The Geese and the Zulus

In the South African TV epic "Shaka Zulu" there is a scene where the first European officers to enter Zululand in the early 19th century are seized by Zulus and kept in a small house to await word from their emperor, Shaka. All night long they can hear the passing of Zulu regiments marching at full tilt to the sound of rhythmic chanting.

Every fall I am reminded of those Zulu warriors as flocks of geese come flying over my roof on their way to the big geese pond at the Community College. Sometimes I can hear them all night long, the rush of their wings and their honking sounding like the footfalls and chants of a Zulu regiment rushing through the night to some unknown rendezvous.

Bikes along the Yadkin

This last Saturday I went for a bike ride down 268 along the Yadkin with about 92 other bikers. Quite an experience. I did about 22 miles and was afraid I wouldn't hold up because of the age of my frame (bike and body), but I did fine. Although now I want to get all those neat biking togs everyone else was wearing.

The weather was perfect - clear and sunny but not hot. As we biked through the upper Yadkin valley we were mostly in shade. The countryside is peaceful, rolling and beautiful. I made it a bit past Whipperwill Academy before turning back. Next year with a better bike I may try to last until Fort Defiance. The youngest biker, I think, was 12 yr old Kerry Souther. Luther Ashby was the oldest at 74. Not sure, but I think I ran him a close second, or maybe it was just my bike. I felt great when it was finished and was ready for the rest of the day (which involved driving to Winston to see "Howl's Moving Castle).

It was an event sponsored and run by the Brushy Mountain Cycling Club. If you like to bike you should be a member. They do good work in promoting cycling in Wilkes county and could use your help. Events such as this as well as their work on new bike trails will help bring bikers into the area and that will help the local economy. As well as providing a delightful way of staying in shape. Of the many good things about living in Wilkesboro, the long bike rides through the county are among the best. If this sounds like nothing more than a puff piece it is because I enjoyed it just that much.

Intro:

Welcome to a blog about the little community of Wilkesboro, North Carolina, its sister city of North Wilkesboro, and the wider county of Wilkes. For outsiders it may seem strange to have a north Wilkesboro when they aren't even sure there are enough people to justify the first Wilkesboro, but there is an important historical reason why this is so, and I will get around to explaining - someday. This blog should cover just about anything you can think of about Wilkesboro/North Wilkesboro. Movies, restaurants, plays, schools, libraries - the usual cultural chit-chat for a small southern town. Well, and a few things about hunting, farming, and NASCAR.

If you have anything you want to add in the comments section, please feel free to do so. The more people actually writing about the Land of Wilkes, the more useful this blog will be. If you know of a new restaurant, or have comments about an existing restaurant, tells us. If you have a movie showing in town you think is worthwhile, tell us. The site will also contain links to other sites about Wilkesboro (no, really - they're out there!)

Otherwise the whole space will be taken up with me, Oscar B. Lykes, and my opinions about everything connected with Wilkes Co. Let's hope it is fun.