Due to lack of time and crappy Internet connections, looks like I won’t be able to do any serious updates about current expedition with Ogre and automobile until I return home in a few days. In the meantime, for anyone desperate to know how the Ogre is faring on (mostly) dirt, sand, gravel, washboard, rocks, … Continue reading "Road trip"
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First, to clear up some possible confusion, since some of you may have had high school physics or chemistry and already be familiar with valence. We’re talking today about Valence, not Valence. It’s a small city in France on the Rhone river; and being French, it has a French pronunciation. Something like Vahlawnce, maybe. Anyway … Continue reading ""
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I’m making my monthly trip down to Iowa for my dad’s medical appointments tomorrow. I’ll be there for a couple of days, so I figured I should announce the May Challenge a little early. The title of this page says it all about the subject of the challenge. Since birds exist almost everywhere in the … Continue reading "The May Challenge: Birds, Birdhouses & Birdfeeders"
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I like trains. I’ve always liked trains. I remember how great it was to hang out by the train tracks when I was a grade school kid. I marveled at the size and power of locomotive engines. I thought it was the coolest thing to put a penny on the rails just before the train … Continue reading "Graffiti Train"
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Today I got an early start for my ride to tai chi class so I would have time to stop for some pictures. Rain was predicted for later on. Cool and cloudy, it was fine for a few snaps, and on the way home it poured. Good planning. This will also be my last post … Continue reading "Graffiti finale"
Read MoreThere is no graffiti in our neighborhoods where I do most of my riding. I know I posted this photo on the 17th (before graffiti came live), and am using it now simply to post here about my lack of challenge posts. On the club ride I joined this past Friday (when Graffiti was live) … Continue reading "SITTING THIS ONE OUT I THINK"
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So I’m not doing so hot on this month’s challenge. I totally failed on the four elements, although I did have my eyes open for it. I saw smoke a few times, but apparently it’s not always the case that where there’s smoke there’s fire. I’m finally on track with this graffiti thing though. Here’s … Continue reading "On not rising to the challenge"
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I had never payed much attention to the graffiti around here. But thanks to the challenge I now look forward to each underpass to see what kind of art it might have in store. Both yesterday and today I set out with no intention of looking for pictures for the challenge, I would just take … Continue reading "Morality and more"
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For Earth Day, my old campus—it feels like I’ve been retired forever—sponsored a big art project stretching for more than 1000 feet on Elliott Avenue. Read more at Bill Bikes
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My only excuse for not posting anything until the third day of the Graffiti Challenge is that I had nothing to write about. No stories, no poems, no words of wisdom, no anecdotes, no nothing. I mean, yes nothing. No nothing would mean something. I rode my bike, of course, and I had a few … Continue reading "Three Days of Graffiti"
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My ride to Starnberg to visit my son and his family follows the train line for the most part, and where there are train tracks, there are underpasses – breeding places for graffiti.
Read MoreRaleigh wanted a photo with a field of matching weeds Out on a search of graffiti which is very scarce around here And certainly nothing like the photos Suzanne posted — the only time we see anything like that is on a rail car speeding thru town at 55 mph Being an old service … Continue reading "A Raleigh Request"
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Gauting doesn’t abound in graffiti although there is some, usually not very artistic, or perhaps not at all artistic. Our ride today was in the country and I didn’t really expect to find anything for the challenge, but even miles from nowhere, tunnels seem to attract sprayers. On our way home, I also spotted some … Continue reading "Graffiti"
Read MoreThis “Unauthorized Art” Challenge is all about GRAFFITI. It does not include outdoor sculptures, murals on the sides of buildings, or other works of art for which the artist received permission. Technically speaking, graffiti is vandalism and we shouldn’t glorify it. But sometimes it can be quite artistic. (Heck, a secretive graffiti artist named Banksy … Continue reading "The 4/21 thru 4/30 Challenge: Unauthorized Art"
Read MoreAIR is compressible — WATER is not AIR Clouds drift in the AIR over the Diamond Back — made from materials from the EARTH Flag with little AIR movement It has been in full fly for several days, and will be again tomorrow with 40-50mph winds predicted 🙁 WATER in the North Fork EARTH mover … Continue reading "Elements Conclusion"
Read MoreWe have a lot of water around here — above and below. Some boats need AIR to propel them on the WATER Some of the WATER in these clouds comes down as hail — which is what fell on me on this day’s ride ;’-).
