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Food trends 2012: Natural & subtle
If there was ever a single restaurant that had a global presence large enough to influence the food trends of another country, it would be Noma. The Copenhagen restaurant is praised for its ability to consistently reinvent and redefine flavours and dishes.
"Our menu's based around vegetables and plants," Redzepi told BigHospitality shortly after collecting Noma's third World's Best Restaurant accolade. "There's a bit of fish in there, but even less meat. We try to just cook all of these things in a way that each mouthful signifies a region."
So, in a month that sees Redzepi bringing his Noma vision to the UK with a pop-up restaurant at London hotel Claridges,it's no surprise that many chefs and restaurateurs here are already following suit.
Take 42°Raw for example. The healthy, raw food café concept opened earlier this year in London's Mayfair.It's interior offers a pared-down Scandinavian approach to design, with high, black-painted ceilings, pale wooden furniture and blackboard menus, while the menu is based around plant-based dishes, all cooked under 42° to keep all the nutrients intact.
"None of the food prepared at 42°Raw is cooked above 42°, to ensure that no nutrients are lost during the cooking process," explains Ian Palmer, managing director of Kofler & Kompanie, which operates the concept.
Grow your own
"We are changing people's perceptions that plant-based food is dull and not tasty and we have worked with Michelin-starred chefs to create plant-based dishes that are accessible for all."
And just last week, we reported that Bruno Loubet and his business partners Mark Sainsbury and Michael Benyan have confirmed plans to open a second restaurant in London,showcasing Loubet's 'passion' for vegetables by making them a major focus rather than simply the garnish.
"Increasingly, I'm seeing people growing their own and chefs being more adventurous with new and old varieties," Loubet said. "I've always had a passion for vegetables, and love tending my own little garden at home. While we will not be a 'vegetarian' restaurant, there is so much cooking scope with vegetables that I am looking forward to exploring at Granary Square."
So, why the sudden resurgence of vegetables and other 'natural' food in the UK? Is it just a reaction to modernist cuisine? Perhaps there's an air of social responsibility from restaurants to place more focus on healthy eating, or are they simply being driven away from high-protein products as costs continue to mount? Well it's actually combination of all three.
So says Charles Banks, director of food trends agency Thefoodpeople. "It's in part a reaction to modernist cuisine," he says. "The days of taking a load of strawberries, concentrating them down and creating one strawberry which is super-intense are gone.
"However, I think there are other factors at play. Meat and fish prices continue to go up and so, when you take into consideration global economics, I think we're going to see more fruit and veg over the next 10 years than we do at the moment, because some of those key proteins are going to become scarce.
"There's definitely also the healthy element; a social responsibility aspect from the restaurateur as well. For consumers, it feels much more 'of the moment' and in-tune with what's happening at a macro-level."
Natural meets modern
This isn't to say that this is a new phenomenon. In fact there are many chefs – the likes of Great British Menu star Simon Rogan– who have been cooking with the mantra of 'less is more' for some time.
But it's chefs like Rogan that are taking this 'natural' food concept to the next level. And that's where Banks believes the future of British cuisine lies.
"With the more natural-based food concepts, chefs can make it appear as if they have intervened in each dish a lot less, when in fact they have put a lot of work into sourcing the right ingredients, bringing together the right flavours, and using raw food or floral products to create naturally occurring textures."
"I've spoken to a lot of ex-modernist chefs that have decided to adopt another cuisine and then begin incorporating their modernist techniques into more traditional dishes.
"So I think what we're probably going to see is this evolving into 'naturalness in a modern and contemporary context', and I expect we'll see a bit of a fusion of the two concepts over time."
This mixture of cooking concepts can again be related to the Redzepi factor. The Dane's rendition of natural Nordic gourmet cuisine offers more than simple, natural dishes, with a gastronomic take on traditional cooking methods and the use of fine Nordic produce.
As to whether there are any restaurants in the UK that have the level of innovation required to achieve such dishes, watch this space.
10 things we can expect to see in the UK:
- Less cooking
- Less heat and lower temperatures
- More vegetables on plates
- Inspirations from nature
- Foraging/wild harvest
- An increase in modern vegetarian restaurants
- A regress of molecular cooking styles
- Chefs & restaurateurs owning farms and growing their own ingredients
- More use of local foods
- Calories displayed on menus


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On the Hunt for a true blue Rocky story
September 25, 2010.
He's known as the "Super Samoan", but on this particular night in Indianapolis, Mark Hunt isn't feeling too super. Actually, he's feeling downright disappointed and frustrated as he slumps into a chair in his changeroom just minutes after suffering a first-round loss to American journeyman Sean McCorkle in his UFC [Ultimate Fighting Championship] debut.
It is Hunt's sixth consecutive loss. It's now been four long years since the New Zealand-born, Australian-based former K1 kickboxing world champion won a mixed martial arts bout. For a man who boasts wins over legendary MMA pioneers such as Wanderlei Silva, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic ... and for a man who tested the legendary Fedor Emelianenko like few others before him ... it's inconceivable that he can't get himself out of this rut.
As he talks about that moment less than three years later, Hunt can't help but laugh. Actually, it's more bellow than laugh. A 120-kilogram heavyweight frame tends to do that.
"I didn't know what happened. I was losing for a long time and I wasn't really worried about it — I was just losing and I didn't know what to do," Hunt recalls.
He can afford to laugh about it now, because the Mark Hunt we're talking to today is a very different Mark Hunt to the one the UFC didn't even want to sign just a few years ago.
Today, Hunt is on a three-fight win streak and is preparing for one of the most important fights of his career — a showdown with seven-foot (213 centimetre), 115kg Dutchman Stefan "Skyscraper" Struve. A win in this fight at one of his happiest hunting grounds, the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, will secure a top-10 ranking in the heavyweight division and move the big Kiwi one step closer to a title shot that nobody except Hunt himself would have dreamed he could have earned less than three years ago.
If you're looking for the UFC's Rocky story, this is it.
Hunt readily admits that combat sports was the key to getting his life back on track. As a teenager in Auckland, he was fast heading down the wrong track when he got into a fight outside a nightclub. After a then-16-year-old Hunt knocked out a fellow troublemaker, the nightclub's bouncer intervened and asked Hunt if he wanted to take up kickboxing. The rest is history.
A kickboxing natural, Hunt moved to Australia to train and a decade later, was crowned the K1 world kickboxing champion. He switched to MMA shortly afterwards, becoming a legend in the Japan-based Pride and Dream promotions, establishing a huge following not just in Asia, but throughout the world.
He got a Pride heavyweight title shot against Emelianenko in December 2006, but was submitted after eight gruelling minutes against arguably the greatest heavyweight the sport has seen. That loss was the second of what turned into a six-fight losing streak before he finally stepped into the UFC's Octagon against McCorkle.
It's good — they [fans] probably like to see an underdog story, a Rocky story of coming back from people saying your career is done.
