Team Red White and Blue,9-11 Memorial Run Update.

Initially I was supposed to ride to Shanksville after the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials in Bonneville to photograph one of 3 Team Red,White and Blue's 9-11 Memorial Run,but after discussion with Mandy Miller(event coordinator) and Mike Erwin it now turns out i'll be photographing the TRWB run at Liberty State Park in Jersey City,NJ.

Starting Saturday evening,Sept 10th,Mike Irwin and 9 other runners will be leaving the West Point Cemetery,running through the night and arriving at Liberty State Park at 8am,Sept 11th.

More information on this event  here.

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Next Saturday August 27th,TRWB's event coordinator Mandy Miller is hosting a benefit at The Parrot in on Fort Lauderdale beach.
From the TRWB letter:

Team Red, White and Blue is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization whose mission is to support the reintegration of wounded veterans following their medical retirement from the military. We are a grass roots organization that believes wounded veteran reintegration will only occur on a large scale when the American people support wounded veterans and their families in a personal way---right in the communities where they live. Team RWB is devoted to providing hands’ on care and advocacy for our returning wounded veterans and their families to make sure their needs do not slip through the cracks after their active service to our country is over. Team RWB members are both military and civilian, professional athletes and weekend warriors, who use their feet to spread the word – we use ultrarunning as a way to raise awareness of Team TRW’s work.

On September 11, 2011, the 10th anniversary of 9-11, Team RWB is staging 3 simultaneous ultra runs and relays to mark the day and honor the fallen. I am the race director for the event in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the site for the downing of Flight 93. Team RWB members and citizens will run or walk in memory of the 40 lost souls on Flight 93. 40 kilometers for 40 heroes, or 40 steps, the distance is not the point, the respect that must be shown for those who fought back. Lost they were but their efforts averted further disaster and in doing so they launched the first counter attack on terrorism and extremism.

On August 27, 2011, Team RWB is hosting a benefit at the world famous Parrot on Fort Lauderdale Beach to raise funds for team RWB’s work. We would be honored if you would consider sponsoring us with either a financial contribution or an item for our raffle. 100% of all net proceeds raised will go towards helping wounded military personnel and their families.

This is an important event,for TRWB,Mandy and also myself as I am now the official TRWB photographer for the New York run,and if I could be at the fundraiser,I would,so i'm asking that all my Florida friends reading this will attend and show their support for TRWB,Mandy and all her efforts and the people that these events are made to honor.
So please,please please show your support and show up and/or donate,I would really appreciate it and consider it a personal favor.
This TRWB event and photoshoot is an entirely volunteer position for me,Mandy and TRWB asked and I accepted,I could not be more honored to be part of this.
But it's going to cost me a set of tires($425)and approx. $500 in gas money there and back,(approx 5000 miles round trip).If Mandy has some left over money from the fundraiser,she has offered to try to offset my costs by donating a set of tires or some gas money,so by showing up and supporting the TRWB fundraiser,you will also be helping me out big time.


Since I lived in NYC for 12 years when I first came over from Ireland in the late 70's,it has a very personal meaning for me too.

It's been a while since I went down to Chinatown,hung out at CBGB's(no more)bought fish at Fulton Fish Markets,my weekend job at the flea market beside Tower Records on Broadway selling leather belts,many many memories,all good.I worked on the USS Intrepid for a few years back in the days when I had my Longshoreman's card.

I had a great apartment on the third floor on the corner of Houston and Mott,original wood floors,right around the corner from Dean & Deluca.

I loved New York then,and I still love it now.I don't think I could live there now that i've been out of it for so long,but it still a great town to visit.

The gym I worked at on the corner of Broadway and Houston in the Cable Building,so called as thats where they used to repair the old cable cars in the city,is now a Crate & Barrel.

See you in a few weeks New York,keep a light on for me.

I leave you with some stunning skyscapes I shot over the last three days here in Boulder CO.

Looking west toward Chautauqua and the Flatirons.
Nikon D3s,24-70 @ 70mm,ISO 280,f/9,1/8000 sec.

6:45am,looking east toward Denver.

Nikon D3s,24-70 2.8 @ 40mm,ISO 250,f/9,1/500.

7:30am,looking NW of Denver.
Nikon D3s,24-70 2.8 @ 40mm,ISO 250,f/9,1/500.

.....Murph.

Out 'n about in Boulder.........then it's time for BUB.

So while Mum adjusts to her new surroundings,climate and upcoming seasons(what a novelty),i'm getting ready to head over to Wendover UT for the 2011 BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials.



