Tamia Nelson's Outside

Taking the Measure of the Wind by Farwell Forrest

Tamia Nelson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:03:11 +0000

Winter is icummen in,
Lhude sing Goddamm,
Raineth drop and staineth slop,
And how the wind doth ramm!

— Ezra Pound, "Ancient Music"

Iconoclast, toady to tyrants, madman or fool or both — Ezra Pound isn't everyone's favorite poet. He certainly isn't mine. But today, as a freshening breeze in a cloudless sky gives notice that summer's lease is short, and about to expire, I can't get Pound's mischievous little jingle out of my mind…

Marmite? It’s a Love-Hate Thing

Tamia Nelson — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:01:28 +0000

Marmite? It's not exactly a household name, is it? At least it isn't on this side of the Pond. And what is it, exactly? Well, some Britons think it's a cultural icon on a par with Tower Bridge, Nelson's Column, and — a nod to New Britain — the Swiss Re Building (aka The Gherkin). But it's really just a sandwich spread. OK. Maybe not just a sandwich spread. For legions of true believers, Marmite is the sandwich spread, a savory confection with an unforgettable flavor that puts other spreads in the shade. Of course, not everyone is a true believer, a fact freely acknowledged by the maker, in what may be the world's least likely advertising slogan: "Marmite. Love It or Hate It." In any case, Marmite certainly has a loyal following, as well as a host of imitators — the sincerest form of corporate flattery. So I figured I'd give it try, with an eye to adding it to my backcountry pantry if it turned out that I belonged to the "Love It" crowd…

Reflecting on Life in the Slow Lane

Tamia Nelson — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:01:09 +0000

With temperatures rising and snow and ice melting away, cyclists are hitting the roads in increasing numbers. But there's a downside to this good news—motorists don't expect to see us at this time of year. The calendar determines most folk's expectations, and March just isn't bicycle season. So it's up to us cyclists to make our presence known…

Beyond the Beauty Strip for March 2010

Tamia Nelson — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:01:46 +0000

A week of above-freezing days with plenty of sun has begun to erode the thick ice along The River. Each day these natural crystal sculptures look a bit different. But one ice sculpture clung tight. I call it Old Man River…

Bike Sunday for March 14, 2010 Bike as Abstract Art

Tamia Nelson — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:01:18 +0000

Bicycles are beautiful machines, and they're admirable subjects for the inquiring photographer. Take a look at your bike from a different perspective sometime. Can you tell what you're looking at here?…

Tool Up to Ride: Be Ready for Roadside Repairs

Tamia Nelson — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:01:53 +0000

You're 50 miles from home on your bike, enjoying a day-long ride through the countryside, perhaps on your own. And then your bike fails you. Maybe it develops a persistent knocking sound with each revolution of the cranks. Or the front derailleur cable snaps. Or you hit a deep pothole and snap a spoke on the drive-side of your rear wheel. What do you do? Pull out your cellphone and call someone to come pick you up and carry you home? Is there cellphone coverage where you're likely break down? So what now?…

Photo Finish for March 12, 2010 On the Boardwalk…

Tamia Nelson — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:01:29 +0000

The air is cool, the wind is rambunctious, but the sun shines and spring is on its way. Bob Angel of the Mobile Studio Travels of the Carolina Considered Project caught this evocative and lovely scene on a walk through Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina…