Merchandise- the New Years Honours list was published today… little did I know but actor Henry Winkler was made an honorary OBE back in 2012. As we know he was The Fonz, cool greaser in the hot 70’s tv shoe Happy Days. As with any popular character there was plenty of supporting items for sale.
Geordie Tradition – growing up in the North East of England one of the highlights of the season was a trip to Newcastle to see the window display at Fenwick’s department store. Several windows were set up in a theme of mechanical marvels. This year they bring to life The Snowman, that Raymond Briggs character introduced to British Christmas culture forty years ago. This photo has the frosty character haring across a winter scene on some red tanked motorcycle. A point of note for this image: Greggs is a bakery popular with Geordies for meat pasties and stottie cake sarnies… they reversed their Northumberland Street shop sign so when reflected in Fenwick’s window it would read correctly… cunning marketing!
St Louis – a road trip down State sees us in the Gateway City on the banks of the Mississippi. Our hotel has a restaurant off its lobby called the Triumph Grill. And yes, its theme is motorcycles. Did I also mention the motorcycle museum is part of it and a Triumph/Ducati dealership too?
“I’m as excited as a terribly excited person who has a really good reason for being terribly excited.”
From the Earth to the Moon – short jaunt up north to dust the cobwebs from the owld bikes. Coffee stop at the Full Moon diner on Route 41 where an impromptu gathering of motorcycles occur at weekend mornings. Nice T595 Daytona parked next to the Geordie-Bonnie, which, for a 20 year old bike still looks fresh in looks. This triple superbike was the true relaunch of the modern Triumph marque as the 20th Century came to a close.
Coffee was hot & fresh, eggs sunny side up and sausages tasty.
To Feed a Soul
“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life ― and travel ― leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks ― on your body or on your heart ― are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.” Anthony Bourdain 1955-2018
Diner – monochrome photo of yesterday’s stop. Cheeseburger with bacon and fries. Sheridan Road Northshore drag back into Town.
April Shadows – clear blue skies, a chill breeze off the lake, and a pair of good looking Bonneville’s. A quick 50 mile round trip jaunt up to Lake Forest. Hot coffee and a breakfast bagel sarnie warmed frozen fingers. Felt good to get the wheels rolling…
Windy today! No it’s Thursday! So am I, let’s have a drink! A sunny antipodean outlook is set off with some competition winner who takes home a spangly new Triumph Bobber.
Remember it’s Hump-Day so…
AWOL – during the past couple of days we’ve been in the wanney wilds of the Border Forests at Kielder.
Normal service will resume presently…
My Goodness – a stout tank’d pre-unit custom Triumph in polished aluminum and black with a white frothy head atop the pint-sized tank. Brewed in Dublin since 1759 Guinness is one of the most recognized and successful beers in the world. The iconic harp motif is modeled after the Brian Boru instrument displayed in the Long Room of Trinity Colleges Old Library and itself is a symbol of Éire.
It’s the Real Thing! Not quite a Hilltop of anticipated world peace, or a Pacific sunrise revelation by Don Draper, but smashing weather conditions for a cracking ride deserved an ice cold Coke. Proper stuff with real sugar, glass bottle, straw… Perfect!
Cowmark Cafe – another stop-off on the weekend jaunt was this roadside diner. Good cooked breakfast and coffee. Adorned in the black and white Fresian cattle it was a worthy theme for dairyland Wisconsin.
Ed & Erv’s – just shuttered up in the last couple of years this local Chicago convenience store has a timeless mid-20th Century vibe going on. So when I saw this Harley Davidson standing lazily outside I had to get a photo. A hint of vintage filter to sharpen the shadows and an evocative scene is created.
Highway 41 & Route 21 – Mid ride was held at The Point roadside diner. Skillet plate of eggs, sausage links, hash browns and a couple of pancakes, all washed down with coffee. Mostly overcast with the odd patch of blue sky. Bikes running well for a fine Sunday afternoon trip.
Let’s Go! A destination to get beer, burger and ink. Halfway between Dubuque and the Quad Cities it sits on the east bank of Old Man River Mississippi… 3 hours by hog from Chicago: pure Americana by the looks of it.
