Places Archives
Tourist attractions
11:16 pm | 0 | Shorts | Conversations, Places, The Man
Recently got this email from my number one husband:
Here’s to hoping the next seven days fly by…
Ma belle
10:55 pm | 7 | Blog | Girly, Places
Did you know that some Canadians, when they are traveling overseas, prominently display maple leaf icons and Canadian flags so that they do not get mistaken for USians*?
Somehow a few years ago I came into the possession of two tiny Canadian flag lapel pins. C and I have joked about wearing them while we’re in Europe next month.
But as disappointed as I have been in the regime of the past 8 years, I still love the United States and everything it idealistically stands for, and the thought of masquerading as someone else’s citizen doesn’t sit well with me.
Then C (voice of reason) had the brilliant idea of wearing Obama pins. We’ve been wanting to find some way to publicly display our support for him at home, and this has the added benefit of announcing to the citizens abroad that we do not support the colossal boob currently in office nor the never-ending war with which McCain seems to be in the midst of a love affair.
Besides, how could I resist this Team Obama button featuring Barack and Michelle knuckling up? Did you see her get teary during her speech this evening? Friggin’ love her.
*I use this term because Canadia is, technically, part of America.
Sixteen days and counting
10:36 am | 0 | Shorts | Conversations, Places, The Man
When I fly to Frankfurt I have to bring both C’s luggage and my luggage with me. This morning he sent me the following email regarding packing:
Burnin’ Love
6:25 pm | 0 | Photo Album | Places, Two Wheels
Here is a direct link to the photoset. I am feeling better, thank you.
The numbers
8:38 pm | 3 | Blog, Photo Album | Places, Two Wheels
Miles traversed: 1,800 +/-
Days: 9
Major rivers crossed: 2
Minor tributaries crossed: countless
States traveled: 6 (if you count 5 minutes in Georgia)
States never before visited: 5 (counting Georgia)
Accidents or catastrophes: None!
Riverboats: 1
Museums/tourist attractions: 5
Antique malls: 10 +/-
Hotels in Memphis before we found one we liked: 4
Nights in Memphis: 3
Illnesses acquired and incubated: 1
I have a lot more thoughts to sort about Tennessee and the trip but I have a fever and can barely bring myself to get off the couch. The worst thing about being sick like this is how bored I get. The good news is Butch sent me a copy of Image Capture and I was able to get all my videos off the scootercam. I’ll edit them someday.
Indulging myself in narcicism
2:38 am | 7 | Blog, Video | Girly, Places, Two Wheels
Here’s the video from Chattanooga Channel 12. That’s me in the first montage, kick-starting my scooter in one shot and then revving the throttle a few shots later. That’s also me at the end of the video, rambling about helmet hair. For the record, I don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about when I say I can ride “for weeks” on one tank. For those thinking of buying a scooter, that’s not true. She just asked me a mindless question and I responded in kind.
The current *spin* on scooter stories is about how people sick of high gas prices are turning to two wheels to ease their economic woes. It’s the only way the news can come up with to relate to the scooterist community. But I’ve been riding scooters for 5+ years, way before gas prices reached unreasonable levels, and even before then I was raised by a father who raced and was obsessed with moto-cycling. There are so many people out there now who have bought their first 2-wheeled vehicle and who have no idea on how to ride safely (flip-flops? no helmet? tank tops? lane sharing?) and in my opinion they are not the bulk of the scooterist community, nor are they representative of what AmeriVespa is about. I mean, my bike is a greasy 30-year-old 2-stroke highly-pollutive inefficient engine. If I was in it for gas prices, surely I’d be driving a hyrbid. I’m in it for the scooters themselves.
Okay. End rant. Enjoy the video. Sunday Punchers REPRESENT!
Choo choo chaboogie
6:51 pm | 0 | Blog | Places, Two Wheels
We (the royal We) have taken the town of Chattanooga over. We got here about 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon (too late for the ride to Deal’s Gap) but early enough to socialize and meet a few people. We missed the ride today too because SOMEONE (not me) wanted to go antiquing in the morning. Probably a good thing though, because it rained all damn day. We tried to catch up, riding the twists up to Lookout Mountain (where C was once the youngest person ever to hangglide). It started pouring rain. There was fog everywhere. Even after it stopped pouring rain our clothes were so soaked it felt impossible to get warm. Eighty degrees is one thing. It’s a whole lot cooler 2,000 feet above sea level and at 45 mph.
When we got back to town we heard rumors of wrecks. More than 10. The second ride was canceled. But the rain cleared, so we rode up to to Signal Mountain, just C and I. Maybe tomorrow we’ll try Lookout again.
While hanging out at the Chattanooga Choo Choo I was interviewed by a local newscaster. I’d seen her interviewing other scooterists across the street. “I wanted to talk to a girl,” she said. Hopefully I won’t look like a dork. I’ll post the video as soon as it’s online.
AmeriVespa was on the cover of the Chattanooga newspaper this morning. Oh Bumblebee Dude, ride on my friend. Ride on like the Transformer you wish you were.
Alligator Alley
10:40 am | 0 | Photo Album | Places
It’s taken me a long time to edit and cull them, but I have finally posted pictures from our two-week road trip through Florida. Click the picture to come along with me.
209 Miles to Matagorda
11:55 am | 0 | Photo Album | Places, The Man, Two Wheels
C and I have been daydreaming of a multi-state motorcycle trip. It’s something both of us have always wanted to do, and now that we have a big person’s motorcycle we’ve been taking day trips and overnight trips just for the pure pleasure of being on the machine.
Last month, in the few days between C’s return home and our trip to Florida, we managed to take a seven-hour ride down to Matagorda and the Gulf, exploring country roads as we went.
The water wasn’t any nicer than Galveston, but 521 is a great little tree-lined shady highway with a few twists and turns and plenty of tiny red farmhouses along the way.
This month we hope to ride out to the Texas Hill Country, maybe stop near the Guadalupe River for a dip in the icy waters. It’s all part of our Great Texas Tour. Incidentally, if you’re planning your own Texas Tour, might I recommend two books? Day Trips from Houston and Weird Texas.
Wow. Things sure did get boring around here for a while. Sorry about that. More adventures to come soon.
Seven Moai of Ahu Akivi
9:22 am | 0 | Photo Album | Places
Seven Moai of Ahu Akivi, originally uploaded by anoldent.