Moon Landing and Motorcycling

.
On July 20, 1969, that is 50 years ago today, a United States Apollo spacecraft landed in the Sea of Tranquility on the moon's surface. Six hours later, for the first time in human history, two human beings, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, stood on the surface of another heavenly body besides earth.

I saw it live on TV.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

A lot changed at that moment. Man was seemingly capable of doing anything he put is mind to. Technology made space travel possible, and the offshoots of that effort have benefited all of mankind. 

Consider that the first moon landing occurred a mere 12 years after the Soviets launched the first artificial orbiting satellite, Sputnik. That is an amazingly short period of time for so complex a project. 


So, what did we gain from the Apollo moon program besides some 850 pounds of rock and soil? 


There is a dizzying array of products that use technologies or materials originally developed for the space program.  We'll make a list later on.

What we learned about the moon -- and the Earth and solar system -- is still being sifted through so it can be understood.

One of the profoundly significant tangible objects we got from the moon landing and the Apollo program may well have been those photos that show what the Earth looks like from the lunar surface.

According to Andrew Chaikin, author of several space and science books, including 'A Man on the Moon,' the basis for the HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon," and 'Voices From the Moon,' quoted in Las Vegas Review-Journal, "There was an incredible leap in awareness that we got from looking homeward from all that distance and seeing the Earth as a precious and tiny oasis of life in the vastness of space."

"That is a very profound shift in perspective that Apollo gave us....  Earth is a world to be cherished and protected."

Bishop Dan Edwards of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, also quoted in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, agrees, likening those Apollo-era photos to "a God’s-eye view of the Earth and humanity. And from that perspective, we were able to see that we really are all one planet and one intricately connected ecosystem."

Wow!  The earth is a special place among the heavenly bodies.  It is the only place where man can live because of a delicate balance of the earth's atmosphere, light, temperature, plant and animal life.  ...and of course, it is just that -- a place created in the right way by God for mankind to live here. 

Back to the Apollo space program.  Here is a list of spinoffs from Apollo, taken, in part, from The UK Telegraph:

• CAT scanner: this cancer-detecting technology was first used to find imperfections in spaceship components. 
• Computer microchip: modern microchips descend from integrated circuits used in the Apollo Guidance Computer.  (Most modern motorcycles have electronic engine controls containing integrated circuits.) 
• Cordless tools: power drills and vacuum cleaners use technology designed to drill for moon samples.  (All the better to work on those motorcycles of ours without being tethered to an electrical outlet.) 
• Ear thermometer: a camera-like lens that detects infrared energy we feel as heat was originally used to monitor the birth of stars. 
• Photography: multispectral terrain photography that uses combinations of different types of light, such as infrared and ultraviolet, reveal things not seen when using only visible light, like diseased trees or crops. 
• Freeze-dried food: this reduces food weight and increases shelf life without sacrificing nutritional value.
  Insulation: home insulation uses reflective material that protects spacecraft from radiation. 
• Invisible braces: teeth-straightening is less embarrassing thanks to transparent ceramic brace brackets made from spacecraft materials. 
• Joystick: this computer gaming device was first used on the Apollo Lunar Rover. 
• Memory foam: created for aircraft seats to soften landing, this foam, which returns to its original shape, is found in mattresses and shock absorbing helmets.  (Ah, another motorcycle benefit!) 
• Satellite television: technology used to fix errors in spacecraft signals helps reduce scrambled pictures and sound in satellite television signals. 
• Scratch resistant lenses: astronaut helmet visor coating makes our spectacles ten times more scratch resistant.  (Another spinoff.) 
• Shoe insoles: athletic shoe companies adapted space boot designs to lessen impact by adding spring and ventilation. 
• Smoke detector: NASA invented the first adjustable smoke detector with sensitivity levels to prevent false alarms. 
• Swimsuit: NASA used the same principles that reduce drag in space to help create the world’s fastest swimsuit for Speedo, rejected by some professionals for giving an unfair advantage. 
• Water filter: domestic versions borrow a technique NASA pioneered to kill bacteria in water taken into space. 
• Fire fighting: fire-resistant materials used in firefighting.  
• Global positioning devices.  (Still another indispensable spinoff we use on our bikes.) 
• Electrical, hydraulic, and other systems: high-reliability for space applications.  
• Materials: developed for severe space applications.  

