Change of Plans...

Today was just about perfect. Cool temps & a sky so blue I just stared at it every now & then. My plan was to ride to Staunton & play Kiwanis DGC and then ride Skyline. But the ride home from work last night was just too cold.

Jeff posted up that he needed help putting in some new pin positions on Loriella DGC today. So the plan changed. I strapped my new DG backpack to the Sporty and hit some Spotsy backroads. Stopped by Checkers for a Champ burger for lunch and then headed over to Loriella.

Austin, Jeff & I put in some real tough extra pin positions on holes 6, 7, 8 & 11. These will break your heart when you play them.

Afterwards we played a round for club tags and as usual I finished last.

Retro DG Post: Hawk Hollow Open

The Pros had a weekend at Hawk Hollow. This was one of my better days shooting DG. The Am weekend gave me an idea for better angles. I also shot my best DG photo yet. The link photo will be submitted to Innova with a couple more for the calendar this fall. (I shot it a week after this years deadline)

Click on the pic for the slide show.


The Story behind the image:

My process for this image was in my head and I had to practice it a lot in my back yard since I would not be looking through the viewfinder.

I used a Nikon D2x with a 10.5mm lens. I mounted the camera on a 4-foot scissors tripod with a remote trigger. The camera was set at 5000th shutter and f4.5. I wanted to get as much depth of field as I could with a shutter speed high enough to stop the disc in flight. I placed the camera about 6 feet in front of the end of the tee. I covered the camera with a towel to hide it and muffle the sound a little.

When a group of players arrived, I would fire off a couple of frames to make sure the noise of the camera would not distract. I had to stand off to the side so I would not be in the frame or in the view of the player. When the player began his throw I would press the remote trigger and began firing off frames until the disc was down range. I averaged about 30-40 frames per player. Out of the 30 or so players that I shot this way, only about 10 had the disc in the frame coming off the throw. Of those I was only able to get two that were good. Tom’s throw was the reason behind this image looking so good. His chicken-wing style threw the disc down the middle of the frame combined with my timing on his throw to get a great disc golf image.

Enjoy!

Hawk Hollow AM Open

Last October the Hawk Hollow Open has an event for the Ams and Pros. This was the weekend for the Ams to play. I really do like shooting DG here. The course is situated so that about 5 holes converge on one area. So I can get a lot of players without having to roam around.

Click on the pic to see the slide show.

Enjoy!

Blockhouse Montly

I made it to the Blockhouse Monthly. My goal was to "not finish last". I was able to meet that goal. I didn't play too bad except for the multiple 3 & 4 putts from less than 15'. Anyway I didn't finish last...

My next goal is to finish middle of the pack.

DGCR Mid-Atlantic Meet

This was my first DG shoot. I met Jerry on the Disc Golf Course Review forums and he organized a weekend of golf & camping for DGCR members at Hawk Hollow. I played the first day but HH is a real ass kicker of a course. I decided to put down the discs and pick up my camera.

Click on the pic of Jerry & the guys to see the slide show....

And always, Enjoy!

Blue Skes This Morning....

It was a sweet morning for a round at Pratt DGC before I had to go to work. Nice breeze blowing, sun is shining, skies are clear blue and I'm playing disc golf. It doesn't get much better.

I shot, edited & uploaded this with my iPhone 4 camera & apps.

The "Holy Shit" in the first clip was after threw my new Champ Mamba about 40' from the basket on #1. I've never thrown a drive that long there before. It was my first birdie putt on that hole which I promptly gacked. But I'll never get aggravated about missing birdie putts.

It beats missing bogey putts...

On a side not the new backpack converted for DG worked great.

Loriella Challenge 2012

There were so many hits on the VTI post I am going to link up some of the other DG events I have photographed.

This is the Pro/Advanced day of the Loriella Challenge last March 4th. Brian Schweberger won his 5ht straight Loriella title. I played the previous day in AM Advanced Masters and had second to worst score of the day. (that includes every AM division) But I had a blast.

Click on the image to start the slide show.

Enjoy!

New DG Backpack

I saw the idea for this in a thread on DGCR. It's Cabela's XPG Pro Series Angler Pack. So basically, it's a tackle box backpack. The best thing that it was on sale and with free shipping it came to $49.99.

I made a 1/2" PVC frame to fit in the bottom section to make the bag more rigid and to hold my discs better. There are 16 in the frame and there is room for about 4 more. A top front pocket to hold a putter. The top storage area has plenty of room for my Glucose test kit, wallet & keys. Built in case of the front for sun glasses. Front pocket for my mini and an insulated side bag that will hold a bottle of water.

An added bonus is it came with 4 divider boxes that hold tackle but I'll use them to organize my nut & bolt bucket.

Now all I have to do is hit Loriella for some Disc Golf and see how it works out.

Ready to Ride...

She's finally ready for the Spring '12 ridin' season I'm riding to work today.

All the VTI pics are done...