Truth be told, outspoken UFC president Dana White didn't want anything to do with Hunt. When the UFC bought out the Pride promotion in 2007, Hunt still had three fights left on his Pride contract. Having decided Hunt wasn't going to make it in the UFC, White tried to buy out Hunt's contract to prevent him ever stepping into the Octagon.
Hunt refused. He was not giving up his dream that easily. He stepped into the Octagon that night in Indianapolis on September 25, 2010 intent on proving White wrong.
The fight began exactly as he wanted it; Hunt pushing the pace, stuffing a McCorkle takedown attempt and ending up in top position in his opponent's guard. As he attempted to finish the fight with big ground and pound, he made a careless error — leaving his left arm exposed and allowing McCorkle to attempt a kimura, which he then turned into an armbar. Hunt had no choice but to tap, and with just over a minute gone in the bout, it was all over.
In just one minute inside the Octagon, his career looked finished.
"The fight against McCorkle was my first fight in the Octagon — my first fight in ANY Octagon — but he still got me. He was lucky," Hunt says wryly today.
But there's little doubt the loss was a massive blow for Hunt, who had made some significant changes in his life in an attempt to get back on the winner's list. He travelled to the USA to train with some of the best fighters in the sport at the famed American Top Team gym; he focused on improving all aspects of his MMA game; he improved his diet and fitness. Yet it had taken just one minute inside the Octagon to bring him back to earth with a thud.
Hunt could have given it away then. But rather than throw in the towel, Hunt returned to Australia with renewed purpose and — safe in the knowledge he had two fights left on his UFC contract — set about preparing for what was now a must-win bout against two-time all-American wrestler Chris Tuchscherer.
"I'm like an old horse that doesn't give up. I'm like the old mutt that won't get out of the door. I'm like 'hey, I'm still fighting!'," he laughs.
"But [even after six straight losses] I still felt different. I felt like if some circumstances had have been different, it would have been different like a lot of other fighters at the top level who should be in the UFC but aren't — it's just the circumstances, you know what I mean? But that's what happened, and here we are now."
Where we are right now is a very happy place for Hunt. In front of his Sydney fans in February 2011, Hunt scored a devastating first-round knockout victory over Tuchscherer — a victory that earned him a $75,000 bonus for the knockout of the night as well as untold value in unexpected publicity.
The fight (pictured above) was never meant to be televised — it was not even meant to be shown on the UFC's Facebook page, along with other fights that don't make the preliminary card — but the KO victory was so devastating that producers televised the fight immediately after the evening's main event.
That main event just happened to be one of the most anticipated fights of the year: a welterweight bout between former two-division champion BJ Penn and fellow title contender Jon Fitch, ensuring Hunt's handiwork was subsequently seen by millions of UFC fans around the world. Hunt was back, having reminded the UFC's fans — and hierarchy — exactly why he was one of the most popular heavyweights in the world.
That fact was none more evident than in April last year when Alistair Overeem was forced to withdraw from a scheduled title shot against the then-champion, Junior dos Santos, because of a failed drug test.
With dos Santos left without an opponent for his scheduled May 26 title defence, Hunt's fans took matters into their own hands, creating the Rally for Mark Hunt — a social media campaign that bombarded the UFC and its president, Dana White, demanding Hunt be given the title shot.
Hunt had just come off his third straight victory in the UFC — another devastating knockout victory, this time over the highly-rated veteran Cheick Kongo — and watched in amazement as White was forced to hose down continued speculation Hunt would step in to face dos Santos.
"Dana White was probably going, 'I'm sick of these guys talking about this. What are they still talking about with this guy who's lost six in a row? I didn't even want to sign this guy, come on!'," Hunt said.
"But it was fun, for the first time I had the support. I was like, 'wow, I've got the support and I'm not even on a good run'.
"It's good — they [fans] probably like to see an underdog story, a Rocky story of coming back from people saying your career is done.
"I was sitting there talking to a lot of people and they were like, 'are you still fighting?'. And I'm still telling them 'I still feel like I'm the best fighter in the world' and they go, 'yeah, right!'. They just sit there and sort of laugh at me.
"I'm still going to pursue it (the UFC heavyweight title) any way I can. But the Rally For Mark Hunt was fun, they're still there and my Twitter is getting bigger and bigger, it's great."
Hunt's bout with Struve is a second attempt at matching the Kiwi against Struve, currently ranked the number nine heavyweight in the UFC. They were originally scheduled to meet at UFC 146 in May, the night dos Santos eventually defended his title against former champion Frank Mir, but Hunt sustained a PCL injury the week before the bout. Now that Hunt has regained full fitness, he'll get the chance to face Struve and in turn earn a top-10 ranking.
"I've got to win this fight again to keep going [on the path to a heavyweight title shot]. That's the way it is. But I'm glad I've got destiny in my hands instead of the way they were before," Hunt said.
"It's really good, for someone that was getting kicked on the ground and almost getting kicked out the door, to having an opportunity to try to change the heavyweight division and to make my way in the heavyweight division."
For his part, White has admitted he wrote off Hunt too quickly.
"I have apologised and praised Mark Hunt for what he's accomplished in the situation he was in," White said when interviewed on Hunt's title prospects.
"I guarantee you this: he beats Struve, his next fight will be against someone in the top five that can get him closer to that title shot."
Hunt is grateful ... but he, for one, never stopped believing that he belonged in the top echelon of the sport.
"I've always said the same [thing] ... that I'm one of the best fighters on the planet. I've still got the goals and dreams to become the world's best. I still feel I'm the best. You probably would have started kicking me if I had have said that to you two years ago, but..."
It might have been a Rocky road, but nobody is kicking Mark Hunt now. Especially in the Octagon.
Hunt vs Struve: how they line up
At 178cm, Mark Hunt is one of the shortest heavyweights fighting in the UFC today. And while the 120kg Kiwi will outweigh Struve by 5-10kg on fight night, he'll be giving away a whopping 25cm in height to a man known as "The Skyscraper" (pictured above, dominating Chase Gormley in 2009).
Hunt has fought taller heavyweights his entire career, but concedes it's a different prospect facing the tallest heavyweight in the UFC.
"I only trained with a guy that's six foot eight, that's all. There's not many [seven footers] around! Most of the heavyweights are taller than me anyway, I'm a short heavyweight so it doesn't really matter."
Hunt's weighty issue
As part of his preparation for this fight, Hunt did seven weeks of modified strongman training to ensure his power punching would be at its peak.
However, that strength work has caused some problems for the big man in terms of making the 265 pound (120kg) heavyweight limit, which he was still some way off a week out from the fight.
"I'm really hungry at the moment," Hunt said on Monday, just a few hours before boarding a plane for his flight to Japan.
