1977 Bonneville Silver Jubilee

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A big thank you to everyone who participated in the Spring Challenge.  

It was great to see all of the pictures.

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When bored, I sometimes look at Craigslist to see what kinds of motorcycles people are selling.  It is not that I am in the market for anything, but more of a curious fascination for what is out there and what people are charging for their treasures on two wheels. Every once in a while I run across something that I would buy in a heartbeat provided I had a money tree.  This would be one of them. 

The following pictures and write up were taken directly from the Craigslist Ad found in the Seattle area.  I started this post back in February, but needed to wait until after the #29in29 to post it.  The ad has since been deleted by the author.

1977 Triumph Bonneville Silver Jubilee $6,800 - (Kent, WA)

"Here is an excellent example of the limited edition Triumph Bonneville that was produced in 1977 to commemorate and celebrate the Queen of England's 25 years on the throne. It's not like the Queen ever rode a motorcycle or anything, but that didn't slow anyone down trying to use that connection to sell products... This particular model was based on the twin carb Bonneville, the top of the line at the time, with the 750cc engine coupled to a 5 speed transmission with a front & rear disc brake. It has special paint and badges on the side covers and fuel tank, and red line tires with no cracks or checks that were proprietary to the model, and no longer available. The steering lock and key are there also. The bike was bought from the original owner, and the clear California title is still in his name. The odometer shows 1672 original miles, and the matching engine and frame numbers combine with the correctness of all the fittings and accessories to show that this is an unmolested original."

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One of the gentlemen that comes to coffee is a bit of a collector and when I mentioned this bike to him he stated that if sold at auction, it would probably go for at least double what this seller is asking.  I don't know if that is accurate but you never know with limited edition items.

If I had it, I don't think I'd sell it, I think it would be a keeper.

- Au Revoir

" In every man's heart there is a secret nerve that answers to the vibrations of beauty." - Christopher Morley

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Patiently Waiting For Spring Challenge

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The coast is shut down due to snow and we had big flakes falling on us during our morning commute, although the snow didn't stick here in Corvallis.

As the rain falls I am waiting not so patiently for Spring.

I am bored at work this morning so I turned on Photo Booth on the iMac and took a few photos.  

I know most computers and/or monitors now have built in web cams, so for those that do, I challenge you to take a few self portraits on the web cam and put them on your blog.  Something to help us on the wet West Coast wait for the rains to pass.  

If you do not have a web cam feel free to take a picture of yourself sitting at your computer or laptop using the self-timer on your digital camera or have a friend or family member take a picture.  No one gets left out.

What follows are my two contributions to get the challenge started.

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(C'est Moi - using color pencil sketch in Photo Booth)

(C'est Moi - another colored pencil sketch on Photo Booth)

Anyone up for a fun but simple challenge?

Edit - the following have been up for the challenge, stop by and say hello 

(click the name for a link to their blogs)

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Living Among Tourists

Wet Coast Scootin

All Things Rogey!

Budman

Bandit Rider

My 2010-2011 Motorcycle Trips

For Love of a Motorbike

G650GS:  There and Back Again

Find Me on the Road
Bluekat's Journeys

Southern Comfort
Richard Machida
Twists and Leanings
Princess Scooterpie
Life on Two Wheels, the Scoot Commute

- Au Revoir

" Computing is not about computers anymore. It is about living." - Nicholas Negroponte

Fairbanks Hall

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As promised in the comments section of my last post, I got a few pictures of Oregon State University's Fairbanks Hall for Martha, aka Tiny Puppetmaster over at Living Among Tourists.  FYI - She has a gem of a site and I suggest you check it out if you haven't seen it.  Her photos are beautiful and she has a great wit.

Yesterday I had some time prior to meeting everyone for Saturday Morning Coffee so I grabbed the camera and jumped in the car.  It was sprinkling and I didn't really want to navigate campus on the bike.

I headed out and turned east on Western Blvd with the intent of turning north on 26th to where it intersects with Jefferson.  Fairbanks Hall is located on the corner of 26th and Jefferson.  Sounds easy right?  Not when campus is involved.

