Red Barn – another early morning photo taken just north of Madison WI. Low yellow-fresh light from the sunrise gives life to an age-worn farm. Hints of frost still highlight the bikes top box.
October 15, 2018
7:30am
Early Start – the new day broke clear, though chill, with a bright low sun and temperatures in the mid twenties. The Tiger started easily and took her packs without a shred of notice. I stayed at the friendly Homestead Inn ($39.95 a night) being fed the promised fresh coffee and ginormous cinnamon buns made by the proprietress Mary. Wrapped up against the chill and a steady road home I made good progress back to Chicago. All in all 930 miles and 5 1/2 tanks of gas. Good outing with a huge variety of riding conditions.
October 14, 2018
House Stark
Winter is Here – there was hints of ominous weather in the forecast; but not a wintery outlook! A couple of hundred miles on the highway back to Chicago the white stuff got the better of me. And rightly so! A good hand dryer at a rest stop to dry the gloves; full set of sturdy waterproofs from a hunting shop; to keep cozy; but the driving snow gives poor visibility. So I find a comfy “mom & pop” motel in Millston just off I-94. “The rooms open, key’s inside, just make yourself at home hon” said the friendly voice of owner Mary on the loaned ‘phone at a local gas station. Apparently the best cinnamon buns in Wisconsin are made for breakfast.
Tiger performed more than admirably… I think we’re on to the start of adventures together!
September 14, 2018
Don’t lose your pillion!
Hang On! Make sure your lassie keeps a good hold of you!
It reminds me of an old folk song we sang at school:
TURN THE GLASSES OVER
I’ve been to Haarlem, I’ve been to Dover,
I’ve traveled this wide world all over.
Over, over, three times over.
Drink all the brandywine and turn the glasses over.
Sailing east, sailing west,
Sailing over the ocean.
Oh, you’d better watch out when the boat begins to rock,
Or you’ll lose your girl in the ocean.
September 10, 2018
Pilots Seat
Cockpit – flight ready is how the Tigers controls look to be. Perfect upright perch to view the world from. Wide bars offer superb control in a natural stance for my long arms. Easy to reach buttons, and clear instruments. The Garmin navigator completes highway needs ($15 on eBay!).
September 8, 2018
Naked Mountain
Alpine Style – back in the Fifties, what was considered the Golden Age of mountaineering, those from the continental stomping grounds were considered the best. Here (right) is Hermann Buhl who took his experience from the Tyrol to the greater ranges of the Himalaya becoming one of the first to summit Nanga Parbat an 8000’er solo and in lightweight alpine style. Many climbers have used motorcycles to get to and from their cliff faces and peaks… me? I used to hitch rides to the crag.
September 5, 2018
River Crossing
Rain – been wet weather of late… looks like Tigers can swim… photo from the antipodean NSW launch where reviewers took the XC through its paces in the gnarly bush.
September 3, 2018
Pale Sands
Manticore: The White Tiger. Back in ’14 a pair of stock Triumph Tiger 800XC’s were fettled to take part in the Baja 1000. Both prepped by Motoworks in Chicago; one being piloted by shop owner Johnny Scheff. Though up against more purposeful off-road motocross bikes these middleweight managed to make the finish line.
Manticore was the white tiger that Siegfried & Roy used in their Las Vegas Show…
September 2, 2018
Pouncing
Dusty Cat – we still have some late summer heat here. Temperatures in the 90’s today. That would make for clouds of dust thrown up by a speeding Tiger.
August 31, 2018
Full Circle
Balancing Act – ONE WOMAN, ONE MOTORCYCLE, ONE YEAR
Lea Rieck, circumnavigating the world with Cleo, her Triumph Tiger 800 XCA.
August 29, 2018
Piscine Molitor
Hump-Day: sometimes to leap into the leeward side of the week you need to get some air. Richard Parker the Jumping Tiger .
“Actually, it was not so much the speed that was impressive as the pure animal confidence, the total absorption in the moment. Such a mix of ease and concentration, such a being-in-the-present, would be the envy of the highest yogis” Life of Pi -Yann Martel
August 28, 2018
Smokin’
Sideways – there are plenty of images online of the Tiger is full action. We’ll use them as suitable blog material until we get Le Corbeau out onto the highways and trails.
August 27, 2018
Big Boots
Silly Old Bear -“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” Winnie the Pooh
Bear Grylls enjoying the open countryside on his Tiger.
geordiebiker.com 