tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56561569710712541772024-03-14T04:46:59.300-04:00lehman hillNothing profound here. Just a place to share my travels and projects.Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.comBlogger301125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-33339391519143967832022-04-07T16:42:00.002-04:002023-08-04T12:42:13.488-04:00New Arrivals<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbQ3dTxi9v83N9fB0pg5Tsv4of74Ec6x1LXH_ruh66eWIfiOqjxhYYGVe7VNctSdoukr-qL-6kSf4npRF0n_QtcYkAAxQERf-r7rGn7gFq2EH0Fg0yhvuUre1sUxyot0BhQC3VDooGu7GQqw3vx6_bY69eVfMM69NtTDbMvUNHCqdnYjD6SywmVwY/s2924/Little%20Switzerland%202b.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2924" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbQ3dTxi9v83N9fB0pg5Tsv4of74Ec6x1LXH_ruh66eWIfiOqjxhYYGVe7VNctSdoukr-qL-6kSf4npRF0n_QtcYkAAxQERf-r7rGn7gFq2EH0Fg0yhvuUre1sUxyot0BhQC3VDooGu7GQqw3vx6_bY69eVfMM69NtTDbMvUNHCqdnYjD6SywmVwY/s320/Little%20Switzerland%202b.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"> Sorry. It has been a while since I posted. This has always been a little hit or miss. It's been a busy year, so I'm just going to put it all out there.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi455ec4vbv9B76KAEF7Q9nozDCk3M3_8ZrcD8agsFibWMZgL-LlRNtK1AxDnIl94mT8tclG-dcOxfVR2n7tTwjEg92wTBEKUhBVkg4BoDzQyX4uF0vQF_R_yjPaPAzEat6614CTabCpv1zkFSJ4EKeLdA7X7cRrd7kvSSFXTUYoB_11A18atQt6TIl/s2309/tubing%20ball.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1732" data-original-width="2309" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi455ec4vbv9B76KAEF7Q9nozDCk3M3_8ZrcD8agsFibWMZgL-LlRNtK1AxDnIl94mT8tclG-dcOxfVR2n7tTwjEg92wTBEKUhBVkg4BoDzQyX4uF0vQF_R_yjPaPAzEat6614CTabCpv1zkFSJ4EKeLdA7X7cRrd7kvSSFXTUYoB_11A18atQt6TIl/s320/tubing%20ball.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">In the early fall, I had geothermal installed. The picture above is a big ball of tubing. They dug 5 trenches 2 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 150 feet long, each. Needless to say, my front lawn was destroyed. And I volunteered.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOBTaZpmRMiSq8kKgFwSIHlvbL7dejiyLeOP8DL-PMsuNBKWxejit291aCCOnxXhkvs2rxmIinoTC8cysmLj-J-9iWug8edgYO7P-rUhdcJxGdz3P3Jol2PnRzSGyQBoq63RVXanQo5L67f7phupLc_xKXXy-9yw791k_QVZHB5WaICa-nxNbFV2u/s1632/pit.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOBTaZpmRMiSq8kKgFwSIHlvbL7dejiyLeOP8DL-PMsuNBKWxejit291aCCOnxXhkvs2rxmIinoTC8cysmLj-J-9iWug8edgYO7P-rUhdcJxGdz3P3Jol2PnRzSGyQBoq63RVXanQo5L67f7phupLc_xKXXy-9yw791k_QVZHB5WaICa-nxNbFV2u/s320/pit.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">I also had a few solar panels installed.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKyRPlCkqqm7AJJgQWnPd5P8WKBrGvCv2MCaXWe8_TUO2gO8M9_1MPY54hkEhIPp3bXGkAs_dLYn3DkSMvDgsaXEdg5F35snN6ARcRXpNIjJL-CLl6onrtIa96ncZa47wKKWnzQOrQFK9LJHEaF1YDysJYfymOvMDxlkz6pKL9l7rquSdPd-vBjin/s2020/solar.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKyRPlCkqqm7AJJgQWnPd5P8WKBrGvCv2MCaXWe8_TUO2gO8M9_1MPY54hkEhIPp3bXGkAs_dLYn3DkSMvDgsaXEdg5F35snN6ARcRXpNIjJL-CLl6onrtIa96ncZa47wKKWnzQOrQFK9LJHEaF1YDysJYfymOvMDxlkz6pKL9l7rquSdPd-vBjin/s320/solar.JPG" width="314" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Then my sister and I headed south. We got to explore a bit in the Appalachians. Fall color change was late, but by dumb luck we timed it perfectly. The trip started out with some color and some green. In the middle we got nice color like the picture at the top of this post from Little Switzerland. In the later part of the trip the leaves were falling and you could see through the branches.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss-4KdAAzjXJtTNV--MZc7Uiet3-HP7YRRIOeNabgFPY5-MS64UlY0qYi7gI8G3mnsKUtjA7ARKoJsPJnob05v0BSb3GtDH1qvmGgGl9S0a04PAY9-qM9klZNXDhOVsFiUq4DEfCPmqvsodDbaAjdl9IbRpiaRViK3hdSj1wtmik_9AVsRfaVVYwY/s1024/Mt%20Mitchell%20summit%20fence_lzn%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1024" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss-4KdAAzjXJtTNV--MZc7Uiet3-HP7YRRIOeNabgFPY5-MS64UlY0qYi7gI8G3mnsKUtjA7ARKoJsPJnob05v0BSb3GtDH1qvmGgGl9S0a04PAY9-qM9klZNXDhOVsFiUq4DEfCPmqvsodDbaAjdl9IbRpiaRViK3hdSj1wtmik_9AVsRfaVVYwY/s320/Mt%20Mitchell%20summit%20fence_lzn%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Part of the reason for the trip was digging into family history. We followed, as best we could, the trail that one of our ancestors took to emigrate from Virginia to the Ohio River in 1769. </p><p style="text-align: center;">We also got to find the land that another of our ancestors owed in about 1800 on the border of Virginia and N. Carolina. Who knew? I have some southern roots. A picture of the creek on my ancestors property is below.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZb86zt43m9ZHUzgZHvYvydSpDpFFwS7d-5LCHGEYZS8aqh2WB-sOlyYYo_m8EJewBk4Q1Sz1478Dq5EXHes8XXSCHTR8rV3umVOxmeZpwwG4JMvuw60jUSd1TXyGuf6gVr8pzVZElD7-BEiWjPJv9f3A-YVtynykFDMT67D3uhAAAgv3aU9HKQXo/s2309/Winns%20Creek%20Halifac%20VA.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1732" data-original-width="2309" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZb86zt43m9ZHUzgZHvYvydSpDpFFwS7d-5LCHGEYZS8aqh2WB-sOlyYYo_m8EJewBk4Q1Sz1478Dq5EXHes8XXSCHTR8rV3umVOxmeZpwwG4JMvuw60jUSd1TXyGuf6gVr8pzVZElD7-BEiWjPJv9f3A-YVtynykFDMT67D3uhAAAgv3aU9HKQXo/s320/Winns%20Creek%20Halifac%20VA.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /></div><p></p><p>And we got to explore twisty roads for a motorcycle ride I am hosting later in the year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPsgztGJfN73FJdmmv-xuiUMzUM-fkQeyTBjf9_FoPwtfAJ0eFoH5VrqgBVKoCy0ln25jBU3NqeoafnVTPju4iIZjubDV42nJjck_jFHsU-rFSjBoI_4iSnPQG3DFCjHK6BThEvYUuxVtRj4D31qG8Jq5FkM27kF20ZWkXfEo9QJ9hIAuNNMZUNEG/s1632/the%20trough%20A%20small.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPsgztGJfN73FJdmmv-xuiUMzUM-fkQeyTBjf9_FoPwtfAJ0eFoH5VrqgBVKoCy0ln25jBU3NqeoafnVTPju4iIZjubDV42nJjck_jFHsU-rFSjBoI_4iSnPQG3DFCjHK6BThEvYUuxVtRj4D31qG8Jq5FkM27kF20ZWkXfEo9QJ9hIAuNNMZUNEG/s320/the%20trough%20A%20small.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">After our trip, thoughts turned to home and we had a very pretty winter. The deer were a common sight and you could say that they fertilized my yard. Best to step carefully.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64OQUZBAKn2Qpo6SDx0_AtU56maYgftwq-W4BEs5wjt5mZtfDmoIlzfDjNmCZo6nMMTtgBkrFbwgDqBS6tso9I5cPz67JR02mUZcmJxLyVTr2v4fYO5xuJAztvyx9ZxShjFRLwBU4Mnqk9af0L8Br0tCNLsXmaMg03YIhfI707jobZaCBurG7NkSt/s1537/Deer.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="1301" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64OQUZBAKn2Qpo6SDx0_AtU56maYgftwq-W4BEs5wjt5mZtfDmoIlzfDjNmCZo6nMMTtgBkrFbwgDqBS6tso9I5cPz67JR02mUZcmJxLyVTr2v4fYO5xuJAztvyx9ZxShjFRLwBU4Mnqk9af0L8Br0tCNLsXmaMg03YIhfI707jobZaCBurG7NkSt/s320/Deer.JPG" width="271" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm kind of surprised that I didn't think about this earlier. After 10 years, I sold my little red Fiat to a very enthusiastic lady who I'm sure will take good care of it. It was actually a little hard to let go of it. I am not like my friend Doug who can change bikes and cars every year. Somehow, I seem to get attached.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">I replaced the red Fiat with a 5 year newer (but still used) Fiat 500 Abarth. It is a dark gray which wouldn't have been my first choice. I always like bright colors on little cars so you see them. Even more surprising that selling the red Fiat is that I have forgotten to take any pictures of the gray one. That aside, I am enjoying it and hope it lasts as long as the red one. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKIgfSPVMTL7yEb2JXrnfNIAZUuaMk3IvJNL6lYSNeevw1b5x8BFX_CGpIcLwlbR64VAJ-sNN8H1mj_S6YyN-uJfRWihM_Cq2Pu8erg2dzPfxNsIEgSXNrCvFPn3jsvRMiXDDvalTmIramgXO-EUVn4r7sjVGhgyZGijE_yxY-Hd8hhtpEmUpdg-O/s2478/RX-100%20camera.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1614" data-original-width="2478" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKIgfSPVMTL7yEb2JXrnfNIAZUuaMk3IvJNL6lYSNeevw1b5x8BFX_CGpIcLwlbR64VAJ-sNN8H1mj_S6YyN-uJfRWihM_Cq2Pu8erg2dzPfxNsIEgSXNrCvFPn3jsvRMiXDDvalTmIramgXO-EUVn4r7sjVGhgyZGijE_yxY-Hd8hhtpEmUpdg-O/s320/RX-100%20camera.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">The most recent additions are the new camera and the new bike.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The camera is a Sony RX-100 mk VII. It gives me a nice zoom lens and phase detection auto focus in a small size that will make it easier to take on the bike.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The motorcycle is something of an impulse purchase, only the impulse took 3 months for me to pull the trigger. It is an MV Agusta Turismo Veloce. It's also the first road bike for me with a good reputation for handling. It is an addition to the fleet, although the ZRX1200r has to go. Like I said, I get attached.