January 11, 2020
Walden Wanderin’
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms…
Henry David Thoreau
Posted in Adventure, Triumph Motorcycle, Writing |
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November 5, 2019
Herding Cat | Today is playwright Sam Shepard’s birthday. Born in 1943 he acted in, wrote, directed and won numerous awards for dozens of plays. I remember him for his role in The Right Stuff as iconic supersonic pilot Chuck Yeager. Shepard died in 2017 aged 73
Posted in 70's, 80's, Movie, Writing |
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September 28, 2019
Space Man | peering over the ‘bars like some Ray Bradbury character a modern desert sled pilot scans a desolate horizon and aims the Triumph Scrambler towards a distant point in the future.
Posted in Clothing, Photography, Tattoo, Triumph Motorcycle, Writing |
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September 23, 2019
39 Years Ago | Recently my family acquired a stack of old Classic Bike magazines from the Eighties. A few made it back to the States from our recent trip to Scotland. Here’s a typical classified back page where information on parts, repair, sales were a key part of vintage motorcycle restoration and maintenance. Remember this is a generation before the all seeing and doing InterWeb. The monthly magazines were essential reading for the enthusiast.
Posted in 80's, Maintenance, Motorcycle Poster, Restoration, Triumph Motorcycle, Writing |
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August 10, 2019
Six by Nine | I managed to get a spin on the Tiger yesterday going between project locations. Weather was perfect and a quiet backroad empty of traffic.
Posted in 80's, Photography, Science, Triumph Tiger, Writing |
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May 25, 2019
‘Zines | Whatever your interest there is a magazine for it. And, in the specialist topic of motorcycling, there are sub genres covering everything from custom, classic/vintage, off road, on road, Day-to-day riding, travel & adventure. We have a great magazine store in Evanston with a great selection.
Posted in Adventure, Book, Chopper, Design, Photography, Racing, Travel, Writing |
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May 14, 2019
The Mouse and the Motorcycle | I need to conjure up a children’s book like this one… adventure for a diminutive rodent mammal. The original tale was written in 1965 by Beverly Cleary.
Posted in Motorcycle Art, Writing |
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March 28, 2019
Poop-Poop | one of the great environmental books to read is Kenneth Graham’s tale from the riverbank: The Wind in the Willows. Mr Toad of Toad Hall always finds the adventurous side of life as can be seen in the latest animated offering being released this summer. In the trailer he’s haring along a country lane on a vintage motorcycle only to come a cropper.
“The Open road, the dusty highway, the heath, the common, the hedgerows, the rolling downs; Travel, change, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that’s always changing! ” Toad
Posted in Adventure, Film and TV, Movie, Travel, Writing |
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March 11, 2019
Slartibartfast | The renowned Magrathean planet designer who won awards for his coastline design of the Norwegian fjords. These are roads I would most certainly like to travel upon with two wheels.
Today -11th March – is interstellar Towel day; being the birthday of Douglas Adams (1952-2001)
Posted in 70's, 80's, Film and TV, Travel, Writing |
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January 6, 2019
Resolute – It is typical of the New Year for us to put on the mask of Janus and look back at what we achieved (or not) the previous year and thus look forward to the coming twelve months and make a determination of what we want to achieve. Usually in an effort to better ourselves; and, in a way, make this time we have count. Me? I’m not a big one for ‘resolutions’ but it’s fun to think of things that you would like to try and do. A list you ask? Well, here goes:
- Write/Illustrate a children’s book.
- Ride the Triumph Tiger more.
- Sketch more.
- Ride the Lake Michigan loop.
- Fettle the Bonneville for occasional vintage runs.
- Get the Cub out onto some off-road shenanigans.
There… all fairly straight forwards and all that can be incorporated into this blog…
Posted in Adventure, Book, Chicago, Design, Graphics, Maintenance, Motorcycle Art, Photography, Restoration, Travel, Trials, Triumph Bonneville, Triumph Cub, Triumph Motorcycle, Triumph Tiger, Writing |
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January 2, 2019
I, Robot – in 2017 Yamaha displayed their autonomous riding motorcycle being hurled around a racetrack at speed. Today is the 99th birthday of science writer Isaac Asimov who created the three rules of robotics:
- First Law – A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- Second Law – A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
- Third Law – A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Posted in Engineering, Science, Writing, Yamaha |
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December 23, 2018
Vanishing Point- nice graphic used for a screenwriter school ad. Using Easy Rider as an example of ‘write your own movie!’ The artist uses a tweed garbed scholarly academian with a worried look about him riding into town on a classic Triumph Bonneville.
Posted in 60's, Clothing, Graphics, Motorcycle Art, Triumph Bonneville, Writing |
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October 1, 2018
Reportage – here are a few choice photos from Sunday’s outing. As folks gathered there was a promise of sunshine, but it failed to emerge. The cool overcast sky was a good backdrop to the urban scenery. The numbers swelling to 700 plus, rumbling engines and rock music played over the tannoy. The Cobra Lounge serves a buffet breakfast and cold brew coffee took care of thirst and caffeine. The two-wheeled caravan too a direct route along Randolph into The Loop, horns pealing and bystanders waving. A loop up Lake Shore Drive gave the bikes a little more leg stretch as side lanes were blocked off from cars and trucks.
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride: Always Fun
Posted in Chicago, Photography, Writing |
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September 11, 2018
IF
Posted in Writing |
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August 29, 2018
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
Posted in Adventure, Triumph Tiger, Writing |
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