"I haven't been eating carbs for the last month, and it's been so hard with training when I'm trying to make weight. I've still got three or four days until I weigh in, so it's disgusting. I'm just on protein right now and my mind's delirious!
"I've had a few days when it's been pretty hard — I've been walking around delirious in the sauna and all that, talking to myself. People would look at me and think 'is this guy crazy or something?'. Yeah, I'm crazy — no look, I'm just hungry!"
Those diehards who want to see how Hunt gets on at the weigh-in can tune into to live coverage on Fuel TV at 6pm this Saturday (AEDT). Coverage of the fight card begins on Fuel TV at 2pm on Sunday (AEDT). The card is headlined by one of Hunt's old foes, Brazil's Wanderlei Silva, who takes on the USA's Brian Stann in a middleweight bout.
Former Cuban Olympic judo competitor-turned Aussie Hector Lombard will also attempt to advance his claims in the UFC's middleweight division when he takes on former title contender and Japanese favourite, Yushin Okami.
UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs Stann (on Fuel TV from 2pm Sunday)
Middleweight: Wanderlei Silva vs Brian Stann
Heavyweight: Mark Hunt vs Stefan Struve
Lightweight: Takanori Gomi vs Diego Sanchez
Middleweight: Yushin Okami vs Hector Lombard
Featherweight: Mizutu Hirota vs Rani Yahya
Preliminary card (on the UFC's Facebook page)
Middleweight: Riki Fukuda vs Brad Tavares
Bantamweight: Takeya Mizugaki vs Bryan Caraway
Lightweight: Cristiano Marcello vs Kazuki Tokudome
Bantamweight: Alex Caceres vs Kyung Ho Kang
Welterweight: Marcelo Guimaraes vs Hyun Gyu Lim

subset: commoncrawl


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Sega has finally taken the wraps off of the not-so-mysterious Project Needlemouse, and it turns out it's just what everyone was hoping for: a return to classic 2D Sonic the Hedgehog gameplay. The game will officially be known as Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 and will be coming to Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation Network, and WiiWare this summer.
The announcement, which was exclusive to Gamespot, also revealed a few details about the game itself. Sega is positioning it as a direct sequel to Sonic & Knuckles for the Sega Genesis, originally released back in 1994, and will feature familiar gameplay mechanics like the spin dash and power sneakers. It will also incorporate leaderboards and, at least in the case of the PS3 and Wii versions, motion controls.
Little else was revealed about the game, though Sega did launch a website for the title, which features several countdowns, so we should be seeing more information over the next few weeks. Sonic fans have been burned many times in the past, so it's hard to get too excited until we actually play the game. But this looks like it could be the real thing. Let's just hope there is a distinct lack of werehogs.


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Castile-La Mancha: a world of bird watching
Castile–La Mancha has a wide variety of nature areas: plains, Mediterranean forests, mountains and vast wetlands such as those in the Tablas de Daimiel National Park.
Walkway in a nature reserve in Castile-La Mancha
Spain is one of the best places in Europe to go bird watching. Its location on an important route for migrating birds means it is easy to spot a wide variety of bird life. Every year, many different species of birds choose the Region of Castile-La Mancha to rest or nest. Would you like to witness this wonderful natural spectacle? Then get your binoculars ready.
"They are wonderful because they come out with the dawn, they are brightly coloured, and everywhere… And if you don't see them, they even sing so that you look." These are the words of a bird watching enthusiast in Castile-La Mancha. There is no doubt that this region of inland Spain is an important refuge for birds. It has 38 ZEPA (Special Bird Life Protection) areas. Its nature areas are home to more than 200 autochthonous species and provide a stopping point for the great majority of migratory species over the course of the year. Cabañeros, Tablas de Daimiel, the Ruidera Lakes, the Tejera Negra Beech Forest and the Alto Tajo region are a few emblematic areas for bird watching. Not only will you discover the most diverse landscapes, but you will also get to know the vital role played by the birds of prey and water birds to be found in Castile-La Mancha.
A few recommendations
Binoculars, a field guide, comfortable footwear and suitable clothing for the time of year in neutral colours are vital elements if you want to spend a day bird watching. Remember that the animals you will be able to see vary according to the time of year and that the best conditions are during the hours immediately after sunrise and before sunset, especially in spring and summer. You will find observatories and itineraries in many nature reserves, and there are even guided routes available. Make sure you head to tourist offices and visitor centres to get information on all the available activities.
All kinds of landscapes
While you search out these winged animals in Castile-La Mancha you will also have the chance to enjoy a wide range of different landscapes. Cabañeros National Park, for example, is an excellent example of Mediterranean forest. Its trees are home to many different birds such as the black stork, golden eagle, black vulture or black-winged kite. The foothills of the Toledo Mountains and Sierra Morena are also excellent places to see them. Meanwhile, in the forests of the Hayedo de Tejera Negra Nature Reserve or the Alcaraz and Segura Mountains you can see finches, sparrow hawks, greenfinches and tits.
Fluvial systems and wetlands are highly representative of this region. The importance of areas such as the Tablas de Daimiel National Park and the Ruidera Lakes is recognised internationally – they are fundamental for the survival of aquatic bird life. The list of species you can see is long: great-crested grebe, red-crested pochard, mallard, purple heron, black-necked grebe, Eurasian wigeon, cormorant, flamingo, little egret… The lakes in Puebla de Beleña, Pedro Muñoz and Villacañas are other places where they can be seen in abundance.
Canyons, gorges and wild, rocky places are home to many birds, especially birds of prey. In Castile-La Mancha, Egyptian vultures, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, Griffon vultures and kestrels are commonplace in settings such as the Alto Tajo, Río Dulce, Serranía de Cuenca and Sierra de Alcaraz Nature Reserves. Bird watching is one of the most rewarding experiences offered by nature. In the Region of Castile-La Mancha you can see for yourself.
Photographic tour around the Natural Park Serranía of Cuenca
The Photographic Tour around the Natural Park Serranía ...(+詳細)
Due to their abundance diversity and ease of watching ...(+詳細)
We have prepared a two-day experience to enjoy the best ...(+詳細)
Birdwatching and pottery workshop for the family
A perfect experience to enjoy in family! ...(+詳細)
Ciudad Real


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The 106.5-mile Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (FKOHT) will stretch the length of the Florida Keys, from Key Largo to Key West, the southernmost point of the continental United States. The trail...
|106.5 mi
We just rode from Key Largo to key Wat and has a great ride. The only reason I do not give the trail 5 stars is that there is a good deal of hurricane related impact on the trail and not many good sources to see just where this impact is. The good news is that there is always the option of riding on the Overseas Highway Bike Path. If you don't mind being on the road, it is excellent. Some of the off Highway paths are sensational. There are dedicated channel bike bridges, but many are not open. Be sure to look at signs for "no outlet" before you cross one of these bridges. The Channel 5 bike bridge does NOT go through. I found ample space on the side of the road for biking on the bridges. Some in our party did not. The 7 mile bridge is both exhilarating and terrifying. Uber is a viable option for the weak at heart. There is a lot of debris on the paths. Our group had 4 nail related flat tires. The amenities are great along the way and there are bike shops along the way. Riding from Key West to Key Largo, the head wind was a factor. We all agreed that we would do the trail again.
