Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

Barn of the day. I did 21.5 miles today and have a couple of barn pics. The first is a pretty fancy barn but getting in poor condition. The second one is nicely restored but I didn’t get the greatest picture. It’s on a busy highway and I was pretty far away and zoomed in.
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Just back from a rousing 45 minutes on a hotel exercise bike. I'll spare you all the photos.

I did put air in the old 10 speed from my teenage years, and the 37(?) year old tubes and tires didn't blow when I put 60psi in them. Maybe I'll test my luck on a 5 mile ride, but the visible cracking in the tires has me wary this year.

Here's a few photos from a hike I did with my sister and niece at McConnell's Mill state park here in PA along the Slippery Rock Creek (pronounced 'crick'). The water was extra muddy due to parts of the county getting 5.5" of rain in 6 hours a couple days prior.
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The old mill and covered bridge are from 1872 and the water turbine and much of the mill's equipment is still intact and functional. The bridge looks newer than I remember it as it was just restored about 5 years ago.
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The hike itself is dominated by the bedrock boulders lining the gorge along with hemlock and ferns.

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Barn of the day. I did 21.5 miles today and have a couple of barn pics. The first is a pretty fancy barn but getting in poor condition. The second one is nicely restored but I didn’t get the greatest picture. It’s on a busy highway and I was pretty far away and zoomed in.
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I love those barn pics, reminds me of so many American movies and old school frontier farmers, finding old cars under the hay.
 
Rode to the local pub to film the Monday night bike meet.
Obviously the bricks give away the outside is a lot newer, but the bar area inside is original.
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Some beautiful bikes are being made these days, god knows how much they cost.
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These factory made bikes that look like some custom Madmax build.
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And this thing, its actually a V6.
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Its a bit cliquey in the week, but at the meets fills up with smelly bikers.
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This was 9.30 at night, English summers up here stay light till 11.30 on the longest days
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No one laughed at my fatbike..honest.
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Just a hint of Easyrider
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Triumph are selling well on the modern vintage, nostalgia wagon.
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I wonder how much longer that name will last.
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Always cute barmaids to keep the gentlemen happy.
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Then I did a burnout and no one was impressed.
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Grey Kombis; not grey hair…

1960 VW T1 Kombi : Brisbane, Australia : 2022

1960 VW T1 Kombi
Brisbane, Australia : 2022

I cannot just ride past an old Kombi, especially one as well preserved as this example—maybe 'restored without regard to expense' would be a more appropriate description.

Our Kombi was based on the second generation VW Transporter, the T2. Surely, Jen and I had more 'adventurous adventures'—draw down the blinds—in ours!

1970 VW T2 Kombi : Namibia, Africa : 1971

1970 VW T2 Kombi
South West Africa (Namibia) : 1971

Before daybreak on the first day of November 1969, a group of adventurers left London on what we expected to be the journey of our lives: two months would be spent travelling overland to Ceylon where we would relax on tropical beaches before heading home, arriving in London by the last day of February 1970.

That was the plan: I have yet to return, and that will probably be the way things will remain. One of our three expedition Land Rovers did not make its way home either… and neither did any of its occupants. Life, and death, happen.

My own journey took up a five-year chunk of my life (25–30 years) with much of the travelling in Africa, Australia and New Zealand in the Kombi. Quite a few times, the route required retracing my steps but I'll mention each country only once. Some names and political divisions have changed.

UK—Belgium—France—Germany—Austria—Italy—Yugoslavia—Bulgaria—Turkey—Iran—Afghanistan—Pakistan—India—Ceylon—Nepal—Sikkim—Eritrea—Ethiopia—Uganda—Kenya—Tanzania—Malawi—Moçambique—Zambia—Rhodesia—South Africa—Swaziland—Lesotho—Botswana—South West Africa—Australia—New Zealand

When Jen and I returned to Australia from New Zealand, we parted with the Kombi. Big mistake.