I finally got the images I edited from the Virginia Team Invitational done. All 470 of them.

Click on the image to start the slide show...

VTI Weekend

I took 2 days off from working on the Sporty to go to the Virginia Team Invitational disc golf tourney at Hawk Hollow. I didn't play but I did photograph the event for the club which was just as exhausting.

Now back to working on the Sporty.

Oil Line Done

Finished replacing all the old cracked oil line and all that's left to do is get it back in and hopefully I did it right & it won't leak.

Phase 1 of take the Bitch apart is complete. Tomorrow is rebuild the oil line which "should" be fairly easy. Putting it back in is going to be a fight.

New addition to the blog...

Since May 2005 I have been blogging about riding my Sporty but since getting back in to Disc Golf it's time to update the blog and include my favorite sport.

Never Fails...

In the process of replacing the original cracked & leaking oil drain lines, I discover that the last bolt holding the oil tank in place can't be removed until the rear fender is taken off.

Bravo! Harley Davidson engineer that designed that one. Job well Done!

Salute....

FUCK YOU!

Phil Don't Know Shit!

Punxsutawney Phil forecast six more weeks of winter but it has been nothing but warm & sunny. Today was the deal breaker clear blue sunny skies and a high of about 70°.

I can't put it off any longer. I should have had this done weeks ago but with this early riding weather I have no choice but to get the bike ready for riding.

So today I put it in the rear wheel stand and tonight I start replacing the crankcase & primary oil. Replace the oil drain lines.

Vacation but no riding...

At the end of the month I'll be spending a week in Myrtle Beach. My mom suggested I bring the Sporty, but since MB has become so anti-motorcycle with all the noise ordinances it's more hassle than it's worth.

So the Sporty will stay home and the bag 'o golf discs will be traveling with me instead.

Great Day For a Ride...

60° and clear this afternoon and Rusty & Dave asked me to meet them at the FLS office to join them on a ride today. Charged the battery and thought I was ready to go.

Get the Sporty out and polished. Turn the key hit the starter button and Click, Click, Click, Click, Click, Click....

It seems my ground from the battery had come loose and is jammed in a spot not easy to get to. So after fighting with that I was able to get it started but it was too late to join the guys.

So I strapped a bag of discs to the Sporty and rode up to Loriella DGC for a quick round.

Winter is here...

30° outside and snow flurries means only one thing....

Time to work on the bike. That's right kids, time to start taking things apart and do some maintenance. Number 1 on the list is to replace the oil drain lines that old and leaking just a drop but they need to be replaced. While that is happening change the primary oil again. To keep the fluid theme going drop some fresh oil in the front forks.

I think I'll put a new front tire on while I'm at it.

Late December &....

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were nice and warm around 60° for some afternoon riding around the area.

There were a lot of bikes out so apparently I'm not the only one that doesn't put the bike up for winter.

It will probably be the last time for a while so time to start working on the bike to get it ready for next year.

December is here...

There were some sweet day for riding last month.

But now those days are getting few and far between. No I get to set the Sporty on the stand and do some off-season maintenance.

Change all the fluids, fork oil, replace leaky oil lines & put some new brake pads on. No rush. I have until March to get this done.

A Good Day, A Bad Day...

Ken, Mike & I headed to Skyline for the day. For every good thing that happened we seemed to have to endure something bad. The forecast called for mostly sunny and a high around 65. But this morning was overcast and bone chilling cold.

So, on the way to SR 55 we stopped at a Sports Authority to buy an extra sweat shirt and some insulated under gloves. So the stop was just right and the extra gear warmed us right up.

Passing through Haymarket the main road to the SR 55 interchange is blocked for some Fall Festival. No detour direction signs. Just cops sitting in patrol cars that won't give any directions. We had to go a few miles around to get to the interchange that was 100 yards from the blocked road signs.

We get to Front Royal and plan on stopping at the Apple Cider Inn for lunch but it was packed. We then stop at 3B Burgers around the corner. It's a mom & pop burger joint that was very good. As we are eating the road to Skyline is backed up a lot.

We figured it was just heavy traffic.

Around the bend to the entrance of Skyline is backed up about 100 cars and the traffic was heavy all the way to the entrance gates. The Rangers were just waving cars through not charging any visitors just to try and get the traffic moving again. But the clouds broke at this time and the sun came out and warmed up the day a little.

On Skyline it was slow going at the overlooks and very crowded. It wasn't all bad we hit some stretches of good moving traffic and was able to make it to the Sperryville exit with time to spare.

We topped the day off with a stop in Cupleper for a stop at The Stable. We had met a a group of riders from D.C. at 3B's that was planning a ride south like us and I told them about The Stable since they were going through Culpeper too.

We saw them several times along Skyline and as we were heading in for dinner they were across the street checking out some of the other Downtown Culpeper shops.

Operation: Perfect Fuckin' Day

The crisp Fall weather lasted through the weekend so I set out on enjoying that weather to the Max.

