Seattle - Part 1 - Bikes, Bloggers and Noshing......Oh My.

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This year marks the third year in a row that we have attended the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in Seattle. The show is okay, but we use it as an excuse to get together with fellow bloggers and visit and enjoy each others company.

Historically we would leave super early on Saturday morning and only stay overnight one night. This year we decided to change it up a bit and stay overnight both Friday and Saturday nights.

We took Friday afternoon off work and managed to make it to the hotel about 6 pm.

We checked in and used the iPad to search for a dinner location, yes Google is our friend. We found a place called Bamboo Garden - Vegetarian Cuisine. The reviews online were promising. All vegetable proteins and the only eggs were in the fortune cookies. We walked the 6-8 blocks to the restaurant and were pleasantly surprised. It wasn't fancy but the food was awesome and the staff friendly. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

(view from our window booth)

(Troubadour had the #107 Singapore Style Rice Noodles)
(stir fried thin rice noodles with 'chicken' and vegetables in curry sauce)

(I had the #106 Gourmet Chow Mein - Lo Mein)
(pan fried thin noodles with mixed vegetables, 'sausage' and 'chicken')

From there we needed a walk to allow some time for dinner to digest. We knew we had some time before Bobskoot and Mrs. Skoot arrived at the hotel. We were staying by the Space Needle and decided to wander and take a few pictures.

(Every year they seem to have the same light-ball tree on display)

(and this year an interesting topiary)

We wandered a little more and I took a few more odd pictures.

(approx 20 ft tall metal sculptures painted to look like wood panels)

By the time we arrive back at the hotel Bobskoot had arrived and checked in. He wanted to go down to Pike's Place Market to take some night shots of the neon signs. I managed to take a few with my little Canon point and shoot that didn't turn out too awful.

(Look carefully for Bobskoot hiding in the middle)

(Creative liberties taken with iPhoto)

(somehow the flags were in the wrong place - so wrong)

(when pigs fly......)

We got back to the hotel at midnight, warmed up and headed to bed.

Saturday morning after having breakfast at the hotel we went to the convention center to the show. This is where we met up with Orin and also SonjaM and her hubby.

After chatting for a bit we all entered the show. Everyone kind of went their separate ways to check out the bikes and displays. I don't think I saw Sonja again until we met up for lunch. Here are some random shots taken the morning of the show.

(Troubadour on the 2012 V-Strom 650)

(A bike entered in the custom build off)

(started it's life as a 1968 Honda trail 90 now with a 12 inch frame stretch)

(Troubadour trying on a new Arai)

(new 2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200)

(custom bike by Chris Flechtner, 1965 BSA engine)

(the boys watching Bobskoot on the 2012 Tiger 1050)

(Harley V-Rod entered in the custom bike build off)

(Orin on the 2012 Tiger 1050)

(ummmm not too sure - you tell me)

On that note, I'll stop now before this post gets too long and obnoxious. I'll do the lunchtime food porn, afternoon bike pictures and Sunday dim sum/food porn in a follow-up post.

- Au Revoir

"If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone. A man should keep his friendships in constant repair." ~ Samuel Johnson

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Un, Deux, Trois, Quatre, Cinq

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Roger over at 'All Things Rogey!' put out a challenge to post up your five favorite photos from 2011.

The rules are as follows:

"Post up your five favorite photos from 2011. Tell us why you like them. It could just be you like the pic or it could be more personal or of great meaning to you. The only rule is you have to be the one who took them, and there must be at least one of you."

So without further ado, I give you my top five photographs taken in 2011:

1.

(First Ride on Max)

I had to post this photo since it was the fist time I got to ride Max. It was a big day for me stepping up from the TU 250. Troubadour surprised me by putting insurance on the America so that I could finally take the new bike out. (his Tiger was visiting a friend for a few weeks and getting some saddlebag racks made). And yes, I cheated right out of the gate, I didn't take the photo.

2.

(Troubadour and I)

Day 2 of my first 500 mile weekend. This three day-two night trip was a big first for me. Lots of twisties and really getting to know the bike and pushing my abilities a bit. (If I set the self-timer on the camera it counts as me taking it right?)

3.

(moto-camping)

I know the picture quality and composition on this photo isn't great but it is important to me because it was my first ever motorcycle camping trip. It was another 500 mile weekend, this time over two days not three. We had a blast going to Crater Lake for the first time and will definitely be doing more moto-camping next year.

4.

(Telegraph Hill - San Francisco)

This picture was taken on our trip to San Francisco to celebrate my 40th birthday in August. For some reason I love the way this picture turned out even with the parking sign in it. To me the colors of the trees against the grey sky combined with the lamp post are very dramatic.

5.

(Triangle Lake Ride)

I know this photo was posted very recently but it is still one of my favorites for the year and was such a great day riding with Troubadour. Chilly fall weather, the changing leaves and riding with hubby. It was just a perfect day.

There are a few more photos I would liked to include, but I limited myself to 5, just as Roger suggested, sigh. I'll save the others for my annual year in review post in a couple weeks.

- Au Revoir

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs." - Ansel Adams
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Caption This.....

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I was surfing the interweb and saw the following picture. I thought it would make a great "caption this" project.

What does this picture say to you?

"Last one to the newty bar buys the first round."

- Au Revoir

"Time's fun when you're having flies." - Kermit the Frog
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How and Why I Got Into Motorbikes....

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Gary over at Flies in Your Teeth put forth a question this week:

"I have read a few motorcycling blogs recently that I haven't seen before. With almost all of them, I was left wondering how the authors of those blogs initially got into biking, and why?............ I would like to know your reasons, so if you want to participate in this, then write something on your own blog about 'How and Why I got into Motorbikes'."