Passport Visas
 
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5 year road trip, sounds awesome. So you broke down in Australia and just never left I guess.;)

I did 15 miles today. No barn of the day pic but I have a school house. It got relocated into town years ago. There used be a sign up about it but it’s gone. It now office space. I also threw in a pic I took of the local college, Western Illinois University that I took on my ride today.
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Stopped for my dark chocolate almond concoction snack under the following sign with mount Swansea jumping out at me - I use to hike up with the kids frequently and watch the hang-gliders launch themselves into space then we would hit the huckleberry hotspots on the way down. Apparently, there are number of new mountain biking trails built on Swansea but I will wait for the summer crowds to clear out and check those out in the fall. Closer to Fairmont and our family cabin my daughter and I have been biking the local trails early and getting back in time to take 6 grandkids from 2 families to either swim lessons or hockey school in Invermere.
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And who's that 70s history graduate standing next to your van?
Closer to the truth than you might have imagined. For the last years of the Kombi's life with us it travelled almost daily to and fro from our home to the History Department of the University of Auckland.

As we lived in an old farmhouse—with a big red barn, Dodge—in a rural area named Buckland, it was a case of travelling from A to B every evening. Auckland to Buckland; how strange!
 
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Having rested my legs for a few days, it was time to get back out and enjoy my local roads again!

Its easy to forget just how awesome they are and right on my doorstep! Just a few miles in and heading over the hills past the tv and radio transmitters!

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We are currently experiencing a bit of a heatwave (for here), 25C is considered a heatwave in these parts and it will last until Sunday, with Monday hitting 22C and then back to the normal 18C! I would take 18C every day, just a perfect temp for cycling and walking and going about your daily business! I didn't really have a planned route today, I was just approaching junctions and making decisions as I went! Eventually I was heading east and thought it would be a good day to enjoy the stunning road that leads to Carnwath, it really is so much fun to ride and the views make it even more so!

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As I approached Carnwath I spotted a paraglider having a blast circling one of the fields, it looked like so much fun but I'm not sure if I would be brave enough...

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He came in for a perfect landing on his feet without even a stumble, must be very experienced as I've seen some scary landings with these things! 🤣

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Onwards towards Carluke and the roads are still sublime, I had just climbed this one and this is the view back down!

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As I reached the top of the climb there is then a big descent, I was flying down and noticed some barns to my left! I thought I better grab a photo for @dodgeman Not the most impressive I admit! ;)I need to check this road out the next time I am out this way, I don't recall trying it before....

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A little closer!

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While I was taking the photo I could hear the sound of massive tyres coming up the main road, I had to grab a photo of course! Ok I have seen bigger but still...I wouldn't like to pay for one of those rear tyres!

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A little further along the road and I had some lovely views to my left! More barns too, if your eyes are good enough....;)

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The farmer was busy in this field, I think he was watering it but it was hard to tell from this distance!

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This was the perfect ride to follow my 130 mile epic, it felt like a short trip round the block after that one!🤣 I'm looking forward to Sunday now, I will probably get out early to avoid the heat! I was going to do that today but I couldn't be bothered getting up at stupid o'clock, 7.30am worked out just nice to avoid the worst of the heat! I may end up doing the same on Sunday and just keep it short again, or maybe not!;)
 

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View attachment 131801

Having rested my legs for a few days, it was time to get back out and enjoy my local roads again!

Its easy to forget just how awesome they are and right on my doorstep! Just a few miles in and heading over the hills past the tv and radio transmitters!

View attachment 131802
View attachment 131803

We are currently experiencing a bit of a heatwave (for here), 25C is considered a heatwave in these parts and it will last until Sunday, with Monday hitting 22C and then back to the normal 18C! I would take 18C every day, just a perfect temp for cycling and walking and going about your daily business! I didn't really have a planned route today, I was just approaching junctions and making decisions as I went! Eventually I was heading east and thought it would be a good day to enjoy the stunning road that leads to Carnwath, it really is so much fun to ride and the views make it even more so!

View attachment 131804
View attachment 131805

As I approached Carnwath I spotted a paraglider having a blast circling one of the fields, it looked like so much fun but I'm not sure if I would be brave enough...