Phase 1- Play a round of Disc Golf at Greene County DGC.

Phase 2- Ride Skyline Drive.

Phase 3- Stop by The Stable in Culpeper on the way home to enjoy the best sandwich anywhere.

Operation: Perfect Fuckin' Day was an unqualified success.

Fall Is Here

This year the weather has sucked for riding. Scorching hot this summer and rain, hurricanes & flash flooding since.

But this week the skies are crystal blue the air is crisp and perfect for a ride.

So the plan is to meet Ken and head out to our favorite road. Skyline Drive.

It's Been a Long Time Coming...

So all summer long it's either been too hot, severe thunderstorms or constant rain to go for a Skyline Drive run. But today Ken & I were able to ride 55 West to Front Royal and enjoy a great ride.

It actually got cool enough to need a jacket today.

The Bonus of the ride was my excellent decision to stop by "The Stable" in Culpeper and get a "Robert E. Lee".

Insurance is Latin for Fuck You

‎My Sportster renewal came in today and it's $45 more this year. Five years no tickets, accidents or claims. So I call them to inquire why the increase. In a nutshell my rates went up because of all the other shitty drivers out there causing accidents.

So much for careful driving or brand loyalty. I inform them that since my good driving havits mean shit to them not to expect my renewal payment, I will be getting my insurance from another company.

"Hold Please,"

"Mr. Morrow we have been able to find some previously unused discounts to apply to your policy that will lower your renewal to your previous amount."

I told them that if you don't get a check from me by the renewal date I have gone elsewhere....

Nice Day for Ridin'...

Today is clear and cooler so after my morning round of Disc Golf at Loriella I pulled out the Sporty and did some riding.

It has finally gotten back to a comfortable situation when riding. Not too hot that you melt at a stop ling and when you are riding the wind feels like a blow dryer in your face.

In seven days the Ace Race in Harrisonburg is happening. If the weather cooperates I'll ride out for that and hit Skyline in the afternoon.

Rode to Work Today...

The weather is finally cooling down enough to enjoy some riding. Either it has been hotter than hell or apocalyptic lightning storms would go through the area every evening.

It's kind of been a blessing in disquise. I have actually been getting a little bored with riding lately. It might have something to do with my clutch fuckin' with me again. But that will be dealt with in the winter.

Hopefully the crisp clear skies of Fall will allow me to make a few trips up to Skyline for the autumn colors.

Hot as Balls...

I haven't been riding much the last few days. The average temp has been around 97º with a heat index of 105º and higher.

I'm not even riding to work because it's just miserable riding weather.

I see a lot of weekend riders wearing shorts going down the road. It's dangerous enough riding with out a jacket & a short sleeve shirt. But shorts. Not only do you have to be aware of pipe burns on your legs the road rash if you get dumped will just shred your legs all up.

It's just plain stupid to ride in shorts. I guess some will have to learn the hard way.

I saw one guy do just that. He burned the inside of his leg on the pipe header and promptly dropped his bike when he reacted to the burn.

Another Great Ride...

I woke up a little late today but it was such a perfect day I had to get out for a ride. As usual I ended up on Skyline. The weather up there was perfection and traffic was light.

The only problem today was dodging the wildlife. Heading out of the neighborhood I had to stop and ad move a box turtle in the middle of the road. Crusing at 60mph on 22 past Warrenton a ground hog the size of a spaniel crossed the road in front of me. I narrowly missed it. If I had hit that it would have wrecked me for sure.

On Skyline 3 deer jumped across the road in front of me, but I was doing only 30 so it was not a dangerous situation. Then on the last leg on Skyline a small little furry animal scooted across the road. I don't know what it was but it was pretty fast.

Finally, I get to ride again...

It's been a month since my last long ride. It's been sunny but hard thunderstorms in the afternoon. A little too dangerous to be caught out on the road in.

But today it was a crystal clear morning. So I headed out to ride the Sperryville to

Standardsville run on Skyline Drive. It was a perfect day to ride. At altitude the temp dropped to a cool mid 70's and it felt great.

I tried to figure out a way but it seems it is not possible. But if you want to see a 360° version of the above image click the link below:

Skyline Drive 360°

A great day for Disc Golf & ridin...

Today was perfection in the making. A cold front came through and temps had dropped from the high 90's to mid- 80's. The sky was blue and is was time to finally hit Skyline Drive.

I usually hit Skyline a few time by now but with all the rain & other rides I haven't been able to ride there. But today changed all that.

And then some.

I strapped the bag 'o golf discs to the back of the Sporty and headed to Strasburg, Virginia to play Signal View Disc Golf Course. This works perfectly for the plan because it will be just a few miles west of Front Royal & Skyline Drive.

Signal View DGC was a great course and after playing I headed out to hit the drive.

Skyline was in perfect form today. I bought my season pass today and the traffic was good today. There were several sections where I didn't see a car for many miles. The AC was on at just the right temp all along the ride through the mountains.

Rolling Thunder XXIV