Saturday, November 22, 2008

Settling in for a long winters nap...NOT

Snow in New Brunswick
Just got word from our friends up Nawth in New Brunswick that they were socked in with snow. Seems like just last week we were up there. I couldn't resist my photoshop urges and make it so!

I've been playing a lot lately. In the Canon forum, I've been playing photoshop tennis. One person posts a picture, you take a copy and make an edit, then the next person and so on. Having a game like that makes it fun to brush up on skills.

New Star Trek Trailer
Don't know what all the buzz is about the New Star Trek Trailer, it doesn't seem very aerodynamic to me.

It never hit 30 today, a good a time as any to resolve those pesky heated gear issues I've been having. The big guy was kind enough to hard wire a connector to my battery. It seems the BMW plug can not take a full compliment of heated gear, I was blowing the fuse with the addition of heated gloves.
New wiring for the electrics

We tested the gear out with a cruise to the coast. Max BMW put on his annual turkey dinner spread. About a dozen bikes braved the cold, but tons of folks showed up in cars to enjoy the free feast. Thanks again Max! Happy Thanksgiving 2
Will ride for turkey

It was my second trip to the coast this week. On Wednesday I chased down a Tag in Portsmouth, nearly froze to death. 2 hours at highway speed, no electrics, 26 degrees. And someone posted up the tag before me - right as a I left the garage! Breaking Wall With Head. Oh well. It's all for the fun of the game.

I got a nice shot out of the deal, 30 second expose, a little blurry due to high winds.
Portsmouth Take2

Ride safe out there, winter is a coming.

Got Salt?
Winter is coming

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Could night riding become a chilly habit?

Update to yesterdays post...
I went back out tonight to take a pic of the next tag. I was really happy with the results, this is a 15 second exposure, it's very dark out, notice the car lights in the background behind the front wheel. Barely 40 out...I gotta find the problem with the power plug!

King Kone Night

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Night Rider

Concord NH Capital Building - 6 second exposure
Night Rider Edit

I don't like to ride at night, I may be a Rounder but I'm not crazy about riding in the cold, but I do like a challenge. That is the short story behind this picture.
Adventure Riders have these threads called Tag-O-Rama. Someone posts a picture, you try to find it and you get to post the next picture, the tag. I have managed to get one for NH and one for MA, but mostly I've been just watching the fun. The MA folks have been grabbing tags at night, at this time of year, that's all us working folks have.

So there I was around 6pm, I was wrapping up my surfing, when I checked in on ADV real quick. And what did I see but the state house. Oh heck, I can find that in my sleep. I kissed Lisa on the cheek, threw on my riding pants, boots, electric jacket, and brand new electric gloves. Kevin had taken the King to work so it was easy work pulling out the GT

As I waited at the light, I realized that the controller light was not on...I had no juice from the power supply. I remember that this was an intermittent problem last year, and I'd not used the electrics yet this year. 43 degrees...no power. Oh well, I was on a mission and I happen to have a heated seat & grips. I flew up the highway, arrived in Concord, found the right spot, set up the tripod and DSLR, grabbed just two shots, and sped home. It was a fun run. I may just do it again real soon, given the right motivation.

13 Second exposure with cars
13 Second Exposure

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Birthday Ride

All the leaves are brown
And the sky is gray
I've been for a ride
On my birthday
(with appologies to the Mamas and Papas)

Posers

Not that I needed a reason, but 64 degrees on a Saturday and it's my birthday seemed like a good reason to ride. We didn't go far, but we had fun on some leaf coated back roads. Watch out they are wet!

All of 10 miles away from the house, we stopped to check out the newly opened Red Arrow Diner.
Red Arrow Diner

And it was good!
Cheesy Fries Rock

The woods smelled amazing, a little bit of wood smoke in the air, the wet leaves, almost as nice as spring. Despite the lack of sun, I had a smile on my face enjoying the smells.

Only a few trees have yet to rain their leaves upon the yard. But their colors are muted.
Last Leaves

It was spitting rain so we high tailed it down the highway towards home. Hope you enjoyed the day you were given today!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

November Riding

Gone to the beach
November 1, the unofficial start to winter riding. I had the urge to get my November ride in early. Easy to do when it's in the 50's. I zipped the quilted lining into my riding pants, pulled on the ski socks and suited up for a ride to the coast.

MAX BMW was having an end of Autumn cook out.
Max BMW N. Hampton NH

Max had a nice turn out. He was flipping burgers and commented that he needed to get new grill if the crowd keeps getting bigger. I reminded him that his distribution list keeps getting bigger but his grill has stayed the same! I'll bet there will be two grills for the spring cook out.

BMW1

BMW Motorcycle

Tiss the season for politicians, even at your motorcycle dealer
BMW Rider for McCain

The N.Hampton Mobil and Eriving Station where nice enough to have a little price war, the consumer was the winner
$2.03 for gas...who would have thunk?

It was in the low 50's, I didn't have to plug in, but did have the Gerbing jacket and my new First Gear electric gloves on. It felt like November. The leaves were mutted in color and there are more on the ground than on the branches. It was good waving weather too, if you're out in November, you have set yourself apart from the pack, even the knit cap crowd was waving to me.

Hampton Beach Sign

November Beach

I was uninspired at the beach. The tide was waning, so no crashing waves to be found. The sky, while not gray, was cloudy. I snapped a few shots, and headed toward home. I'll be back when winter settles in, I love being an hour from the beach or the mountains.

November, it's not time to put the bike away, it's time to pull out the layers, plug in and enjoy the ride!