Here is one benefit I'll bet most of us don't realize:  

• Geo-Political: The United States had beaten the Soviets to the moon. The Soviet government had an aggressive space program, but the superiority of the United States' program resulted in a call for democratization of the USSR, specifically citing the American moon landing as evidence of the superiority of our representative democracy.  (We are more free than any place in the world -- free to ride those bikes of ours anywhere we choose.) 
  

Think of that! Landing on the moon affected the world's thinking about the best type of government.  Our form of government, where the people, not a small group of dictatorial leaders run the country, is superior to any other. 

The Apollo program affected us in another way:

• There was a whole generation of kids who began to think about careers in science and engineering.  (Maybe even in motorcycle engineering.) 

Thousands of industries and hundreds of thousands of technically-oriented people have benefited from this spinoff of the space program.

So if I look at the list above, which most certainly is not exhaustive, I see the foam for helmets and shoes, GPS systems, computer microchips, cordless tools for working on our bikes, and the effect on the number of young people going into engineering to develop even more sophisticated and useful products. 

Our freedom, however, is perhaps the most significant of any. 

So, look up before you go out riding next time, and think of all the benefits the space program has generated for us. 

Apollo 11 crew -- Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin

References:

• Moon landing taught us much about science — and ourselves.  Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 5, 2009.   
• Apollo-11-Moon Landing Top 15 NASA Inventions.  The [UK] Telegraph, July 22, 2009
• Our First Lunar Program: What did we get from Apollo?   Goddard SpaceFlight Center, 10/17/2007

.

.

Memorial Day Rememberance

.
  

Your grandma might have called it Decoration Day.  It was called Decoration Day because, in the immediate aftermath of the American Civil War, it was a day when the graves of soldiers were decorated in remembrance of their ultimate sacrifice while serving their country.

We call it Memorial Day now.  That name was first used in 1882, but it did not become common until after World War II, and was not declared to be the official name of the day by Federal law until 1967. 

(Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day, also known as Armistice Day.  Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all military personnel not currently serving.   Armed Forces Day is a holiday to honor servicemen who are presently in the military.) 

We are not so thankful for their sacrifices these days, I think, but we certainly ought to be.  Our very freedom in these United States was won by -- and is defended daily by -- the blood of our servicemen and women. 

In fact, our young people used to aspire to serve our country, like in this cartoon from around the year 1900. 

 "On Decoration Day" Political cartoon.
Caption: "You bet I'm goin' to be a soldier, too, like my Uncle David, when I grow up."

I wonder how many young people now even know they can serve. 

Why not take a little ride today and decorate the grave of some soldier, known to you or not?

.
.

First Glimpse of New Sassafras Mountain Observation Platform -- and a Bit of a Harangue

.
If you have been following this blog for a while, you probably have seen that I have been to Sassafras Mountain -- the highest point in South Carolina -- quite often.  That is because it is not far from home -- about 28 miles, and because it has a few challenging curves in the roads leading to the top.  Interestingly, most of those curves are down on US-178 between Pickens and Rocky Bottom, not near the summit of the mountain.  Once you get to Rocky Bottom, turn right onto F. vanClayton Road, just past the entrance to the Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of The Blind.  Watch for one unmarked left hand hairpin on F. vanClayton. 

Here is the route from Easley, where I live, to the summit of Sassafras Mountain:

Click here for interactive map.

It is a nice place to ride to and a nice place to see the world from, being the highest point around. 

I have kept up to date on the features of the mountain top over my ten or so years of riding.  At first, there was nothing at the top but a gravel parking lot.  There was no place to see into the distance whatsoever. I'll admit, that was a bit disappointing.  The road was potholed and rough, too.  There weren't many people who visited there as a result. 

A rustic platform was built and some trees cleared about eight years ago to give a nice view to the south and southeast.  Mountains and lakes were made nicely visible, and the platform was sturdy and unobtrusive, made, in part, of forest materials. That view from the platform made the trip to the top well worthwhile.  In fact, the place was ideal: remote feeling yet nearby, and quite beautiful.  The Palmetto Trail passes over the summit of the mountain on its way to the seashore, so you can walk a little ways -- or much further -- if you are so inclined. 