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">At this point, I don't have enough experience with it to comment, but it should be fun learning. Of course, I have to make modifications so that I can tuck my knee into the designed pocket. I'm thinking higher seat and lower pegs will be needed.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-2R3l7OHPhzIylE3so3wDCXWkQWQjJS5GRaj3GKePX0X5UIDLFIPmaMGwnJxkqrt3TUXYOvCrE2kuWE-6JhWlVkpeU2o9DL05JENIew3Bp6SDsYr75lY40q3e5JveErIaovHH7SqwzKu2Tuv1Keebkdctg8vXKdyhZvSNG7IjKkH2vvVrMy9PYV4/s2117/MV%20home.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2117" data-original-width="1888" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-2R3l7OHPhzIylE3so3wDCXWkQWQjJS5GRaj3GKePX0X5UIDLFIPmaMGwnJxkqrt3TUXYOvCrE2kuWE-6JhWlVkpeU2o9DL05JENIew3Bp6SDsYr75lY40q3e5JveErIaovHH7SqwzKu2Tuv1Keebkdctg8vXKdyhZvSNG7IjKkH2vvVrMy9PYV4/s320/MV%20home.JPG" width="285" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok, you are all caught up. You can get on with your life. <br /></div><p></p>Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-26782577991354634602022-04-07T14:55:00.000-04:002022-04-07T14:55:40.746-04:00Motorcycle Plagiarism <p> Of course styles change and product appearances follow each other, sometimes to the point where they all look alike. But I feel Honda, with their up coming Hawk 11, is guilty of straight out copying the MV Agusta Superveloce. Sure, the MV has an additional side fairing and the MV guys probably aren't going to care because the Superveloce is still better looking and likely a more enjoyable ride. But this is pretty blatant to me. Doesn't Honda have any shame?</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRH_yLsptra00MdVNcGB49Rv7bcNXO4nh4EUno8Qf9NkNaE69xiK2L9jzEYYe9nLsWu5gRDotslNibFu3EVzdYWU0Nvp0hDxm_gbQo7hgOZI7sLpzP5BtWWzOE38QVHs6CPo3cGpD9Me6XoOCMArC04GfB7Ye-HNWaAHGxlSzePhc3f4UU96KR0vX/s2000/superveloce%20B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRH_yLsptra00MdVNcGB49Rv7bcNXO4nh4EUno8Qf9NkNaE69xiK2L9jzEYYe9nLsWu5gRDotslNibFu3EVzdYWU0Nvp0hDxm_gbQo7hgOZI7sLpzP5BtWWzOE38QVHs6CPo3cGpD9Me6XoOCMArC04GfB7Ye-HNWaAHGxlSzePhc3f4UU96KR0vX/s320/superveloce%20B.jpg" width="320" /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lA-im9vYfoO_2WLuREWqgM0MtwYOoWrGsfTaRO-edujJeXqRvXQGdHGTmN-VZn1WIELxy3IAwHOE7BIX1TXX1boDi5lMUsOll6jIsTuDUgVHFEASAzW0p61LFBUbrbylKFCM_TfT63jm5Vt0EcVliMlFuj-EpYqkwJ2pNLeLbzxrURf3q4wmsfdI/s633/hawk-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="633" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lA-im9vYfoO_2WLuREWqgM0MtwYOoWrGsfTaRO-edujJeXqRvXQGdHGTmN-VZn1WIELxy3IAwHOE7BIX1TXX1boDi5lMUsOll6jIsTuDUgVHFEASAzW0p61LFBUbrbylKFCM_TfT63jm5Vt0EcVliMlFuj-EpYqkwJ2pNLeLbzxrURf3q4wmsfdI/s320/hawk-11.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OK, they are not the same. The Honda is blue.<br /></div><p></p>Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-61214383047045834662021-03-23T22:17:00.001-04:002021-03-23T22:17:57.904-04:00Colorado Passes<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> I have been working on the KLR to get
it prepared for exploring on dirt. I even had a chance to ride it
briefly with the new knobbies on both pavement and dirt. I felt like
the relative dirt rookie that I am. It will take some practice to
get comfortable.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I have also been scheming on shipping
the KLR out to Colorado, leaving it there for several years, and
going out each summer for some exploring. I am also thinking about
taking a 2 day dirt riding school. On my way to the school, I
thought about riding over Hagerman Pass. I remember Hagerman Pass as
a pretty easy dirt road that I last drove in a rented Firebird. From
what I can tell, it has degraded to the point that it is now
restricted to high clearance vehicles. Not a problem for the KLR,
but no more low cars. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-26uYL7mDlq8/YFqfL3wt6sI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/WTJIPIu1XMo6ACTxAF4OB02Wg5i66vFSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Aspen%2Btrees.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-26uYL7mDlq8/YFqfL3wt6sI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/WTJIPIu1XMo6ACTxAF4OB02Wg5i66vFSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Aspen%2Btrees.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> That got me reminiscing about earlier
trips to Colorado and passes I've crossed. One of those, Schofield
Pass, I have done twice for work, once in a passenger car. It was
always a tough pass with several tough sections, but I never realized
how dangerous it was. Schofield Pass now holds the title of the
deadliest pass in Colorado with 17 people dead trying to cross it. I
think the count was only 6 when I was there last, so people have been
busy.
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As an aside, on one of those work trips
I met a beautiful girl on a dirt bike and watched her pick her way
past our little caravan and up Schofield Pass. What she was doing
seemed so much easier than what I was doing that I got thinking about
motorcycles, so I think I need to visit Crystal City at least on the
KLR. To this day, I wonder what she thought of the one tall American
among 7 Japanese men and our trying to do the pass in that passenger
car.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Below Schofield Pass is the ghost town
of Crystal City and that brings me back to an off-road trip that my
father and I took in the mid-90's. Actually, to be correct, I can't
call Crystal City a ghost town. It has never been occupied through
the winter, but the people who owned the mines in the late 1800's
loved that valley so much that they kept the property after the ore
was gone. Their families still own the land and many come up to stay
for the summer. It's a favorite place of mine, so I can understand
the sentiment.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-7VUdB3hHo/YFqf1e8PkII/AAAAAAAAC40/v4o8OaU1HlQJYMljzMf95AQ01ehTojIOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Crystal%2BColorado%2BPower%2Bhouse%2BB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="692" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-7VUdB3hHo/YFqf1e8PkII/AAAAAAAAC40/v4o8OaU1HlQJYMljzMf95AQ01ehTojIOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Crystal%2BColorado%2BPower%2Bhouse%2BB.jpg" /></a></div>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My father had never been off-road and I
really enjoyed the smile on his face as he bounced the borrowed Jeep
across the rocks as we explored the Colorado back country.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Although we didn't try Schofield Pass,
we did visit Crystal City and it's beautiful valley. The Power House
shown in the photo is both historic and innovative. Water was
brought in from the reservoir and the water turned a vertical water
turbine which in turn drove a generator for electricity. The
vertical log structure you can still see housed the turbine.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Since we weren't going try Schofield,
we turned north out of Crystal City into the Lead King Basin, before
turning back west to Marble. What a beautiful valley.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdw0ulHeu2g/YFqfMUVaM1I/AAAAAAAAC4c/3q0sfmKWMz8SWzpa26IxkQXDYRqw2qZrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Taylor%2BPass%2BCO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="1024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdw0ulHeu2g/YFqfMUVaM1I/AAAAAAAAC4c/3q0sfmKWMz8SWzpa26IxkQXDYRqw2qZrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Taylor%2BPass%2BCO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Two other passes from that trip stand
out in memory, Stony and Taylor. Stony is further south in the San
Juan Mountains. Several small creeks gather from slopes around Stony
and form the headwaters of the Rio Grande River. That wouldn't be
special on its own, but there is a big, beautiful valley, 20 miles
long, and surrounded by 13,000 feet peaks. Just one little 2 track
road down the valley, it seems very pristine. Of course, the truth
is that it was the main supply road from the east to the Silverton
mining district, so I'm sure it wasn't pristine 130 years ago. The
picture shows my father and the Jeep far down that valley. You can
even glimpse the Rio Grande in the picture, wide, clear, and
energetic.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1uS6f7VWC8s/YFqfMA_5hQI/AAAAAAAAC4U/j0yAfj6L0T0YDxZ0a-4re8fzxkZ6YgxvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Papa%2BUpper%2BRio%2BGrande.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1uS6f7VWC8s/YFqfMA_5hQI/AAAAAAAAC4U/j0yAfj6L0T0YDxZ0a-4re8fzxkZ6YgxvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Papa%2BUpper%2BRio%2BGrande.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The other pass, Taylor Pass, was far
more of an adventure than Stony. We start high in Taylor Park and
started climbing the south side of the pass. Part of the way, the
trail dips down into the creek and used the creek bed as the trail.
