I am a nc wanderer

I am a nc wanderer
always looking for someplace new

loving my truck as it's got 220K miles on it

I turn up the music loud

....on the road again....

just now rolling down hwy 49 from charlotte

can't you just see

drifting around the bend

wandering with a bike on back

and a canoe on top

revving up the motor as I glide by those fences
up and down those rolling hills











where's that elusive hwy 12
OBX sand and 4X4 driving
looking a those awesome scenes

....on the road again....
running that Interstate I-40/85 late nights
changing the song on the radio
looking at those small town sights
in between all those country roads

....on the road again....
slowing down to please the policeman
looking for some post office blues
honking in that big city traffic
highrise buildings and oneway streets

malls and big ass parking lot's
left turns before right turns
stops signs and stop lights
rainy days and afternoons
....on the road again...
gas on back up & wash those windows
Crossing old railroad tracks

taking the fork in the road to nowhere
On the road again...
I'm a nc wanderer

Closure

Closure...final resting places..ocean waters...ashes to ashes...dust to dust...family...friends...flowers...a song...a bridge less traveled..and a boat...Keith Ludwig Friedrich..1956-2009...love you man!

Oregon Inlet & Bonner Bridge

carolina blue sky.... it's a southern thing

Carolina Blue Skies as seen at NC Art Museum Stainless Steel Tree

it's a southern thing...what I get to see...


spring skies before a rain
winter skies after a snowfall
fall skies after the first frost
summer skies after the blows of a hurricanes
spring skies during the azalea festival
summer skies 1st day after school's out
fall skies before a 12 noon football game
summer skies during a afternoon thunderstorm
spring skies at the Duke gardens
spring skies at graduations
winter skies in Asheville before the snowfall
summer skies on the blue ridge parkway
spring skies in pinehurst on #2
fall skies with changing of the leaves
spring skies with ripples on the Eno
winter skies before a basketball game
fall skies at the amphitheater
blazing skies at sunrise


blue skies are carolina blue...it's a southern thing

losing a best friend

Keith L Friedrich 1956-2009 this is for you...

Nov 2009 I lost a best friend in a tragic accident....I miss him and still wonder will i see him run up, drive up, hug me, or meet me at the _ _ _ __....fill in the blank of over 41 years of growing up together...

I wonder is he mumbling...and to who
I wonder is he drawing and getting ready to discuss his proposal
I wonder is he walking and talking on his phone
I wonder what project he's doing for who
I wonder which design he's thinking up now
I wonder if the construction site will survive another Keith visit
I wonder if the NCSU Wolfpack teams hear how passionate he is...and just can't they play just a little harder...

I love how he loved the kids and made each feel special year after year... always making sure they got what they wanted
I love how he help them thru high school and college
I love how helped me thru a wedding, thru moves to different cities, job changes, special sporting events, anniversaries, birthdays, deaths of other childhood friends, thru a divorce...all while also working on his problems and challenges
I love how he helped me get healthy
I love how he made me remember to stop and smell the roses
I love that he loved his mom so much
I love that he had kind words for his brothers and their families...

I wish he was still here so I could hear him chuckle and laugh
I wish I could hear the mumble  
I wish I could see that red sweatshirt soaked in sweat
I wish he was here to celebrate another tailgate
I wish I could ask him a question on the design or engineering issues
I wish he could see what both kids have accomplished so far
I wish I could see  him with his family

I wish I could see his eyes.....


a friend since childhood and a co-worker for the last 4 years...he was a true friend..able to pick up where ever we left off..always on call and always took my calls...godfather to my kids, very good athlete, playmate in sports, avid fisherman, accomplished rugby player, husband, brother, son, grandson, and best of all to me...
MY BEST FRIEND!

Keith Ludwig Friedrich

Love you FRED...

Attitudes.... a tribute to Ima L. E. Sauer

Ima as a young child in Indonesia

Growing up my mom, Ima, had many things she shared with us and we lost her at the age of 49
She was born in Indonesia and was adopted by a Dutch family(spice traders) and came to live in the Netherlands in Amsterdam
She meet my dad during a difficult time World War II, both almost losing their lives.
They overcame a lot and survived living in Zwolle and became husband and wife, a strong willed blue eyed Dutchman and a very talented brown eyed Indonesian
They had a son, my oldest brother Lucas and decided to come to America because of friends in Western NC
They decided to stay in Reems Creek, a old hollow in the Blue Ridge mountains, in Buncombe County and raise a family of their own....Lucas, Ian Robin, Marina and Aletta..
As they did ....we grew up...and we learned:

love is not hard
there is no place for hate
to share
to be a brother & sister
birthdays are special so make it special for someone
clean as you go
to work as a group
Help the neighbors and those less fortunate
that family is unconditional
moms ands dads do make mistakes
never forget your roots
Find peace in something
Find a happy place when times get tough
learn something every day
Use your hands for something constructive
singing and music are important
Don't sleep the day away
meals are to be shared by all-it's a gathering
never harm the family name
Be color blind
be a good citizen
work hard and earn your pay

and my favorite...you get to chose your attitude every day...chose it wisely because you never get to go back!

Morning Bike Rides

left or right
peaceful time
mind numbing thoughts
headlights on bright
trails or pavement
stoplights and then green lights
sunrise -orange colors
quiet
flashy
horns honking
harsh breeze on the lips
speed up
slow down
stopping
share the road
move over

photo shots along the way
jamming to the music
softly or loudly
coasting
hills 
up and down
Pedaling-hard
exploring something new everyday
new perspective


once it's done...it's a great feeling of accomplishment!

Love it...do it...follow me...where to next!

Pisa Italy Morning Bike Ride August 2010