Ravenel-Meggett

yesterday, bf and i rode out in ravenel, it was a beautiful day, great temperature and we had nothing else going on, it was wonderful.

we rode past this really cool old barn with a gas pump, silo, and windmill outside. bf would really like an old gas pump.

wind gen......

rode down to the shipyard, big old industrial area, it sure is pretty out there!

cool old building covered in creeping fig...............

this is the end of the road out on yonges island, sure is pretty!

43.47, the hard way

Yesterday, bf and i rode the mepkin abbey loop up in huger, sc. It started right where we turned around last weekend for the 50 mile out and back. Despite the fact we had no sunshine, the weather was nice for riding, it was probably 68 degrees but a tad too humid. We commented that it is a good thing we have been putting in miles as very soon it will be HOT!

we rode to mepkin abbey, a monastery way up the cooper river.

this is a shot of bf as we head down the beautiful tree-lined driveway

this gorgeous tree is in front of the store the monks run where they sell their wares. They used to raise chickens and sell the best local eggs, now they grow lovely oyter mushrooms and keep bees to make honey. in addition, they have several crafts, the pottery is really nice and i can't wait to go back to purchase gifts.

we rode down to through the gardens and this bluff at the end it so picturesque. a wedding was being set up as well as an obnoxious family having a less than low-impact picnic all based around their rugrats birthday and cooing and what seemed like hundrerds of flashing cameras were all encompassing our serene setting, ugh, total birth control

upon leaving there we rode past miles of this beautiful thinned forest of dark trunked trees from contolled burning surrounded by dense flourescent green ferns, and in the cloud covered light it was spectacular, hard to translate in iphone photo, but it was beautiful.

patient bf while i had to stop and photo the forest.

i don't usually like to stop while riding unless it's a planned diversion like the monastery but i had to try to capture the beauty of that forest.

this is strawberry chapel, the last stop of the ride and not real interesting but noteworthy and historical (picture found online as underwhelming as it was i did not bother to stop long enough to pull out my phone).

Half Century and Feeling Great!

Saturday my friend Katie, bf and I rode the after bridge run ride leaving blackbaud stadium on daniel island and going into cainhoy. 

mind you bf had run the bridge run the morning previous and then we both proceeded to enjoy adult beverages the better part of the day. 

 at 8ish that evening i made an incredibly bad decision to go to the tatooed moose for "dinner". i'm pretty sure that's not recommended before a big ride but nonetheless we were up at 6 am to get ready.

the route looked a lot like this

and this

but it was sooo much fun. i loved every part of it. seeing everyone out there, all levels of riders. and all for the fun of it. no times, no award, no recognition, just because.....

and at the end we got this

and i was damn ready for it!

my greatest cheerleader through this whole endeavor has been bf, no doubt. he encouraged me every bit of the way. when i wanted to commute he rode me to and from work for the first time. he is hands down the sweetest man in the world....

and my best trainer has been.....

sam hillborne and the ravenel bridge.

thanks to charleston moves, the organization almost single-handedly responsible for the bike/ped lane on the bridge!

sammy, you've taught me so much, thanks for being there and being so patient.

all 50 miles i rode in the same gear. (i know it's charleston, but there were rolling hills)

looking forward

bf and i are headed to europe in may, and i could not be more excited, and ready for a vacation.

we have rented this houseboat on the prinsengracht canal for 5 nights

and we will be renting bikes to get around, how very dutch.

this is the apartment in barcelona where we are staying over my 35th birthday.

from here we head to ibiza for a few nights to stay with bf's uncle, more updates as they warrant

mmmmmiddleton

bf and i had a recent anniversary and our friends just celebrated both of their birthdays back to back so we decided to spend a night out at midddleton on the same evening, this is a typical getaway for them and a first for us, it was so lovely.............

with the room rate is the inclusion of passes to the gardens, how amazing...

beautifully terraced lawn

gators, small and large

iphone photos don't suck

more gators

gardens up by the old manse

this shot is sort of next to the gardens looking towards the river at at the rice fields.....

spring is peaking here....

SWAN

this is an awesome sight..................

(apparently a big scene from the Patriot was shot right here)

ruins of the old house destroyed by fire then earthquake

proof we were there

the old chapel....too cute,

newer house

it's our one year anniversary

bf and i are celebrating our one year anniversary today.
god, i love him so much.
everyday he makes the happiest woman in the world.
i love you bf.

in addition, here are some cool photos of the work of jimmy schonning, a swedish designer found here, and much more goodness at his website here

still sort of swooning for sweden, i guess.