With high, rocky banks on both side and water rushing down the
mountain and splashing against the front of the Jeep, both my father
and I weren't smiling, we were laughing, and hoping we could
eventually get out of this creek. The picture shows the place where
the trail finally exits the stream. What a relief.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtBh_k7BzCo/YFqfNLBj--I/AAAAAAAAC4Y/ogLGpGUFf2AbKVhxEh0JpEoWE4VTCZm5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Taylor%2BPass%2Btrail%2Bin%2Bcreek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="710" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtBh_k7BzCo/YFqfNLBj--I/AAAAAAAAC4Y/ogLGpGUFf2AbKVhxEh0JpEoWE4VTCZm5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Taylor%2BPass%2Btrail%2Bin%2Bcreek.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The south side of the pass has a medium
slope, but the north side of the pass is a cliff. Back in the
1890's, people would take apart their wagons and let the wagons and
livestock down the cliff on a pulley. A bit later, they cut a narrow
road in the cliff and down into the valley. The picture shows the
valley from the top of the cliff at the top of the pass.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It likely won't be this year, but I
hope to get back to some of these places on the KLR. This year will
probably be chasing some family history a bit further north. But
these pictures have certainly stirred those memories and made me want
to go back and get the feel of those places again.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-29069152920065500012021-03-04T12:20:00.005-05:002021-03-04T12:20:49.142-05:00Look Alike?<p><br /> In truth, I'm impressed with the Harley PanAmerica. It seems competitive with the BMW GS and the Ducati Multistrada, at least the L-2 version. It's not great for serious off road, but then most customers won't use it that way anyhow.</p><p>I feel like the engineers at Harley have been constrained by the 1930's era Harley design and that has really held them back. With the PanAmerica, those constraints are off and I think that they have done some good and original thinking. The engine is quite good and so is the chassis and electronics.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rgpa2hBrZh8/YEEWz-Q6vHI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/-YXFD02hpdw1E8t85kL4S4Gku1TvNFe1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/harley-davidson-adventure-sportsbike-india-price-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rgpa2hBrZh8/YEEWz-Q6vHI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/-YXFD02hpdw1E8t85kL4S4Gku1TvNFe1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/harley-davidson-adventure-sportsbike-india-price-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-br8m1KvC5h4/YEEWSXrLUDI/AAAAAAAAC3I/Y99oCpQ1m2wABJmGL1mBaVKU5MPi1fVTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s587/50s%2Brobot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="493" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-br8m1KvC5h4/YEEWSXrLUDI/AAAAAAAAC3I/Y99oCpQ1m2wABJmGL1mBaVKU5MPi1fVTwCLcBGAsYHQ/w269-h320/50s%2Brobot.jpg" width="269" /></a></div></div><p></p><p>But I have to admit, the styling of the front will take some getting used to. I thought about it and decided that it reminds me of a 50's sci-fi robot. One gent quipped, "Does the Pan Am shout, 'Danger, Will Robinson, Danger?"<br /></p>Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-73882273243406834102021-02-23T10:32:00.023-05:002021-02-28T09:38:11.527-05:00Live motorcycle Dynamics - Well, in a straight line anyway<p> Someone on the MC Chassis list came up with this link. The bike in the simulation is a one off being built by an individual using a Triumph 675 engine. Not stated if he hopes to race it in Moto2, but it is a pure race bike. It uses a SaxTrak front suspension which is a combination of telescopic struts with an A arm to the frame connecting just above the tire.</p><p>The simulation has a slider on the bottom that varies brake/drive and you can see the g's shown at the c.g. I don't know how if the simulation is correct in all aspects, but it looks pretty right. One thing that surprised me was how easily it was to take the vertical force of one tire or the other to zero. That is, zero force on the front tire represents a wheelie and at the rear, rear wheel lift.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tdqhp3ZZl2M/YDUeibo9JYI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/A-AkRTmcfrYcULy26Yo2Sbn0cRsgFT2cACLcBGAsYHQ/s1344/Saxon%2B675.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="1344" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tdqhp3ZZl2M/YDUeibo9JYI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/A-AkRTmcfrYcULy26Yo2Sbn0cRsgFT2cACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Saxon%2B675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /> <a href="https://ifold-estate.github.io/Saxon675Sim/">https://ifold-estate.github.io/Saxon675Sim/</a><br /></p><p>Wouldn't it be cool if you could change geometry, just to see what happened? Of course, you can buy Tony Foale's software. Anyway, something to play with and a good thought starter.</p><p>An update. The page has been updated to allow change in rake and anti-dive, but how things work is a little unclear. The green slider at the bottom may be braking, not engine drive, but the definition isn't clear. It is also odd that both suspensions seem to be set up at near full rebound which explains why it wheelie's so easily. I thought about withdrawing this post because it isn't clear what is happening, but then it is kind of fun to play with anyway. Just season with the appropriate amount of salt.<br /></p>Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-30336501712603057542021-01-11T12:22:00.001-05:002021-01-11T12:22:01.522-05:00Automotive Outlier Update or the Lost Soul of VW<p>Since July, I have been thinking about this issue and an electric car still seems like a good idea. In fact, once I got my mind around the idea, buying another fossil fuel car just seems wrong.</p><p>But then, there may not be a good choice out there for me, at least not yet.</p><p>When I started researching EVs, I thought about what things would be important to me in choosing a electric car. Of course, most important would be fitting in the car with my height and neck/headache issues. Not many cars are truly a good fit, so this isn't trivial. </p><p>Next would be a good driving feel. I can't seem to live without that. And styling fits in there too. I can live with a lot of styling choices, but there are some I just can't. Alas, one of those is the Tesla 3. Besides being expensive, I find both the inside and outside ugly. The nose reminds me of a duck or the back of a Henry J without fins. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NEfmbu1QTh4/X_SnPwj8b4I/AAAAAAAACz0/4EZVud12tuEyDCWXYleJSNQxBYDLwRfNACLcBGAsYHQ/s445/duck%2Bbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="278" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NEfmbu1QTh4/X_SnPwj8b4I/AAAAAAAACz0/4EZVud12tuEyDCWXYleJSNQxBYDLwRfNACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/duck%2Bbill.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Plus, I don't really like Elon, so Tesla is off the list.<p></p><p>I had been leaning toward VW, since they are working very hard on changing to EV after their diesel debacle. The Buzz microvan that I mentioned in the earlier post looked promising and the ID.4 looked good enough that I put down a refundable deposit to order one.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGYFfz5IFos/X_SmdRwAsKI/AAAAAAAACzk/OnPU69o1fAsY_u_WOJ94dWA3o1Cra1ENgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/ID4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGYFfz5IFos/X_SmdRwAsKI/AAAAAAAACzk/OnPU69o1fAsY_u_WOJ94dWA3o1Cra1ENgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/ID4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>But then I drove a current Jetta. What an awful disappointment. The ride was soft and floaty. The steering was very slow, very light, and non-linear. There was absolutely no precision and no joy in driving this car. As it happens, a friend of mine rented a Passat for work about the same time. He reported the same issues. Basically, US VW cars, except possibly GTI variants, drive like 1980's Buicks.</p><p>I remember visiting Germany and working with the VW engineers on what character a car had to have to be a VW and driving precision was at the heart of it. I'm afraid that VW in the US has lost it's soul.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3QAdATKym2U/X_SmddTekQI/AAAAAAAACzo/qRZuRRoEBHkCsMS21uL69VHpH91TkiNJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/Mach%2Be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3QAdATKym2U/X_SmddTekQI/AAAAAAAACzo/qRZuRRoEBHkCsMS21uL69VHpH91TkiNJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Mach%2Be.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><br />So now what to do? Tesla is out for me. VW looks doubtful too. My best possible guess at this time is the Ford Mach e. I hope I fit.<br /></p>Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-23855253706547724452021-01-05T12:20:00.000-05:002021-01-05T12:20:51.409-05:00KLR, the next step<p> The last few posts have been more about people than projects, so I thought I would go back to the motorcycle that started this blog. Or more correctly, this blog has been about travel and projects, but since much of my travel has been on a motorcycle and motorcycles have also been projects, there are more than a few posts on the KLR.</p><p>In truth, I find it hard to sell projects, especially cars and motorcycles. I kept Gidjet for more than 30 years. I have had the KLR since 2003. When I bought the KTM in 2016, it replaced the KLR for club riding and other motorcycle travel/exploring. I thought about selling the KLR, but it has more emotional value than it is worth to any other person.</p><p>Over the years, one person really liked the KLR, my friend Mark Doman. I had sort hoped that I could pass it on to Mark, but if you read a couple of posts earlier, Mark passed away this summer.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ya29KhlJ47s/X_Sbc6rNv0I/AAAAAAAACyw/RMKcprfog60JafBhM9EeGandvuTibtHdACLcBGAsYHQ/s1100/Tomboy_CO_1930s_93401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1100" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ya29KhlJ47s/X_Sbc6rNv0I/AAAAAAAACyw/RMKcprfog60JafBhM9EeGandvuTibtHdACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Tomboy_CO_1930s_93401.