Every once in a while...

Rarely does it happen, but every once in a while a modern country musician makes a song that's worth a damn. I believe this one fits the bill.

When I'm a little older

When I'm a little older, a bike built in a style similar to Cole's here is where I'm headed. No fancy pants fabrication, just pure style.

"Never waste the opportunities offered by a good crisis..."

Little sissy

For a place that's perceived to get alot of rain, the grass sure does get brown during the summer around here.

And yes, the sidecar tire did ride like a 2 x 4 due to the stiff sidewall. That said, it handled just fine.

A bit hipster maybe...

but pretty good. My taste in music is an awful lot like my taste in motorcycles and custom cars: I'm open to anything, as long as it's done real well.

Zen

For the Poon

Come visit soon Jon. Bring your friend Grant with you. I know, I know. I need to come down there. I will someday. Maybe on a motorcycle when I'm older and grayer.

Just a good song

From what seems like a time when a song could just be a good song.

Vard Forks

One very, very small step up from springer performance...except springers don't spray you with fork oil every time you hit a bump. The cool cast bronze trees and sliders made up for it. Sort of.

I've been busy

My apologies for not updating this thing lately. I'm just very, very busy. This is my friend Rolf's Model A. I'm writing a story on it now. This image makes me smile because it captures what a Hot Rod is meant to be - a real world cartoon.

Preach it Merle

Time to Move On

The '53 is up for sale. Need to sell it to buy a truck that won't kill me, and to free up funds to finish the '63 Pan.

I hope a 23 year old kid with skinny jeans, a floppy haircut, and a fat insurance check doesn't end up with it. Unless he's the type of kid who enjoys working on bikes more than riding them. Then it'd be cool.

Pajamas help in the creative process

The mosquitos were ruthless

Those pointy nosed fuckers.

Yes

"Daddy, is that a race track?"
Yes.

"Can we drive on it?"

Yes, let's do that.



"Daddy, are those raspberries?"
Yes.
"Can we pick them?"
Yes, let's pick them.

hatetoquitit

It's nice here at the camp.



The kids are having a ball.

I always thought he was the one...

I'd be building a bike with someday. I may be wrong.

Solid selection on that table

Song's good too. It's hard not to like Waylon Jennings, and although I'm not a big Hank Jr. fan, I do respect his place in the game. He could have just kept on doing what his daddy did (which was very, very good) but he headed his own direction; occasionally for better, but most often for worse. Still, he did it his way.

The city at night

Jake and I went out for a 10pm ride around the city the other night. Very little traffic, nice weather, and plenty of neat stuff to look at.

A great 4th of July weekend

We had a really fun 4th of July weekend up in the mountains with friends and their little ones. Most of our time was spent relaxing at the pool. The kids had a blast in the water, as did the adults.



Jake taught the girls about photosynthesis.



The young lady hunted for trolls, gnomes, fairies, and other manner of things that could live in a forest by a river.



The big guy had a blast exploring, playing soccer, roasting marshmallows, and swimming. He's part fish.



Hooray for the 4th of July!

Take it to the bridge

I've had plenty of the stuff above for a bit. Mind you, it's a very nice car.

I'm looking forward to spending some time down by the river.

A nice late-June weekend

On Saturday I rode the Panhead a couple of hours south to photograph a car show I have to write a story on. I had little, if any interest in going to it, but money talks. Really, I just wanted to relax at home and hang out with the wife and kiddos.

The ride was good, but it was solo. I got there, took pictures, said hello to friends, and promptly got back on the bike and headed home. Seven hours in total - four on the '53, two at the show, and one spent in ten minute increments at numerous gas stops.

Sunday was more relaxing, which was much needed. Some friends invited us out for the day on their boat.



The kids had a great time.



We cruised by Gas Works park and under many bridges. We saw lots of amazing homes on the shore of Lake Washington, and probably ate and drank a little too much.



We saw lots of float planes taking off and landing against a beautiful city backdrop too.



What a beautiful day. Thanks Jon, Torin, Erik, and Stefan.

The honey stick

There's a guy at the Sunday Farmer's Market who sells little straws filled with honey. The kids like 'em. I do too.

Animals and Reptiles

The barrista at my out-of-office office (coffee shop) has this cranked to 11 right now, and there are literally people dancing. Dancing in a coffee shop in the middle of the day. Partying for four minutes.

I gotta' give it up to the girl, she's influenced a good share of my musical taste lately and has made me realize that all chick musicians don't have to make, well, girl music.

Overcast

10 days of sun in Seattle, but on the 11th day - the day I want to shoot the bike above - completely overcast. Shit.

Girl guitar

She get's trashy with that guitar. I like that.

Back on the road

Pic. of the '53 in its last incarnation. It's quite different now. More go, less show. Took it out this a.m. and ruined some pants. Overfilled the oil tank and popped the plug. Waist down 6o weight oil sauna. They should offer that at the local spas for $145, it's very relaxing.

Pic. by Good Luck Gary

The Modern Day Deborah Harry

Karen O is talented.

Go to the mountains

Over the Holiday weekend we got out of town and went to Mt. Rainier, courteousy of the parent-in-laws. They're very nice. This amazing waterfall was about 1/4 of a mile from our back door. As you hiked the trail down to it, the air became denser, cooler, and unbelievably crisp and clean. It smelled the way air is supposed to smell. I sat by the waterfall for quite a while, drank some water, and took some pictures. The water came from melted snowpac and tasted as good (if not better) than the air smelled. I used it to make coffee one morning, and that was good coffee.



The big guy figured out how to swim without floaties. Between the pool, the hot tub, the woods, and having a handful of kids to play with, he was about as happy as a six year old could be.



The girls had a blast and were happy too.



This dog could play soccer. He was good and I could tell he was also happy. If I was a dog I'd want to live in the country.



Each night ended with a big campfire put on by the staff with s'mores, soda, wine, and beer. people really enjoyed themselves. I'd like to spend more time with my family in the mountains. I think I will.

Even though it's old news...

It does have a certain something to it.

Much Deserved

Jake made the current issue of 'The Horse, Backstreet Choppers'



I'm happy for Jake.



Thanks to Nelson Kanno for facilitating it.

Ornament of the hood

Dad

Dad was out to visit a couple weeks back from NY. He had a good time with the kids, helped me do the front brakes on my truck, and lent a hand with all sorts of little house projects. Wish I could see him more often.

Slow and steady...

The little garage

I would like to pick this garage up and set it down next to the river that runs through Winthrop, Washington. The large door would face the river and overlook the mountains.

Inside- One candle chandelier, 25 candles, two LazyBoys, one cooler full of Virgil's Root Beer, five bags of lump charcoal, one box of matches, one stack of old newspapers, one large metal spatula, one set of metal tongs, one large wire brush, one coffee can with holes to start charcoal, nothing else.

Outside- one charcoal grill, two Adirondack chairs.

Cannery Row

Read this book. Share it with your friends. If they don't like it, find new friends.

Metal forming hammers

Four

The new issue is on the stands.



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