Ride a bike, see stuff
09-03-19, 08:25 PM
#351
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Back before the fall of the Soviet Union, I was able to earn a living designing electronics for military aircraft and spacecraft. This was in St. Louis, where I loved biking in the hills to the west.
Well, once the Soviets cried uncle and the government's purse slammed shut, I found employment doing electronics for big yellow machines and started riding in the Illinois river valley. Pretty nice, but the urge to go ride the hills west of St Louis didn't go away.
In the last few years, I've been going back and rediscovering some of the favorite roads. One of them takes me past the tiny town of St. Albans on highway T.
One photo from Sunday's ride through St. Albans....
somewhat sadly, two of these circular stone structures are all that are left of a much larger stone building that used to be there. It seemed to be used by the local farmer, but I wonder if it wasn't built for non-agricultural purposes. It was likely torn down when this area was converted to an expensive golf club.
On a more positive note, Heads Store is still standing.....
It was originally a simple general store serving the local farming community (and bike riders..). Surrounding the store with a country club didn't bring enough business to keep it going, unfortunately. There was an effort to refurbish it to serve an upscale clientele, but that doesn't appear to have succeeded.
Here's the store back in the late 80's when it was a proper general store...
While it is always a bit sad to see things change, the good news is that there is a ton of fun scenic hill roads to enjoy in this area, and I do my best to get out there and ride them all!
Steve in Peoria
Well, once the Soviets cried uncle and the government's purse slammed shut, I found employment doing electronics for big yellow machines and started riding in the Illinois river valley. Pretty nice, but the urge to go ride the hills west of St Louis didn't go away.
In the last few years, I've been going back and rediscovering some of the favorite roads. One of them takes me past the tiny town of St. Albans on highway T.
One photo from Sunday's ride through St. Albans....
somewhat sadly, two of these circular stone structures are all that are left of a much larger stone building that used to be there. It seemed to be used by the local farmer, but I wonder if it wasn't built for non-agricultural purposes. It was likely torn down when this area was converted to an expensive golf club.
On a more positive note, Heads Store is still standing.....
It was originally a simple general store serving the local farming community (and bike riders..). Surrounding the store with a country club didn't bring enough business to keep it going, unfortunately. There was an effort to refurbish it to serve an upscale clientele, but that doesn't appear to have succeeded.
Here's the store back in the late 80's when it was a proper general store...
While it is always a bit sad to see things change, the good news is that there is a ton of fun scenic hill roads to enjoy in this area, and I do my best to get out there and ride them all!
Steve in Peoria
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09-03-19, 10:03 PM
#353
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You know, I totally didn't even make that connection, but yeah, you're right. It does look like part of some nodder's works. Unfortunately, we have more than our fair share of nodders around here 
DD
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09-03-19, 10:10 PM
#354
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^^^ I thought that it might have fallen from Uri Geller's tool pouch. 
Ben
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09-04-19, 09:27 PM
#356
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Native Art
Just south of Durango Colorado is the Southern Ute Reservation where there are some quiet roads to ride on. This afternoon I rode past some new yard art protected by a new chainlink fence.
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09-05-19, 01:38 PM
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Looks to be inspired by the Hopi kachina dolls??
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopi_Kachina_figure
Steve in Peoria
09-05-19, 02:41 PM
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09-05-19, 02:45 PM
#361
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I was just thinking about my trip back in July to Vancouver. One of the best places I stopped by was Revelstoke somewhat hidden inside the valley. I was really hungry and wanted to eat something sweet, so I stopped by a bakery called La Baguette for some French inspired treats.
Lo and behold, my eyes were set upon the most delicious thing I'd ever seen. I bought a chocolate Pepito and some coffee. I really want to go back there for that bakery.
09-05-19, 02:49 PM
#362
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@steelbikeguy
pretty neat!
Looks to be inspired by the Hopi kachina dolls??
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopi_Kachina_figure
Yes, very well could be. We aren't that far from the Hopi reservation.
pretty neat!
Looks to be inspired by the Hopi kachina dolls??
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopi_Kachina_figure
Yes, very well could be. We aren't that far from the Hopi reservation.
09-05-19, 03:46 PM
#363
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That's my kind of bakery. 😋🤪😋 I'll have one of those strawberry rhubarb creams, for now, please. 😁😉
09-05-19, 04:00 PM
#364
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I was just thinking about my trip back in July to Vancouver. One of the best places I stopped by was Revelstoke somewhat hidden inside the valley. I was really hungry and wanted to eat something sweet, so I stopped by a bakery called La Baguette for some French inspired treats.
Lo and behold, my eyes were set upon the most delicious thing I'd ever seen. I bought a chocolate Pepito and some coffee. I really want to go back there for that bakery.
09-05-19, 04:47 PM
#365
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DD
09-05-19, 05:14 PM
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I thought you were mentioning his brother.
....Best, Ben
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"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
Last edited by xiaoman1; 09-05-19 at 05:21 PM.
09-05-19, 06:28 PM
#368
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@steelbikeguy
pretty neat!
Looks to be inspired by the Hopi kachina dolls??
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopi_Kachina_figure
Yes, very well could be. We aren't that far from the Hopi reservation.
pretty neat!
Looks to be inspired by the Hopi kachina dolls??
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopi_Kachina_figure
Yes, very well could be. We aren't that far from the Hopi reservation.
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09-05-19, 09:34 PM
#370
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What’s special about this? No one around for blocks, no work being done in nearby houses, and if you look closely, THE KEYS ARE IN IT!
Not so good for joyriding, but a useful thing for those home projects that require a ladder
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09-06-19, 02:50 PM
#372
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Here's a few recent finds.
Another mural in Carpentaria, across the street from the tractor in the post above.
Tower at Ojai US Post Office.
My old Raleigh at Port Hueneme Lighthouse.
Mural in Pasadena, famous biker dude.
Last Sunday's Pasadena vintage ride.
Another mural in Carpentaria, across the street from the tractor in the post above.
Tower at Ojai US Post Office.
My old Raleigh at Port Hueneme Lighthouse.
Mural in Pasadena, famous biker dude.
Last Sunday's Pasadena vintage ride.
09-06-19, 04:02 PM
#373
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We were in Carpinteria in April of this year to see our daughter in a collegiate National Speech Tournament at the Santa Ana high school campus.
We drove north up to Carpinteria, just looking around. We had lunch at Rincon Brewery and it was very, very good. Interesting to see some photos from that area now.
We drove north up to Carpinteria, just looking around. We had lunch at Rincon Brewery and it was very, very good. Interesting to see some photos from that area now.
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09-06-19, 04:12 PM
#374
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Early one morning in Salisbury Beach Massachusetts. It's a special place.
09-07-19, 01:01 PM
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How about a hairy tarantula? Presumably dead, but I wasn't gonna poke around to see. 😁😉 This was on the road this morning, coming back up the 12-mile hill to Golden Valley.