‘Tis the End of the Season
November 30, 2005 — timetrialHurricane season, that is.
Today, November 30, marks the official last day of the 2005 hurricane season. Believe it or not there have been a record shattering total of 26 named storms to date this year. The latest is Tropical Storm Epsilon, which has recently organized itself rather harmlessly somewhere way out in the Atlantic.
On this the last day of the season we’ll all remember for years to come, let’s all raise a glass in remembrance of events past and in hopes of a better and brighter future for Dauphin Island.
Fort Gaines Phonograph Record Postcard auction
November 29, 2005 — timetrial
Dauphin Island history buffs and memorbilia collectors will want to take a closer look at this item up for auction on ebay.
An ebay seller specializing in postcards is selling a very unusual postcard featuring Fort Gaines. The postcard is also a 78rpm record. If you click on the photo you can just make out the record grooves in the enlarged image.
The seller’s description:
Up for bids is a very unusual postcard of Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island near Mobile AL. It has a phonograph record on the picture. I have not played the record…no 78 rpm player. I think this card would have been published in the 1950’s from its appearance. Please enlarge the photos to examine the details and condition of this card.
The auction ends this evening so if you’re interested you had better act fast.
Christmas by the Sea
November 28, 2005 — timetrial
Whether your vacation plans take you to Dauphin Island or you live on Dauphin Island plan on taking in the first of Dauphin Island’s Christmas celebrations. This Saturday, December 3rd, Dauphin Island will play host for the third annual Christmas by the Sea.
Christmas by the Sea on Dauphin Island is an event for the entire family. Attractions include a Christmas bazaar and bake sale, a gumbo cook-off, Santa Clause visits and face painting. Local artists will exhibit their works. Mark your calendar for this Saturday, December 3rd. The event is free of charge.
Scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and last until 5 p.m., “A Christian Celebration of the Season of Giving” will be sponsored by Dauphin Island United Methodist Church and hosted by several other island churches.
Events chair Freda Roberts, who can be reached at 861-7437, said there is no charge to attend the activities, and each church will determine its own price for food and drink.
The affair starts off with a United Methodist Women Christmas bazaar and bake sale at the Methodist church at 302 Key St., where visitors will be entertained by the Dauphin Island Youth Group and Choirs.
A gumbo cook-off, under the watchful eye of coordinator Ann Bridges, will begin at 10 a.m., and, for lunch, Margie Del cambre’s 2004 award-winning gumbo will be served.
Money raised at the Dauphin Island UMC will go to support the church’s building fund, and two talented artists are contributing their works to add coin to the coffer.
Noted Mississippi Coast artist Stig Marcussen has donated three pen-and-ink prints, and Dauphin Islander Lawrence Trot ter has contributed a carved blue heron. Tickets can be had for a small donation.
Other churches hosting the Season of Giving are St. Francis Episcopal at 401 Key St. and St. Edmund by the Sea Catholic Church at 827 Cadillac Ave.
According to Marilyn Sowers , president of the Episcopal Church Women at St. Francis, a highlight of the celebration — at least for the children — will be having their pictures taken with Santa. They can also have their faces painted and try their hands at making bird feeders out of pine cones.
links for 2005-11-27
November 27, 2005 — timetrialSingletrack + Singlespeed = Double the Fun
November 27, 2005 —
My brother hooked me up with his spare SingleSpeed yesterday for a couple of hours’ worth of singletrack riding near his house.
If you’ve never done the SS thing then I must recommend you do not pass up the chance should anyone make you the offer. It’s a whole different level of bicycling zen. You’re sure to find something about it that will keep you smiling for days. Check the photo for instance. You clicked it didn’t you? Such places are cycling heaven, quet as a cathedral. When you ride through a place like this you thank the cycling gods for making such a place and allowing you to find it and to ride it.
To be sure the day wasn’t all like this. The same trail that led us to heaven on earth also served up plenty of cooking that could only come from hell’s kitchen. I’m not sure which is worse, the terror resulting from decending or the anguish from attempting to ascend – remember, there is only one gear on the bike – a steep, twisting and turning tree-lined heavily rooted singletrack mined with fist-sized boulders hidden by fallen leaves. During the descent I feared for my life as the bike lunged left and right beneath me, or threatened to pitch me over the bars. On the ascent the challenge was maintaining forward momentum as the bike’s wheels encountered each hidden obstacle on the way up the incline.
Most of the ride was somewhere in between heaven and hell – negotiating tricky switchbacks, creek crossings, and even the occasional log barrier. There is something unique and special about doing this on a single speed bicycle. Getting to know “your” gear and how to use it to overcome obstacles, maintain the right speed, and accelerate or climb without burning yourself up is all part of the learning experience.
To some it has become a way of life. Back to the roots of what bicycling is all about, this is what they call the pinnacle of cycling.
All that zen stuff aside, it’s a hoot. Thanks bro.
Sere in the Snow
November 26, 2005 — timetrial
I’m starting to see a lot of photos of dogs in the snow now. We have plenty of those here ourselves. None so far from this year though. It has not snowed yet, even though it’s been cold enough on a couple of occasions.
One of our favorite photos is this one of Sere. Beautiful Sere – Winston’s Moonlight Serenade.
