A collection of my favorite photos from 2019 that tell the story of my experiences during the year. Travels to Switzerland and Germany, cycling across North Carolina, and exploring life in rural Ohio are highlighted in these 2019 photos. It holds true that a picture is worth a thousand words. Click on an image to read the story behind the photo.
25-January-2019 Winter first light in Miller Township
2-February-2019 Snow bunny Aussie
2-February-2019 Winter sycamore
30-April-2019 A green day on the Hockhocking Adenda
21-May-2019 Spring Sunrise on the farm
29--June-2019 Preservation at the Waco Club Reunion
3-August-2019 Sale day in Danville
9-August-2019 Cycling the Reichenau Island causeway
9-August-2019 The marina at Stein am Rhein at sunset
10-August-2019 To the brink of Rhein Falls
11-August-2019 Early morning walk onto Werd Island
13-August-2019 A little oddity in Ludwigshafen
16-August-2019 Rigoletto on the water
16-August-2019 Riding high in Appenzell
18-August-2019 Celebrating the tour in Konstanz
22-August-2019 Serenity in Aarwangen
22-August-2019 Sunset in Solothurn
24-August-2019 Saturday market
23-September-2019 Amazing bees
29-September-2019 Wheels up in Hickory
2-October-2019 Unexpected discovery at the dairy farm
10-October-2019 Autumn sunrise on the farm
13-October-2019 A cold morning on the GAP
23-October-2019 HOOT shines in autumn's glory
8-December-2019 A visit with Santa
10-December-2019 Lessons learned in photography
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25-January-2019 Winter first light in Miller Township
I am an early riser. I am fortunate to have this beautiful view from my sunroom. My sunrise changes with the seasons. The sun peaks through the southeastern horizon on winter days and moves northward as the season changes. The air was crisp, the sky clear with a few clouds to amplify the sun's rays. You could feel the chill of winter and the warmth of the rising sun. -
2-February-2019 Snow bunny Aussie
Snow is not as common in Central Ohio as it is in Northeastern Ohio. This winter saw us receive several days of measurable snow cover. Foster is a snow bunny and loves our walks in the snow. He digs in his nose and rolls in the snow. This guy just loves to have fun. -
2-February-2019 Winter sycamore
Early February saw enough snow to snowshoe. I had not had them on since I moved to Mount Vernon. One of the nicer areas to hike on our farm is the back of the pony pasture. It is difficult to place to hike in warmer weather when the creek is running. Freezing temps open the area for exploration. This large sycamore tree sits on the edge of the stream. Sycamores are very common in this area. I love the contrast that the sycamore bark brings to the winter landscape. This tree has seen a lot of dairy cattle and draft ponies under its cover for over a century. -
30-April-2019 A green day on the Hockhocking Adenda
I am an avid rail-trail cyclist. A few years back I discovered the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway that travels from Nelsonville to Athens on an abandoned railbed. It is a tunnel of vibrant green in the spring and winter. A spring visit is always on my calendar when the trees have leafed and the ground is covered with wildflowers. -
21-May-2019 Spring Sunrise on the farm
The rising sun has moved directly east by late spring. Winter's snow has given way to a carpet of green. The ponies are in heaven grazing on the grasses. The heavy cloud cover above the rising sun made the sunrise particularly stunning this May morning. -
29--June-2019 Preservation at the Waco Club Reunion
Waco biplanes have returned to Mount Vernon for over 60 years for a homecoming. I pass the Wynkoop Airport on my way into Mount Vernon from my home. I passed the reunion in prior years and never stopped. I visited the reunion this summer. It is amazing to see aviation history preserved by loving owners. I came upon this artist's capturing the spirit of the day on his canvas. This photo shows the art of the artist capturing the art of the airplane's preservationist. -
3-August-2019 Sale day in Danville
There is a sizable Amish and Mennonite community in Knox County. Amish communities hold benefit sales during the summer. These auctions raise funds for Amish charities. Many use the profits from the sale to support their schools. This benefit sale in Danville is one of my favorites. 4-6 auctioneers sell quilts, furniture, tools, farm machinery, livestock, and just about anything all day long. The Amish women at this sale are famous for their hot buttered soft pretzels. This photo shows the pride in the community the Amish have at these sales. The roads to Danville are full of buggies and wagons of families who are heading to this community event. -
9-August-2019 Cycling the Reichenau Island causeway
This photo is one of my favorites from my summer Swiss bike tour. This is the causeway to Reichenau Island from the Konstanz countryside. It was a beautiful day to cycle. The day started in Konstanz, Germany and ended in Stein am Rhein, Switzerland. My friends and I cycled onto and across this island to board a ferry to Gaienhofen. Orchards and produce farms dot this island with roadside stands. The symmetry of the trees and roadways draw the eyes into the distance. The shadows of the morning sun soften the scene. It was a beautiful cycle. -
9-August-2019 The marina at Stein am Rhein at sunset