Beginning of Harangue

Then Clemson University graduate students in architecture and landscape architecture apparently decided that they should design and build a new platform, so they demolished the nice rustic one, and built a monstrosity out of mild steel and wood, poorly supported and rickety.  The steel parts are a mass of rust and have become bent by people standing on them.  The students did not properly take into account the abuse from people and weather that public structures receive.  I would certainly not want my life to be dependent on a structure they designed.  After I wrote to them about the poor structural integrity, they reinforced it with some steel cables, but the cables are installed improperly and did not correct the wobble problem.  Dan Harding, Clemson associate professor of architecture, spent our tax dollars for this thing and says that the platform "employ[s] best practices associated with sustainable construction and resource management."  From the looks of it now, it may be a pile of rusted wreckage soon.

Here is a picture of the end of the platform with the beautiful view beyond.

Fortunately, a bit later, the top of the mountain was cleared of scrubby trees so the visitor to the top has a 360 degree view from there. 

They also repaved the road to the top so it is nice and smooth.  That should have been where they stopped.  

Nevertheless, the "improvers" soldiered onward and decided to erect an observation platform at the top and some pit toilets at the parking area.  The contractor, Lazer Construction of Anderson, started in November of 2017 and isn't finished with the $1.1 million project yet.  It was supposed to be finished by May 2018, so it is coming up on a year late -- and a year without having full enjoyment of this special place. 

So efficient. 

End of Harangue (mostly)

Here is a photograph of the structure during construction.

There was a superintendent stationed at the construction site, so you could get fined by the Game Warden if you ventured up there.  (I didn't chance it.  That is someone else's pic above.) 

Here are some other pictures of the ramp leading to the new platform:

The original gravel parking lot is to the left.

The gate at the bottom was open and no one seemed to mind, so I rode up about half way to the platform from the gravel lot.  There is a nice concrete ramp and neatly-graded gravel elsewhere.  It looks as though the view will be nice from the top. 

There is a new gravel trail from the parking lot to the top as well.  It is a way to get there on foot without using the concrete ramp and without bushwhacking through the woods.

They put in a large new directional sign, too, down in the gravel lot.  The old one was a target for guys with shotguns and for large trucks turning.

The sign directs hikers to Table Rock State Park, Caesars Head State Park (more about that in a minute), and Chimney Top Gap.  I see they put a big rock between the sign and the road now to help protect it from errant vehicles. 

I wonder if they are going to do anything to prevent vandalism and traffic tie ups now that they are taking away our quiet place of respite and replacing it with more of a tourist attraction. Vandals may find this dark place to be ideal for their graffiti, and for using alcohol and drugs.  Some will use it as a place for their assignations, I suppose. 

...and the improvers won't be satisfied, even when the present construction is complete.  Phase two of the Sassafras project, which will require additional funding, is scheduled to include a picnic area, accessory trails, informational kiosks, and improvements to the old parking lot.

Well, I think I'll just have to enjoy it until they further "improve" it.  Then, we'll see. 

Anyway, I went back down the mountain to Glady Fork Road and turned right.  This road meanders to the north, in places along a river.  If you keep your eyes peeled there are some small waterfalls along the right side of the road.  There are no guardrails and the road surface is quite rough, but the ride is good enough to recommend.  At the end of Glady Fork, I turn sharply right onto East Fork Road.

After a few miles, don't miss the interesting vehicles and animals poised in a yard on the left side of the road.  And Big Hill looms ahead and requires you to negotiate a couple of tight curves as you go up.  Fun, and usually free of loose gravel.  Watch for drivers coming down the hill on the wrong side, however.

I follow east Fork to Greenville Highway, US-276, and turn right.  There are some rather straight sections through here and a few nice sweepers.  Dupont Forest (watch for the sign) is to the left as is Green River Road, a partly gravel route I have taken before.

Near the summit, lies Caesars Head State Park.  I pull in for a little rest and a quick look over the Blue Ridge Escarpment -- a drop of about 1000 feet here.

Once I have seen it all (!?), I continue to the south, down quite a few tight turns, until I get to SC-11.  From there it is a quick ride home over gently curving roads. 

Here is a map of the entire ride today, only about 75 miles:  

Click here for an interactive map.

Well, to recap today, I learned about the new Sassafras construction, and got to see the world from two high places.

Despite my harangue about the work on Sassafras, it was a good day to be out.
.
.

.

Speaking of Waterfalls, This is My Favorite (+ Links to Others)

.
In the previous post, I spoke of the fact that the recent frequent rains here in the Upstate of South Carolina had made the many waterfalls very full.