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And an airplane is in the air, too. Technically, I am not showing pictures of air, just illustrating the title of this post. It is finally feeling like spring. No snow here. Yesterday I was on my bike for the first time this month! Way too long. Some medical issues (breast biopsy, but everything is … Continue reading "Spring is in the Air"
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BY THE NUMBERS It was a fine day today–chilly maybe–but fine in every other way. The main way in which it was fine is that I managed to meet 3 different challenges in 90 minutes. FIRST, I maintained my participation in the 30-days of April cycling challenge. That was the easiest one. SECOND, I managed … Continue reading "2nd Last Day of the 4 Elements Challenge"
Read Moredon’t look out the window in the morning” Stated the TV weather man There it goes crossing Indiana and into Ohio Le Tour strikes a pose Planting the field may be a way off yet 🙁 Sad looking daffodils ~~~~~~~~~~ Its beginning to look a lot like ~~~~~~~~~~~ . . . . . . … Continue reading "“If you don’t want to see it . . . . ."
Read MoreRiding with a few friends is always a plus, and even being hit with cold rain near the end of our picnic lunch did not do much to dampen our hearts. Along the Burke-Gilman Trail we cross over the Sammamish River for WATER ;’-) We get more WATER and EARTHY beach along Lake Washington… And … Continue reading "SOME WATER, SOME EARTH, AND A SMILE"
Read MorePiles of soil and aggregate from the EARTH Small exposure of glacial till — Earth Clear AIR courtesy of Canada/Minnesota (and the wind wasn’t blowing its brains out for a change) Not to be confused with Lovely Lago di Garda . . . . . . Lagoon at the Park — WATER With all the … Continue reading "Earth Air Water Fire 2"
Read MoreDaffodils growing out of the Earth Raleigh waits out Water falling from the sky Le Tour receives Air from a Lyzne pump *** Baby bicycle warms in the glow of a Fire *** Pumping up bicycle tires reminds me of working at the service station years ago ….. Tom, who often hung out with … Continue reading "Earth Water Air and Fire"
Read MoreAs we all agree — FIRE is the most difficult. Let’s see if this one will work… FIRE (even if out of focus) EARTH (in a pile) AIR (through a hole) WATER (surrounding boats) Like Greg, I have been diligent about my 30 Days of Riding in April ;’-). Most days have been at a … Continue reading "ANOTHER GO AT THE FOUR ELEMENTS"
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I LIKE winter–that is, when it’s actually winter. Mid-April is not winter. The weather is supposed to be more springlike. It’s supposed to be getting better out there, not worse. March had nicer days than this month. Oh well, yucky weather is no excuse for a tough guy like me to abandon my Thirty Days … Continue reading "Once Again, The Winter Bike Faces the Elements"
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Today I am featuring just one elemet – water. I just read that 70% of the earth’s surface is water and that our bodies also happen to consist of 70% water. No water, no life. But this isn’t an essay on the importance of water. However, one aspect of water became obvious yesterday as we … Continue reading "Water is life"
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Today I have pictures from our hike in the Parco della Rocca e del Sasso, a piece of land jutting out into Lake Garda, with ancient olive tree groves in the valley and a stoney trail to the cliffs overlooking the lake. At home I walk very reluctantly, maybe because the same paths are boring. … Continue reading "Lots of air, water and earth, a little bit of fire"
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Hastings, MN Thanks to the heroics of Son of Bing Bong, the Minnesota Truckers emerged victorious in their Major League Bikeball season opener. Son of Bing Bong went 5-for-5 with two triples, a home run, and eight RBIs, leading his team to an overwhelming victory over the Wisconsin Trekkers. With his perfect batting average of … Continue reading "A Sports Report Involving The Four Elements"