At some point I couldn't go any further north as 26th turned into a one-way heading south.  Doh!  

No problem I thought, I'll just do a little jog over to the West and up a street and loop around and......... dead end.   Doh! 

Frick, frick, frickity,  frick frick.  Bad words were said.  

Alrighty.  Backtrack west again, then north a few more blocks to make a bigger loop as I tried make my way to 26th.  I finally turned into a large parking lot hoping it would cut through to another street.  No such luck.  I parked the car in one of the spots hoping no one needed the Engineering or Student Health Services early on a Saturday morning.  I managed to get less that one block to the east and about a block and a half to the north of the Hall.

I locked the car and headed off at a good pace hoping not to get any kind of parking ticket.

As I got closer I recognized the Women's Building from my walk last weekend and saw how many trees were in front of Fairbanks Hall.  I was focusing on brick buildings last weekend and I think that is why I totally missed this one.

I present to you Fairbanks Hall, built in 1892 as a dormitory for men:

Do I get extra credit if someone I knew rode by on their bike while I was taking the picture?

As I walked closer I got distracted by a squirrel looking to bury a nut.

Back to the Hall.
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I am sure it has changed a little since Martha attend school here. I am thinking the trees and shrubbery have grown.

As I headed back to the car I cut through the Memorial Union Quad.  I'd spotted a tree blooming pink and wanted a picture.

There was another squirrel running around it's trunk, but he was moving too fast to get him in the picture. The wind was gusting, but I managed to get at least one picture of the blossoms in focus.

(Spring is nigh upon us)

- Au Revoir
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" A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn." - Author Unknown
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Sunday Walkabout

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Last Sunday while Troubadour was doing his instructor training I was looking for something to do.  Sunday was supposed to be the nicer of the two days of the weekend. Key phrase - supposed to.  Sunday dawned grey and foggy a little chilly with a wind blowing from the East.

By noon I was bored and decided to walk the three miles to downtown. I figured it was a good excuse to check the mail and work for an hour or so then walk the three miles home.  Good exercise if nothing else.

I put on a warm sweater, stuffed the camera in my pocket, grabbed my keys and gloves and headed off.

The multi-use path that I take leads me to campus and is aptly named Campus Way.  It heads through fields and pastures belonging to Oregon State University.  You pass behind their dairy, as well as the alpaca and llama pens.

A little further and you pass some storage sheds and if you look in the right spot can see old signs like this hanging in the sheds.

This was hanging on the inside of a shed just down from the 'beef barns'.  I wonder if the quality products they were selling were the great students.

I walked through campus and then by Central Park and took a picture of one of the other resident statues.  I bet Richard has a photo of this one too.

(Varmints playing games)

A little further down Madison and I was at City Hall.

(Corvallis City Hall)

My office is in the next block so I stopped by to use the facilities then headed to the post office.  On my way back, I stopped at Starbucks for an iced Doubleshot and then worked for an hour or so.  I headed back out thinking it would take me about 45 minutes to walk home depending on how long I dawdled to take pictures on campus.  I managed to take a few.

The sun was really trying to shine but couldn't break through the clouds.  I always find it fascinating when I can see the outline of the sun through the clouds.

It didn't look like it was going to rain so I wasn't in a hurry.  I stopped to take a few pictures of one of my favorite walkways on lower campus.  It is even better when the trees are leafed out.  Or turning colors in the fall.

(Bench along the path - Education Hall in the background)

From here I made my way West through campus taking pictures of random buildings.  A map of the University campus can be found with this ------> link.

(Benton Hall, built in 1887 & 1888)

(Kearney Hall, fka Apperson Hall, was built in 1899 & 1900)

 

(Shepard Hall, built in 1908)

(Milam Hall, built in 1914 originally for Home Economics)

(The words 'Home Economics' can still be found on Milam Hall)

(Women's Building, built in 1926)

(Close up of Women's Building)

(Weatherford Hall, built in 1928)

 

(Close up of Weatherford Hall)

A brief history of these building and more can be seen by clicking this link <-----. The link also shows some historical photos of when they were built.