View attachment 131806

He came in for a perfect landing on his feet without even a stumble, must be very experienced as I've seen some scary landings with these things! 🤣

View attachment 131807

Onwards towards Carluke and the roads are still sublime, I had just climbed this one and this is the view back down!

View attachment 131808

As I reached the top of the climb there is then a big descent, I was flying down and noticed some barns to my left! I thought I better grab a photo for @dodgeman Not the most impressive I admit! ;)I need to check this road out the next time I am out this way, I don't recall trying it before....

View attachment 131809

A little closer!

View attachment 131811

While I was taking the photo I could hear the sound of massive tyres coming up the main road, I had to grab a photo of course! Ok I have seen bigger but still...I wouldn't like to pay for one of those rear tyres!

View attachment 131810

A little further along the road and I had some lovely views to my left! More barns too, if your eyes are good enough....;)

View attachment 131812
View attachment 131813

The farmer was busy in this field, I think he was watering it but it was hard to tell from this distance!

View attachment 131814
View attachment 131815

This was the perfect ride to follow my 130 mile epic, it felt like a short trip round the block after that one!🤣 I'm looking forward to Sunday now, I will probably get out early to avoid the heat! I was going to do that today but I couldn't be bothered getting up at stupid o'clock, 7.30am worked out just nice to avoid the worst of the heat! I may end up doing the same on Sunday and just keep it short again, or maybe not!;)
Would you know the history of those areas. That is were most of these open fields, forests way back when or always a mixture of groupings of trees and open meadows?
 
View attachment 131801

Having rested my legs for a few days, it was time to get back out and enjoy my local roads again!

Its easy to forget just how awesome they are and right on my doorstep! Just a few miles in and heading over the hills past the tv and radio transmitters!

View attachment 131802
View attachment 131803

We are currently experiencing a bit of a heatwave (for here), 25C is considered a heatwave in these parts and it will last until Sunday, with Monday hitting 22C and then back to the normal 18C! I would take 18C every day, just a perfect temp for cycling and walking and going about your daily business! I didn't really have a planned route today, I was just approaching junctions and making decisions as I went! Eventually I was heading east and thought it would be a good day to enjoy the stunning road that leads to Carnwath, it really is so much fun to ride and the views make it even more so!

View attachment 131804
View attachment 131805

As I approached Carnwath I spotted a paraglider having a blast circling one of the fields, it looked like so much fun but I'm not sure if I would be brave enough...

View attachment 131806

He came in for a perfect landing on his feet without even a stumble, must be very experienced as I've seen some scary landings with these things! 🤣

View attachment 131807

Onwards towards Carluke and the roads are still sublime, I had just climbed this one and this is the view back down!

View attachment 131808

As I reached the top of the climb there is then a big descent, I was flying down and noticed some barns to my left! I thought I better grab a photo for @dodgeman Not the most impressive I admit! ;)I need to check this road out the next time I am out this way, I don't recall trying it before....

View attachment 131809

A little closer!

View attachment 131811

While I was taking the photo I could hear the sound of massive tyres coming up the main road, I had to grab a photo of course! Ok I have seen bigger but still...I wouldn't like to pay for one of those rear tyres!

View attachment 131810

A little further along the road and I had some lovely views to my left! More barns too, if your eyes are good enough....;)

View attachment 131812
View attachment 131813

The farmer was busy in this field, I think he was watering it but it was hard to tell from this distance!

View attachment 131814
View attachment 131815

This was the perfect ride to follow my 130 mile epic, it felt like a short trip round the block after that one!🤣 I'm looking forward to Sunday now, I will probably get out early to avoid the heat! I was going to do that today but I couldn't be bothered getting up at stupid o'clock, 7.30am worked out just nice to avoid the worst of the heat! I may end up doing the same on Sunday and just keep it short again, or maybe not!;)
Very hot here today, what a coincidence.
Took the wife to Wales and she did a tandem flight.
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