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Tomboy Basin, 11,500 ft elevation and once the richest town in Colorado<br /><p></p><p>With the pandemic, I didn't ride very much this year, just a few hundred miles, but those miles were on the KLR. It is still a solid, reliable bike with lots of life left in it. As winter came on, I needed to decide what to do with the KLR.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nr0wT7QtPVQ/X_SbcyvTPAI/AAAAAAAACys/nyqvOxPrNE0hbqO_Mt3Z_hbnAAvy4mVbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1327/Rio%2BGrande%2Bheadwaters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="1327" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nr0wT7QtPVQ/X_SbcyvTPAI/AAAAAAAACys/nyqvOxPrNE0hbqO_Mt3Z_hbnAAvy4mVbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Rio%2BGrande%2Bheadwaters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Headwaters of the Rio Grande <br /><p></p><p>After not traveling for more than a year, I kept reading about places out west that I had been or wanted to go. The Tomboy Basin and the headwaters of the Rio Grande in Colorado. Elk City, the White Bird Grade, and the Old Spiral Highway in Idaho. Actually, the whole Salmon/Snake River area. And eventually Brittania Beach, Bella Coola, and Gingolx in British Columbia. Many of those places are dirt road or off road. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ohRj0jED728/X_SbcbgqPlI/AAAAAAAACyk/w0N2dxikmQwobivcYl1BEKBjKyVleYUHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s495/Old%2BSpiral%2BHighway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="495" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ohRj0jED728/X_SbcbgqPlI/AAAAAAAACyk/w0N2dxikmQwobivcYl1BEKBjKyVleYUHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Old%2BSpiral%2BHighway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Old Spiral Highway<br /><p></p><p>So I hatched a plan. The idea was to convert the KLR for dirt/off road use, get some training and practice in riding off road, and get the bike out west for a few weeks (hopefully 2021). Then store it out there and go back west every year for a few weeks of exploring. Leaving the bike out there makes sense because the ride across the plains isn't any fun. Tentatively, John D. will join me the first time and trailer our bikes out the first time. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AMhQ_0mOmCM/X_SbcYJGecI/AAAAAAAACyg/ePWiAvW5y5kDZUp-6I7mNiSIjKUrrCSaACLcBGAsYHQ/s1329/Bella%2BCoola%252C%2BBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1329" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AMhQ_0mOmCM/X_SbcYJGecI/AAAAAAAACyg/ePWiAvW5y5kDZUp-6I7mNiSIjKUrrCSaACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Bella%2BCoola%252C%2BBC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Bella Coola, BC <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s32HJYcixrY/X_SbcTDZa0I/AAAAAAAACyo/Ejm993rwawQivCBp9ea00_LmpoPVAVbsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s925/Ginglox%2BBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="925" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s32HJYcixrY/X_SbcTDZa0I/AAAAAAAACyo/Ejm993rwawQivCBp9ea00_LmpoPVAVbsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Ginglox%2BBC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Gingolx, BC <p></p><p></p><p>I want to acknowledge the pictures above. The historical picture of Tomboy comes from WesternMiningHistory.com. The historical picture of the Old Spiral Highway comes from the Lewiston Tribune. The pictures of the Rio Grande, Bella Coola, and Gingolx come from Google images.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hq7jrea6xHY/X_ScqQQcuAI/AAAAAAAACzM/Yl8wbqpINpQe3IrxNNktDg3teAr_hwuXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/dirt%2BKLR2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1523" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hq7jrea6xHY/X_ScqQQcuAI/AAAAAAAACzM/Yl8wbqpINpQe3IrxNNktDg3teAr_hwuXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/dirt%2BKLR2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p> I admit to getting older, so the riding won't be aggressive, but it is
still necessary to prepare the bike for tipping over and for good
traction on poor surfaces. The KLR is too heavy for riding in much mud
or sand and I don't like that stuff anyway, so the plan is to mainly
stick to Forest Service and mining roads.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NwNo1HGJYUU/X_ScqTx51uI/AAAAAAAACzI/Q3yxizKuPj85vhZsLNXYGoNiUXrNiguNACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/dirt%2BKLR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1810" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NwNo1HGJYUU/X_ScqTx51uI/AAAAAAAACzI/Q3yxizKuPj85vhZsLNXYGoNiUXrNiguNACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/dirt%2BKLR.JPG" /></a></div> <p></p><p>It's amazing how adding some knobby tires makes any bike look tougher. The luggage rack came from Ukraine, but the other bits are more local. The skid plate is for Rocky Mountain rocks and the crash bars are to keep the radiator from being crushed in a tip over. Off road footpegs have been added for traction and lowered for riding out of the saddle. I also made some spacers to lift the handlebars for a more comfortable standing position on the bike. Just a few things left to do like power the GPS. This year has reinforced the idea to live now, don't wait. I am looking forward to new explorations.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37JPyOfdTaA/X_Scqnw-S8I/AAAAAAAACzQ/_tEexs6d5-shuoVXlRXaPdDfSo_UPfUdACLcBGAsYHQ/s2006/KLR%2Bskid%2Bplate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2006" data-original-width="1993" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37JPyOfdTaA/X_Scqnw-S8I/AAAAAAAACzQ/_tEexs6d5-shuoVXlRXaPdDfSo_UPfUdACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/KLR%2Bskid%2Bplate.JPG" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p><br /><br /></p><p></p><p><br /><br /></p>Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-41388989269452523552021-01-04T21:00:00.108-05:002021-01-05T10:40:21.587-05:00Happy 100th Birthday<p> Today would have been my father, Art Brown's, 100th birthday if he had not passed in 2015. To be honest, I had forgotten his birthday for the last few years and had completely missed the idea that this year would have been his 100th. This post is about remembering, about ongoing family connections, and "traditions".</p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6sZ2G8kGvM/X_SIKTrq_nI/AAAAAAAACyU/M563jg4bZwUu6B7yVv5J9V-DSvE9_BXGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1579/Papa%2B2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="1266" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6sZ2G8kGvM/X_SIKTrq_nI/AAAAAAAACyU/M563jg4bZwUu6B7yVv5J9V-DSvE9_BXGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Papa%2B2012.JPG" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I may have forgotten his 100th birthday, but I remember him in little ways everyday. He was a wonderful father and he and I were as close as father and son, and as friends, as any father and son can be. From him I got my love of audio, my foundation in electronics, my love of cars, and my curiosity about how things work. I also learned respect for every person, the importance of one to one relationships, and that family is a constant that you can fall back on and that continues on beyond each of us.</p><p></p><p>Each family has its small traditions. One of ours, after our mother passed away, was Sunday dinner (noon meal) at a restaurant with as many family members together as possible. Father always loved Italian food and we would often go to Olive Garden.</p><p>This year, of course, we have been staying home with the pandemic. The person that remembered Art's 100th birthday was Amanda, his granddaughter. She and her guy, Tim, remembered him with delivery food from Olive Garden. Mmnnn. Those bread sticks look good.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8AMAEnezao/X_SHgYlClHI/AAAAAAAACyM/bZ_Gpt6qi0U9A5ebSCDz7lMulm09YtIGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Amanda%2527s%2B100th%2Bbirthday%2Bdinner%2Bfor%2BArt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8AMAEnezao/X_SHgYlClHI/AAAAAAAACyM/bZ_Gpt6qi0U9A5ebSCDz7lMulm09YtIGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Amanda%2527s%2B100th%2Bbirthday%2Bdinner%2Bfor%2BArt.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><p></p><p>Here is to Art on his 100th birthday, to family connections, to memories, and the traditions they create.<br /></p>Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-48455867960602084172020-08-04T14:41:00.003-04:002020-08-08T13:48:24.346-04:00Remembering Mark Doman<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KVxY31D7Xhs/XymoYJBiAnI/AAAAAAAACkU/hbd-rbtI0HQNq_9LYujvheVT33UaLqCxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1278/1913%2BDouglas%2BA.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1278" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KVxY31D7Xhs/XymoYJBiAnI/AAAAAAAACkU/hbd-rbtI0HQNq_9LYujvheVT33UaLqCxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1913%2BDouglas%2BA.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I have reached the time when I am
losing friends and family. Today, I am remembering Mark Doman. I
met Mark in college and we have stayed in touch over those many
years. Mark was a special person, adventurous, very intelligent,
creative, open, and accepting of everyone. He was always doing
something interesting, but was always more interested in hearing
about what someone else was doing. He was a person that I admired so
much. I would like to be more like him.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Mark was also one of the best engineers
that I have ever known. Along the way, his career varied from making
snow to designing roller coasters. I used to tease him that he would
be a big hit at parties handing out business cards that said he was a
roller coaster engineer. Once, while at Chrysler, I tried to hire
Mark as a Vehicle Dynamics engineer. It had been years since he had
done automotive engineering, but I knew with his engineering skills
and curious intellect, he would catch up in no time. Alas, my boss
couldn't see it that way, so Chrysler lost a wonderful opportunity.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_jFJQVbUAl4/Xymoge-SUfI/AAAAAAAACkg/ygtma-4K868vWdVp33QSj4ZndGmpiXFWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Mark%2BDoman%2BB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_jFJQVbUAl4/Xymoge-SUfI/AAAAAAAACkg/ygtma-4K868vWdVp33QSj4ZndGmpiXFWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Mark%2BDoman%2BB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">You may be wondering what a remembrance
of someone like Mark is doing in a blog that is mostly about
motorcycles. Mark was also into motorcycles and, as usual with Mark,
his story is a little unique.
