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Mountains in snow

2010-12-16T08:09:00.001-05:00

North Carolina Mountains in snow!

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2009-10-01T08:34:00.000-04:00

Ready for day five!

2009-10-01T08:33:00.000-04:00

Up and at 'em - Day Five

2009-10-01T08:10:00.002-04:00

Morning with breakfast at the Hampton Inn in Sanford. Good hotel, but A/C problems had the temp in the room going up and down all night. Tough sleeping, but after 100 miles yesterday, I think I did better than I thought!

We are almost ready to depart the hotel, headed toward Raven Rock State Park, and a rendezvous with Pepper, who is headed from Kingsport to take my place on tthe ride.

The weather is another absolutely perfect Chamber of Commerce day, with forecast highs in the mid 70s, and low humidity.

Soon, we are off!

The finish - 100 miles today - Day 4

2009-09-30T16:03:00.001-04:00

The century riders!

Today was a tremendous day - 6200 feet of vertical ascent through the Uwarrie Mountains, 97 miles, and over 6500 calories burned. The day could not have been better, with 70 degree weather, sunny skies, and some of the prettiest NC farm country I have seen.

The rolling Uwarrie Mountains are more difficult than last year's century day, near White Lake, but we managed well. Everyone rolled into the Hampton Inn feeling like we could have done a few more miles.

Dinner was at Bella's in downtown Sanford, a town built on the brick industry. Earlier in the ride, we rode through Seagrove, NC, home of North Carolina's pottery industry. Wonderful earthen pottery with over 100 pottery artisans clustered around an ancient clay deposit.

http://www.discoverseagrove.com/pottery-history.asp

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2009-09-30T10:34:00.000-04:00

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2009-09-30T10:17:00.000-04:00

43!

2009-09-30T09:25:00.000-04:00

They looked fine when they started!

2009-09-30T07:56:00.000-04:00

Morning in Thomasville

2009-09-30T07:29:00.001-04:00

Up and at 'em early. Carb loaded breakfast is key - today is our century (100 mile) day!

The route is programmed into the Garmin, so no way we will get lost.

Richard Petty museum in Randleman will be one of our destinations today, and I keep hearing about the Uwharrie Mountains - don't know what that indicates, but combining the words century and mountains in the same sentence seems daunting.

Quite cool now, at 7 AM, and we are thinking if pulling out early.

Cocktail hour in Thomasville

2009-09-29T17:36:00.000-04:00

End of ride - Day Three

2009-09-29T15:42:00.001-04:00

Day Three -

Statesville to Thomasville through beautiful rolling agricultural area of North Carolina. We pass fields of soybeans and hayfields, tidy white "gentlleman's farms", and small southern towns with friendly folks. My highlight was Cooleemee, NC, home of the Cooleemee Judk Man. He has an eclectic junk shop on the outskirts of Cooleemee, where he collects and sells everything from chamber pots to Allison Chalmers tractor parts. After meeting the proprietor, he invites me to see his "drag house". "What is a drag house?" "A house you drag from one spot to another." was the answer. Photos and videos are to follow when I get back home to the cable for the camera.

At mile 54, Fred Wallin met us at Lake Tom-A-Lex with a European style picnic, and we certainly pigged out. The hospitality on this years' ride has been awesome, mainly due to Fred's attentive style. Obviously, Dorothy has taught him well!

We are now at the Country Hearth Hotel, and have said goodbye to Roy and Mike, who have been shuttled back to Mike's car for the trip back to Kingsport. We are awaiting Fred's arrival back to go into Thomasville for some of the food and entertainment downtown.

Today was around 65 miles, 3.5 hours, over 4,000 feet of climbing and 3,500 calories burned. We will make that back up tonight!

Tomorrow - Thomasville to Sanford, NC, and the full century (100 mile) option, which I am sure we will all do!

Fred provides an awesome lunch by the lake.

2009-09-29T15:22:00.002-04:00

Just finished a fantastic white tablecloth picnic at Lake Tom-A-Lex. Baguettes, wine, fruit, prosciutto, cheeses, and a great spot by the lake. 10 miles to go!

The Cooleemee Junk Man

2009-09-29T14:41:00.001-04:00

Any time you see a place like this, stop. There is always a story! More to follow on this one!

What a lunch!

2009-09-29T13:34:00.001-04:00

Just finished a fantastic white tablecloth picnic at Lake Tom-A-Lex. Baguettes, wine, fruit, prosciutto, cheeses, and a great spot by the lake. 10 miles to go!

Funke bike.

2009-09-29T09:40:00.000-04:00

On the road!