I finally made it to the West side of campus and onto the multi use path again.  At the corner where the path starts there is new construction.  This is right beside the sheep barns so I believe it is an arena or something to do with the animals.  Most campus buildings are brick and this one is far from that.

I saw some flowers blooming so I stopped for a picture.  Sorry Bobskoot, no bare feet, just dirty sneakers.

Down by the covered bridge I noticed that someone had stenciled writing on the asphalt  The writing wasn't there the week before. 

This is a popular jogging path for the college kids so I think maybe one of them got creative.

I stopped for a few artsy photos of some seed heads further down.

As I was almost at the end of the path I noticed a flock of birds landing in a tree.  Just a solo tree in the field all by itself.  I had to take one last picture.

I apologize for the length of this post.  I didn't realize I had so many photos I wanted to share.  Although it is heavy with photos, I tried to keep the narrative to a minimum.  Maybe I should have divided it into a few posts.

Have a great weekend everyone.

- Au Revoir

"No city should be too large for a man to walk out of in a morning." - Cyril Connolly

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Who Wants Cupcakes?

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I saw this on a link through Huffington Post on Facebook this afternoon and had to share.

Would you buy cupcakes from an ATM?

This is about the only scenario I can think of...... It's 3 am and the pubs are closed and you are having a late night cupcake craving? No problem with the 24 hour Sprinkles Cupcake ATM.

Would you, could you at 3 am?

Somehow I don't think these are the same delicious cupcakes that Bobskoot was referring to in his recent post, although both may be topped with sprinkles.

- Au Revoir

"Coffee makes it possible to get out of bed, but cupcakes make it worthwhile." - Author Unknown

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Blue Lights, White Clouds & Yellow Daffodils

Have you ever had one of those days on your bike when something so small and mundane makes you feel like the biggest idiot? No? Well, I have.

On February 4th we headed out on the bikes to ride to coffee and then to Costco.  A little ways up the road I noticed a blue light on Max's dash was lit up.  

(Blue Light Special)

A short conversation through the radios with Troubadour went a little like this: 

Me:  "There is a blue light on my dash and I don't think I've seen it lit up before."

Troubadour:  "Pardon"

Me:  "A blue light is lit up on my dash and I don't know why."

Troubadour:  Says as he chuckles:  "Ummm, I think your high beam switch is on."

Me:  "Doh!  That was it."  sigh

Some days I just feel like an ass, lol.  Mind you I don't ride at night, so in the year I've had Max I don't think I've ever had the high beam on. In the car a blue light means the engine is cold.  I wasn't even thinking of the damn headlight.

Troubadour is doing his instructor training this weekend so I rode to coffee solo.  You can be damn sure I checked to see if my high beam switch was off before I left the driveway.

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I came back after coffee and did a few hours of yard clean up.  The day turned out to be beautiful and 56˚F.  A rare treat for this time of year.

Later this afternoon I decided to walk a mile South to Bi-Mart to see if they had some rubber covers for the bottom of the bar stool legs. Last weekend we got the rest of the cork down in all but the spare room and closets (pics in future post).  We have felt pads for the bottoms of the dining chairs, table legs and living room furniture but I forgot to buy the rubber feet for the stools.

I remembered to take the camera and I am glad that I did.  There was blue sky to the East but looking West were gorgeous clouds.  Martha over at Living Among Tourists has given me a new appreciation for looking at the sky.

(Oooooooh)

(Aaaaaah)

On my way back I cut through a field that has a paved walking path. While admiring the clouds again I noticed their reflection in a puddle and couldn't resist another picture.

I meandered the rest of the way home.  Taking my time and enjoying the sun.  When I arrived home I realized something else had been enjoying the sun too - the daffodils were now blooming.

- Au Revoir

" Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life.  The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray." - Lord Byron

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