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When Mark was a teenager, his dad was
working for Ford in Australia and Mark wanted a motorcycle. His dad
was into antique cars, but also worried about his teenage son riding
a motorcycle. Mark used a little psychology and got his father to
approve him buying an antique motorcycle. As a result, his first
motorcycle was a 1913 Douglas 350 motorcycle. How many of us can say
something like that?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sGvhHB5tfeE/Xymobp0n6_I/AAAAAAAACkc/pDN6sJpL1KA8k0Nn1Q26I03-xd_odChGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1276/1913%2BDouglas%2BB.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sGvhHB5tfeE/Xymobp0n6_I/AAAAAAAACkc/pDN6sJpL1KA8k0Nn1Q26I03-xd_odChGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1913%2BDouglas%2BB.png" width="640" /></a>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The Douglas was a British motorcycle
that was unusual, even in its day. It had a opposed twin like a BMW,
but the cylinders lay fore and aft and that resulted in a narrow, nimble
bike with a low center of gravity. The 350 was rated at 2 ¾ HP and
was a very reliable motorcycle. It was and still is considered to be
quite sporty for the day and the 350 won the Isle of Man Junior TT in
1912. Naturally, even in choosing an antique, Mark chose an
interestingly engineered and “high performance” bike.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">From discussions with Mark, Stephen
Wells says that the Douglas made it back to Ann Arbor, but was left
behind in a shed when the family moved out of a rented house.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Another of Mark's motorcycles was a BSA
250 single. He had intended to restore that bike when he moved back
to Ann Arbor from Utah, but it is one of those projects that never
got done. The motorcycle images have been downloaded from Google
images with credits for the Douglas going to Yesterdays.nl and the
BSA to Wikipedia.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_eGcxE5ULI/Xyv33KgHcEI/AAAAAAAACk0/MSM4I3jGKb437NAFPuRbp1CQKZTsLtVCACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/BSA%2BC11.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_eGcxE5ULI/Xyv33KgHcEI/AAAAAAAACk0/MSM4I3jGKb437NAFPuRbp1CQKZTsLtVCACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/BSA%2BC11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Mark's most modern motorcycle
experience was on trials bikes in Utah. I remember him telling me
about going out to a motocross area in Utah with himself and a friend
on trials bikes. They would start out with the motocross bikes
zipping around them, but soon they would be high on the mountain with
the buzzing motocross bikes far below them. That appealed to the
explorer side of Mark, in addition to the balance and skill of riding
the motorcycle.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In the end, motorcycles were only a
small part of Mark's life. It was a very full life, with family, friends, career, exploration, and adventure. Unfortunately, it was a little shorter than it should
have been. There is not room here to tell all of the stories, so let
me just say that Mark was a friend, a man who I greatly respect, and
one I won't soon forget.</p>
</div><div><br /></div><div>Edit:</div><div><br /></div><div>The family's obituary is out and there was one phrase from it that really exemplifies Mark that I thought I would share. "Mark assumed the best about everyone." That was so true of Mark. Imagine a world were everyone did the same. One more thing that I need to work on in myself.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br />Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-1737836281164747162020-07-10T14:54:00.000-04:002020-07-10T14:54:09.143-04:00Automotive Outlier
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What I like in a car, or motorcycle for
that matter, is different from the vast majority out there and
not what usually sells. At times in my past, that has provided
challenges to me professionally. For example, when asked to tune a
pick up truck. I don't even like pick up trucks, much less
understand what drives people who buy them or what the character of a
truck should be. It makes it hard to put yourself in the customers
shoes and do a good job.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The thing is, I like to be actively
involved in the process of driving. When done well, driving is like
a dance between two partners, a tango if you will, with both partners
communicating through their hands, feet, and body position to form a
whole that is greater than the parts.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qd5J_iv_Qn0/Xwi1EiJm4PI/AAAAAAAACf0/A01X8nOQrcsuEuRP28u8oQwyeV1V6aV2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/tango.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1000" height="128" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qd5J_iv_Qn0/Xwi1EiJm4PI/AAAAAAAACf0/A01X8nOQrcsuEuRP28u8oQwyeV1V6aV2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/tango.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I want the car to respond to me as I
control, hopefully with a little finesse, the throttle, the shifter,
and the clutch. I want to feel the feedback from the clutch as it
takes a bite and transfers torque. I want to hear and feel the
engine respond to my change in throttle pressure and feel the gears
engage as I slip them into position.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Even more important, I want the
steering and the chassis to give me feedback about the traction at
the road surface as I corner or make a correction to our path. And I
want the brakes to tell me about the tire grip on the road and give
me feedback on our stopping progress.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2eujuLLITVs/Xwi1Dk-4J6I/AAAAAAAACfw/U7XLDOzVH1QcMzaQxtvAPy4cnFdm1ECcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/steering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2eujuLLITVs/Xwi1Dk-4J6I/AAAAAAAACfw/U7XLDOzVH1QcMzaQxtvAPy4cnFdm1ECcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/steering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I am not alone in these desires. There
is a group of vehicle dynamics engineers, racers, and other car
enthusiasts that also value these things. But we are a small group
and don't influence the market. After all, my desires are the
antithesis of the self-driving car that is all the rage right now.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I also have a special weirdness in that
I drive alone most of the time and don't think I need a big, heavy
vehicle, just for me. Of course, little cars get better gas mileage,
but its more than that.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you think about it, a bicycle is the
most efficient method of transportation for a single person. It
weighs 30 pounds or less and can cost as little as a few hundred
dollars. Ok, that's not a practical solution for most Americans,
including myself, that don't live where a bicycle is practical for
the distances we travel or the weather conditions, much less the
lower safety of a bicycle in traffic with cars.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXXAtaY1DJ0/Xwi09Nu-K0I/AAAAAAAACfs/B6kfgvfanHkaOvmmIKZRpOdJEJlL4Dy9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/man%2Bcarrying%2Bcar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXXAtaY1DJ0/Xwi09Nu-K0I/AAAAAAAACfs/B6kfgvfanHkaOvmmIKZRpOdJEJlL4Dy9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/man%2Bcarrying%2Bcar.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But do I really need a huge behemoth
that barely fits on the road and weighs 5000 pounds or more just to
carry me? My little Fiat does that job just fine in less than 3000
pounds and a lot less space. I wish it were the old days when a car
that size weighed less than 2000 pounds. When the weather works, my
motorcycle does much better at about 330 pounds.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYOLg9pj-rI/Xwiut1g_UVI/AAAAAAAACfc/Mg7SZNAgdN0NMviL55PSVi5BOScAjAu7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Fiat%2BGuido%2Bb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYOLg9pj-rI/Xwiut1g_UVI/AAAAAAAACfc/Mg7SZNAgdN0NMviL55PSVi5BOScAjAu7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Fiat%2BGuido%2Bb.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The other thing about a small car is
it's fun to drive all the time. You don't need a twisty road or
anything. It becomes an extension of me which is fun on its own.
Not to mention the tiny parking spaces or the ability to cut and
weave through traffic in the little holes that only cars my size will
fit.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
An now comes the conundrum. The Fiat
is getting old and will need to be replaced in a few years. You
can't buy a new one and there aren't very many options out there that
match what the Fiat offers me. The Mini might have been one, but
they went automatic transmission across the board in 2020. For now,
you can still buy a VW Golf, a Subaru Impreza, and maybe one model of
Mazda 3 with a manual transmission, but those are imperfect solutions
bigger, heavier, and much thirstier than the Fiat. Plus they don't
fit my too tall body very well. And, in the past, I wouldn't have
said the Impreza is great at the tango mentioned above. I would have
to drive current versions of each, but at least there is a chance of
a nice tango with the VW and Mazda offerings.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CbcNfb-Hep4/Xwi1FQKTO-I/AAAAAAAACf4/nv76U3OuIaYdW4HjnksPwdWz7Al5gaAegCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/twisty%2BBHM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="512" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CbcNfb-Hep4/Xwi1FQKTO-I/AAAAAAAACf4/nv76U3OuIaYdW4HjnksPwdWz7Al5gaAegCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/twisty%2BBHM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
All of this shifting to fat, heavy and
automatic transmission cars got me wondering how to stay involved as
a driver? In truth, I hate automatic transmissions as much as
anything because the computer never does what I want, and the whole
connection to the engine is just sloppy. My utter dislike of
automatic transmissions led me to an unusual place. What about an
electric car?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Most electric cars are one speed,
direct connection between the wheels and the motor. More than that,
to get good range, the driver needs to be very involved with throttle
control and managing the traffic opportunities for least energy
usage. Some electric cars even give you control over the amount of
regenerative braking available. I have enjoyed my electric car
driving experience, in part because the management of energy is very
involving. It is something similar to controlling the lean angle of
a motorcycle, even in normal riding.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Electric vehicle range is improving and
recharging opportunities are growing in availability to the point
that an electric vehicle could, in theory, become a primary vehicle.
There is even one EV available with 4000 pounds towing capacity.
That is something I am thinking about as I suspect towing a
motorcycle to a place to ride will be more attractive as I get into
my 70's.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At the moment, the barriers are the up
front cost and the rest of the driver involvement equation (steering,
handling, brakes). And one philosophical question that got me
started thinking about this in the first place.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Although there have been small EV,
including the Fiat 500e, they have been too small for acceptable
range. I have a friend that drove his little Mitsubishi EV from
Michigan to Minnesota for an EV convention. It took him 3 days each
way because he could only go 60 miles before recharging.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A practical EV would need 200+ mile
range, preferably closer to 300 mile range. That's a lot of
batteries, battery volume, and mass. All of the proposed or
currently available EV with a range of 200 or more mile range are
4000 pounds or more and much bigger than a Fiat. From a fuel economy
standpoint, they get an equivalent of 70 to 90 mpg, but what do I do
about the idea of such a huge vehicle carrying around just little old
me?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOGlJgcagDY/XwiutSrT2ZI/AAAAAAAACfY/KsXbUalQr6kp_6BVIjReXL4IHmoARoFxACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VW-ID-Buzz-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1600" height="173" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOGlJgcagDY/XwiutSrT2ZI/AAAAAAAACfY/KsXbUalQr6kp_6BVIjReXL4IHmoARoFxACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/VW-ID-Buzz-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Maybe if I have to drive something
bigger, and if VW does a good job with the intangibles, maybe a
production version of something like this would be funky and fun.