With winter approaching and freezing temperatures at home it seemed like the ideal time to cycle the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. This 106.5 mile Rail-Trail offers a scenic tropical bicycling adventure without leaving the continental United States.
The trail runs on Henry Flagler's old railroad from mile marker 106 in Key Largo to mile marker 0 in Key West, Florida parallel to US Route 1. While more than 75 miles of the rail-trail were paved, several large sections of the trail and bridges were recently damaged by hurricane Irma. Unfortunately, much of the damage has not been repaired yet. As a result, cyclists are forced on to the roadway on bike lanes or narrow shoulders with the usual road debris and hazards. I did experience a flat.
So, riders beware! Although this trail is classified as a rail trail, it is not for the faint of heart when it comes to riding on the road. Expect a lot of road cycling on a busy highway with cars and large trucks speeding by alongside of you. In addition, the trail continually changes from side to side along US Route 1 forcing cyclists to cross the highway.
My wife and I took the trip together and really enjoyed it. We started at Key Largo by parking our vehicle (free of charge with advance arrangements) at the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce/Visitor's Center. We unloaded our bikes here and started at 6 AM pedaling south from mile marker 106. We were in Key West at 4 PM. Other than a few blinding rainstorms, the trip was uneventful. We enjoyed an extra day and night in Key West, then headed north. Knowing that wind conditions are tougher going north, we planned the return trip in 2 days - smart planning! 50 miles into the 20-25 mph winds was all we wanted to tackle in one day. All along the way, you'll find great little restaurants, shops, etc. On the way north, we decided not to tempt our fate a second time on the 7 mile bridge. Here's a secret...the Lower Keys has a bus service with stops scattered all throughout the Keys. Buses have bike racks on them, and for just a few bucks you can put your bike on the bus and ride across the 7 mile bridge, or through any other areas that you wish not to bike. One more tip...we took a long time in advance studying Google Earth satellite and street views to get a good idea of what we were up against. Very good tool to help you see the bike path, bridges, etc.
I was pleased to also see a bit of construction going on as well on the bridges. Yes, several of the bridges are closed as other posts have pointed out, but it's all about finding the funds for these infrastructure projects. I will look forward to the day when the trail is complete and bikers can be totally separate from traffic.
All in all, it was a great 212 mile trip (less 10 miles on the bus!)...if you like biking in a tropical environment, this may be the trail for you.
This is my first time biking the Overseas Heritage Trail and I normally don't bike anywhere besides dedicated bike trails. I biked the trail on Thu/Fri April 20-21.
I had my wife drop me off in Key Largo on day 1 and I biked to Marathon. The bike trail and lanes were really well thought out and the few times I had to cross the street really were not a big deal. Just waited for an ebb to the traffic and easy peasy. I was happily surprised at how wide the bike lanes were.
Day 2 started with biking over the 7-mile bridge and for the most part of this ride, I rode on the oncoming side of the road. This part of the ride did not have as many miles of dedicated bike trails and a number of the pedestrian bridges were closed forcing me to bike over the bridges. I had no issues with this as there was more than enough space (4-6+ ft) keeping me away from cars. There were a number of sections of this part of the trail where I had to ride on the road/curb but for the most part, I typically had a 4+ ft curb. My preference is to ride against oncoming traffic (on the curb or bike lane) as I feel if someone swerves off the road, I at least will see it and have time to get out of the way. I made sure to keep a blinking light on the front and rear of the bike and the two times I saw a car start swerving onto the curb, they immediately corrected as I assume they saw me and my blinking light. Both drivers had their cell phone in their hand as they passed.
I used the comments on this site to prepare for the ride and hope my comments provide help for others. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and most likely will bike the entire trip in one day the next time.
My wife and I completed the Florida Keys trail in late January, 2017. We did the ride in four days while enjoying stops to various Keys for the evenings. It was a great experience as we concluded our trip with two days in Key West. However, like many have reviewed on this site, expect a lot of road biking with car zooming around you. Overall I would estimate road cycling at about 80-85% with the remainder being nice trails for bikers/walkers. My wife is a bit hesitant for doing rides on roads. The good news is she is glad she did it...however if she had known the road activity she would have passed on this trip. The following recaps our trip for your consideration:
-Rented the bikes from All Keys Cycles in Key Largo. Nice guys with older but very well conditioned bikes. Bikes came with a tube and CO2 pump. It was needed as we did get one flat. All Keys Cycles picked up our bike in Key West. Bikes are hybrids, highly recommended. Don't suggest road bikes unless you stay on the road 100%.
-First day biked from Key Largo to Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada. Very nice resort with reasonable prices. Highly recommend. We stopped for a drink at Marker 88, nice stop with great views. About 22 miles this day.
-Day two Islamorada to Marathon. Longer ride around 35 miles. We wanted to get to Marathon to take on 7 Mile Bridge early in the morning. Stop in to Angler and Ale for lunch on Duck Key-awesome. In Marathon stayed at Tranquility Bay Resort. Nice resort with a bar great views of the gulf.
-Day Three, started at sunrise to take on 7 Mile Bridge. Start early for less traffic. There was still a significant amount of traffic with a narrow bike lane. No issues, the fastest my wife went all week. :) Destination was Ramrod Key, Looe Resort, about 22 miles. We got there around 10a, room unavailable until 3pm. Very little to do in lower keys unless you are a fishermen or diver. We are neither. Nice folks with "retro" accommodations.
-Day Four, destination Key West. Great ride from Ramrod Key, mostly trail with a few surprises of trail endings...then back on Highway 1. Around a 30 mile ride. Stayed at Saint Hotel an Autograph Selection hotel of Marriott. Used my points. Great location on Eaton street and a secret exit for Duvall street. Highly recommended. We enjoyed a couple days and drinks in Key West with no more biking.
-Saturday walked over to Enterprise to pick up our rental car for a day. Drove to Ft. Lauderdale airport.
In sum, a great experience. If you are comfortable on the road, a Highway...go for it. We are glad we did but wouldn't do it again. BTW, you go over 43 bridges.
Lets continue to help Rails To Trails so maybe some dollars can be allocated in advancing the Keys Trail.
I just completed the ride from Key Largo to Key West for the 2nd year in a row and this year a friend joined me. We both are experienced bike riders who ride about 2000-3000 miles a year in our home states of MA and NY. We enjoyed the ride, but have a few concerns relative as to why the signage is very limited. Also, I'm asking the same question that others have asked in reviews - why are the some of the rebuilt bridges for bikers and walkers closed and there are no signs to let you know this until you get to the bridge (many times having to cross the road) and find them locked. This happened four times during the trip before we decided to stay o the the left hand side, riding facing traffic for the last 25 miles to Key West (knowing that all the bridges are on the Northbound side). More signage to alert bikers of bridges that are closed would make this ride much safer.