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HOW TROBAIRITZ GOT INTO RIDING MOTORBIKES:

I can sum up how I got into motorbikes in three words:

"It's Troubadour's fault".

All kidding aside, I do have to say he is the reason I started riding. Without his love, support and encouragement I probably would not be riding today. So thank you Troubadour, there is a homemade vegan pumpkin cheesecake cooling in the kitchen with your name on it.

Prior to meeting Troubadour I'd only ever ridden pillion behind my mom. When I was a kid I'd ride behind her on her Honda trail bike. She made a cushion to fit over the luggage rack on the back of the bike for me. I am pretty sure I have posted a pic of her bike before but here it is again.

Later she moved on to a larger Honda and then a Harley Sportster. I only rode on the back of the Harley once (and it broke down mid-ride) and I don't think I was ever on her other Honda.

Somewhere along the way I developed a healthy dose of respect for motorcycles. I don't know if I'd go as far as to say fear, but let's call it respect.

I find it odd that so many moto-bloggers have documented that after they got married they sold their bikes or didn't ride for many years. Odd to me because Troubadour did not own a motorcycle when we met back in 1994. He didn't buy one until after we were married.

I believe that I had such a high level of trust in him that after getting over a bit of hesitancy I enjoyed riding on the back. I learned the proper way to "sit down, shut up, and hold on" and it has served me well for many many years of pillion riding.

Learning to ride a motorcycle had always been a goal for me. It was something that I wanted to do, but again, without Troubadour and his encouragement and patience I don't think I would have ventured it.

We moved to Oregon in January 2001 and in the spring/summer of 2002 I took my written test for my motorcycle learner's permit. We went out to the local high school two-up on his 1976 Kawasaki KZ900. It was there that he taught me the basics. A lot I'd picked up from riding on the back for several years. I knew the controls and their functions. He had me doing circles around the parking lot before too long and I was grinning like crazy especially the first time I shifted into second gear.

(Me and the KZ - sorry it was before ATGATT)

I was apprehensive, but I took the Team Oregon Basic Riders Training Course that fall in the pouring rain. After taking the course on such small, forward control bikes I felt uncomfortable getting back on the KZ. (and by small, I mean for my long legs toilet seats are taller than those bike seats) After those bikes, the KZ felt top heavy and too big, whereas before taking the course I was perfectly comfortable on it. I found this very frustrating.

Through it all Troubadour has repeatedly asked me: "What would you do if you weren't scared?" I chanted this in my helmet during the class and I still repeat it to myself any day that I am trying something new that I am not sure of. (I think I even said it as we were riding around Crater Lake this year.)

The following summer we bought our first house. After 3 years of renovations and landscaping we sold it in 2006 and bought the house we currently own. After a complete bathroom remodel and a complete kitchen remodel (100% of the labor done ourselves) and buying Troubadour his new America, we had some extra funds to look for a used bike for me.

In May 2009, we purchased a used Honda Nighthawk 250 for me. You can read about the bike and see pictures on this link (<--- click link).

And that is how I got into motorbikes. From that day it has only gotten better. It took me a few bikes to find one that suited me and to find my groove, but I love motorcycling and love that instead of staying home or riding on the back all the time I get to ride my own ride. In fact, I think riding my own motorcycle has made me a worse passenger; no handlebar to hang onto, no heated grips, etc.

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WHY I RIDE A MOTORCYCLE: Well, that's easy:

"Life is better with a motorcycle."

Every year we ride a little further and more often, and I still look forward to all the touring we'll do together in the future.

In our case "a couple that rides together stays together."

- Au Revoir

"It takes more love to share a saddle than it does to share a bed." - Author Unknown

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Coffee & Cacti

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We didn't do much for our four days off over Thanksgiving. We aren't big on holidays or celebrating but we do appreciate the days off.

Saturday dawned clear so we decided to ride to coffee. The ladies at the Coffee Culture Annex are always ready with a smile and on Saturday I even got a leaf pattern in my latte foam.

(double tall decaf vanilla soy latte)

(latte with lemon poppy seed scone)

We didn't get out of coffee until after noon and we decided we didn't really feel like riding anywhere. The sun was shining, it was fairly warm and we didn't feel like being wrapped up in so many layers.

We rode home. I made us some lunch, we watched a little local college football and then headed outside at half-time. We figured we'd rake a few leaves, but ended up cutting down our persimmon tree. We've been wanting to do it for the entire 5 years since we bought our house, but were waiting for the laurels we planted under it to grow up. They will help block the view of and from our neighbors 2-story house.

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Later in the afternoon Troubadour noticed our Zygocactus (aka Christmas cactus) was blooming. My mom gave us the little shoot about 18 months ago. The little pot is only 3 inches tall and about 2 inches wide at the top. It didn't bloom last year, just added more leaves. We were surprised to see the color this year.

(Zygo cactus)

(Zygo cactus sitting on a tea tin)

Will be interesting to see if the rest of the buds open.

- Au Revoir

"I bought a decaffeinated coffee table, you can't even see the difference." - Author Unknown

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What do you get.....

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When you cross a motorhome with a motorcycle?

(picture from interweb)

....and what would you call it?

When you cross motor-home with motor-cycle, you get motorhome or motorcycle.

Hmmmm, maybe a motorhomecycle,or would that be a motorcyclehome.

Okay, technically it is a fifth wheel, but it sounded so much better as a motorhome.

- Au Revoir

"Sometimes imagination pounces; mostly it sleeps soundly in the corner, purring." - Terri Guillemets

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