into ancestor worship, and it would suit me if we had a holiday where families were encouraged to go the graveside of their loved ones and sit around and eat sandwiches and give toasts to those who paved the way.  I love researching family history and piecing together family puzzles and trees.  I keep a micro-cassette recorder and camcorder handy!
  • I traveled solo around Asia for six months, and it gave me a new awareness and different perspective.  I first got a taste for backpacking on a trip thru Eastern Europe in the mid-90s.
  • Sometime in the future I plan to take the Trans-Mongolian Railway from Moscow to Beijing - 5 ½ days on board with a few stops in towns across Siberia and a stop in Mongolia.  This has been a dream for many years.
  • I developed a love of serious reading in my mid to late twenties.  My three favorite biographies are Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar, The Private Life of Chairman Mao and The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
  • One goal of mine is to travel to as many countries as years I’ve lived.  I’m pretty much on track.  My favorite countries have been France, Indonesia, England, Hungary, Russia, Thailand and Japan. 
  • I have a very strong interest in WWII – the lead-up, causes, aftermath - and have read several books on Hitler and The Holocaust.  I purposely visited Hiroshima, Japan to tour the A-Bomb Museum.  And, in Russia, I toured some mind-blowing museums and memorials pertaining to what they call The Great Patriotic War.  Touring The Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC is also something I have experienced, and profoundly affected me.
  • When I was young I stepped on a sewing needle, and it broke off in my foot.  This freak incident eventually caused a more serious injury.  I was favoring my foot so much that it caused a hamstring tear and hip injury (broken fragment).  My foot no longer bothers me, but my hip is a great indicator of weather.  I think I could use this to become a weatherman!
  • I love drinking coffee.  I can easily tell a good cup of coffee from a bad one, just as easily as I can tell a Key Lime pie from a Persian Lime one. 
  • My ideal body weight is 175.  This weight was easier to maintain in Thailand.  It could be done naturally there, with the fruits, the everyday walking and the humidity.  Here, I struggle to set aside cheesecakes, ribs and meatloaf.  Plus, it seems like I am attached to a chair and my hands are glued to remotes and a computer mouse.
  • I surprised Kade on our 5th anniversary with a trip to see George Strait in concert.  And in 2012, I took her to see Madonna in Las Vegas as an anniversary present.  My favorite concert of all-time was Aerosmith.
  • I rode naked on an elevator in Kyoto, Japan.  Yes, there were other naked folks on the elevator as well!
  • I’m known for my sense of humor, quick wit and need for attention (hence, this list!).  I’m pigeon-toed. I also have small ears and a big head.  I was at a fruit market in Uzbekistan and the watermelon guy said my head was like a watermelon.  I thanked him and then ate some more of his samples!
  • These countries I was surprised by:  Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Indonesia  These countries made great first impressions:  France, Estonia, Japan, Indonesia  These places I grew to love: Uzbekistan, Russia.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Hike, Swim, BBQ


 
Did a little bit of hiking on some trails at Lake James State Park before deciding to take a refreshing swim.  Afterward, our small group set out for Countryside BBQ in Marion for their delicious pork ribs.  Marion is small town about 40 miles east of Asheville.  Lo and behold, up on the wall near the front entrance were some photos and mementos highlighting a visit to Countryside BBQ by the President of the United States.
 

 

source
 
 
for full photo with staff, click here.

And a video of the motorcade HERE.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Seeing Molly in Starbucks!

On a trip to NYC several years ago, Kade and I spent a day or two walking around Greenwich Village.  One afternoon, we stopped by Starbucks (seen in photo below).  Standing behind us in line, pushing a baby stroller, was Molly Shannon, the actress and comic who once was a cast member on SNL.  I didn't speak to her, but she certainly caught my eye.

For more pics of that Greenwich Village neighborhood, click here.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Hiking Trails at Carl Sandburg's Home


 
The Carl Sandburg Home is behind us on the hill.
view from summit of Big Glassy Mountain
source
 
more Sandburg quotes
"It is necessary now and then for a man to go away by himself and experience loneliness; to sit on a rock in the forest and to ask of himself, 'Who am I, and where have I been, and where am I going?'...If one is not careful, one allows diversions to take up one's time-the stuff of life" - Carl Sandburg as quoted from a letter to his friend, Ralph McGill.