We did the complete ride and rode across all bridges including the 7 mile bridge with no problems. However, everyone should consider the wind conditions, especially when riding over the 7 mile bridge. If it's too windy, avoid it until a calmer day. We had no tire problems and my wife dropped us off at the starting point each day and then picked us up. We averaged 25-35 miles a day with 2 - 3 hours of riding time a day. If we do this again, we will do it in 3 days - we are 70 years old and had no problem with the ride.
We hope that the FDOT will prioritize safety for this trail for everyone. Proper signage is most important as this keeps bikers from crossing the road when it's not necessary.
This trail goes through one of the most unique and beautiful parts
of the U.S. and we enjoyed riding over the bridges to see the amazing views of the water. Happy and safe biking!
I pedaled from Fort Clinch to Key West along route 1 and A1A last week. I've heard about unsafe conditions along the Overseas Heritage Trail, but found this not to be true. The Florida DOT is doing an amazing job building roads with trails and side paths all along my trip. Florida could become one of the top states for bicycling. If you don't want to ride the slower paths, only the streets, then I guess there is more danger from traffic than I encountered on my slower ride using sidewalks and paths when avaiable.
When you are pedaling to the Keys from Florida City or Homestead DO NOT use Card Sound Road. US1 is very safe with a wide shoulder bike path. I am trying to get Google Maps to direct bikers to US1 but have not had any success.
Our group of 8 riders was very excited to ride this trail. We've always emphasized water-based activities when in the Keys, so this would be a totally different kind of trip. Let me preface my remarks by saying we are all experienced road riders. We commute by bike, ride Rail Trails, tour country roads, etc. My husband and I have been all over with our road tandem, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive, and Northern Ireland. We started our ride in Key Largo and rode to Key West, then back (total 225 miles in 5.5 days). Not really sure this can be considered a Rail Trail experience. Let me first start with the pros: The scenery is beautiful, there are plenty of places along the way for eating, drinking, sight-seeing, and lodging, and certain off-road sections are wonderful. Now the cons. The trail is constantly changing sides of the road, forcing cyclists to cross busy US1. We decided it was safer to ride in the bike lane rather than crossing the road in most cases (exceptions being the Long Bridge and Old Dixie Highway). The ride down was easier because of the wind at our backs, and even the Seven Mile Bridge wasn't too bad since it didn't take that long to get across. However, the ride from south to north (or west to east) has the better trail. More of the off-the-road trail is on the east side of the highway. The Seven Mile Bridge coming back was the most terrifying bike riding we've ever done! Not only is the shoulder (not an explicit bike lane) more narrow than most of the other bridges, but the speed limit is 55 mph. In my opinion, there's no need for the speed limit to be over 45 ANYWHERE in the Keys, and should mostly be 35 mph. Another issue we had was that most of the bridges had adjacent, intact bridges alongside for pedestrians and bicyclists, but for some unknown reason they were closed! Perhaps the bridges have been deemed unsafe, but to be riding along, and all of a sudden the trail ends, with no paved access back to the highway, is ridiculous. Then to return to the trail after the bridge, again we were forced to off-road it through grass and gravel. Several times we would cross the highway to get to the pedestrian bridge only to find it was gated closed. We suffered six flats all together during this ride. All in all we had a fun trip but would not recommend this for novices. Certain sections were wonderful, truly off the road and separated with vegetation, or the old highway, or even a smooth path. But a lot of the trail was no more than a glorified sidewalk (especially through the "towns" where we were competing with cars entering and exiting businesses--highly dangerous). Perhaps in a few years the pedestrian/bicycles bridges will be open and the ride will be better. But for us, we've checked this off our bucket list and there's no need to do it again.
We just finished riding on the Heritage trail May 2016.. Several tips to make it more enjoyable. Go only from Key Largo to Key West. Riding South to North is more difficult because of the wind. We stayed at a great hotel in Key Largo called Marina del Mar Resort. Great views, tiki bar and pool. You can also leave your car there for several days and rent a van from Key West to Key Largo for the return trip. Go to dinner at The Fish House for the best seafood in the Keys especially Yellowtail snapper in lemon sauce. Then go to Jimmie Johnson's restaurant called the Big Chill for cocktails and nice sunset. Both are only a 5 minute drive from hotel heading north. Leave at 6am the next morning and ride 46 miles to Marathon and stay at the Holiday Inn Express. This is very close to the start of the Seven Mile Bridge. Travel the next day 56 miles to Key West. 60-70% of the trail is a dedicated bike trail and 30-40% is on US 1 South. There is a lot of sharp debri on the seven mile bridge which is the only time we got a flat tire. Bring an extra tube and CO2 cartridge. We only passed one bike shop on the way down visible from the roads so be prepared. Bike path is only 4 ft wide on the 7 mile bridge. There are only a few places to eat along the way so bring plenty of water. While in Key West take a sunset powered catamaran with a company called Fury. Ask for the boat with the band. Also take a 2 hr high speed ferry to The Dry Tortugas(Ft. Jefferson) Great tour but snorkeling is average. Guided tour of the Hemmingway house was excellent. I would also take the Trolley guided hop on hop off ride in Key West. I would only go from Key Largo to Key West but not the opposite way. Overall it was a great trip but trails are not as good as your routine rails to trails but it is worth doing once especially if you have never been to the Keys. Hope this is helpful.
I just returned from my second camping/biking trip in the Keys. This year I planned to ride the entire distance from Key Largo to Key West both ways. I had three days to accomplish this, a tight schedule and a lofty goal for a 71 year old man. Being all alone, I planned on riding a section, then turning around and riding back to my truck, then driving to the next section. I planned on returning to my camp site each evening.
I Arrived at Long Key State Park early to set up my camp and then ride a 24 mile loop around Long Key before dark. The Next morning I began where I left off south, and rode 36 miles to Key Largo and 36 miles back. I had to ride some of the way on the hi-way shoulder, but I never encountered anyplace where it was too narrow for my Catrike.
The next two days I rode several shorter sections totaling 50 miles each day. I skipped over the 7 mile bridge and two other long bridges and two other short stretches where the shoulder was just too narrow, one on Upper Sugerloaf Key and one on Big Coppet Key. Overall I found the trail an improvement over last year and I expect it will improve again before I come next spring. On my second day I watched a crew laying a section of new trail on Little Torch Key and the next day I made fresh tracks on it.
The people I encountered were extremely pleasant, especially in Marathon and Key West, where I rode around a bit on the city streets. I can't tell you how many "thumbs up" my Catrike and I received from drivers even as I impeded their movement.
