Okay, it was pointed out to me by Troubadour that it isn't really playing hooky from work if your boss 'likes' your Facebook status in which you announce you are playing hooky from work to go for a motorcycle ride.
My boss was scheduled to have some minor neck surgery yesterday and he will not be back in the office until next Wednesday so I get to set my own hours for the next week.
What to do????? First order of business was to take a day off work and go play on the bikes in the crisp fall sunshine. I packed us a picnic lunch of sandwiches stuffed with Tofurky, vegan cream cheese, avocado, and spicy sprouts doused with jalapeno sauce along with a container of home brewed iced tea and we set off about 11:30 am.
Troubadour has already posted up about the covered kissing bridges. While he was busy setting up the tripod I was taking pictures of the bikes and surrounding scenery.
Here are some of the pictures.
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| (Larwood covered bridge) |
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| (Hoffman covered bridge) |
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| (Troubadour setting up the tripod) |
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| (View from the Hoffman bridge, note the low water level) |
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| (Gilkey covered bridge) |
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| (Max looks so tiny when parked by Lucy) |
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| (Graffiti on the neighboring railroad bridge made me think of GypsyBlood over at VroomCrunchSigh) |
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| (The surrounding fields are so dry after harvest) |
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| (Photographing the photographer) |
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| (View from our lunch spot under the Gilkey bridge) |
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| (Hannah covered bridge) |
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| (View from the Hannah bridge) |
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| (Shimanek covered bridge) |
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| (When I saw my shadow I thought of Bobskoot and waved to say hello - Hello Bob) |
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| (Who's that guy.......) |
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| (Trusty steeds basking in the sunshine) |
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| (Yours truly trying for a self portrait) |
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| (Stayton-Jordan covered bridge) |
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| (View from the Stayton-Jordan bridge - I couldn't resist because of the jet streams) |
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| (Stayton-Jordan bridge from a different angle) |
I have a few more random pictures taken yesterday but I will save those for a follow-up post.
-Au Revoir
"A long marriage is two people trying to dance a duet and two solos at the same time." - Ann Taylor Fleming
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What a perfect day to play "hooky!" Love those bridges!
ReplyDeleteIt was perfect weather. We couldn't resist.
DeleteIt looks like you had a beautiful day to play hooky and I like the bridge pictures as well as the self portrait.
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard. It was nice to get out on the bikes, just the two of us.
DeleteAlways enjoy covered bridge pictures. I only know of one left around here.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the story of the Stayton-Jorden bridge, was the road diverted somewhere and they kept the bridge for historic value? Looks like I can see horses & Surries clopping across the old floor, young lovers stealing kisses while out of eyeshot of the parents.
At one time there were over 400 covered bridges in Oregon and I think now we have around 50.
DeleteThe Stayton Jordan bridge was built in 1937 in Jordan in Linn County and moved and stored in Stayton in 1985. In 1986 the marine corps agreed to help rebuild it and the park location in Stayton was chosen. It was the first full sized covered bridge in Oregon to be dismantled and moved. It burned down in 1994 due to faulty Christmas lights and had to be rebuilt again.
It is set in a beautiful park. I have more pics I'll post up later.
Loved the two posts from you guys. I had to look up the history of kissing bridges as we don't have them in this part of the world and it's fascinating!! Looks from Brad's photos that you used them for the best possible reason and I will petition our Highways Dept to build some round these parts :-).
ReplyDeleteNikos' comments about bike sheds took me back. The back of the school bicycle sheds in the UK was where all manner of illicit activities took place. We thought we were being clever but of course, it was the first place which the duty teachers headed for!
We did make use of them. Of course it was more fun without the helmets on. Do you think that is why the self timer on the camera was 'glitching', so that we had to try a few times?
DeleteWe didn't grow up with bike sheds at school, they got to sit out in the rain and snow.
I almost didn't read this because of the title. I'm jealous!! I so neeeeddd a hooky day. I'm really glad you took it and the weather was perfect and the theme was great. BUT...I'm also expecting a picture of you kissing in front of the bridges. Hehe
ReplyDeleteI thought everyone would have had enough of the kissing pictures after reading Troubadour's blog. He posted pics of us kissing at each bridge. Head over there for a peek. I linked it in my post above, the word posted highlighted in orange.
DeleteHope you get to play hooky soon.
See what happens when I get behind and read in alphabetical order?? Hehe. You are correct. Might have been overkill if you posted too. But it definitely was a great day out.
DeleteI was hoping to play half day hooky tomorrow. The cost would have been working tonight. But the plans got squashed. Bummer. Mans I have to work Saturday night. So it even messes up my weekend and NO hooky!! Boohoo.
I didn't want to overload people with kissing pictures, lol. Never thought about reading in alphabetical order, lol.
DeleteBummer you didn't get a half day off and you have to work Saturday. Ice blah. Hope they make it up to you.
What a beautiful summer day! One of those days you never want to end. This makes up for that late spring you had.