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Zillions of Water Droplets creating Cloud in the Air An entire atmosphere of air, but if air escapes your tube , , , , , Should that air escape — several options (not shown: CO2 inflator air replacement)
Read MoreIt is definitely a reach to call the one ”fire” but there is no fire that I will find even if camping, as we never have a campfire. Moot point though as we will not be camping at all this month, so cannot even steal a photo of someone else’s fire. Here is my first … Continue reading "FOUR ELEMENTS"
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The street art above is from a walk in Moniga on Lake Garda, Italy, where we are visiting for a week. I see the elements water (in the gutter) and earth (the stones and under ground) here. I decided to look into Greg’s suggestion that we could also use the properties of the four elements … Continue reading "Fire – Earth – Air – Water"
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Last night we had our first decent rain for the year and it was nice hearing the raindrops on the tin roof and feeling the coolness in the air. The featured photo shows tonight’s sunset with a shower heading our way. I’ll be on six weeks of holidays soon and will be spending 4 weeks … Continue reading "April Rhyme Challenge"
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It seems so simple and mostly completely out of mind Until it fails — Which is rare Millions upon millions of vehicles depend on it to keep rolling The humble, unsung, heroic valve core Such as my old beloved 3 speed Huffy Uses captive air to keep rolling Here is why there is no more … Continue reading "Captive Air Is Crucial"
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Before I go, I’ve got a bonus rhyme. While out riding this morning, I saw a couple pieces of evidence that one of our Cycle365 friends paid a to visit MY Town.
Read MoreI’m back. As I mentioned in my previous, I am having big problems logging in. I also have a week or so behind me of health issues, all has turned out alright though. I was a bit distracted for a while. Okay, let’s get to the challenge. I love the way you set it up, … Continue reading "Out of my Element"
Read MoreI spent about an hour trying to log in. I don’t know how I managed and probably can’t repeat it. Yikes. I used to be able to log in through older comment links, but we are traveling now and I had absent-mindedly deleted my old mails before we left. A disaster. I have also not … Continue reading "Out of Touch"
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That fiendish Czar, he’s gone too far. I’m not a bard, it’s just too hard! Until this Causse I’m at a loss-a But this grand Cirque drives me berserk. I’ve found my rhyme, and just in time! That isn’t dull, men; it’s a dolmen! There are no men here, just this Menhir!
Read MoreOh man, the ten days of rhyming sure flew by, didn’t it? (Though you’ve still got the rest of today and tomorrow to get your entries posted.) I don’t know how things could get much more fun and exciting than that challenge, but I have a good idea where to start. That would be to … Continue reading "ANNOUNCING THE SECOND OF THREE APRIL CHALLENGES"
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This year the start of the baseball season was delayed due to a dispute between millionaire players and billionaire owners about…money. But we had a beautiful day for the Giants opening game, so I had to pedal down from the bridge and do a loop for good luck…. Read more at Bill Bikes
Read MoreSWING – WING You can move to and fro on a SWING, or fly high upon a critter’s WING I have definitely enjoyed our rhyme time together. What can our czar have up his sleeve next? ?
