Wednesday Morning πŸŒ„ 5K takes place South of the Border in today’s edition of Love they Neighbors !

Mount Airy, North Carolina is in the heart ❀ of Mayberry and is the home to the Granite City Greenway. A paved a well kept trail πŸ‘£ designed for walkers, runners πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ and πŸš²πŸš΄β€β™‚οΈ bicycles.

1/4 Mile Markers

The trek today took place between 2.75 and 4.25.

This part of the user friendly trail borders US-52 and offers beautiful views of running waters πŸ’§ and bridges.

Signs along the way…

Β  If you find yourself in Mt.Airy and are looking for a healthy walk, jog, run or bike ride, look no further than the Granite City Greenway.

The elevation levels in the above screen shot displays just how flat / manageable this stretch of the Loop is.

Happy St Patrick’s Day and we learn that you have to have a sense of Humor to survive the Twist and Turns…

The Hilton Head Island πŸ—ΏπŸ area was once our 🏑🏠🏑 and two of our five Children graduated πŸŽ“ High School here.

Every two years we return to the area and spend 8 days and 7 nights at a place on the Ocean but trip #12 has turned out to be a bit different. Our place is designed for eight people and we are always inviting people who we enjoy spending time with to join us.

This year it didn’t happen the way we planned and at Saturday check-in it was just Lin and myself, for the first time. Just a few minutes from now that number will be cut βœ‚οΈ in half as Lin’s flight ✈️ to El Paso by way of Dallas / Fort Worth will depart.

6:44 am is departure time and she doesn’t return until Thursday night.

What can you do but roll with it and smile????

Oracle is a great company to work for and we are thankful πŸ™ for the opportunity ( I almost believe that).

I can tell you that the CCHS calendar is blank today but its the calm before the storm as the Spring regular season starts tomorrow (Tuesday).

There’s still hope for me though, as I was leaving the Airport I met someone who might hang out with me for a few days!!!

Enjoy the Holiday and hopefully you can spend it with someone who will make it better because that is what Life is all about.

I need to go and take my new friend out to Breakfast before she wastes away to nothing.

Work on your brackets and make plans for the North Carolina game in Dayton, Ohio on Tuesday night πŸŒ™. We needed the Heels in and now we need them to pick-up a W…

Time to head back over! Remember that its not a Sad story, just a story…

Catching up with Veteran Coach Chris Dodson at his 2024-2025 Trail Blazers game…

Kris Richardson, Chris Dodson and Jerry Carter

  Once a person steps πŸšΆβ€β™‚οΈforward and participates in one of our efforts they are a part of who we are going forward. So the ever so long odds of Ethan and Kris Richardson walking through the front door πŸšͺ of Spotswood High School at the exact moment, were magnified by the fact that both of us ended up by the side of Chris Dodson.

Kris and I will have a bond for eternity as we spent what felt like ten years compiling our Girls πŸ‘§ Basketball book πŸ“– and when it was time to legitimize out efforts I sought out the most respected person I could find to write ✍ the Book Foreword.

Chris Dodson has been coaching High School 🏫 Basketball πŸ€ here in the Commonwealth for a long time. Over the years he has a collection of Championship rings πŸ’ that takes both hands to display. I’m not sure he wouldn’t have one or two more if not for Carroll County and CCHS might have one more if not for Spotswood.

Chris Dodson, Alan Knight and Jerry Carter

Dodson attended Page County High School 🏫 and if that sounds familiar to some folks, it because I spent a decade βž• trying hard to add sparkle to PCHS. Alan Knight is also a graduate πŸŽ“ of the school and is in his fifth decade Coaching there.

When our Boys drew Spotswood as an opponent for Tuesday night at 7:45, I smiled when I realized that Dodson’s group was playing before hand.

Getting a twofer out of the night was a bonus and having Allen Worrell sitting on the gym floor next to me was icing on the cake πŸŽ‚ because he would be using his time adjusting his camera πŸ“· during the opener so I could end up with a few nice pictures.

Spotswood #20, Macey Myers being guarded by Staunton River High’s Payton Chewning.

During the game itself, Staunton River bolted out to a 9-0 lead and it felt like it might be over before the end of the first quarter. Dodson remained calm and his team pulled within 11-9 by the end of the quarter.

By halftime, the Trail Blazers led 25-22

A roster with just two Senior players, expanded the lead to 36-31 with 8:00 to play after Alana Taylor went 2 of 2 from the charity stripe.

Diving to save a loose ball under the watchful eye πŸ‘ of her Coach.

  Just as Spotswood looked to put game away and advance to the State Semi-final, Staunton River connected on consecutive 3-pointers in which the shooter didn’t call Glass before hand. It turned out that Dodson needed Taylor to go 5 of 8 from the free throw line to finally advance, 47-44.

The reaction moment

One last photo, this one without Dodson in it.

Dennis Zimmerman is the Man πŸ‘¨ in the middle and Preacher Man and Dodson have a special relationship as well.

Tomorrow night πŸŒ™, Dodson and his team will try and punch πŸ‘Š another ticket 🎟 to the Championship Game. Once again they will do it inside of the Trail Blazers gym. The difference between Tuesday and Friday being I won’t be pulling with all of my being for the Boys team to fall in their game.

Northside HS vs Spotswood should be a barn burner of a game and both Kris and I will be pulling for the winner πŸ† of the contest to bring home the State Championship so our amazing Boys run will have included the eventual Title holder.

While I won’t be off US-33 Friday night, I will certainly be pulling for Dodson and his Trail Blazers.

Staunton River   11. 11. 9. 13 – 44

Spotswood High  9   16  11 11- 47

Grand Canyon University gives us tips on marketing a season opening Baseball ⚾️ Game !

  Love this idea πŸ’‘! Not sure if it works at every level but it is a great example of how to get fans excited about an upcoming season !

https://view.email.gcu.edu/?qs=ddad122e385ea12a7a77ae1f861cfa3c3c2cfed4daf5ef100ff4d311d8d69ddeb8014565b9c0b7c86381e56df96d2037d75381d245ca16d56e885d381dac0406a8105ad51d6597ac01166ad8f0e24f78