On a bluff overlooking Lake Geneva sits the 1893 building that houses the largest refracting telescope, a 40” light capturing behemoth. It is currently closed to the public right now but I always like to stop by whenever I ride the loop around this lake.
Some fresh air was thoroughly enjoyed today with a splendid outing around Lake Geneva. Blue skies with a few scudding clouds driven by stiff winds. We stopped in at Yerkes Observatory near Williams Bay. Still getting to grips with the “GoPro”.
Beryl Swain
Celebrating the pioneering spirit of local London lass who raced on the Isle of Man TT as well as many early 60’s motorcycle races, her determination now prominently adorns the wall on Wood Street, Walthamstow E17.
A young plumber from Salford was beckoned to the gritstone crags of the Peak District in the fifties. Along with other working class types they opened up the climbing scene, once a dominion of the upper classes, to the everyman. Along with Don Whillans, Joe put up many test-pieces in the UK, Alps and greater ranges. We would occasionally see him in his latter years when we were out craggin’ on Stanage Edge up from Sheffield; or over at Llanberis Pass in Snowdonia. A true legend in the climbing scene.
– The wonderful felted creations from genius Jim Henson was a regularly watched TV show in the late seventies. Made for kids but written for adults. Gonzo’s antics; Fozzy Bears insecurities; Miss Piggy’s ego; and Kermit’s gregarious verdance.
My favorite poem? Possibly.
The Tiger by Nael age 6
He destroyed his cage
Yes
YES
The tiger is out
– benchtop engineering. If you think you have trouble working from home with a cat draped over your keyboard, imagine one on your work surfaces chasing bolts and washers about.
– one of the Greats in Motorsport died today aged 90. He raced during the Golden Age of Formula 1 against Fangio; barely surviving horrific crashes; smashing the Mille Miglia 1000 record in a Mercedes Benz 300 SLR; and becoming the most famous driver never to win the Championship. S
ir Stirling Moss 1929-2020
– in these days of shut-in requirements a quick ride can give you the mental therapy and burst of fresh air to keep you sane.
– The penmanship of Mort Drucker who died yesterday aged 91 filled the magazine MAD with his satirical caricatures. He covered a plethora of icons both real and fictional for five decades. Here is his turn of Easy Rider.
– appropriate after yesterday’s posting, here is a necklace that you can wear to display a fandom of the Happy Days character of cool.
– great image of Arthur Fonzarelli on his TR5 Triumph bobber in Al’s Diner parking lot.
-We saw the spring temperatures rise into the seventies today. Riding weather is truly upon us. But, with the need to minimize trips, the two-wheeled jaunts will have to wait for now. So I’ve been checking in on some of the worldly travelers who are taking on the globe by motorcycle. Here’s Lia Rieck on her Tiger crossing some sandy landscape. Her website is www.liarieck.de and she’s also on FaceBook and Instagram under Got2Go
Sadly one of the original action women of the silver screen died today. Honor Blackman who, in my opinion, is the definitive Bond girl. She played opposite Sean Connery in Goldfinger with perfect grace and grit. She started a life on two wheels as a dispatch rider during WW2 in London. She was 94.
It means buying books and letting them pile up unread. The word dates back to the very beginning of modern Japan, the Meiji era (1868-1912) and has its origins in a pun. Tsundoku, which literally means reading pile, is written in Japanese as 積ん読.
