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Hello, I'm Gene Bowker and this is my blog, RustedRail's Ramblings!

I currently live in Greer, South Carolina in the Upstate, but am originally from Poway, California. I've lived in the Southeastern US since my college days at Arkansas State. 

I enjoy traveling the backroads of America with my wife Patrice (also a great photographer), photography (my favorites), railroads, and learning about technology and how it will change our lives in every way. 

I've had the chance to work for a variety of companies in many industries over the years and had the chance to live all over the South while working in Manufacturing Management.

You can learn more "About Gene" where I discuss some of my influences.

Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]

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Gene Bowker's RustedRail's Ramblings!

Who knows what we'll find along the backroads of life.

 

 

Springtime in Greenville

April 26, 2025  •  Leave a Comment

Greenville (1 of 1)Greenville (1 of 1)

 

The Reedy River cuts through Greenville, South Carolina and originally provided power to the mills which once lined the banks.  The railroad has been replaced now with a popular trail and has become a great place to enjoy a Spring Day along it's shores.  Several hotels are along the banks and it is an Oasis below the hustle and bustle of the downtown above.

 


Time to recharge

April 21, 2025  •  Leave a Comment

BRP TunnelsBRP TunnelsThe North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway features a number of tunnels.

At sunrise, the light is just starting to illuminate the darkness as I stop long enough to grab a quick snapshot out the windshield of the scene

Since taking over as Site Manager last June at FlexQube in Duncan, one thing I've been missing has been the chance to take time off.  Even over the holidays, most days required a trip into the office. 

This long Easter weekend has been a nice chance to recharge my internal batteries.  We decided to give our team an extra day on Easter Monday, which meant for me a Monday without an alarm at 4:30am.

Sleeping in to me usually means 6:30am or 7:00am, which might not seem late, but to me is bliss.  I've spent the weekend relaxing with lots of reading, enjoying time with my family and just doing as little as possible.

FlexQube is a Swedish based company.  I've learned in Sweden they have the principle of Lagom, which means basically "just enough".  Today I'm reading a new book by Kortney Yasenka about the idea. I got it on Kindle for .99 on Amazon.  Part of the Swedish culture is the idea of work-life balance, which here in America can seem like something that is said more than experienced.   I'm looking forward to learning more about the concept and then how to apply it to my life.  I'll write a review of the book when I finish it.

I'm looking forward in May to a week off for vacation around my birthday.  Then at the end of the month we have the long Memorial Day weekend.  That recharging will get me more mentally ready for the push to the end of the 2nd Quarter in June at work.

This weekend has really been that light at the end of the tunnel and I am feeling recharged after a weekend for once.

 


Hidden off of the main streets

March 16, 2025  •  Leave a Comment

small town alley (1 of 1)small town alley (1 of 1)

Even in a small town like Greer there are some alleys to explore downtown.

Loved the constrast of the old bricks with all the "modern" utilities which were obviously crammed in later.

I'm sure the old building could tell a lot of stories from over the years.
 

 


Horses and Mules.. to tires and lawnmowers

March 08, 2025  •  Leave a Comment

Horses and Mules (1 of 1)Horses and Mules (1 of 1)

 

Down in Georgia I saw a ghost sign which made me stop to take a picture or two.  The faded part above the Coca-Cola sign was Horses and Mules.  I found it interesting that the business had evolved with the times to start selling Tires and Lawn Equipment in later years.

In business, there have been so many cases of companies which never could adapt to changing markets.  They believed they were in the business of selling the product which had made them famous, even while the market was moving to whatever was next.

Photography has been a lot like that.  From large format cameras, to 35mm film cameras, to digital cameras to everyone having a great camera in their "smart" phones the technology used to make an image has evolved over the years.  Who knows what will be next?

Adapting to the marketplace in business and in our creative ventures helps us to remain revelant and in touch with the market.  It's not a one and done activity, but has to be a constant journey of change to be successful.

 


Light and angles - perspectives

February 23, 2025  •  Leave a Comment

Pot and WallPot and Wall

One of the things I find most interesting in photography is using light and angles in the composition of a photograph.

At Hopewell Gardens in Aiken during a winter walk, I found this planter which happened to be in the sunlight sitting on the corner of a wall.  As I looked through the view finder I realized that in the shadow was a curving wall as well as a tree trunk leaning in towards the planter.

Even with a square format (1x1) I decided that I wanted to include the trunk, which put the planter off center, but allowed the other lines to flow.

Life is about light and angles.  Taking the time to look at things from different perspectives, seeing the light in the darkness and learning how they can work togther.