In all I rode 193.6 miles, spent 14.6 hours peddling and averaged 13.27 MPH...
What follows are some reflections for casual bikers on biking the Keys slowly (4 days) from Key Largo to Key West. My wife and I are in our 60's. This was our first significant bike trip outside of 15 mile day trips on rails-to-trails trails near out home in Western Pennsylvania. I will include some of the logistical details such as getting a bus or taxi across 7-Mile Bridge at Marathon, and catching a bus (buses actually) from Key West to Key Largo. If you have questions after reading this, or would like dining and lodging recommendations, please contact me (joelw.cannon at gmail). I benefitted greatly from Bob Youker's advice (another resource whose comments appear on this site), and am happy to helping others in the same way.
First some general observations. I expect that the trail is unique in that almost all of it lies along Highway 1, a busy, noisy highway that is 4 lanes wide for most of the way. Those expecting something like the quiet Rails-To-Trails rides elsewhere may be disappointed. This is a function of the Keys' geography. In many spots, the land will extend 50 yards or less to either side of the highway. There is no place to put a trail away from the road. Despite the noise, it proved to be a pleasant February ride for us as we left snow and winter behind, and enjoyed the ocean, Palm Trees, etc. Most of the trail is right along the road and it crosses multiple times (with patience, we had no trouble crossing -- but if not patient, these crossings will be dangerous), I suspect that we never waited more than a minute for a sufficient break in traffic for an easy crossing. There are several short ~1-5 mile stretches where the trail is separate from the road, or where there are quieter sections of parallel roads. There are also nice parks in which to quietly explore the Keys ecology.
Several comments I read before embarking had me worried about flat tires. We had no flats and and encountered few of the problematic rocks the comments mentioned. I suspect the people who had these sorts of troubles were serious bikers with road bikes who chose to ride on the highway shoulder. We rented hybrids in Key Largo (at All Keys Cycle). The bike trail winds a bit and is probably too slow for serious bikers.
The trail is on the order of 90% finished. There is a wide shoulder in several sections where it is not finished. The principal exceptions are the bridges, some of which have relatively narrow (4 -6 feet) shoulders. Others have nice wide shoulders that make riding comfortable. In some cases, there are parallel bike and pedestrian bridges. Occasionally we encountered bike/pedestrian bridges that appeared to be complete and ready, but had not been opened. In others, a little closer observation revealed that the parallel bridges had decayed and clearly would have been dangerous had they been open. Perhaps because I have had more experience riding with traffic while growing up in rural Oregon and while commuting by bicycle in traffic while living in San Diego, riding on the shoulder of the bridges or the sections of the road that required it did not bother me. Riding on the shoulders did bother my wife, who commented that, "It will be a great trail 10 years from now when the trail is completely finished," and expressed her desire not to ride the trail again until it is finished. I expect most casual cyclists will want to take a taxi or bus across Seven Mile Bridge (on the lower Keys side of Marathon). The cheapest option if you can get it is to catch the Key West Transit Lower Keys Shuttle, which has a bike rack on the front. Unfortunately, there was only 1 bike spot available when the bus appeared so I had to call a Taxi, which took me across the bridge for $20. I believe 2 of the 4 Marathon taxis have bike racks. On the plus side, the views from the bridges are stunning if you can relax enough to look around.
If you travel in February as we did, you will want to make reservations and make them at least several weeks, preferably a month, before traveling. We managed to get all our reservations 3 weeks before leaving, but it was tight. Be prepared to spend money on lodging. With one exception, we found we had never paid so much for so little -- we were surprised that the Lower Keys were as expensive as Key West.
If you are used to frequenting Starbucks or high-end coffee shops, you may find the Upper and Middle Keys a throwback to a different time. I discovered that if you pass a coffee shop, you are probably not going to find another for some time. Two exceptions were a Bistro in Islamarada, whose proprieter was a French immigrant, and Baby's Coffee on or near Sugarloaf Key. The Cuban Coffee shops also offer a pleasant if sweet alternative.
Trip Details: We took All-Keys Shuttle from Ft. Lauderdale airport (be sure to make reservations) to All Keys Cycle in Key Largo ($40/person), where we rented our bikes and pedaled to our Motel. We stayed multiple nights at several places. The biking days included:
Day 1: Key Largo to Islamarada (17.5 miles)
Day 2: Islamarada to Marathon (31.5 mies)
Day 3: Marathon to Sugarloaf Key (28 miles, plus 7 miles taxi across Seven Mile Bridge)
Day 4: Sugarloaf Key to Key West (16 miles)
After a few days in Key West, we caught the Key West Transit Lower Keys Shuttle near the start of its route ($1.50 for seniors). Get off The Lower Keys Shuttle at the K-Mart in Marathon (Mile 50). From there, we caught the Miami-Dade Shuttle, which cost $2.65 -- that may be discounted for being a senior). No bike rack, but the bikes were stowed in the luggage compartment in the bus and, based on my conversation when I called to get the schedule, and make sure we could get our bike's on, they carry bikes regularly. Since the Lower Keys Shuttle carried only 2 or 3 bikes (depending on the bus), it was a bit stressful waiting to see if we could get our bikes on the shuttle. We caught the bus at what was nearly the first stop (near the post office in the historic district). I believe the bus starts from Key West Transit's office. If that is the case, I might be inclined to pedal there next time to reduce the chances of not being able to use the bike rack.
Some of the nice side trips we took, were to Pennekamp and Dagny Johnson State Parks in Key Largo. Long Key State Park had a great nature trail showing the ecology of the Keys (so did Pennekamp). Sombrero Beach Park in Marathon is another little gem. There is burned wooden bridge on Sugarloaf Key that we learned about from two locals. It was off the beaten path and made a pleasant side trip out through the woods and channels. Geiger Key Marina also provided a nice side trip. We also enjoyed pedaling off the highway to look at some of the neighborhoods.
Two nice places to depart from and ride on a quiet road parallel to the highway include Old Route 4A on Plantation Key, which you get on by staying left as you come of the Tavernier Creek Bridge, and Old Route 4A again in Islamarada, which you get on by turning left at Chesapeake Resort.
Some resources:
Call (305-853-3571) or email the Florida Overseas Heritage Trail office and get a current map. The double-wide map is nice for planning using on your trip. You will also probably want to link to the on-line version: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park-documents/Florida-Keys/map
A somewhat out-of-date, but still useful guide, prepared in 2011 is here: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/state/keystrail/pdf/SOUTHBOUND.pdf It seems to be an orphaned site which is difficult to find using search engines. Hopefully this link will stay active. Much more of the trail from 7-Mile Bridge into Key West has been finished since the guide was produced.
For side trails: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/state/keystrail/bike_trails.htm
The 2014 Rails-to-Trails magazine article that piqued our interest in the ride: http://magazine.railstotrails.org/resources/magflipbooks/2014_winter/index.html
You can get a large folded map of the Keys with lots of detail for $7.99 at http://www.kappamapgroup.com/
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!


