Fog, Cold, and One Other Rider

I'm beginning to think riding in the rain is better than riding in the fog. At least it's warmer...generally. As long as I can keep my socks dry switching from motorcyclist to employee I'm good. My fingers were freezing this morning. They will be freezing again tomorrow morning. Maybe Wednesday and Thursday they'll just be wet.

One other rider today. On a goldwing maybe? I'm not good at identifying bikes. He waved, I waved. So nice to see another rider out on a foggy morning.

Foggy ride. Ok, it's a cheater pic from another day. But this is how it looked today! Too cold to drag out the camera.

Lanterns

Last week when we visited my Mom's place, Ron was attempting to straighten up my Dad's shop. I helped by photographing the day for posterity. I'm thoughtful that way! The lanterns were just a part of the greater accumulation of stuff stored within the shop. I suppose they were from my parents past elk hunting glory days where they spent several weeks in a far corner of Oregon stalking their trophy, and a goodly supply of elk steak.

Window shopping

We succumbed to the draw of the dealership. This is one downside to rainy weekends. Yes, I now know I can go ride in the rain, but I'm not feeling that great today, so what better way to spend the afternoon than to run up to Salem and play with the lonely bikes in the showroom. Apologies for the stock photos. I can't bring myself to take out the camera in the showroom.

This was my second close look at the BMW f650...or G650...with a 650...or was it an 800...I just call them the single and the twin. This one is the twin. I've been told this bike is everything I"m looking for, nimble and fun, but I'm having a hard time getting excited about it.

We made the mistake of not leaving right then and there. I haven't looked at the CBR 600rr. Well, I've looked at it in passing  (oooh, pretty bike), but I haven't been silly enough to actually sit on one. What do I need with an rr bike anyway? It's half the weight and twice the horse power of my Suzi. I almost crashed right there, standing still on the showroom floor. At least it was carpeted.

Of course they have a great deal on a used one...sigh.

Worry not, we didn't bring it home.

Oh and they had that new BMW S1000rr. oooh pretty bike!

photos from Salem Honda website

1525

That's how many miles I rode this past month. I am so jazzed! Sorry...just some gratuitous back patting.

I rode to work three times this week. I drove the car one day. The day I took the car it rained for five minutes. The days I rode the bike it rained solidly the whole time. The upside? Well, apparently my gear is waterproof. Except the gloves. They have been on the drying rack every evening. Might have to rethink those.

Earlier this week (while in a downpour) I saw another rider. I looked at him (or her) and he looked at me. I think we both had that "wow, another rider out in the rain" expression on our faces, not that we could tell through the shields. A shared moment, brief, then gone.

No pics cuz' it was rainin'. :)

Be safe out there...dry weather is coming! Or so they say.

kari

Cabin 13

I spent a day last week at the farm where I grew up. My mom's place now. This is what we call cabin 13. It was a storage shed, then my playhouse when I was a little girl, and later an office for my dad. I guess you could say it's a storage shed again as it's full of rotting junk. I can't go inside because the floor has rotted and fallen through to the ground. Some day soon I think it will be pulled down.

Quartzville Road

It's a sunny, almost no rain, day. That must mean it's time for a ride. I've been wanting to ride Quartzville Road for a while. This is a scouting trip. Later this year I want to ride the whole route to Highway 22. Ron and I take the back roads toward Sweet Home, past Foster Dam and are on our way to Green Peter Dam, the first stop of the day.  Being that riders always take pictures of their bikes on bridges and other scenic spots along their route, we decide to stop for a photo op.

What are you lookin' at, Hon?

Did you know that you aren't supposed to park on a dam? It's a homeland security thing, or so the nice man in the white pickup (with brown lettering on the side) told us. I get in a couple of shots, but I'm not daring enough to take his picture. Besides no fines, tickets, or cavity searches appear to be forth coming, so why press our luck. We are violating national security and all, and the nice man is being, well nice!

 

Me.

  

My ride.

 

My partner in crime.

We park at the end of the dam (as instructed) to get our gratuitous bike pics and glam shots. Then off we go.

Quartzville road is awesome. It's a blast to ride, and it has stunning scenery. This could be a deadly combination. The eyes want to stray to the view...the one with a drop off...don't go where your lookin'.  We didn't take many photos. I didn't want to stop. Some rides are meant to be ridden, not interupted with photo ops.

I did take the time to get one requisite curvy road shot. There were much better scenes of the road, but they were funner to ride than photograph, so this is the one you get.

One more of the bridge because I like the pattern of bolts and railings alongside the road.

And a quick shot of a little waterfall around the base of some trees. Point, shoot and go; I'm antsy to be back on the road.

Being winter the reservoir is low. I hope we get enough snow pack to fill it this spring.

This is my only effort at photography for the day. I tried out the ND filter on a small waterfall. I even had a tripod for the occasion. It was about this time I figured out the camera was set on ISO 800! What the *#*$^@ did I need to have the camera set at 800?? I never use iso 800. Some photographer I am, not checking my settings, lol.

Another glam shot of the suzi and Quartzville creek.

More gratuitous scenery

Since we have the tripod we pose for a self-portrait.

"Did it take the picture yet?"

"Just keep smiling!"

Cheerio!
kari

Fuel Injection - A Picture a Day

I took this photo last winter when Ron had his bike apart. There's something fascinating and photogenic about engines and the assorted parts. With a husband and son both with "projects" I have a plethora of subject matter all around the house. A treasure trove I've barely tapped.

I think this is part of the carburetor...or is the carburetor. Whatever, I just thought it was interesting. An opportunity to play with the camera and play with photoshop, apply curves and contrast and a little sharpening, or maybe a lot. I like the subtle blush of colors, some warm, some cool. I wonder if Ron would mind tearing it apart again, to let me have a go at it with the G11? Probably not. He informed me that any bike I drag home must be fuel injected. Apparently he doesn't care to do this project again neither on his bike nor on another.

This whole post will be rather silly if it turns out this is not a carburetor.