Lots to think about. This photo was borrowed from carscoop.com. It is the concept car, so you can imagine it would look a little different. As for other photo credits, the suspension system photo came from guideautoweb.com, man with a car on his back came from iconfinder.com, and the twisty road photo from BHM photo.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
.<br />
Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-65148199104949549802020-05-15T20:29:00.000-04:002020-05-15T20:29:03.383-04:00Motorcycle Soundscape<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YPNxVhIey6Q/Xr8zP9umbcI/AAAAAAAACbk/omqW9wJVMJ84snSFKQUYJ5lDB7n51Mt6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Britten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1034" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YPNxVhIey6Q/Xr8zP9umbcI/AAAAAAAACbk/omqW9wJVMJ84snSFKQUYJ5lDB7n51Mt6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Britten.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Since I'm not riding motorcycles much, its nice to have this distraction.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhJrwVqBi0w/Xr8zPxOhZzI/AAAAAAAACbc/KUdxom3P4dYt00DSfRh4tu0eWSqxpjIYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Honda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1034" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhJrwVqBi0w/Xr8zPxOhZzI/AAAAAAAACbc/KUdxom3P4dYt00DSfRh4tu0eWSqxpjIYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Honda.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This video is a nice entertainment (~15 min). Use the best speakers you can.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/best-sounding-motorcycles-of-all-time/">https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/best-sounding-motorcycles-of-all-time/</a><br />
<br />
Their choices are very good, but I might have nominated a few more,
if possible. For example, Ian's V-8 and the Guzzi V-8. I would have
loved to hear the Honda straight 6 GP bike, but I don't think anyone is
running on of those. How about some of Millyard's specials.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EivqS2JgkM4/Xr8zQX__4mI/AAAAAAAACbo/pX6tHGiyDqMnaZMltBLvSMWbmV9kHE28gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Matchless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1034" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EivqS2JgkM4/Xr8zQX__4mI/AAAAAAAACbo/pX6tHGiyDqMnaZMltBLvSMWbmV9kHE28gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Matchless.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In addition to the sound, I enjoyed the differences in cornering
speed between bikes with the same rider and the same track. Also, the
visual acceleration on the straight. I was surprised how slow the
Britten was in the corners, but then again, it is not replaceable. It
did boggie down the straights.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_F923QAjjqQ/Xr8zPyIxWHI/AAAAAAAACbg/ObvakHGzBFsiEM5MsGQXXFBTCt4vn1m2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/MV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1034" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_F923QAjjqQ/Xr8zPyIxWHI/AAAAAAAACbg/ObvakHGzBFsiEM5MsGQXXFBTCt4vn1m2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/MV.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Note: All the pictures were copied from the same Motorcyclist article that has the video. Nice job, guys.<br />
Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-42077723780096829592020-03-16T12:22:00.001-04:002020-03-16T12:22:36.926-04:00Devil's HaircutFor the most part, I have kept this blog away from politics, social media, and finances. In part, I have done that because I have good friends that agree on motorcycles, travel, and audio, but not on politics, etc. Anyway, the coronavirus is changing things and I will take a moment on a subject that some may consider political. Quick, turn away if this will bother you.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TI3WSfc-2t8/Xm-nS4P_wXI/AAAAAAAACXU/YfiuBp_lFhIK77OSeLDFQkxTjNypRp0kgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Devil%2527s%2BHaircut.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="967" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TI3WSfc-2t8/Xm-nS4P_wXI/AAAAAAAACXU/YfiuBp_lFhIK77OSeLDFQkxTjNypRp0kgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Devil%2527s%2BHaircut.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The Devil's Haircut is a local hair salon where I get my haircut every month. They are a little unusual, but in a fun way. They dress slightly goth, are mostly in their late 20's, ealy 30's, and they have part of a wall with cassette tapes as wallpaper. Actually, its kind of fun to read the titles on that wall.<br />
<br />
I'm lucky to be comfortable in my retirement. I'm not rich, but I was a good saver and I had good jobs all my life. A lot of the working people around me aren't as lucky. For the first time, I am in a high risk group when it comes to the virus, so I am working on my "social distancing". Meanwhile, dining rooms in restaurants are closing by law, so some of the places I like to eat are at business risk along with virus risk. The same is true for the women that cuts my hair and the other women that I hire to clean my house. I will be letting my hair go long and cleaning my own house for the near future.<br />
<br />
So where does that leave the servers, heck the owners, of the restaurants I like? How about the haircutter and house cleaner? Media commentators suggest that we are going to have to tip-tip-tip when all this is over, just to help folks around us recover. I am taking that a step farther. It won't a total answer, but I am paying for haircuts, house cleaning, and sending tips to servers, even though I'm staying at home. I hope you will think about ways you can help the people around you, if you can afford to.Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-80192636940661589942020-03-06T10:05:00.002-05:002020-03-06T10:05:46.448-05:00Rain RacingOnce in a while, I run across old photos when looking for something else. I had completely forgotten about this one, but it gave me a laugh when I found it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBrtg1CfsL0/XmJmmsEv1AI/AAAAAAAACU8/4PAl0VZIzxoAAyqnHQhq3xHKoxhja63UQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Rain%2BRacing.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1099" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBrtg1CfsL0/XmJmmsEv1AI/AAAAAAAACU8/4PAl0VZIzxoAAyqnHQhq3xHKoxhja63UQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Rain%2BRacing.jpeg" width="234" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This was on a practice day at the old Detroit Gran Prix when the cars were Formula 1 and it ran through the streets around the Renaissance Center. As far as I can tell, there is a clear bin liner and two cardboard boxes.💦😃<br />
Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-45613542836994785652019-11-25T10:24:00.004-05:002019-11-25T10:24:49.179-05:00Sunshine on Brass<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just a quick one. I am experimenting with heavy brass footer under a turntable. I made up these and the next morning, the sun was shining in and making the brass glow.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OW8_x_6U7O0/XdvyNKEPAHI/AAAAAAAACUQ/JV23_6TN9sMA7CraI1cANfVm4qgDw1v3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sunlight%2BBrass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1600" height="218" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OW8_x_6U7O0/XdvyNKEPAHI/AAAAAAAACUQ/JV23_6TN9sMA7CraI1cANfVm4qgDw1v3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sunlight%2BBrass.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span>Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-13458014506375325002019-10-06T13:02:00.000-04:002019-10-06T13:02:24.500-04:00Flat tire on the side of the road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILHL9jU-PW8/XZocZouZkiI/AAAAAAAACTk/KgdmKct2CWIz2iUNhwiHNVyWv8smViI9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Flat%2Btire%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bside%2Bof%2Bthe%2Broad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="712" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILHL9jU-PW8/XZocZouZkiI/AAAAAAAACTk/KgdmKct2CWIz2iUNhwiHNVyWv8smViI9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Flat%2Btire%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bside%2Bof%2Bthe%2Broad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When it comes to flat tires on the road
with a motorcycle, I have been luckier than I deserve. I started
riding again more than 16 years ago and, until the summer of 2019, I hadn't had
a flat. Its a good thing too. Almost all of my miles have been on
dirt bike, spoke rims with street tires with tubes in the tires. To be honest, I don't think I could
remove and patch a tube on the side of the road. These stiff road
tires on these narrow dirt bike rims make dismounting and mounting a
tire into about a half day of hard work in the shop. Nearly
impossible on the side of the road.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Realizing that I was pushing my luck,
this season I converted the spoke wheels on my KTM to “tubeless”
by sealing the spokes with a special 3M sealant tape. You might say
that the universe wanted me to practice my tire plug skills by giving
me a drywall screw in the rear tire on the first trip I took after going tubeless. And it did take some practice. My first attempt leaked some air, so I ended up plugging it again on
side of the road the next day. That one held long enough for me to complete the ride and ride the 500 miles home.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
With my new interest in plugging
motorcycle tires, I discussed the subject with other riders and got a
range of opinions on the reliability of a plugged motorcycle tire. Riding home, I
started wondering what the expert opinion of plugging a motorcycle
tire might be. And then I remembered that I knew an expert or two
that I could ask.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I will tell you up front that, based on
my car experience, I was a proponent of plugging tires. I
assumed that, like a car tire, a well executed tire plug could last
the life of the tire.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When I got home, I got online and found
Dunlop's position on plugging tires. They say never
use a plug alone to patch a tire and the only acceptable repair is a
“plug/patch”.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-before: always;">
My next stop
was to email my friend, Frank. Frank is a retired tire designer of
great expertise. Frank was the father of the original BFG Comp TA
and spent time at BFG, Michelin, Dunlop, and Kumho.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Frank's response was that a motorcycle
and a car tire are very different things. He pointed out that the
tread of a motorcycle tire does a lot of stretching and compressing
because of the curved crown of the tread. This means that it is much
easier for a plug to come out of a motorcycle tire, even when
properly installed. His advice was to get the plugged tire off the
bike as soon as possible. Now that's a little scary.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
To be frank, I'm still going to use
plugs as an emergency road side fix, but I'm also going to be careful
of the stress that I put on a plugged tire and get it off the bike as
soon as I get home.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I thought it would be interesting to
look at the differences in tire construction between a motorcycle and
a car tire. There are 2 cut-away sketches of the inside construction
of a typical car and motorcycle tire shown below. The casing or body
ply of the tire is almost the same in a motorcycle and a car. Cords
run straight across from one bead to the other. The car tire shape
is flatter in the tread area, but otherwise similar. Both these
tires are radial ply.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kerV3syj75s/XZoX0L4dXJI/AAAAAAAACTQ/oik75mqhowg5mrYjVst8RDTJkJiBuP0UQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/car%2Btire%2Binternal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="586" height="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kerV3syj75s/XZoX0L4dXJI/AAAAAAAACTQ/oik75mqhowg5mrYjVst8RDTJkJiBuP0UQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/car%2Btire%2Binternal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3K4CDIrkp54/XZoX0F_JdcI/AAAAAAAACTU/1RK2SAmrSnQ83HHjCAIRO0EcefHtFwemQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Motorcycle%2Btire%2Binternal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="575" height="222" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3K4CDIrkp54/XZoX0F_JdcI/AAAAAAAACTU/1RK2SAmrSnQ83HHjCAIRO0EcefHtFwemQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Motorcycle%2Btire%2Binternal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The big difference comes in the belt.
