Woodcut Watfarer – nicely executed illustration of a lady biker running her cafe racer through its paces. Good shadow and highlight worked into the graphic .

Geordie 26 June 2003 – July 30 2017

20721 63E Broadview Tyler 158 races 38 wins

The Classifieds – a grand day with perfect summer weather and quiet roads. Getting out at 7 helped too before the heat and traffic built up! New carbs have given the Bonnie a new lease of life. Spied this ’71 example up near Antioch; in nice shape and waiting for a rider. 

Five times Three – in the late sixties Triumphs triples were a force to be reckoned with when tuned for speed and power. Especially when under the engineering magic of Doug Hele (on the left). Instrumental in most major British fast bikes for the mid century decades. I can’t see the Sun setting on these machines… watch out Slippery Sam the Trident wielding gods are abroad!

International Women’s Day

WHILE Europe’s eye is fix’d on mighty things,The fate of Empires and the fall of Kings;

While quacks of State must each produce his plan,

And even children lisp the Rights of Man;

Amid this mighty fuss just let me mention,

The Rights of Woman merit some attention.

First, in the Sexes’ intermix’d connection,

One sacred Right of Woman is, protection.—

The tender flower that lifts its head, elate,

Helpless, must fall before the blasts of Fate,

Sunk on the earth, defac’d its lovely form,

Unless your shelter ward th’ impending storm.

Our second Right—but needless here is caution,

To keep that right inviolate’s the fashion;

Each man of sense has it so full before him,

He’d die before he’d wrong it—’tis decorum.

There was, indeed, in far less polish’d days,

A time, when rough rude man had naughty ways,

Would swagger, swear, get drunk, kick up a riot,

Nay even thus invade a Lady’s quiet.
Now, thank our stars! those Gothic times are fled;

Now, well-bred men—and you are all well-bred—

Most justly think (and we are much the gainers)

Such conduct neither spirit, wit, nor manners.
For Right the third, our last, our best, our dearest,

That right to fluttering female hearts the nearest;

Which even the Rights of Kings, in low prostration,

Most humbly own—’tis dear, dear admiration!

In that blest sphere alone we live and move;

There taste that life of life—immortal love.

Smiles, glances, sighs, tears, fits, flirtations, airs;

‘Gainst such an host what flinty savage dares,

When awful Beauty joins with all her charms

Who is so rash as rise in rebel arms?
But truce with kings, and truce with constitutions,

With bloody armaments and revolutions;

Let Majesty your first attention summon,

Ah! ça ira! THE MAJESTY OF WOMAN!

Robert Burns 1759-1796

True Words – especially when pushing the bike too! But it’s handy to wear boots suitable for a little strolling at a break in the ride…

“December seventh, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. We will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt