Stayton-Jordan Covered Bridge

I took quite a few pictures of the Stayton-Jordan covered bridge in Marion County on Tuesday as well as several at the park where it rests.

I thought I'd share.

(Oh, and more pictures of bikes too)

This bridge is also known as the Salem Power Canal covered bridge.  

(Photo by Troubadour)

(Photo by Troubadour)

The bridge has quite a history , to learn more click this ----> LINK.

The bridge is located in a beautiful park setting.  When standing in the middle of the road you can look one way to this view:

(Someone must be irrigating the park - such nice green grass)

And look the other way towards the bridge.

While Troubadour was setting up the tripod for the kissing montage I wandered a bit and took some photos of the park and it's inhabitants.

(Majestic trees and a lonely bench)

( There were a lot of old growth trees in the park)

(View out the side of the bridge)

(Another view from the bridge)

(Over the bridge looking across into the park)

(There were about a dozen or more Mallard ducks swimming around)

(You can just barely see the bikes parked at the other end of the bridge)

(Stayton-Jordan covered bridge)

(Lucy relaxing in the shade)

From here we saddled up and meandered our way west across the Willamette Valley towards Corvallis and home. 

- Au Revoir

"With the past I have nothing to do; nor with the future.  I live now." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Playing Hooky From Work Ride

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.

(Larwood covered bridge)

(Hoffman covered bridge)

(Troubadour setting up the tripod)

(View from the Hoffman bridge, note the low water level)

(Gilkey covered bridge)

(Max looks so tiny when parked by Lucy)

(Graffiti on the neighboring railroad bridge made me think of GypsyBlood over at VroomCrunchSigh)

(The surrounding fields are so dry after harvest)

(Photographing the photographer)

(View from our lunch spot under the Gilkey bridge)

(Hannah covered bridge)

(View from the Hannah bridge)

(Shimanek covered bridge)

(When I saw my shadow I thought of Bobskoot and waved to say hello - Hello Bob)

(Who's that guy.......)

(Trusty steeds basking in the sunshine)

(Yours truly trying for a self portrait)

(Stayton-Jordan covered bridge)

(View from the Stayton-Jordan bridge - I couldn't resist because of the jet streams)

(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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Sunday Ride to Salem

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In June my brother changed careers.  After working for Harley Davidson for 20 years he's joined the ranks of State employees and began working for the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles).  He has undergone several weeks of training both in Beaverton and in Salem. 

He lives  about 2.5 hours to the southwest of us on the Oregon Coast and for the last two weeks has been in Salem.  They didn't want him to go home for the weekend in between so his wife joined him on her days off.  Since Salem is just under an hour northeast of our house we all agreed we should get together and do lunch.

A plan was hatched and we were to meet at the India Palace in Salem around 12:30 on Sunday afternoon.

The day dawned bright and sunny and temperatures were forecast for the 86˚F (30˚C) by the end of the day.  It sounded like a good excuse for a motorcycle ride.

We were able to take one of our favorite twisty roads and the ride up was beautiful and we got to try out the new Sena radios. We even found parking in downtown with no issues.  I managed a few pictures of the bikes.  Not great but the sun was so bright and with the time of day there were a lot of shadows.

(Troubadour and the trusty steeds)

(Max shining in the sun)

(Max with a bit of Liberty Street in Salem, OR)

We walked around the corner to the restaurant and waited for our dining companions.  They arrived soon enough and we all headed towards the buffet.  It was not a great selection compared to the Evergreen Restaurant in Corvallis and Eugene and the food was quite bland, but at least the company was good.  After eating we visited until they closed the restaurant at 3:00 (they close between lunch and dinner).  We decided to move the party two doors down to Starbucks.

We all ordered iced drinks and sat outside enjoying the summer weather.  Soon enough a Starbucks employee came out and said they closed at 4:00 pm and needed to bring in their patio tables and chairs.  Really?  A Starbucks that closes at 4:00 pm?  Must be because we were in the downtown district.

We moved to the sidewalk and chuckled about not only closing down the restaurant, but a Starbucks too.  We chatted a bit more and said our goodbyes.  It was a great visit but it was time to point the bikes towards home.

The ride home was a little slower since we were stuck behind traffic on the twisty bits.  A PT Cruiser with an out of State license plate did not know what curves were and thought they needed to drive below the posted speed limit.  We promptly dispatched them at the first opportunity and went home.  It was a mellow ride and we even got the wave from an Officer on a BMW Police bike.

Our weather has cooled a bit.  Our daily low temperatures are in the low 40's in the morning, but we are still getting up to the high 70's and low 80's in the afternoons.  Nothing to complain about and it is great for riding.

I hope everyone else is getting in some last of Summer riding, or if you are on the flip side of the equator, late Winter/early Spring riding.

- Au Revoir

" Family life is a bit like runny peach pie - not perfect but who's complaining?" - Robert Brault

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Beau Needs to Go

Yes, that is right.  After three months on consignment we went down to the Triumph shop yesterday and brought Beau home.

