Two Thousand and Ten

We say goodbye to Two Thousand and Nine, goodbye to another year, another decade and we welcome Two Thousand and Ten.



All the newscasts are remembering the doom and gloom, the celebrity deaths and the recession of the past decade. I'd rather recall the fun we had, the friends we've made, the travels and good times.

No long post, no pics, no pomp and circumstance, just quiet reflection, well wishes to all and a simple thank you.



“New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights” ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

Rated R (for Riepe)

Being from small towns with a population of less than 50,000, I thought I was in for a treat going to Seattle for the weekend, but instead I was shocked. I've walked both East Hastings in Vancouver and St. Catherine Street in Montreal at night, but I couldn't believe what I saw in Seattle.

The locals wander around in their underwear, making them half naked.


Shops sell crude t-shirts.


Not to mention the free entertainment offered.


Even Pike Place Market wasn't safe, although tasty.




I can't wait to go back.



in the meantime Cherry Mishmash!!

more of Seattle...

While talking to Bobskoot last weekend, he mentioned a few photography websites, spoke of cameras and patterns then left my to my own device...pun intended.

Here are a few photos I took while out and about Seattle.











Yes, I thought about it.









Not bad for some quick shots with an inexpensive point and shoot but we all have to start somewhere.



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Seattle sights

Seattle in a weekend, a whirlwind tour and glad to be home. We made it to the train station early Saturday morning, leaving our ice covered home to thaw from the previous night of freezing rain. It was difficult to commit to the train back in early October, but we are so glad we did, who'd have thought the weather would be so against us. We had to leave one couple behind as they couldn't make it down their driveway and down the hill on the ice to the level ground of the valley floor. Leaving me, Trobairitz and Rick without adult supervision.
Arriving at the station we ran into a fellow motorcyclist friend going to Indianapolis for a convention for work. We enjoyed her company to Portland where she hopped off to catch the Max to the airport. With a mere 4 hours it wasn't long before we reached our destination and were snapping pics.

Our friend and, unbeknownst to us, tour guide Rick




Arriving in Seattle and walking to the hotel.


Our rooms were ready and we were greeted with warm cookies.


We stayed at the Double Tree Arctic Club Hotel just a couple blocks from the train station and just a few extra steps to the motorcycle show. We spent the afternoon at the show trying on bikes and checking out the vendor schwag.





We met up with the PNWRiders crew for a quick photo and then stood around looking at each other. Without a keyboard and monitor nobody knew how to communicate outside the forum. We did run into Tiko, another forum member from Corvallis, but everyone else kept to themselves.





After a few text messages we found Bobskoot and Mrs. Skoot at the show but I knew he wanted to visit with his friend Chuck and we had bikes to see, so after meeting with Chuck we let them go for dinner and promised to meet for breakfast. I didn't get any pics of us at the show, it wasn't until Sunday morning I was able to get a photo.



Bob and Mrs. Skoot offered to drive us to the train station to drop our bags before heading to the international district for Dim Sum brunch at Jade Garden, another first for us.



I caught Bob procuring blog fodder




I have alot to learn about photography to catch up to Bob's level, but I listened and learned as he enlightened me with his knowledge. Thank you Bob, I am saving my pennies for that next camera.



We finished up breakfast and the Skoots had to get home so they graciously drove us to Pike Place Market and we bid farewell while making plans to meet again in the new year.




It was a pleasure to meet you both and you too Chuck, looking forward to it again.

Stay tuned for Sunday afternoon....

-EDIT: more details on Trobairitz' Tablet



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How low can you go?

It has been chilly around our neck of the woods lately. We have been experiencing an unusual arctic front that is bringing in temperatures well below freezing. The reason why I say chilly and not downright cold is because SonjaM reminded me of what downright cold looks like with her Calgary post. I've been to Calgary in the winter, hell I've been to Edmonton and to Montreal in winter, I know what -40º feels like, snot freezes solid at -40º, I've lost a car to -40º.

So I do appreciate the mild Oregon weather, the recent sunshine is a pleasant change from the cold, wet, rainy season and I admit in the past 9 years I've become acclimated and somewhat pusillanimous. I don't take it for granted that I can ride as much as I do in the winter.

I've been watching the temperature drop and have been enjoying the lack of moisture, however everyday it gets colder and colder to the lowest temperature I think I've ever rode in, 8.2ºF (-13.2ºC) this morning. And to Irondad, as sadistic as it is, the windchill this morning at 60mph was -21ºF.

8.2ºF is my personal best, albeit I did use a heated liner, heated grips and fairing. Unfortunately, due to my lack of attention regarding a battery tender, the Triumph wasn't up for the challenge, although I'm not sure I could have done it without the fairing of the Ninja anyway. A heated visor will be next because if you think a foggy visor is hard to see out of, try it when that fog from your breath freezes. A frosted visor and riding into the morning sunrise makes for a blind motorcyclist.



Tomorrow is expected to start warming up and the rain to return this weekend. What a better time to have rain return than the weekend we head to the motorcycle show in Seattle.

Although, it just wouldn't be Seattle without rain now would it.

See you at the show.


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