The car has two belts (usually steel) that form a cross hatch because
of their cord angles. That structure is really strong, even when
punctured, and a car tire plug can often live the life of the tire.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On the other hand, the typical
motorcycle tire belt is a single cord that is wrapped around the
circumference of the tread. When punctured, the belt cord is cut and
can pull away from the hole. Also, as the tire rolls through the
contact patch, the belt compresses, then stretches making the loss of
a plug possible. As you can imagine, high speed and high load are
likely to make this situation worse.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So take it from a convert. If you have
to plug your tire along the way, take it a bit easy and keep close
track of the tire pressure. Then get that tire off the bike as soon
as you can.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Attribution - the cut-away sketches
were borrowed from Google Images with the motorcycle tire from
bareasschoppers.com and the car tire from overdrive.in. The picture of the rider with a flat on the side of the road is from roadrunner travel magazine.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Southern Grace and Manners </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My last trip of this season was down to western Virginia, a favorite area for me. Once again, I had a puncture in my rear tire. Before the trip, I had installed a tire pressure monitor and it worked. I looked at the display and found a flashing red light with a rear tire pressure displayed at 19 psi.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was up in the mountains in a National Forest with no cell signal and very little traffic, but I had the tools to plug the tire and inflate, so it was no worries. I was lucky to find a wide, shaded pull out on the side of the road and began fixing the tire. Part way through the process, a car pulled up and sat behind me watching me work. When it was clear that I was able to fix the tire and was starting to put away tools, the car approached with an older couple inside. The lady on the right put down her window and said, "sorry for your troubles" as they rolled back to the highway. It turns out that they had stopped and waited, just in case I needed some help. Now that is friendly. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A Funny Flat Story</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is a short but true story about
plugging motorcycle tires. A friend of mine vacationed in Cuba last
winter, including 2 weeks exploring with a guide and a rented
motorcycle.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It turns out that it was the season for
crabs to come out of the ocean and lay their eggs on the shore. My
friend and his guide came across the place where the crabs were
crossing the road and there were so many that they couldn't avoid
hitting a few of them. The crabs claws were so sharp that my friends
front tire was punctured and they had to try and find a repair place
nearby.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A motorcycle repair shop was found, but
the mechanic was out of tire plugs. Not to worry, he had a ready
solution. It turns out that condom is a useful replacement for the
traditional tire plug. The condom plug lasted the rest of the trip.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-57079622917862723832019-10-06T12:23:00.001-04:002019-10-06T12:23:39.313-04:00Two Bikes ReduxAbout 1 year ago, I wrote a post about how the specs of my KTM 690 Enduro and my Kawasaki KLR650 were almost identical, but they felt very different when riding. In fact, they required a different riding style to remain confident and have some flow to riding corner to corner.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EcJuCKedT6w/XZoO8YeGhcI/AAAAAAAACTE/t2pTvuT0KXwEB6z2ZV4gfdOxnA03PMciwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/MSO%2Boverlook%2Bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EcJuCKedT6w/XZoO8YeGhcI/AAAAAAAACTE/t2pTvuT0KXwEB6z2ZV4gfdOxnA03PMciwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/MSO%2Boverlook%2Bb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After 3 seasons, I have 19k miles on the KTM and I have learned how to ride it with confidence and flow. It is still a very different style than the KLR. In fact, I took the KLR out for a ride this summer and just couldn't make it work. My muscle memory has so completely adapted to the KTM that I can't ride the KLR the way I used to.<br />
<br />
But this time, I may have the answer to the differences between bikes. It's said that lateral flex in a motorcycle is a key part of the suspension during cornering. For example, if you are leaned over at 45 degrees, the force from a bump is split between the direction the suspension works and lateral force trying to bend the forks and swing arm. So flex from the forks, frame, and swing arm are the only "suspension" for the lateral loads. In addition, it is thought that the forks stop working because the side load increases the friction in the fork and it "sticks".<br />
<br />
This article discusses the effects of lateral flex on Motogp bikes and the effect of tire design on rider feedback and performance.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/motogp/why-motogp-has-gone-soft">https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/motogp/why-motogp-has-gone-soft</a><br />
<br />
I don't claim that either of my bikes nor the rider are anything like a motogp bike, but lateral stiffness may explain the difference in feel between the KTM and the KLR. For example, the forks on the KLR are 38mm diameter. The KTM has 48 mm diameter forks. The KLR has a frame that is not triangulated with only a single down tube and top tube from the steering head. The KTM has a triangulated trellis frame that wraps around the engine and uses the engine structurally. Finally, the swing arm of the KLR is fabricated small rectangular tube while the KTM is cast with large sections, especially the cross brace. My guess is that the KTM chassis is an order of magnitude stiffer than the KLR.<br />
<br />
Finally, a big difference and one which may explain the difference in feel.<br />
<br />Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-12383912248216048462019-03-25T09:14:00.002-04:002019-03-25T09:14:36.853-04:00The Chain and the FrameThe subject of motorcycle drive has been on my mind lately. I'm due to change the chain on my KTM after trying the clean but don't lube approach. And a friend is in the process of modifying an old BMW with a more modern swing arm, so we were talking about shortening his driveshaft. It's a surprisingly wimpy looking thing that looks more like a steering shaft than a drive shaft to me.<br />
<br />
Along the way, I was referred to a video of a motorcycle chain during a drag strip run. It's not exactly your street bike, but it is a view I've never seen before and often wondered about. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2wxgez">https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2wxgez</a><br />
<br />
Since we are on the subject, there is also this video from Kevin Cameron on how motorcycle frames have evolved over the years. It's fun to see him explain things with his hands.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id7UZ3iws40">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id7UZ3iws40</a><br />
<br />
That reminded me of a recent conversation with a fast rider from our club. He said that most people have no idea what the capability of a modern sport bike really is. He picked a road I know which has many tight corners marked at 15 and 20 mph and said that he can average 70 to 80 mph over that mountain. This could be unsupported bragging, but knowing who said it, I suspect it is data based and pretty close to the truth. In that case, I hope I never find out the true capability of a sport bike.<br />
<br />
<br />Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-89194924865817975752019-02-24T18:31:00.000-05:002019-02-24T18:35:14.449-05:00Northern California ReduxThe sidebar.<br />
<br />
You may already be aware that Apple products have gotten very expensive. It came time to replace my computer and I found that the successor model to my old Mac Mini was $1000 higher, more than double, what my 2012 model had been. So I started looking around for alternatives and decided to give what's known as a hackintosh a try. This is a computer built with Windows compatible components that is tweaked to run Mac OS. Alas, Apple is doing a good job of protecting their intellectual property making it very hard to run that Mac OS on Windows hardware. Of course, my skills in this area are poor, so in the end I failed and put Windows 10 on my Windows hardware computer. Note that this isn't a great solution for Apple or me, as I am now working on the Windows OS instead of Mac. Oh well.<br />
<br />
So Windows 10 is enough different to cause a learning curve, but one interesting thing that they do is offer pretty landscape pictures on their boot-up screen and those change over time. You even get to tell it which pictures you like so that they tune it to your taste.<br />
<br />
That sent me on an internet quest to download some nice free pictures for wallpaper on the Windows box. With that success, I noticed that my Mac, which I still use, was a little boring in the wallpaper department. So, I went looking through my pictures for interesting alternatives. And that brought me back to my 2011 trip to northern California. Several of these I had posted earlier, but heck, that was 8 years ago.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ge4dQGSwjM/XHMmOXgqJ-I/AAAAAAAACPY/NZzLcxpFYEsvIqYfpAU7bvEdEhY_WbY-QCLcBGAs/s1600/Sweetwater%2BSprings%2Btruck%2Bb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ge4dQGSwjM/XHMmOXgqJ-I/AAAAAAAACPY/NZzLcxpFYEsvIqYfpAU7bvEdEhY_WbY-QCLcBGAs/s320/Sweetwater%2BSprings%2Btruck%2Bb.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Wandering the backroads, I came across several interesting farm trucks. These were both in the foothills just west of the Russian River Valley. Both are Fords from a similar, if not the same era.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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I will throw in the traditional ocean shoreline shot and a picture of a Mendocino cottage, mainly for the contrast between the wood and the green grass.<br />
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But the thing that got my camera's attention was the moss growing in range of the mist from the ocean. Enjoy.<br />
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Armstrong State Natural Reserve</div>
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Porter Creek</div>
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Pine Flats </div>
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Moss Fence </div>
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<br />Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-78225939835796443442018-11-13T19:17:00.000-05:002018-11-13T19:17:09.442-05:00Burkes GardenI have always been attracted to quiet places. When I was a kid, I wanted to buy Round Island and live in the Lighthouse. Not a very practical fantasy.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s5zchyw_dOw/W-thMU28lZI/AAAAAAAACNg/Zy0g_3jyr5InTRpFaGUm_80ZMp34NvRawCLcBGAs/s1600/round-island-lighthouse-mackinac%2Bb.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s5zchyw_dOw/W-thMU28lZI/AAAAAAAACNg/Zy0g_3jyr5InTRpFaGUm_80ZMp34NvRawCLcBGAs/s320/round-island-lighthouse-mackinac%2Bb.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After living for years in crowded California, I moved back to Michigan and began my house search. Once again, I was tempted by a quiet place, a home for sale with a 1/4 mile driveway, 30 acres and surrounded on 3 sides by state wildlife land. But I came to my senses and bought a house with a bit of privacy, but still close enough to people so that I didn't become a hermit.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9yJaedPgPTs/W-thtUak3-I/AAAAAAAACNs/2OPh237fQuYRL3rK8nQ7-20bNcq1knviwCLcBGAs/s1600/Burke%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="620" height="206" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9yJaedPgPTs/W-thtUak3-I/AAAAAAAACNs/2OPh237fQuYRL3rK8nQ7-20bNcq1knviwCLcBGAs/s320/Burke%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UC7gh8oYhrQ/W-thtUJbqoI/AAAAAAAACNo/nwEEzY7ga04wxJqKkRex_p9MX2D2KJheQCLcBGAs/s1600/Burke%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="252" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UC7gh8oYhrQ/W-thtUJbqoI/AAAAAAAACNo/nwEEzY7ga04wxJqKkRex_p9MX2D2KJheQCLcBGAs/s1600/Burke%2B1.jpg" /></a></div>
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On a recent motorcycle trip, I visited a quiet place that manages to be both quiet and community. It's called Burkes Garden in western Virginia and it starts out with rather unique topography. As you can see from the photographs, it is a high valley surrounded by mountains with only a small gap for the water to flow out of the valley and into a narrow valley. From the air, you might think its a crater from a volcano or meteor strike, but scientists tell us that the valley was formed when a massive cavern collapsed under the mountain. Sometimes called "God's Thumbprint", it remains a remote and beautiful valley, especially because the valley access is a climb over a mountain ridge that drops into a valley far from towns and services.<br />
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On my visit, after climbing up the mountain and down into the valley, I came through the gap to a large pond held behind a dam. My first clue that this was a quiet place was when I disturbed two bald eagles who had been fishing in the pond. They flew parallel to me on the bike for 50 yards before turning away from the road. Magnificent. <br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m2wb36TMTiU/W-thuBttQwI/AAAAAAAACN0/ik6xF9EvfdkcK2xFdcB-MglZtyP5sjKZACLcBGAs/s1600/bald%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="945" height="179" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m2wb36TMTiU/W-thuBttQwI/AAAAAAAACN0/ik6xF9EvfdkcK2xFdcB-MglZtyP5sjKZACLcBGAs/s320/bald%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The community living in the valley consists mainly of farmers, about half of them Amish. Interestingly, the little general store that I stopped at for lunch is run by a friendly Amish lady who was originally from Reed City, Mi.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_yirQDIiwmM/W-tht63bIlI/AAAAAAAACNw/eiMhowGH-9M-PMnuIQ5o8_4YUwbR1dzQgCLcBGAs/s1600/Burke%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_yirQDIiwmM/W-tht63bIlI/AAAAAAAACNw/eiMhowGH-9M-PMnuIQ5o8_4YUwbR1dzQgCLcBGAs/s320/Burke%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I mentioned it was both a quiet place and a sense of community. While I was eating my lunch, a non-Amish farmer came into the store and I was privileged to overhear a conversation about Amish and non-Amish coming together to build a community meeting place and music venue. It's cool that the valley is remote enough to be quiet and yet remains a friendly community with residents supporting each other. The valley must be pretty isolated sometimes in winter. At 3000 ft elevation, its high enough to get snow and I wouldn't want to go over that mountain on a snowy road.<br />
