Airfix or Bust!

B.S.A. Scaled – just finished this little Tamiya BSA M20 model kit. First one I’ve built for thirty odd years. 1:35 scale with darned small waterslide transfers. I have the rider and bike in courier colors but this would have been the model my grandfather rode across North Africa during WW2. Next throwback hobby: balsa Spitfire!

Here’s one I made earlier

Get Down Shep! – Part of my youth was a biweekly watching of the children’s BBC show Blue Peter. Where the presenters got up to all sorts of studio or outdoors hi-jinx. One of the most popular was John Noakes who was on the show for a record 12 years. He Was never without his sidekick , border collie, Shep. Sadly John passed away yesterday at the age of 83. Here’s screenshots of his 1980’s show Go with Noakes where he tried his hand at trials riding across the grassy moors of the Isle of Man. 

Food Mart

Ed & Erv’s – just shuttered up in the last couple of years this local Chicago convenience store has a timeless mid-20th Century vibe going on. So when I saw this Harley Davidson standing lazily outside I had to get a photo. A hint of vintage filter to sharpen the shadows and an evocative scene is created.

Hoop Dreams

Wheels Shadow – another snap from yesterday’s ride. Atmospheric blur of speed along a leaf dappled road. 

Green Sunlit Roads

Woodland Light – terrific weather today for a more than decent ride. Kept going up Old Green Bay Road into Wisconsin where some lovely back roads are found. The recent cool and wet weather has greened everything up to a verdant lushness. Cut grass smells hint an the coming heat of summer.

Sunset Strip

Two by Two – bunch of Moto lassies take to a warm dusky evening on their shiny bikes. A red hot Thruxton takes the lead. Weekend again: so more two-wheeled fun awaits.

Mostly Harmless

Towel Day – like the typical journey on a motorcycle; roving intergalactic travel, or even just getting through day to day life, the trip can meander quite wanderingly with little regard to the one traveling. Sometimes you just need to pack your towel, possess the all knowledgeable Hitchhiker ‘s Guide to the Galaxy, and perhaps slip a Babelfish in your ear, and head out into the wide yonder. You never know where it might take you.. indeed you may be pleasantly surprised! Towel Day is celebrated on 25th May, two weeks after the passing of Douglas Adams in 2001.

Kool

Aped Cub – Well; if you must. Forest green Tiger with hi-rise bars being hustled ’round some rustic park setting. Burgundy outfit, complete with stirrupped legs, add to the jolly nature of this period photograph. “Come in number five two seven, your time is up!”

Let’s raise an eyebrow

Bond, James Bond. Sir Roger Moore (1927-2017) . Known around the globe as Ian Fleming’s spy he played that role for 7 films. As well as the cars and ladies he was also seen occasionally on two wheels. Other dashing roles he portrayed nincluded Ivanhoe, Beau Maverick, Simon Templar, and one of the Persuaders (the other being Tony Curtis). 

GP Champ

The Kentucky Kid – Sad news in the motorcycling world today: racing champ Nicky Hayden died of his juried sustained from a cycling accident in Italy. He had currently been part of the World Superbike Championship. As an up and coming young racer he won the Moto GP in 2006 using his eminent talent as a teammate to Valentino Rossi with Repsol Honda. RIP 

Where two roads meet

Highway 41 & Route 21 – Mid ride was held at The Point roadside diner. Skillet plate of eggs, sausage links, hash browns and a couple of pancakes, all washed down with coffee. Mostly overcast with the odd patch of blue sky. Bikes running well for a fine Sunday afternoon trip.

Oil & Ink

Selfie Sketch – trying out a new brush tipped drawing pen- here’s the first result. Based on a selfie view sitting astride the Bonnie. Not quite Jack Kirby but not bad for a 10 minute scribble.

Old Boot

Lasses on the Lanes – Hip shoe designer Lynsey Hand and her pillion pal zooming around on her 1959 Triumph T100. Photography by Nick Clements

Aloft

Air – like some Japanese watercolor from the Edo  Period 江戸時代 this airborne Triumph soars across the tinted page in a blurry motion. Touched by the glisten of a desert sun the lazily brushed lines offer the glimpse of the briefest of moments between the land and the sky. Superb artwork by HAMMeRED.

Leap Week

Midweek Madness – Hump-Day always needs a healthy dose of throttle as well as a whiff of confidence to launch over that Wednesday rise. This bug-eyed lime green Triumph Speed Triple is the perfect vehicle to head skyward and land somewhere in the vicinity of 5.30pm Friday…