ReplyDeleteWhere are those hills in that field photo?
Lovely photos. Thanks for the ride.
It was a great day. I was so lost on the East side of I-5 I had to ask Brad which mountains those were. He says they are the coastal range and the tallest is probably Mary's Peak.
DeleteA nice way to spend one of these beautiful fall days. Much better than work. I approve! The weather gods (or whatever) have been generous. A picnic lunch trumps lunch at a restaurant most any day!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you two were able to stop cavorting long enough to get some lovely pics of the local bridges and scenery. :) Nice series of images.
Thanks Kari, I agree, much better than work and we'd much rather have a picnic under a nice quiet bridge than eat in a restaurant too.
DeleteYou certainly made the best possible choice that day, great weather, blue skies, kissing on covered bridges. What's not to love.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are so lovely that I have a hard time picking a favourite. Thanks so much for sharing this glorious day with us.
I think we managed to pick the nicest day of the week. No complaints here.
DeleteYou are welcome Sonja, and thank you for enjoying the pictures.
Man, I never get to play hooky!
ReplyDeleteI see Geoff has already posted that we don't have covered bridges over here - well I think I'd better get out there and have a wee check...
I get to play hooky quite a bit but usually just stayed home and did housework and such since hubby would be working. I am taking advantage of his down time so we can hang out together for a bit since we never take a vacation.
DeleteLove the pics, you sure do have a lot of those bridges in your area. Just lucky you two kept your cloths on other wise the bridge may have caught on fire from all that heat.
ReplyDeleteWe really do have a lot of the bridges nearby, not sure why as the eastern part of the state has a lot more snow than we ever get. I am sure all the passers by were happy we kept ATGATT especially the people in the park.
DeleteI see you are making good choices! Looks fabulous - wonderful pictures. I may be coming to the end of riding for the season. Getting rather cold here in Minnesota. Hoping hubby and I can get a few mid-day runs in soon!
ReplyDeleteHow could I work on a nice sunny day while the boss wasn't there. I just couldn't do it.
DeleteHopefully you get some more rides in before the really cold weather hits. Come on sunshine.......
Trobairitz:
ReplyDeleteI've never heard the term "Kissing Bridges" until now. I only saw two covered bridges on my travels last July but being alone I would have to find a "kissing" partner . . .
I love the; shadow photo, the self portrait, the bridges, the bikes, the photographer, actually I like them all. I wished I could set my own hours and play hooky too. It's hard to look out the work window and see the sun, as my hours are dictated to me
it was good you managed a great day together. Quality time is hard to come by and we all get caught up in our daily routines. We also had a great few days in your area showing Mrs Skoot the places I ride when she is not with me. It's sort of having to duplicate my rides just to show her where I have been when travelling on my bike. You are so lucky that you can both ride together
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube
I didn't know they were kissing bridges until Monday night when he was looking up the locations on the Internet. We learned something and got to knock helmets too.
DeleteMakes me happy sad. I miss Bella terribly and am so happy you two are oot and aboot! Keep it up - it really isn't hooky is your boss likes it - it is sanctioned!
ReplyDeleteDidn't mean to make you sad. Any idea how long before you and Bella are well enough to ride again? I hear she went to Rod's to assess the damage and the doctor says your fingers are on the mend.
DeleteThere is no better day than a day when you're playing hookie (and getting a little kissing action as well.) What fun. Great pics.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great day. It had been a long time since we just took off for a day of riding together.
DeleteFab pics. I really rate the big red Trumpet. Chief observer in my club has the new Adventurer - nice piece of work. I have an interesting tale about my test ride on a Tiger a few years ago. Will post up over at my place soon.
ReplyDeleteBrad really enjoys his Tiger too. He has had it for 2 years now and put about 20,000 miles on it. I look forward to your tiger report.
DeleteNice little post!
ReplyDeleteI borrowed a part of it and plan to post a recent ride where I took time off from the "salt mines" to do some local riding with a friend.
Thanks!
Here's my blog entry: http://ineverfinishanyth.blogspot.com/2012/09/playing-hooky-from-work-to-ride-your.html
Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYes i think we all like to take a day off and enjoy the sunshine on two wheels. I was just lucky enough to take advantage of the opportunity.
Look at what someone did to our little bit of history...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Spencerville-Covered-Bridge-Damaged-171390411.html
Wow, that poor bridge, so sad. That is a lot of damage. I know around here there are signs with weight and size limits near the covered bridges and luckily a truck driver hasn't pressed their luck going over them. Damn GPS units don't account for those I guess. I hope they are able to repair that bridge.
DeleteIt does look like a fabulous, crisp Fall day. This is my favorite season by far. I am so looking forward to cool weather. And I have to agree that "hooky" probably doesn't fit when the boss "likes" your status!
ReplyDeleteIt was a fabulous day. I had no complaints about the weather or the company.
DeleteIt sure was nice to get out for a mid-week ride. Although there was more traffic than I anticipated.