Nikon – today marks a century of fine optics and photographic equipment from the iconic Japanese camera manufacturer. I’ve had several makes of SLR camera: Pentax, Minolta, Canon; but the one I’ve stuck with for twenty odd years is Nikon. From all manual FM, to the bombproof F3 (still my favorite!) I now have a digital SLR which allows me to snap away and capture multiple ‘rolls-worth’ of exposures on a trip. Our recent road trip east saw 1,500 operations of the shutter button. I’m standing outside the Frick museum in Pittsburgh at the Irving Penn exhibit (who incidentally was born in 1917 too).
July 25, 2017
1/125th f1.8
July 24, 2017
Baby Blue
Truckbed Baby – evening sunlight warms the time-worn patina of what looks like a Triumph Cub in original condition. Over half a century of barn dust. The sky blue Ford Econoline is a perfect tote for the scooter.
July 23, 2017
Schnelles Motorrad
Autobahn Triumph – “It does not go 300 but for you is enough!!” This rocket-red Sprint 1050 is made for the hyperspeed roads of Germany – this bike’s owner see other deutchwagen as roadkill…
July 22, 2017
“If you want to be a bird”
MAD Grinning imp Alfred E. Neuman takes to the streets on his choppered trike whilst the Harley riding gang of Captain America, Billy, and Jim Bronson rumble on in cool style… Born to be Wild.
July 21, 2017
Biker Lass
Leopard Print Saddle – the winklepicker shod bloke thumbing his drainpipe jeans and holding his tab like the cool surly chap he is is no match for the lass. An enigmatic smile ready for a spin along the North Circular.
July 20, 2017
Small Step
Moon Motos- Fortyeight years ago today Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin brought their Lunar Module down onto the Sea of Tranquility to become the first visitors to our moon. Their companion Mike Collins orbited overhead in the Command Module. In later trips a Rover was developed to go further afield on the surface… here’s what a Lunar Scooter may have looked like… kickin’ up some moondust…
July 19, 2017
Skiffle Band?
Spy vs Spy – lip curling proletariat Billy Bragg looks the rocker part on a sweet Speed Twin. The cardigan wearing guys with their thumbs up is 80’s Hull band The Housemartins, Paul Heaton (R) and Stan Cullimore (L).
July 18, 2017
The Swallow
Jet Fighter – this day in 1942 saw the Messerschmitt ME262 become operational. It’s shark-like appearance and brute speed must have been an eye opener for the allied pilots. A far cry from the bubble car a decade later as seen in yesterday’s posting.
July 17, 2017
ME109 successor
Bubble Trouble – this bright red three-wheeler beamed at me by the side of the road today. I had to screech to a stop, park nearby and get some snaps. It’s a Messerschmitt car KR200 or Kabinenroller. Not being allowed to manufacture aircraft after WW2 these were Designed by Fritz Fend with Willy Messerschmitt only putting his name on them. 40,000 were made between 1954 and 1965. The streamlined appearance with fuselage inspired body gives it a futuristic look even today. Flying cars anyone?
July 16, 2017
Hoofer
Wet Roads – tried to get a short ride in this morning but unforecast rains dampened procedings. So we had a coffee at Bob’s Pantry in Braeside. The new blacktop roads aren’t too goo in wet weather – not like the grippy UK roads which are constructed and surfaced for the more common damp conditions. Nevertheless a good chat over a cuppa is good too. Here Dean kicks over his Bonnie.
July 15, 2017
Custard Pie
They say you should stare at something yellow for 30 seconds every morning to start your day off on a positive note. Well here’s a modern Royal Enfield parked in downtown Chicago. Over easy I’d say.
July 14, 2017
Kickstarter
Weekend Kicks – hope this lass puts her weight into it. Those sixties Bonnie’s need a hefty hoof to turn the engine over. But with practiced technique and deft aplomb it’ll fire up. Nice photo.
July 13, 2017
The Part of Sums
Knolling: a Norton motorcycle in pieces. Laid out components and complete. Assembly required…
July 12, 2017
Tempera on Board
Stop – A single rider stands at an anonymous stop light in an off-color rural America. A grey sky holds the promise of rain yet the sun shines down on the motorcyclist. It’s one of Andrew Wyeth’s pieces from a decades long career of creating raw American art. It is stripped away and emotional imagery. We saw his home and studio last week in Brandywine PA. Today would have been his 100th birthday.
July 11, 2017
Full Circle
Back Home – we finished our road trip with a couple of stops in mid Ohio then a zoom back west to Chicago. Picked the dog up from his carer then home to the talkative cat. Plenty of fun Americana seen on the venture. It’s a big country and so much to see across its wide miles. We weren’t as adventurous as this Norton powered couple; but that looks like one of the many scenes we saw on our travels.
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