We will try and sell it privately since we can ask a lower price without factoring in a commission.  Rod, the owner of the shop, let us know that it was a slow summer selling used bikes, but he did great selling new.  He chocked it up to a better economy and people being more comfortable purchasing new bikes even if they needed to finance their purchase.

A double edge sword me thinks.  I am glad that the economy has picked up, but I wish someone would buy the darn Bonneville.

So, to make it look more authentic, this afternoon we removed the saddle bags, chrome side covers and sissy bar and grab rail kits.  They can all be sold on eBay and now Beau looks more like a Bonneville and less like the cruiser the previous owner tried to make it. We did leave on the chrome bar end mirrors and chrome cam covers since we don't have the stock mirrors and putting the stock cam covers on is just too much work.

Troubadour took these pictures in front of the yard this afternoon for advertising purposes and I thought I'd share.

(Beau basking in the sun)

(Oooooh shiny)

(I can't tell which one is the good side - I like them both)

- Au Revoir

" Do you know the difference between education and experience?  Education is what you get when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't." - Pete Seeger

Moto-Blogger Food Porn Humor

I saw the following picture come up on Facebook and I had to laugh as it made me think of all the motor bloggers out there who post food porn pictures. 

I am as guilty of this as the next person and to prove it I shall share a picture of my lunch from Native Foods Cafe in Bridgeport Village.  SpartanBabe and I went there after our 5k on Saturday.

(Super Italian "Meatball" Sub with dill potato salad - Native Foods Cafe)

I have been to Native Foods a few times before, but this was SpartanBabe's first time.  I think she liked it too.  

The Super Italian Meatball Sub is described as follows:  Native Sausage Seitan meatballs, marinara sauce, caramelized onions, roasted sweet peppers, pumpkin seed pesto, ranch dressing and Native Parmesan on a warm grilled baguette.  

It was so good.  Anything I have tried is great there.  If you find yourself near a Native Foods Cafe, do your taste buds a favor and give it a try.

Oh, and don't forget to take a picture.

- Au Revoir

"The belly rules the mind." - Spanish Proverb
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LeMay - America's Car Museum

August 25th, while we were waiting for Sonja and Roland to arrive in Tacoma we thought we'd pay our entry fee into the Ace Cafe Summer Shakedown, thereby acquiring the coveted wrist band allowing us entrance into the LeMay America's Car Museum.

The LeMay is a recent addition to Tacoma having only opened it's doors on June 2, 2012. For some interesting information regarding Harold LeMay and the museum click the link here ----> LINK.

We had about two hours before we needed to meet them for lunch so it gave us ample opportunity to wander.

(LeMay America's Car Museum - Tacoma, WA)

(1963 Corvette Sting Ray)

(1953 Citroen 2CV)

(1956 Messerschmitt - KR200)

( A different view of the 1956 Messerschmitt)

(1965 AMC Rambler Marlin)

(AMC Rambler Marlin)

(1906 Cadillac Model M, Tulip Tourer)

(1906 Cadillac Model M - 1 cylinder, 10 hp, 98.2 Cubic inches)

(They had some bikes too - 1956 BSA Goldstar Clubman)

And I took some artsy photos:

And back to the cars and bikes........

(1922 Ford - love the Horseless carriage license plate)

(1926 Oldsmobile Holden 30D)

(1951 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe)

(AJS motorcycle, not sure of the year or model)

(1960 Lambretta Series II - L150 Special)

(Derby Express Greyhound Scooter, 1 cyl, 50 cc)

(Oldsmobile Curved Dash circa 1905-ish)

(1919 Stanley Steamer, 20 hp, direct drive set up)

(edit - 1911 battery powered Baker Electric - thanks Richard)

Wilma..........

(1994 Flintmobile George Barris Kustom)

(1930 Duesenburg Model J)

(1930 Rolls Royce Town car, sold new for $19,965 in 1930)

The Speed Zone had great wallpaper to make it look like the cars were moving really fast when taking photos.

(1948 Kurtis Agajanian - achieved pole position at the 1950 Indy 500)

(1938 Gulf-Miller, Gulf Oil commissioned Harry Miller to build this car)

(1931 Cummins Diesel Special.  Utilizing a modified Duesenberg car chassis a Cummins 360 cu in 4 cylinder engine was installed.  Most known for finishing the race distance on one tank of fuel and in 13th place with Dave Evans driving in 1931)

These two were kept under glass:

(Pesaro Motobi - 125 cc - I think)

(1967 Norton Atlas, 740 cc)

I think that is most of the pictures we took inside the museum.  I believe Troubadour took a few of the British car exhibit that I will post up one day if he decides not to do a follow-up post.

When we woke Sunday morning the view from our hotel window was of the LeMay.  

(Apparently a Corvette show was happening on Sunday)
(Notice the motorcycles lining up on the upper lot for their Sunday ride)

I hope you enjoyed this little tour through the LeMay America's Car Museum.  In my humble opinion, it is well worth the $14 admission price if you ever find yourself in Tacoma, Washington.

- Au Revoir

" I know a lot about cars man.  I can look at a car's headlight and tell you exactly which way it's coming." - Mitch Hedberg
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