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RAW: Comments sought on Mammoth Mountain bike park
The Inyo National Forest, Mammoth Ranger District is soliciting comments on a Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Trail Construction Project proposal. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA), a permittee on the Inyo National Forest, has proposed to construct 2.5 miles of mountain bike trails in the vicinity of, and in conjunction with the operation of the Discovery Chair (Chair 11.) All proposed trail construction is within the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area permit boundaries.
The purpose of this proposed project is to provide new terrain, recreation opportunities, better connectivity, and better separation between differently skilled riders within Mammoth Mountain Bike Park. The proposed projects are needed to provide two new progressive, beginner-level mountain bike trail experiences and a connector from the top of the Discovery Chair to a pre-existing, more difficult trail.
The Forest Service has made a preliminary assessment that this proposal falls within a category of actions listed in the Forest Service NEPA Handbook that are excluded from documentation in an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and that there are no extraordinary circumstances that would preclude use of the category regarding Construction and Reconstruction of Trails.
A draft memorandum detailing the proposal and a map will be posted on the Inyo National Forest website on May 17, http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=39225. Additional information may also be obtained from the Project Leader, Allison Jackson, at 760- 924-5510.
How to Comment and Timeframe
This project is subject to the notice and comment provisions of 36CFR 215.3. The public comment period will end 30 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in The Inyo Register, which is expected to be May 17. Those wishing to comment on this proposal should not rely upon dates or timeframes provided by any other source. Only those who provide comment or otherwise express interest in the proposed action during the comment period will be eligible to appeal the decision.
Written comments must be submitted to Allison Jackson, Winter Sports Specialist, Inyo National Forest, P.O. Box 148, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546. Electronic comments may be sent to firstname.lastname@example.com in the following acceptable formats: plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), Adobe (.pdf), or Word (.doc). Written comments may also be submitted by fax (760-924-5537) or by hand-delivery to the
Mammoth Ranger Station at 2500 Highway 203, during normal business hours, excluding holidays (Monday -Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.)


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Rescue crews search for man in Lake Memphremagog
Recovery operations continue Sunday
Rescue crews are searching for a man who did not resurface after an ice shanty and a tractor went through the ice.
Vermont State Police in Derby said in a release that on Saturday around 7:30 p.m., they received a report of an ice shanty and tractor that went through the ice on Lake Memphremagog, off of McKinney Drive.
Investigation showed it was likely an adult male that went into the water with the ice shanty and tractor, police said. He has not resurfaced as of Sunday at 3 p.m.
State police activated the VSP Scuba Team, and with the assistance of the Newport Center Fire Department and the US Border Patrol, are continuing to search for the man.
The name of the man is being withheld pending the notification of next-of-kin, police said.
State police report that the ice is not safe in all locations. They add if you are not familiar with a body of water, use extreme caution as there are weak spots in the lakes with the recent warm weather. Do not consider a place safe just because a vehicle has already traveled through an area.
Stay with NewsChannel 5 and wptz.com as this story develops.


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Hungary's national renewable energy action plan, submitted to the European Commission only in December, indicated that 740MW of commercial wind plants may be operating in 2020.
Hungary's government is planning to revise the feed-in tariff scheme, but the implications are unclear. The 2011 feed-in tariff for wind farms licensed before 2008 is HUF 30.1/kWh (EUR0.112/kWh). Since the last wind farm licenses were issued in the country in 2006, that incentive scheme should apply to all wind farms. The time period for which the purchase price is received depends on a producer's agreement with the Hungarian Energy Office. The government is wary of increasing spending on renewables, but one informed insider says it is premature to assume the revision will necessarily entail a simple cut in the tariff rate.
Installed wind capacity in Hungary jumped 95MW to 295MW in 2010, with Spanish firms Iberdrola and Renovalia bringing the vast majority of the new generation online. By February, that figure rose to about 330MW, or the level at which licenses were capped in a 2006 tender process. But how Hungary will move past that mark is difficult to gauge.
"Everybody is waiting," says Andrea Kircsi, president of the Hungarian Wind Energy Association (HWEA). "If there is a new tender this year, work on those projects will begin in 2012. This delay is not so good for the market," he adds.
The Hungarian transmission system operator, Mavir, has placed at 740MW the level of wind that could be integrated without grid modifications, according to Peter Simon, a partner with the Budapest office of law firm CMS Cameron McKenna.
"One issue is whether they would like to invite bids for this entire 410MW in one round or whether they will split it into various rounds," says Simon. He says it is "virtually impossible" that any new capacity licensed later in 2011 will be brought online by the end of the year.
Among existing projects, Iberdrola is expected this year to complete two projects already under construction - its 8MW Csoma II wind farm and the 26MW Amundsen facility. With their completion, Iberdrola's total installed capacity in the country will rise to 158MW.
As market players await the issue of new licences, Kircsi believes that one recent development which could help Hungary's ability to absorb larger amounts of wind energy was the launch last summer of HUPX, the Hungarian electricity market exchange.
New Hungarian Capacity in 2010
Owner Project Capacity (MW)
Iberdrola Csoma II 38
Iberdrola Scott 36
Renovalia Babolna 15
Other projects 5.8
Total 94.8
Source: Hungarian Wind Energy Association


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Follow Me Around: Korean Discount Store!!!
The Brazzers brand is the king of the internet. These guys have been around since 2005 and they are one of the most widely searched porn sites on the internet. It's crazy to think that the Brazzers brand has been around for less than 10 years, and they're so widely known.
(Brazzers fell under a company umbrella that was owned by Fabian Thylmann. If you're interested in his story, you should Google him.)
Brazzers shuttles out a lot of videos on a weekly basis throughout their network of 31 sites. They get high marks across the board. When it comes to originality, they are one-of-a-kind. They actually put some effort to make their scenes. They even try to add in some humor (watching these stars try and act is humorous in-and-of-itself).
Having access to 31 sites within their network, and you'll have access to over 5,100 scenes. With hundreds of photos that come from each HQ photo set you'll have access to hundreds of thousands of photos. There are so many sites within their network that you'll be getting three new scenes every single day. Unless you're 18, you won't be able to keep up with all of the updates that Brazzers provides it's members.
As this is one of the best network sites on the planet, it's hard to find any negatives. For me, I like a little more gritty film production. Like those found at Bang Bros or Evil Angel, but I confess, this is a top-notch product. Check out this review at Evil Angel review.
With our $9.95, 30 day membership discount, you need to become a member. You won't be breaking the bank, and you'll be thanking me later for the deep Brazzers discount I have here.