Read MoreBeen a great challenge and looking forward to seeing what Czar Gregory has in store for Part 2 Click HERE for the Final Photos
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Good job everyone with your rhymes and thank you for your participation in the first third of this month’s challenges. I’ll announce the second third in a couple days. In the meantime, here is what I came up with today. It all began with a ride underneath a train . . . in a light … Continue reading "RHYME TIME (FOURTH VERSE)"
Read MoreWhat a beautiful day for a ride I had today. Sunny and 50+ Allowed me to ride without my helmet liner for the first time!! I (we) expect another day similar to today before our rain sets in for a few days. SHELL-WELL At the seashore Sally was selling her SHELL as I was walking … Continue reading "RHYME TIME #5"
Read MoreI joined a club ride that my bike friend Ron would lead today. It has been a long time since I have joined this group for a ride and it was such a delight to reconnect with people I have ridden with in the past. A simple ride along a bike trail to enjoy our … Continue reading "JUST A RIDE — NO RHYME"
Read MoreA swimming pool behind that fence Doesn’t welcome robins, and so, hence Sits an owl as some defense It never moves and is clearly static Turns out the owl is made of plastic As the Huffy goes rolling by In his view what does he spy? Cleary not meeting Huff’s approval Huffy calls for its … Continue reading "An Owl and a Scowl"
Read MoreWind Advisory of 45 mph with gusts to 60 brought me out of the house and onto the saddle at 7:30 a.m. (for DAY 4/30) to avoid such tragic weather! I anticipated a short, very short bimble around our mile block. I was fortunate to get in more miles than I thought, AND I actually … Continue reading "RHYME TIME #4"
Read MoreSomething about the bank reminded me that I haven’t gotten any extra credit yet. Several of you have written rhyming stories for the extra credit and I have not. Kudos to you, boos and hisses for me. As your Challenge Czar I should be a leader, not a follower. Here is my effort to catch … Continue reading "RHYME TIME (THIRD VERSE)"
Read MoreBecause I had to ring my parents today, and that time slot is smack in the middle of the day, I decided to do some riding around town before and after that call instead of my normal longer out-of-town ride. Here are some rhymes to get started for the month. No pic of the bike … Continue reading "Because nothing rhymes with Wodonga"
Read MoreSun and sky like giant lanterns Produce some interesting driveway patterns Huffy and it tire tread Spent the winter in that shed And while we’re here looking at Huffies . . . . There comes along two dachshund puppies That’s enough to raise one’s ire The way they disposed of an old used tire … Continue reading "A-Rhyme-Pril Challenge"
Read MoreI needed to get out early this moring (8:30) as forecasted rain was due in by mid to late morning. Though the rain has not come yet and it is noon, I am happy to have gotten in my ride in the quiet of the morning that had a few momentary sun breaks. TRAIL-SNAIL I … Continue reading "RHYME TIME #3"
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Last but not least – Janos’s videos from our two days on the road While we are riding, Janos is busy making videos. Back home, he starts editing his material and adds background music. Some of the commentary is live, some dubbed in later – unfortunately for the English speaking community in German. A new … Continue reading "Post Script"
Read MoreVery old school, But still pretty cool An inner tube two pronged valve core tool Added is a schrader cap Installing them is quite a snap And should the valve begin to leak Just give it a little clockwise tweak Following that you’ll need a nap Then plan your route on a bicycle map … Continue reading "This Caps It and Maps It"
Read MoreMorning light rain was a little discouraging and I thought I would be doing my Day 2 in the rain. I found two rhymes this time. CHAIN – RAIN A heavy CHAIN always holds me down from riding in the RAIN, later, dried, I could go for a ride – humming a happy refrain. SCHOOL … Continue reading "RHYME TIME 2"
Read MoreThere is the Raleigh There is the Dolly The Raleigh/Dolly
Read MoreI know I said I wasn’t going to ride my new bike in the winter, but I had to make an exception today. I am down in Iowa for my monthly trip with my dad to his oncology appointment, and the Son of Bing Bong is only bike I brought with me. I sure didn’t … Continue reading "Rhyme Time (First Verse)"
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Should this be an April Fool's joke No, that was yesterday, you dumb bloke With this I did not reckon Nature's prank on the second Non-stop snow from the moment that I woke. Now who would have thought this could be That so much snow this month we would see Though already April We must … Continue reading "No rhyme or reason"
Read MoreNo way can Raleigh’s steel legs Compete with colored Easter Eggs Even though the forks look fairly swanky, They just can’t compete with Ukrainian pysanky (photo from the web) GB Great Britan (former home of Raleigh) UA Ukraine (With incredible decorated Easter Eggs)
Read MoreTower-Flower: If I stood atop the TOWER looking down, could I see the beautiful FLOWER on the ground? TOWER FLOWER
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So when is enough enough?! Right NOW I’ve had it with this cold windy relentless weather Time for a change and adapt to this ‘lovely’ Illinois climate Here is the solution: Thats gonna be my new ride The weather is just relentless and Im tired of waiting to get back to riding This 1967 Oldsmobile … Continue reading "New Machine for this riding season"
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Well, probably not the last fence in France, since we’ve still got a few more months ahead of us in this country before hopping the English Channel to the UK. But it is the last fence we’ll see in France in March, and hence the last for this month’s challenge. So we might as well … Continue reading "The last fence in France"
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