Stein is Rhein is a must-visit on a tour of Lake Constance, Bodensee in Germany. It is at the far western end of the lake. The town itself has a very Hansel and Gretel storybook look. This small village is very tourist-oriented. An evening walk along the Rhein which empties into Lake Constance led me to this view of the sun setting behind the marina. I am attracted to sunset photos across the water. The low clouds brightened the setting sun in the distance. -
10-August-2019 To the brink of Rhein Falls
My friends and I cycled roundtrip from Stein am Rhein to Rhein Falls. Our tour maps and directions were confusing on this day. Our tour package included tickets to a boat ride at the falls. It wasn't until we walked around the falls that we found our boat. It was a trip to the brink of the falls. We had the deluxe tickets that allowed us to dock at the brink and walk up a steel staircase on a small island. This photo captured the enormity and volume of water passing over the falls as we approach the dock. This was a photo moment to capture. -
11-August-2019 Early morning walk onto Werd Island
This day of cycling was a short one. It was also Sunday, a day when just about every business is closed in Europe. Our group had more time to explore. The tour guidebook highlighted a monastery on Werd Island. It was only a few miles out of Stein am Rhein on the route and sounded like a nice morning stop. After being lost for a few miles, we found the island. It was very serene with only a single building. The lifting morning fog over the lake frames this photo. The symmetry of the boardwalk draws your eyes to the monastery building on Weld Island. -
13-August-2019 A little oddity in Ludwigshafen
This day of cycling saw my group crossing a peninsula from the western arm of Lake Constance to Meersburg. It was a day of cycling through orchards before we reached the eastern shore at Bodman. This small village had what appeared to be a workshop of a sculpturer with odd statues. We continued cycling east and entered Ludwigshafen. A fountain with a dozen or so of these unusual statues ringed the town square fountain. This larger than life, voluptuous woman overlooked the marina. This image captures the unexpected artwork I experienced around the lake. Community art is common in Europe in the cities, the country and along the highways and trails. It is not always classical. -
16-August-2019 Rigoletto on the water
Now, this is something you do not see every day! The city of Bregenz, Austria hosts an opera on a floating stage every August. This is the set of Rigolleto, the 2019 production. I cycled past this theater heading out of Bregenz. It was the highlight of my day in Austria. It was the Assumption of Mary Day, a holiday in Austria. Just about everything was closed. This photo warrants a spot on the best of 2019 list due to its uniqueness. -
16-August-2019 Riding high in Appenzell
This was a day to tackle some hills. Our tour map took us inland from Bregenz, Austria to St. Gallen, Switzerland. It was a memorable day. First, I took an unfortunate spill on the bike a few miles before this spot. I was not seriously injured but bore the scars of the fall for the rest of the tour. The views around Appenzell, Switzerland were outstanding. We rolled through some countryside that reminded me of The Sound of Music. If only I had a dirndl and could sing! Shortly after enjoying this view, we began a long descent and a long climb to St. Gallen, a climb on which we lost our way. That's another story. This photo cannot begin to capture the beauty of this region. The light was right. The road draws your attention to the mountains. The church anchors the photo. -
18-August-2019 Celebrating the tour in Konstanz
This was my final day of cycling around Lake Constance. This is the group of friends that I spent the 12 days touring and cycling. Roger and his girlfriend Pam are on the far left. Sue and Mike are in the middle. It was one of my favorite bike tours of all time. We did well as a group. No one was murdered which is a good test of compatibility in touring. Lake Constance offers unique experiences of many villages, 3 countries, and varied attractions and terrain in a relatively compact area. -
22-August-2019 Serenity in Aarwangen
I continued my Swiss bicycle tour solo after spending a few days in Zurich. I headed into western Switzerland following Swiss Bicycle Route 5 through the Aare River Valley. I came upon this tranquil view at a water stop on my second day of solo cycling. It was a wonderful day of views similar to this one near Aarwangen. The road I was cycling passed through many small towns and numerous farms. I like this photo's composition of the dark tree to the right framing the valley below. The approaching tractor and cyclists on the road to the left bring the photo to life. -
22-August-2019 Sunset in Solothurn
This is my favorite photo of 2019. It is the city of Solothurn, Switzerland. I had just finished dinner on a terrace overlooking the city. I strolled through the park lining the shore of the Aare. Most European cities and towns maintain greenspace along the rivers. The park was alive with a band and people enjoying the warm summer night. This city gave me a home to cycle to Pieterlen the next day. Pieterlen is the small village my mother was born in and called home for the first four years of her life. This photo captures the baroque beauty of Solothurn. The shades of blue accent the buildings. -
24-August-2019 Saturday market
I was up early the day I left Solothurn for Zurich. I had a few hours before I boarded the train. I set off to enjoy the city one last time. It was market Saturday in Solothurn. The city streets were lined for blocks with fresh flowers, fruit, produce, sausage, fish, and baked goods. I cycled into many of these markets during my three weeks on tour. I chose this photo for the exceptional array of flowers offered by this vendor. The market stalls accentuate the beauty of the buildings. Looking for a Swiss village off the tourist path, this is the city to visit. -
