08-AUG-2010
Day 220 - Arrangement
(951/365)
I came back home by way of LL Bean this afternoon. I was a little rushed to get to Bean so I could get home at a reasonable hour. I bypassed many photo ops, including this one. I was about a 1/2 mile down the road when I decided to turn back to see if I could tip toe the Strom through the Tulips. It wasn't until much later that I realized there were no Tulips, nor did any 'tipping' actually take place (this is a good thing).
This is Route 4 in the background on a Sunday afternoon. I timed my shots to ensure there were no moving vehicles in the background (there were a lot of vehicles too). I did notice a few bikers slowing down to see what the guy in the bright orange suit was doing in the flowers beside his bike.
Note to self, I really need to get some decals back on the bike, the naked look doesn't befit it.
07-AUG-2010
Day 219 - Fox Eyes
(950/365)
Fox was letting me know he wanted out this evening as I grabbed my camera. I've had my face in my work laptop pretty much all day, trying to catch up for lost time on the "Do more with less" multiple projects. Fox's eyes pretty much reflect how I feel right now. I need to do something that is mindless now.
06-AUG-2010
Day 218 - Baseball Kid
(949/365)
Our company took us out to the ballgame tonight. We went up to Hadlock Field to watch the Richmond Flying Squirrels kick the Portland Sea Dogs butt. My son brought his glove and almost left it in the car (I talked him out of it). We were along the 1st base line, slightly in the outfield. A foul ball ripped down the line and got caught up in the tarp, my son helped the Sea Dog's player find the ball (there was a moment of confusion on the player's side) as a reward, I watched this guy carefully place the ball over the fence in a sea of kids & gloves, into my son's glove. My son was so happy after that.
After the game, he waited by the fence for an autograph, all but one player tried to ignore the crowd, he got Nate Spears' autograph. Nate Spears is the Second Baseman. Nate went 3 for 5 tonight, I believe he even led off the night with a double. This guy is a class act in my son's book, that's for sure.
05-AUG-2010
Day 217 - Staring intently
(948/365)
I haven't done any KC photos for a little bit (enjoying the open road too much ;-). This evening she was all over the place (not that this is any different from any other evening). I didn't think I'd ever get a decent shot until I got down on the ground and kind of waited. I started kicking my feet and that got her attention, she perked right up and checked out the source of the noise which made for a great photo op.
04-AUG-2010
Day 216 - Duck strong
(947/365)
Ducky is now a year old (to me) and has seen some serious motorcycle miles (well has seen the back of them at least). He was able to remain on the rack with the tent and my Kermit chair with no problems. Prudence should have dictated that I remove him to allow the gear to fit better, but screw that.
03-AUG-2010
Day 215 - Lunch in Greenville
(946/365)
We were making good time, so I took a gamble on Route 6/15 into Greenville for lunch. The road is much better than it was the last time I rode it, which was on my Beemer (RT). The stretch between Rockwood and Greenville did leave a lot to be desired though. Moosehead lake is to the left, out of frame. We had a couple of slices of pizza, while I was eating "Bob from Topsham" came by and inspected my Strom. Turns out he has an '02 (Blue) DL1000. We compared stories for a while, I think we talked for about a 1/2 hour. Met lots of great people on this trip. Hopefully Bob will be a Stromtrooper soon and I can continue my chat with him.
02-AUG-2010
Day 214 - Old Quebec
(945/365)
We walked around the city, beside the Citidel and found some beautiful views. I like the lighting in this one.
01-AUG-2010
Day 213 - Montreal Sunset
(944/365)
Had we not rented the Biki bikes, we'd have missed this scene. It was one thing to walk around in downtown and old Montreal, it was another to finish the evening off on the bikes, getting to see a view that is not possible from within the city. I actually took a number of photos, and shot a pano. I shot the pano on the LX3 though and the exposure shifted between shots so I am not sure the finished product will look all that hot.
31-JUL-2010
Day 212 - Campsite Mirabel QC
(943/365)
We arrived at the National Parc d'oka only to find it full (common theme with us) even though I checked beforehand and there were plenty of open sites. They helped us find another campground in Mirabel. We've camped a lot of campgrounds, I've been camping since I was about 3 (so almost 40 years) and this had to be the most un-tent-friendly campground I've ever seen. The Mirabel CG is a large field stuffed with seasonal campers (people who most likely are escaping the city and feel ok in closed places). Anyway all the facilities are on one side of a cesspool, er pond, the tent sites are on the other. You have to walk almost a 1/2 mile to the showers and real bathrooms (for say, brushing teeth). I think the tenting area was an afterthought. Anyway we made the best of it. The picnic table was a conversation item, it was all of three feet wide, very cute.
30-JUL-2010
Day 211 - Ready to go
(942/365)
Geared up, the bike is fully loaded here. In the white compactor bags are our sleeping bags and pads (on the side cases), along with our tent (LL Bean Mountain Air 2) and my Kermit chair strapped to the top of the Givi Top Case.
This is the only photo from this day. We arrived so late that there was no time for photos. We were supposed to stay at Russell Pond in the White Mountains, first we got mis-routed by our GPS (Saved by two older ladies along a very long stretch of dirt road at 9:30 at night to tell us the bridge ahead had been washed out since the 1900's and that others do it all the time - get misrouted that is). Once we found the campground, it was full so we had to back track a 1/2 hour to Campton. We were in the tent at about 11:30 and sleeping shortly after.
29-JUL-2010
Day 210 - Oil Change
(941/365)
I've not had a whole lotta spare time this week, I was able to hit Wal-Mart before work and pick up a gallon of much needed oil. I'm draining it right now in time for our tour which starts tomorrow evening. If memory serves me correctly, I changed the oil the night before my younger daughter & I started our tour last year. For some odd reason, this is only my third oil change this year. I must be slipping.
28-JUL-2010
Day 209 - Packing
(940/365)
Laying out the gear for the 4 day motorcycle tour to Montreal, Quebec City, and back. We will be camping (in the tent on the right, an LL Bean Mountain Lite 2) for the first two nights then staying in nice hotels c/o priceline.com.