– like this fella parked with his white Tiger on a Kentucky overlook we need to look out to distant possibilities to broaden our experiences.
It’s getting to be the time of year to start thinking of destinations, and hence experiences, further afield.
– old forest service trucks were lined up at the Russell Road Military Museum under the Spring sun; their paint was faded and cracked, instrumentation spare and efficient.
– glorious day for a ride. the roads were fairly quiet; the views into the surrounding Chicagoland countryside; cloudless blue sky; Tiger purring like a content kitty. Perfect!
Waiting for a warm-up
– whilst putting the snow blower back into the garage the Triumph was giving me eyes. The temperatures touched 50 today and much of the snow mounds continued to melt away. Should be back on the roads soon!
– the gravel road hugging the rugged Spiti Valley in the north of India where is touches the Himalaya. Boy; to be wheelin’ along this dirt road!
RTW Tiger
– moto traveller Lea Rieck gets her gas tank refilled somewhere up the Karakoram. Her sturdy Tiger clocked 90k km on her circumnavigation.
– The Tiger was fitted with some new farkles to improve a couple of items for road awareness and navigation. One was a bar mount just above the information screen allowing my GPS to be affixed more centrally in my field of vision for clearer navigation. The other was a pair of indestructible rear-view mirrors affixed with sturdy Ram mounts. These are promoted by adventure tourists and off-road gurus as the most versatile units.
Stripes for the Open Road
– “The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” – John Muir
River Crossing
– a relatively mild (for late December) day allowed my to use the Tiger to make a job site visit. This Strauss Trunnion Bascule bridge is a national landmark. It is lowered once a year and a Union Pacific company truck is driven over it to ensure it remains in active status.
Temple
– one of the landmarks on any ride north out of Chicago takes you past this house of worship. Sat like a luminous jewel on the lakefront in Wilmette, the nine sided dome represents a closed lotus flower. Nine, being the last number in the decimal system, which Baha’í’s believe to mean completion and thus perfection. It looks stunning under a clear blue winter sky.
Mid Winter jaunt
– a Sunny sky with lowest sun and brisk temperatures saw the Tiger and I going for a quick spin around familiar roads. The heated vest and handgrips were very welcome. New iPhone camera being utilized too!
– Hi-Viz Orange for enhanced visibility of this racing Tiger. The short gloomy days of the winter solstice need an assistance to light up the retinal cones of other road users. The orange rims and spokes are particularly inspired.
– beautiful small painting of an 800 Triumph Triple. The multicolor appearance is somewhat jester-like.
– Tiger roars over the Brooklyn Bridge. Iconic symbol of Manhattan Island.
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