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Last years BUB was hot,very hot,but a great event nonetheless,and I have a suspicion that this year there'll be quite a few Motorcycle World Land Speed records broken.
Rocky Robinson and the Ack Attack team couldn't reach the 400mph mark,even though the Ack Attack Streamliner did take the world record from Dennis Manning,and could have easily made it,it was geared for over  400mph according to Rocky,but he couldn't get it out of 4th gear and into 5th or 6th.So thats one record that whoever gets it will be the first to do so.I'll be arriving at Bonneville Speedway next Monday or Tuesday,get my campspot set up,then out to see old friends and set up.
I've got much more gear this year,last year I just had a D90 and a Flip video camera.This year i'm bringing in the heavy artillery....


Meanwhile the road trip was a roaring success,with both of us wishing it didn't have to end.I highly recommend it.
Arriving at Mum's new apartment on the Hill in Boulder was a bit of an anti-climax,soon brushed aside as the unpacking of the container of furniture and assorted items took over.
I think another road trip with Mum is in order soon,she just had waaay to much of a good time,and hey,if you're not going to do it for your Mum,then who,right?.
"If not now,then when,If not me,then who?"......Words to live by.

Mum's Road Trip Stats:

All told we travelled 4,790 miles from Fort Lauderdale FL to Boulder CO in about 10 days,going through:
Florida
Alabama
Mississippi
Louisiana
Texas
New Mexico
Arizona
California(nations worst drivers)
Utah
Colorado


Mum saw more wonderful scenery in the 10 day road trip then she's seen in the last 10 years that she's been in the U.S.
She also to her credit never,never took a nap throughout the whole trip.Riding shotgun is usually boring,but she was so amazed and in awe at what an amazingly beautiful country we have here in the U.S A. that she didn't dare close here eyes(her own words).
It's something I wanted to do for her and was hoping she would like and turns out she loved it.She asked me can she come on my next road trip !!.

And she's already tried to throw her leg up on the bike,it's just a little high for her.I'll figure out something Mum,don't worry.
Next up:Mum's 2012 Motorcycle Road Trip.


Back in Boulder there's a decidedly summer feel to the town,with colorful markets,colorful street fairs and colorful people out in force before the approach of winter.

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So this is the rough route to go east for the TRWB Sept 11th Memorial Run.
As of the writing of this blog entry,I may be shooting in NYC and not Shanksville PA,i'm not sure yet.
From the correspondence i've recieved from Mandy Miller and Mike Erwin,I had no idea that it is so logistically complicated to put an event like this on.The insurance required for the Shanksville run is about $8000.And these runs are being organized by people with full-time careers too.


So while it's being worked out,please go to the TRWB Website and show your appreciation and support of what Mike Erwin and all who are involved in these historic events are doing.

This is a fundraiser that Mandy Miller is putting on at the Parrot Lounge in Fort Lauderdale,a favorite watering hole of mine in my imbibing days.
Tim,the owner is always a good host for all sorts of events there.


I would sincerely request all who can attend to do so and show Mandy and Team Red White and Blue your support.








Murph

The 40th Parallel

I'm getting to like Boulder quite a bit.When first I arrived the snow was abundant,blanketing most of the area,especially the hills and trails.

Now it's a little like spring with temps in the mid to high 60's.

A much more temperate climate than Steamboat,not as bitterly cold.

Boulder lies in a wide basin beneath Flagstaff Mountain just a few miles east of the continental divide and about 30 miles NW of Denver.

The 40th parallel(40 degrees north latitude) runs through Boulder and can be easily recognized as Basline Road today.

World class rock climbing abounds here,especially in Eldorado Canyon.

Boulder itself is surrounded by over 36,000 acres of recreational space.

The Boulder International Film Festival is held in February,along with the SHoot Out 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival,in which flimmakers are challenged to make a short film within 24 hours using in-camera editing techniques only.

The shootout is just one of those things that keep Boulder cool....

...and speaking of cool,or in this case Kuhl,...

...this Kuhl Kore sweater now is one of the best items I own.

I originally got a pair of their Rebel Jeans,which turned out to be the best pair of pants I have bought.

They're practically indestructible.

But on a visit to the Kuhl HQ in Salt Lake City,brothers Kevin and Tim gave me one of their Kore sweaters to try.

It's a thermal wrap is what it really is.I love it.For a 6:30 am 40º hike,it keeps the heat inside and the cold out.

On the way down when the sun has warmed everything up,sling it on a pack,it's so light you won't even know it's there.

It's a great wind stopper for riding on the bike also.Should be part of every long distance riders gear IMHO.

Chief Niwot,a tribal leader of the Arapho,lived at the site of Boulder,where in 1858 he uttered his legendry curse,"People seeing the beauty of this valley will want to stay,and their staying will be the undoing of the beauty".

Murph