One of those I cited was Twin Falls, also known as Eastatoe Falls.  It is easy to get to and is quite pretty.  If you have it in you, you can also hike to the top of the falls for a look see from there, though there were lots of fallen trees the last time I tried to get there a couple of months ago.

Since I had a bright, clear day earlier this week, and the temperature was to max out at a balmy 50ºF, I took advantage of it to ride to one of my favorite places.  A little chilly, but I layered up and set out. 

Why is it a favorite?  Here's why:

• First off, it is a place with very nice scenery.  There are two tall waterfalls, large lakes, and generally things that are pleasant to look at. 
• Second, it is reached from home by two of three roads that are full of sweepers.  For me, the sweepers are enough of a challenge that they are exciting, but, in reality, they are actually rather mild for the aggressive rider.  I have been passed by other bikers like I'm standing still on this road on occasion. The speed limit, however, is 45 mph. 
• Third, it is relatively close to home -- a little over 40 miles.  A quick trip gets me there. 

Where is this paradise, you ask?

It is none other than Whitewater Falls. The falls is actually two falls, each visible from slightly different places.  Upper Whitewater Falls in just into North Carolina, and Lower Whitewater Falls is just south of that in South Carolina. 

Here is the map to the falls from the town of Easley.

The route is as on this interactive map

One of the better parts is US-178 between Pickens and SC-11.  That road extends from the lower right corner of the map and leads toward the northwest.  It has plenty of sweepers, is usually clean, and mostly not much traffic.  If you are a twistie junkie, then US-178 north of SC-11 is just the ticket.  It has many twists and turns on its way to Rosman North Carolina, then continues to the Blue Ridge Parkway and beyond on NC-215, if you like.  I am not going north of SC-11 today though.  
It is such a beautiful day, that I am enjoying the scenery and the road greatly.  I have sealed up any drafts around my neck with a balaclava and a neck warmer over that, so I am cozy and warm.  Too soon, I get to SC-11, and make the left turn there.  This is an almost straight section of road, where it is easy to exceed the 55 mph speed limit.  You do that at your peril, however, because the speed limit is enforced quite frequently by LEOs in cars and on bikes.  Along the way, you pass Keowee-Toxaway State Park where you can take a break, and Long Shoals Wayside Park is a little park that is a good place to stretch your legs. 

I turn right onto SC-130 and go about ten miles to the Whitewater Falls parking lot entrance, just beyond the North Carolina state line.  The curves are just right on 130, and I amble along enjoying every one.  The sky is beautiful -- partly cloudy, today.

About half the length of the road has recently been repaved, so it is nice and smooth.

I motor into the Whitewater Falls parking area, and shut down.  A man walking by asks how to get to the falls from here.  I explain that it is just a 1/2 mile walk up a paved path to an observation area, then, optionally, 154 steps down to a lower viewing platform if he had any energy left.  Just as I was turning back to my bike to secure my helmet to it, another family stopped in their car and asked where the falls was.  I told them the story as well.  It turns out that the mother of the family is originally from Pickens (a town I go through to get here) and was showing her family of five the falls she remembers from her youth. 

I secure my bike, set the alarm, and head off for the falls.

I can hear the roar of the falls well before I reach the overlook.  I am distracted from the path by this little dribble of a falls that is usually not present, but with the heavy rains is running freely.

I spend a minute or two enjoying this little one before I move along to the big one.

Here is what the falls usually look like, this photo was taken in July of 2008: 

When I get to the viewing area, I am not disappointed.

The falls is as full as I have ever seen it.  The width is about four or six times usual.

I stand and gaze.  What a piece of God's creation this is.  He has created this beauty for us to enjoy.  And enjoy it I am, on this beautiful day.  Here is a brochure for the upper falls. 

Listen for yourself:

Remember that this waterfall is about 400 feet high, so you can imagine how far away it is from the viewing platform. In fact, I can't even get its full height into my picture. 

I don't take the stairway to the lower viewing platform today, but I have nevertheless seen the best of the falls.

On my way back down the path, a take a picture of Lake Jocassee in the distance.

There is an overlook on the Wigington Byway just off SC-130 a little south of here that shows off this lake and the others south of it very nicely.

