September Art

 I love when Syl gives me a tour of her sketchbook! She has been productive in September.

This first is a good indicator of how much she's developing. Sometimes she opens an old pad, and 
updates" a prior work. The first is, she thinks, a year or two old.

Syl signs the ones she is most pleased with.

These next two are markers on a whiteboard at Melissa's house!

Last but not least: every once in a while Syl produces something that brings me up short. This was created on her ipad, using virtual brushes and "paint" with different textures. One might thing "digital" is a shortcut, but it isn't. I've watched  her work, and it is just as deliberate and painstaking as real paint and brushes. Perhaps more so, because she is very careful and meticulous about layering, light angles, and so-forth. I just love this one. 

Sometimes the stars align

 Or the clouds de-align. Or something.

Point is, Syl and I really enjoy our near-daily bike rides, but we never go anywhere other than "a ways away from home, and back." So, since the weekend forecast as of Thursday was looking good, I booked an overnight at a random place in West Yarmouth on the Cape, and Syl and I jumped in the car on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, with our bikes in the back, and headed East... into torrential downpours. 

By the time we arrived on the Cape the rains had abated long enough for a stroll on the beach. But they promptly returned and persisted through the night.

We woke to another downpour but the promise of at least partial clearing. So, after a brief talk about bailing and heading home, we instead pointed to "The Pancake Man," in the hopes that a hearty breakfast would buy us enough time for the skies to clear. Honestly, I think even if the only upside of the trip had been this massive plate of pancakes, Syl would have called it a win.

This face says it all. Food Coma. "Dad, we HAVE to go on a long ride. I have a lot of pancakes to burn."

Look at that... by the time we got back to the hotel, the skies were breaking.

By the time we arrived at the trailhead for the Cape Cod Rail Trail and unloaded the bikes, we were golden. So glad we hung in.

Our rule was: either of us could call a stop for any reason. Syl primarily called stops when she spied good climbing trees.

Fifteen miles later, we stopped in Orleans for lunch and then headed back to the car.

We earned these!

In truth we rode more than 32 miles (I didn't start the counter until a ways in to the ride). This was one of the best days I can remember.

More scenic photos in the back end of the September Gallery.