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Recent News
The faces of San Francisco's homeless youth
The faces of San Francisco's homeless youth (via SFBay) San Francisco's Homeless Youth Alliance is set to shut its Haight Street doors on Christmas Day. The center, which opened more than 12 years ago and helps approximately 5,000 youth annually, will not be able to renew the lease on their Haight Street…
Homeless Youth Shelter in SF Haight Ashbury forced to close
Link to original article/site.
BREAKING NEWS: After 12 years, a refuge for homeless youth will close our Drop-In doors Christmas Day.
On behalf of all of us at Homeless Youth Alliance, we are grateful for the investment you have made in our work. Your support and commitment has enabled us to sustain, strengthen, and grow our services, helping us reach greater numbers of marginalized youth and offer them a comprehensive, integrated range of options for getting […]


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If you're one of us who live with chronic pain that means you have a constant roommate. That roommate is chronic pain. Quite frankly, it's a lousy companion and an inconsiderate guest. That invader never pays rent, takes up far too much attention, and doesn't pick up after it's self, leaving us in our compromised state to do all the work. You figure out immediately, life isn't fair. Fairness is left behind as a childhood fantasy and we're left with the stark reality of inequality. We rant, we rave and we cry but eventually, we learn that peace comes with acceptance and we adapt. Adaptation reveals that somewhere, deep within us, hope is alive. We can't always see it but it's there.
Life has a way of charging forward without our approval as dust gathers, duties beckon and the laundry piles up. We still have to shop, cook and eat as well as making an attempt to look presentable. I've tried, on occasion, to just give up, but you know, that's more difficult than it appears to be. We have financial obligations, a family to care for and a home to tend to. Pets have to go out, dinner has to be cooked and the hamper, well, that darned thing is always overflowing with a life of its own.
Many of us have had to change where we live, sell houses and move. Many of us have had to make that move due to weather, job changes and on occasion, forcibly scaled down to have a more manageable life. Change always accompanies the onset of chronic pain…always. We find we don't have the stamina we once had and when we try to ignore that fact it rises up to bite us in the tush. Since I'm a stubborn individual, I found myself railing against the change for several years as I tried to keep the life I had when I was healthy. I have to admit to having a very "hard head" or perhaps, I'm a slow learner. I just kept thinking life would return to normal but it never did. I, like many of you, was forced to look change in the eye and it wasn't done with pleasure. There were instances it was more of a hideous face-off.
As we settle into a compromised life we search for new pleasures, ways to cope with the pain and short-cuts in our daily chores. We rest more than usual due to the tremendous amounts of energy that are stolen from us by the pain and disease which has accosted us. I have also found most of us stay home more than we used to. The tricky part is assuring ourselves a home that is a palace and not a prison. The interesting part of that scenario is that we often become our own jailers. Lethargy makes it simple to fall into disrepair. Why should we bother to bathe? We aren't going anywhere? Why should we shampoo or get a hair cut? Who cares?
Unless you live on Mars, and I don't think anyone is doing that just yet, you do interact with someone else. That someone may be a spouse, a child or a friend. It's a good idea to be presentable for others but it can't be the motivating force. You have to find the desire to be all that you can be for yourself. All of those other folks in your life will thank you for it. You'll look better, smell more pleasant and definitely be more of a pleasure to be with but it will also make you a happier individual. I know, happiness is not a subject we consider when we're in pain or in the throes of a disease but it is still possible. Repeat after me, "I have a God-given right to be happy. I claim that right for myself. Life can still have joy, meaning and fulfillment, in spite of my pain." Scoff if you want to but in your heart you know you have hope, however small the quantity. Hope is like a seed. A little is all it takes but it does have to have fertile soil if it is to grow.
I can't presume to speak about what gives you hope or makes your small amount of hope grow. I can share with you what works for me.
- First of all, I confess, I'm like Dorothy in the story The Wizard of Oz and believe there's no place like home. Thankfully, I don't have to click my heels in sparkling ruby slippers because my ankles usually hurt. My home is definitely a castle, at least to me. It's where I go for comfort from my family, my pets and the material goods that brighten life. Soft chairs, a comfortable bed and beloved "things" which mean a lot to me give me comfort and pleasure. It is a haven from which I can come and go. That's why it isn't a prison. I could hole up in here and turn it into a prison but even on those days I don't feel like leaving, I can open the shades, call friends, read a good book or watch an enjoyable movie. The dreary atmosphere of incarceration doesn't have to exist if we hang on tightly to hope, joy and love for others as well as ourselves.
- Secondly, I pay much more attention to what I eat than I previously did. The cupboards and the refrigerator are full of healthier foods, fresh and brightly colored. Fast food is a thing of the past with all of its grease, cost and calories. We do eat out at a restaurant on occasion and even then my priorities have changed. I know the food is important but for me the priority is the seating. Forget the chef. Does the restaurant pass Sue's ass test? This diseased body needs all the help it can get if I am to keep moving as well as keeping hope alive. I have to eat healthy foods, take vitamins and herbs and I find doing all of that in moderation helps me in this ongoing daily battle. Of course, there are occasions when I "fall off the wagon", the dietary one that is, but I've learned to enjoy, then cut it short and get back to the healthy foods.
- The third rule I follow to keep hope alive and keep my body moving is to stay as active as possible. I can no longer tackle a day at the mall, but much to my husband's chagrin, I find I can spend just as much money shopping the internet. It's also fun to do. I, like many of you, have found minimum and moderate stretching; walking and other exercises can keep us as strong as possible. Does it hurt? Usually it does but we have to move anyway or we will turn into dusty statues and eventually fall into disrepair. Like dilapidated old buildings we will falter and fall apart. Muscles have to be moved. Hearts and circulation have to be pumped to keep vessels strong. Endorphins do exist and do help the attitude in spite of pain on movement. Lungs need to expand as we deep breathe. We're all finely tuned machines and although we're often deeply lacking in hope and joy, we have to keep moving ahead.
You have to care for hope to keep it alive and well.


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This is a painting of downtown Jacksonville, Florida as you would see it in a boat on the St. John's River.
My daughter painted it for me from a photo that I had sent her while she was still in high school.
It is one of the few treasures that I cherish from my children.


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DonPedro needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 189 designs submitted by 60 freelance designers.
erm... Logo for an Icelandic Pro Audio / Pro Video company. Yep.
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai)
Here goes:
The company in question sells professional audio/video equipment, Digidesign, Avid, and other highly respected brands.
The logo has to ooze professionalism. Stay away from clichés like microphones, loudspeakers and TV screens in your design, or be prepared to be ridiculed.
Clean. Professional. Original. Simple.
The name of the company is Umboðið. Good luck saying that aloud at home. The ð is an icelandic character, more info here:
Focus on typeface. That will get you a long way.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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How to verify?:
1. Like our video on Youtube and subscribe to our channel
2. Go to our hack video and write good, positive and kind comment how much do you like this tool so far!
3. Share our video on your favorite social network (if you will share it on all 3 networks it is possible that you will complete this process without last step)