2009-09-29T09:38:00.000-04:00

Morning in Statesville

2009-09-29T05:51:00.000-04:00

Last night, we had dinner at Maestro's restaurant downtown Statesville. The Mojito steak was incredible - flank steak, marinated in a mojito preparation - cinnamon, cumin, cayenne rub and properly grilled.

We were too late for the Billy Scott and the Prophets beach music show in downtown, but we did determine that Statesville is a great town. We rode through beautiful old homes on tree lined boulevards, and downtown seemed fairly vibrant.

It is around 5:45 and today's ride goes from Statesville to Thomasville, billed as 64 miles, and the terrain is becoming a bit flatter.

The two days leading up to today have been around 62 miles each, counting the distance to the hotel. Each day has been over 4000 feet of elevation ascent, making for a good workout and considerable rejoicing as we see the hotel sign!

Day Two

2009-09-28T15:53:00.002-04:00

Lenoir to Statesville. Beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge. Lots of up and down, through NC farm country. Sunny day, puffy clouds and a brisk tailwind.

We are at the Hampton Inn, by the pool, looking forward to dinner tonight.

After the ride!

2009-09-28T15:39:00.000-04:00

Fort Dobbs

2009-09-28T13:48:00.000-04:00

Rest stop 2

2009-09-28T11:19:00.000-04:00

Day 2 Rest stop 1

2009-09-28T10:03:00.000-04:00

Morning in Lenoir

2009-09-28T07:02:00.001-04:00

Comfort Inn breakfast is not gourmet, but has plenty of carbs for the day ahead.

Last night, we dined at the Chetola Inn in Blowing Rock - great meal, and spirited conversation. So much so that I decided to do an Obama apology tour from table to table to determine whether we disturbed any of the other diners. They all said that the entertainment was great, and the men were all envious! The women were amused. Good thing we were on our best behavior.

Today, the route goes cross country from Lenoir to Statesville, rolling hills, some steep climbing. After yesterday's mountains, we are ready.

Linn Cove

2009-09-27T22:07:00.000-04:00

Caramel Corn at Linville

2009-09-27T21:58:00.001-04:00

Linn Cove Viaduct

2009-09-27T21:58:00.000-04:00

Parkway overlook.

2009-09-27T15:30:00.000-04:00

On the Parkway

2009-09-27T15:29:00.000-04:00

Blowing Rock

2009-09-27T15:28:00.000-04:00

Finished - Day One!

2009-09-27T15:26:00.001-04:00

Beautiful day - left Blowing Rock in semi-sun cool and windy. Headed up to Grandfather via the Parkway (photos to follow).
Beautiful skies on the parkway, and once to Linville we think the climbing is over. Not so!
From Linville to Hwy 181 - across Jonas Ridge and a ripping downhill to the rest stop. After pb&j, we tackle the last 25 into Lenoir.
65 miles today, finished at 2 PM. Tonight, dinner at Chetola.
Tomorrow, Lenoir to Statesville.

Ready for departure!

2009-09-27T08:10:00.000-04:00

1859 Cafe

2009-09-26T21:17:00.001-04:00

Dinner was excellent! 1859 Cafe is a find. Grouper was excellent, duck, pork tenderloin, also was great.

We are headed back to our hotel. Up early and this ride begins.

En route to dinner

2009-09-26T18:51:00.001-04:00

Fred Wallin, our sirdar, Director Sportif, has reservations at 1859 Cafe in Hickory, and we are on our way. Rain has almost stopped and we are becoming optimistic!

Still raining!

2009-09-26T17:34:00.000-04:00

Our accommodations are more civilized.

Check in

2009-09-26T16:16:00.000-04:00

Check in at Blowing Rock. And the sleeping accommodations we are glad we do not have to use!

Departure

2009-09-26T14:00:00.001-04:00

1:57 Leaving Kingsport in the driving rain. Listening to Melody Gardot on Fred's Ipod.

Packing in the rain!

2009-09-26T13:18:00.000-04:00

Sure hoping the weather man is right tomorrow! Right now, it is wet - really wet!

Web Site for Cycle NC

2009-09-26T11:52:00.002-04:00

http://www.ncsports.org/cncevent1.php

Setting up mobile blog.

2009-09-26T11:09:00.000-04:00

Last minute test of mobile technology!

Whew - not a great picture. Must be the subject!

Ride Across North Carolina

2009-09-26T10:14:00.000-04:00

Today is Saturday and we are preparing to depart for Blowing Rock, NC for the start of the annual Mountains to the Sea ride across NC.

This years route is Blowing Rock, Lenoir, Statesville, Thomasville, Sanford, Dunn, Kenansville, Surf City. Dunn will be my destination, since I have to get back to Kingsport on Thursday evening for a Friday departure for Birmingham.

The picture is from last year, and includes Ken Maness (that's me), Mike Harvey, Pepper McCary and Roy Harmon. Joining us this year are Bob Funke, Hal Yungmeyer and Fred Wallin.

I will update as we roll along, hopefully using mobile technology!

Fun bunch - the Grand Ol' Gang

2009-03-16T13:40:00.001-04:00

Post Fesses Up To Obama Bias After The Fact

2008-11-14T11:29:00.000-05:00

Post Fesses Up To Obama Bias After The Fact

A Checklist Of Obama's Many Promises

2008-11-14T11:22:00.001-05:00

By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Monday, November 10, 2008 4:20 PM PT

Few presidential candidates have made more specific promises to American voters than Barack Obama. They came so fast and furious in the latter part of the campaign, you'd be excused for not keeping up. So as a public service, we've put together a handy checklist of some of the biggest Obama promises — culled from his "Blueprint for Change," his campaign speeches and advertisements. Clip it. Save it. And see how he did in four years.

Taxes

• Give a tax break to 95% of Americans.

• Restore Clinton-era tax rates on top income earners.

• "If you make under $250,000, you will not see your taxes increase by a single dime. Not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes. Nothing."

• Dramatically simplify tax filings so that millions of Americans will be able to do their taxes in less than five minutes.

• Give American businesses a $3,000 tax credit for every job they create in the U.S.

• Eliminate capital gains taxes for small business and startup companies.

• Eliminate income taxes for seniors making under $50,000.

• Expand the child and dependent care tax credit.

• Expand the earned income tax credit.

• Create a universal mortgage credit.

• Create a small business health tax credit.

• Provide a $500 "make work pay" tax credit to small businesses.

• Provide a $1,000 emergency energy rebate to families.

Energy

• Spend $15 billion a year on renewable sources of energy.

• Eliminate oil imports from the Middle East in 10 years.

• Increase fuel economy standards by 4% a year.

• Weatherize 1 million homes annually.

• Ensure that 10% of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012.

Environment

• Create 5 million green jobs.

• Implement a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Get 1 million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2015.

Labor

• Sign a fair pay restoration act, which would overturn the Supreme Court's pay discrimination ruling.

• Sign into law an employee free choice act — aka card check — to make it easier for unions to organize.

• Make employers offer seven paid sick days per year.

• Increase the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2009.

National security

• Remove troops from Iraq by the summer of 2010.

• Cut spending on unproven missile defense systems.

• No more homeless veterans.

• Stop spending $10 billion a month in Iraq.

• Finish the fight against Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaida terrorists.

Social Security

• Work in a "bipartisan way to preserve Social Security for future generations."

• Impose a Social Security payroll tax on incomes above $250,000.

• Match 50% of retirement savings up to $1,000 for families earning less than $75,000.

Education

• Demand higher standards and more accountability from our teachers.

Spending

• Go through the budget, line by line, ending programs we don't need and making the ones we do need work better and cost less.

• Slash earmarks.

Health care

• Lower health care costs for the typical family by $2,500 a year.

• Let the uninsured get the same kind of health insurance that members of Congress get.

• Stop insurance companies from discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most.

• Spend $10 billion over five years on health care information technology.

Post Election Thoughts

2008-11-11T15:43:00.001-05:00

An Open Letter To America's Mainstream Media:

Dear NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, and National Print Media:

Congratulations, you did it! Through your persistence and diligence, you facilitated the election of the 44th president of the United States of America. He might have been elected on his own, but neither he nor we will ever know. According to research by the Center for Media and Public Affairs, your coverage was so biased, that no one from the other side could have overcome it.

So, there you go! You feel like you know what plan is best for us, and you clearly have enough power to effect it. We wait with bated breath, as you direct the next chapter in our nation’s history.

Will it include weakening of our military and our strength as a world leader? Will you promote a shift toward the socialistic policies of the European countries you wish us to emulate? Will we lose our entrepreneurial spirit as we see our free market system disappear? And what about our trade policies, will we enter an era of isolation and protectionism? Will our medical system become a National Health Care system? Will new carbon policies bankrupt every energy company? What about tax policy?

Just what are your plans for the New Age America? I hope you have carefully thought out your strategies for our country, because, for now, the cookie is in your hand. For goodness sake, please don’t break it!

Sincerely,

Ken Maness
Kingsport, TN