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What a nice and interesting place for a closet hermit like me.<br />
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<br />Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-67269862241760829542018-11-04T11:28:00.000-05:002018-11-04T11:28:10.023-05:00Following my nose through the countrysideFor the first 35 years or so of my driving career, I always owned at least one convertible. With the top down, you can see more, especially looking up. You feel more out in the world and there is also the smell factor. I would argue that the sense of smell is the second most important sense for exploring the countryside.<br />
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As I have transitioned to a motorcycle for my explorations, I've kept most of the good things about the convertible. Ok, I don't get the wind in my hair because of the helmet, but you truly feel like you are out in the world with lots of fresh air, a full view, and all the smells.<br />
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There are exhaust smells, wet leaf smells, and factory smells. The summer I worked at the GM Proving Grounds, I was driving the Sprite and I could have told you blindfolded where I was when I smelled this one small factory. The smell was a mix of hot linseed oil, WD40, and something electrical getting too hot. I never did figure out what they made at that factory.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywJ6rxfk8E0/W9OT-WzFkxI/AAAAAAAACMk/P-OBDW_MON8YuAjtGubuW0fBpfsTiPWaQCLcBGAs/s1600/Skunk_about_to_spray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="220" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywJ6rxfk8E0/W9OT-WzFkxI/AAAAAAAACMk/P-OBDW_MON8YuAjtGubuW0fBpfsTiPWaQCLcBGAs/s1600/Skunk_about_to_spray.jpg" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JV8bm8-emxI/W9OT-eDnc1I/AAAAAAAACMg/g0KiyZ_aVbQKg5-l5SJMFlEKAaCD51lwACLcBGAs/s1600/feedlot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="306" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JV8bm8-emxI/W9OT-eDnc1I/AAAAAAAACMg/g0KiyZ_aVbQKg5-l5SJMFlEKAaCD51lwACLcBGAs/s1600/feedlot.jpg" /></a></div>
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I admit, there are smells that I might rather do without, but the clean, fresh breeze when you come over a mountain pass makes up for any nasty smells.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zk-GpCHhUM8/W9OT_NaPtJI/AAAAAAAACMs/jIMdGxM5fzowS_MS7ALlxdTkLza375nJQCLcBGAs/s1600/lawn%2Bmower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zk-GpCHhUM8/W9OT_NaPtJI/AAAAAAAACMs/jIMdGxM5fzowS_MS7ALlxdTkLza375nJQCLcBGAs/s1600/lawn%2Bmower.jpg" /></a>The most common smell is that of freshly cut grass. Since I have hay fever, I hold my breathe, but I still know its there.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t0wMTrWJplw/W9OT-fjzjtI/AAAAAAAACMc/qEvSjgr_5dQ0UcyNO0gmME9wdesUveWTQCLcBGAs/s1600/Tide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t0wMTrWJplw/W9OT-fjzjtI/AAAAAAAACMc/qEvSjgr_5dQ0UcyNO0gmME9wdesUveWTQCLcBGAs/s1600/Tide.jpg" /></a><br />
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Surprisingly, at least to me, is that the second most common smell is laundry soap. Both strong and easily recognizable, I never realized how much scent I was putting out when I did my laundry.<br />
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Its a shame we are more and more isolated from the outdoor world.Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-45222965612301460782018-10-28T10:37:00.001-04:002018-10-28T10:37:34.308-04:00I'm in Love with my CarAlthough this is an old video, I had never seen it before. Good car songs are few and far between.<br />
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I love the line, "Tell my girl, I have to forget her. Gotta buy me a new carburetor."<br />
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Great images! Someone had access to a really good library of video.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oaEM4JYFPfw" width="560"></iframe><br />
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And, although the video isn't great, here is one of my favorite unknown car songs by Little Village.<br />
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Enjoy.Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-82453757477411521642018-09-19T16:04:00.000-04:002018-09-24T11:42:10.313-04:00Two Bike the Same/DifferentOne of the things that surprised me most was how different in feeling the KLR and KTM were for handling. Just looking at the bikes, you would think they were pretty similar. Yet they are so different that I have needed 9000 miles and most of two riding seasons to learn how to ride the KTM, at least on twisty roads with good pavement.<br />
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The way that I think of it, you rode the KLR a little bit like a dirt bike, even on pavement. The bike wanted a lot of lean angle to initiate the corner, so I would lean the bike without leaning my body to start the corner, then lean my body to balance the bike as the lateral acceleration required. This is very different from the way sport bike riders are taught to enter a corner, but it worked on the KLR and I rode the KLR for almost 15 years, so it became my riding "style".<br />
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Using this riding style, I had great confidence in the front end and, because I didn't have much horsepower, I was able to enter corners at higher speeds and keep my momentum up.<br />
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Needless to say, this didn't work on the KTM. Over the two years and 9k miles, I tried many different ideas, including the traditional approach of moving your body center of gravity to the inside of the curve before beginning entry and then keeping the bike as vertical as possible to stay on the middle of the tire. In the end, it took a combination of the sports bike technique with the addition of leaning/moving my weight forward before the corner. Without adding a bit of weight to the front end, I just didn't have any confidence in the front end on corner entry.<br />
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That got me to wondering, what was different between the bikes. Looking at the specs, the difference remains a big question to me.<br />
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Lets start with rake and trail. This diagram was borrowed from Motorcycle Cruiser on line and I thank them.<br />
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You might say, feeling the front end should have a lot to do with rake and trail. Let's see;<br />
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KLR rake 28 deg., KTM rake 27 deg. Not much difference there.<br />
KLR trail 111 mm, KTM trail 112 mm<br />
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Wheelbase can have a big effect on handling and the feeling of responsiveness. Maybe the KTM has a shorter, more responsive wheelbase.<br />
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KLR 1490 mm, KTM 1504 mm<br />
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Seat height, the KTM is 3/4" higher<br />
Suspension travel, KTM has 3/4" more travel at both ends<br />
Dry weight - finally a real difference - the KTM is 40 pounds or about 10% lighter without fuel.<br />
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Still, I can't see any of these specs explaining the differences in handling I see between the two bikes. I still have a lot to learn about bikes and what makes them work.<br />
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<br />Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-5524698003734965852018-06-25T08:13:00.001-04:002018-06-25T08:13:35.552-04:00How many bikes are enough?Just a short thought.<br />
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For years, I thought one bike was fine. Then I got the ZRX1200 and because it wasn't that comfortable, nothing really changed. I found that I didn't ride very often locally, in part because it takes more effort to suit up and I was too lazy to do that for a 5 mile trip to the store. Also, there was always a trip coming up and I wanted to clean up the bike, change the oil, adjust the chain and leave it ready for the next trip. Riding around locally just meant I needed to do maintenance twice because of the local miles.<br />
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This year, I finally have the KTM working well, but I haven't found a new home for the KLR. After doing maintenance on both bikes, I realized that I could leave the KTM ready for the trip and still ride the KLR. Hmmmnnnn..... Maybe having two bikes isn't such a bad idea.Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-38719016687592279832018-05-11T13:05:00.002-04:002018-05-11T13:05:39.800-04:00Cross Wind Stability - Trunk or Panniers?<br />
One big difference between the KLR and the KTM is the choice of luggage. On the KLR, I decided that would keep everything in line with my body. After all, my body is a large, high drag body that just about doubles the frontal area of the bike. So, I chose a trunk and a large tank bag.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C3XKOAYx67I/WvXHerce27I/AAAAAAAACLY/4Yx-KQrCwzQGuNHgw9wynEUucQkin3sqACLcBGAs/s1600/trip%2Bend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C3XKOAYx67I/WvXHerce27I/AAAAAAAACLY/4Yx-KQrCwzQGuNHgw9wynEUucQkin3sqACLcBGAs/s320/trip%2Bend.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Of course, one of the downsides of this approach is that I had to "step thru" which isn't easy on a tall bike. The other potential downside was that the side view cross section area was large and high which might cause problems in a cross wind. Cross wind stability has been a consistent problem on the KLR. I remember getting off the highway and parking on a side road facing into the wind because I was afraid I was going to blow over if I kept riding.<br />
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On the KTM, I bowed to being a bit older. I knew that at some point "stepping thru" was going to require flexibility I wouldn't have. So I went for a small tank bag and panniers mounted as low and forward as possible. <br />
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I also hoped that the KTM would be better in a cross wind, but that didn't work out so well. Of course, the KLR wasn't perfect in a cross wind, but I would have to say the KTM is worse. <br />
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Imagine you are riding on a highway, 10 mph below the speed limit and leaning into the wind 10 to 15 degrees. It feels like the tires might slip out from under you and when a gust comes along, the bike is moved over by 1 lane or more. Scary stuff.<br />
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However, there is a technique that is helpful. The scariest part is the bike being moved sideways, especially if that puts you off the road. It turns out that, if you lean way forward, you put more weight on the front wheel and move the lateral center of pressure forward. In this position, the bike doesn't steer away from the wind as badly. You might even balance out the front and rear so that you are still leaning, but the bike doesn't feel like it's going to slide out from under you.<br />
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In the end, the choice between trunk and panniers isn't really a side wind stability thing. Tall bikes are bad for side wind stability either way. At least with the KTM, I can lean further forward as I am not limited by the tank bag.<br />
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<br />Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5656156971071254177.post-66273214356606584142018-04-08T09:28:00.002-04:002018-04-08T09:28:33.750-04:00A Village Divided<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back in the early 80's, when I was working for VW, my host on my first visit to Wolfsburg made a point of showing me around. We had a drink at the Alter Wolf, an inn and pub that was a postal and customs house in the 1700's. We drove by the castle that was the genesis of the town. And we drove out into the country to view the Iron Curtain between East and West Germany. We visited a small village, similar to the one in the photo above, that had been split by the divide, complete with fences, wall, and machine gun towers. It was a pretty scary and stark image. My host told me of the families that had been divided along with the town. Forty years on at that time, generations had grown up not knowing their family members living only meters away.<br />
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Nothing as extreme as the Iron Curtain, but I was recently traveling back roads in eastern Ohio and ran across a village divided. The village that was built around the junction of 4 small creeks. It has been a hard winter and the bridge through the center of town was damaged and closed by the creek. It wasn't a complete washout, you could still probably walk across, but otherwise it is like two separate villages. Depending on weather, first responders like ambulance and fire have a 30 mile detour to get to the other side of town.<br />
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Ohio road officials know that they have to fix this one, but they don't have a contractor willing to do the job at the moment, so they don't know when it will be fixed. That got me thinking about how small town and country infrastructure is being neglected and underfunded. It's creating ghost towns and defacto iron curtains, like this bridge job. Sure, lot of people are moving into cities, but we should be able to support the small places too. I just don't want us to end up with a city like the one in Logan's Run.<br />
Jac Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912110198446594226noreply@blogger.com0