I put on my gear and head back out to the main road.  Just a short distance to the south, I turn left into the Bad Creek access road.  This leads to the Bad Creek Pumped Storage facility and to a housing development beyond it.  It also leads to a nice overlook for a view of Lower Whitewater Falls and Lake Jocassee.   The entrance to the road has a small Duke Power building and a high chain link fence, but you are allowed to enter.

The route from Whitewater Falls to the overlook on Lake Jocassee is as shown below.

The route is on this interactive map.

The Duke Power road is covered in tar snakes that are slippery when wet or very hot.  After a couple of miles of winding 'round the countryside, I turn slightly left into the overlook parking area.  Don't go blasting past that overlook, as there is a gate that is just around the curve to the left.

Here is a panorama of pictures from the overlook (almost all with my glove part way over the lens):

What's that off to the right?

 

That first panorama picture above shows Lower Whitewater Falls in the center distance.  The best view is from a boat, but if you go back up the Duke Power road and turn to the right on one opf the roads, that takes you to the trailhead for Lower Whitewater Falls.  It is a nice walk of two miles through the woods.  There is wreckage of a light plane that crashed in 1972 visible when the leaves are off the trees to the left of the falls.

This is a closer up view of the lower falls.

This is a view of part of the lower falls from the lake:

From: The Waterfalls of Oconee County, South Carolina

Oh, I forgot, here is better picture of my glove than the pictures above:

(I am sure you couldn't have gone on without seeing that.) 

As I prepare to leave the parking area, I check my GoPro to be sure it is working properly.

It is, as evidenced by it taking my picture as I tinkered with it.  And do you see my pretty MSF safety vest?  I wear it more lately because of fickle, inattentive drivers.

So how many times have I gone to Whitewater Fall either as a destination or as a stop on a longer ride?  I figure about 76 times out of 788 trips I have made since I bought the bike.  That's about 10%.  Me thinks I like to go there! 

Here are some of the other blog postings for rides that include Whitewater Falls:

• Dual Sporting Again
• Sweepers Galore 
• Same Route, Different Scenery 
• The Parkway, Some Knobs and Rocks, and a New Twisty Road  
• Oh No, Snow!  
• New Guys  
• Lake Country Route 

Here is a posting with a list of waterfalls that are easy to get to from your bike parking place, so you don't have to walk far in those boots that aren't made for walkin'.

• Walkin' to Waterfalls

I hope to see you on  the road, maybe even at Whitewater Falls! 
.
.

.

Rain, Rain Go Away

.
Well, it seems like it has been raining for a month or so. 

I feel like this:

Monsoon season in India.

Lets look at the weather record here in South Carolina:

Sixteen of February's 28 days had rain, and one day had snow (!).  So that was 61% of the days that were not good riding days. 

Couple that with a cold I got from somewhere that made me feel rotten for three weeks overlapping the beginning of the month, and that makes it seem like forever. 

I'm having withdrawal symptoms!

In all fairness, I did get out for short rides on the 2nd, 5th, and 26th.  I don't ride on Sundays due to church activities, but they were pretty wet too.  

There is also lots of mud washed onto the back roads, so you have to be careful even when it is not raining. 

The waterfalls nearby are full from the rain. That is a plus.  Look here:

That is Twin Falls, also known as Eastatoe Falls.  They are not far from home. 


Outside of trying to get out and ride, I took the opportunity to install a new headlight bulb.  The low beam had burned out.  That took all of 15 minutes.  Exciting! 

Well, maybe it will dry off soon.  We'll be complaining about the heat and humidity shortly, I suppose. 
.
.

.

Pretty, Even in Winter

.
Here is South Carolina, you can ride almost all year long.  The temperature and rain/snowfall are generally compatible with riding on most winter days.

We have had a lot of rain this year, but it seems to have tapered off, so I went out for a ride this week. 

Recall that I live near the Blue Ridge Escarpment, so there are many roads that climb into the mountains to the north.  I didn't go into the mountains on this ride though.  I only went a hundred miles or so on some of our flatter back roads, but I noticed that the sky and scenery were quite pretty.

The temperature was in the low forties so I bundled up and was glad to have the heated grips and handlebar muffs already installed.  Those, along with good insulation elsewhere, allowed me to brave the cold and gusty wind.

Here are a few snapshots of the scenery today.

A little overcast yonder, but no rain is forecast.

I forgot to turn off the GoPro at a bathroom break -- again.

I didn't see any other bikers, but it was a great day to be out.

Hope to see you on the road this winter.
.
.

.