23-September-2019 Amazing bees
Connie is deep in examing a hive at the September Knox County Beekeepers' bee yard meeting. I invited Connie to the meeting since she had an interest in taking up beekeeping as a 4H project. Connie is also a member of a draft horse and pony 4H club. Connie took an immediate interest in the meeting. The photo shows fellow beekeepers looking on as Connie examines the frame under the direction of another member not in the photo. This photo shows the excitement in Connie's face and the smiles of bee club members watching her. Connie applied for an Ohio State Beekeepers Association 4H scholarship and was awarded the scholarship for 2020. -
29-September-2019 Wheels up in Hickory
I cycled the North Carolina Mountains to Coast Ride this fall. This was a challenging 500 mile 7-day ride from Blowing Rock to Atlantic Beach. It was definitely out of my comfort zone. This shot captures the sunset through my bike wheels in Hickory at the end of the first day. I was proud of myself for conquering the large elevations on this day in the mountains. I like this unconventional shot of bike wheels up. It pairs well with my love of capturing sunrises and sunsets. -
2-October-2019 Unexpected discovery at the dairy farm
This was a day of discovery for me. I had set out to cycle every mile from the mountains to the coast. I opted to sit out this day. I reasoned that I would tell everyone that it was extremely hot and I was just not feeling like cycling in that heat. My discovery started a day earlier when I SAG'd off the course at 48 miles in with 24 to go. The discovery was that this was just not fun. I cycle these events to have a good time. That was not happening. I had to get past my preconceived notion that I was abandoning a major challenge and goal. I came to understand that at this point in my life that goals and challenges can be written in sand. I went on to complete two more days of cycling with every day being a metric century. This photo was shot at the Randleigh Dairy Heritage Museum near Raliegh on my day off the bike. I had an amazing day playing tourist. The ice cream treat at the end of the tour capped off a wonderful unexpected discovery for the week. -
10-October-2019 Autumn sunrise on the farm
The greens of summer faded into shades of gold by early October. Sunrise on this autumn day was all about the clouds. The rising sun shone through clouds lighting the sky with shades of purple and pink. The pasture and barn take on a different look with the changing seasons. The photo just says autumn on the farm. -
13-October-2019 A cold morning on the GAP
I returned to cycle the 3-2-1 Ride, a charity ride to benefit pancreatic and melanoma cancer research and support. The metric century begins on the Great Allegheny Passage at Connellsville. My Kona Sutra is dark as the sun rises over the Youghiogheny River before my cold morning ride into Pittsburgh. I like the starkness of the bike against the brightness of the sun rising over the river. -
23-October-2019 HOOT shines in autumn's glory
The autumn color came late to Central Ohio. I was on a bike ride from Mount Vernon to Centerburg on this sunny autumn day. There are several spots on the Heart of Ohio Trail that I find quite picturesque. This shot was taken just north of Mount Liberty. The photo needed little editing as the colors that day were that bright. Autumn scenes in parks ad on trails are some of my favorite subjects. The colors speak for themselves why the photo ended up in my favorites for the year. -
8-December-2019 A visit with Santa
Brett and I help Brett's friend Dave with his draft horses at events. The Christmas season brings many parades and holiday wagon rides in this area. This shot was captured as we were preparing the carriage for the Mount Vernon Christmas parade. Dave was driving Santa and Mrs. Clause in the carriage. This was an amazing Santa with a real beard and Santa personality. The little girl was walking by with her mother when she spotted Santa. Her eyes lit up, and she headed our way. Santa did a wonderful job of talking to her at her eye level. I like the personal focus of this photo that captures memories of Santa visits in my youth. -
10-December-2019 Lessons learned in photography
This as an unexpected entry in this gallery of favorites for 2019. I attended an REI Coop photography class in December. Participants could either bring a camera or a mobile phone. I opted for the phone since I use it extensively on bike tours. I don't want to lug around a heavy 35MM camera and risk its loss. The class was very useful. I learned to use the professional settings of my camera app. This is a feature I never knew existed. I changed shutter speed, lighting levels among other things during the night. We were given assignments to take photos of objects in the REI showroom. The instructor asked each student to choose their two favorite shots from the assignments. We showed these shots to the other students and explained why we chose the shot as one of our best. The students voted for the best in the class. I won with this photo. I was surprised since I was the only person not using a 35MM SLR that night. I chose the photo since it shows a good depth of field with the focus on the large disc brake.
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