Catching up with the Motos!

I have been spending some more of the spring in the saddle again which is always a good thing. Over the past few weekends I have taken a few rides. I usually write these posts in the present tense, but I am taking a break to get some photos up and out before May gets here.

Enjoy!


Katie getting ready for her first ride on the GT.


I don't think we stopped laughing the entire 129 miles. Well other than that time with car coming right at us....kidding!


This is the Florence Court House (old and new) which is where we stopped on the way to get Ice Cream in Superior


She seemed happy getting off the bike too but tells me we are going to go riding again real soon. All in all a "step" in the right direction!

From here we jump ahead to my Birthday where Nick and I decided to stop goofing around and put the RT back together


Since Feb I have had the RT in pieces because of a leaky brake line. The line finally came in last week, we swapped it out in about 15 minutes. It then took us 4 hours to bleed and put the moto back together.


Mr Princeton and MIT decided he needed a book for bleeding the brakes. I had a better plan


I would use Nerdy Jami....I mean Cool Jamie's (not really but it is 2009) post from the RT board. As usual the man knows motos!



As usual I used the Honeywell brand products


We had it back and running like a champ!


After a short test ride (it needs tags and insurance) the verdict was a job well done!

The next morning I met the hoons for a little ride up to Christopher Creek for Breakfast on Howard!


The usual suspects


It was a perfect day to moto! And we kept it at a good pace though I admit I need a lot more practice in the upcoming weeks


Some people never get tired of asking for refills


I love motos


I took off alone to just enjoy the pines for a bit. What a great way to spend a Sunday Morning!


The tale of the tape

Springtime in Kaisr's Garden

It is that time of year where I get to spend time with my own garden.

Here are a few pictures


Senior Jesus Perez agreed to sit for a formal Spring Portrait for his ever adoring fan base.


The Hibiscus plants are now in full bloom!


As is the oleander


One of my Raccoon resistant fish


How about some pink roses for a blue lady.....


Seriously happy Jesus Perez getting to go outside. Now where are all the birds???



Grapes are coming in!!


Our Hero enjoying his little urban oasis

Tom

I Went to a Garden Party

I hate repeats. But today I am going to revisit the Chihuly collection at the Desert Botanical Gardens to shoot it in the daylight and then see if I may have missed something when I was there at Christmas.

Some of you know Theresa who works with me and has become a good friend. Her interest in photography is growing and we agree that today we will go together and just take pictures.


We arrive at the gardens around 5ish with clouds looming in the distance for what may be the last real rain we will get before July. I love the weather, but hate the timing! Note the three glass sculptures that look like Agave in the picture.


T is armed with her camera. I am armed with a camera, a tripod, a big ole vest full of lenses a bag for my big Sigma macro lens that doesn't fit in my vest and with two cameras around my neck.


The cacti are in full bloom at the gardens which even without the glass would make for a worthy afternoon of photography


But I am here to shoot the Sculptures in the afternoon light.


Glass is such an interesting medium for art. I have now put it on my list of things to learn how to do.








All very worthy

We walk along with people who I have never met ease dropping on bits of their conversation about the sculptures, many not from Arizona speak of the botanical gardens as if it is another world. This is interesting to me since I have lived among the area for so long. One woman grumbles that how can one have a Blue Palo "VERDE" tree? Another speaks of the fact that the desert if full of "harsh killing things" unlike the safe streets of Chicago where she is from. On a path somewhere near the entrance a teen age girl says to her father, "I can relate to Chihuly because he likes to make Monsters". That sticks with me. As we make are way around I look at some of his art as just that.


Like a B Movie feature, this poor soon to be forgotten starlet has no idea the fate that awaits her at the hands of "Zorgon from Planet K". Pass the popcorn Owen.


Is it art or one of the eggs of the creatures that will take over planet Earth?





The Monster theme runs its course and I come back to earth with the help of T who is really getting into taking pictures which makes me smile. She also has had a good laugh because I have dropped my lens cap for about the 40th time by the time we get about half way through the park.


Taking pictures with me is fun but I also am grateful for her offering to hold the tripod and lens bag. No Sherpa from Nepal for me, I am keeping T.

We wander over to the Boat with all the glass spheres.






Totally amazing how they get the colors in these.


As cool as these are my lens is drawn to the crowd. I see a woman who must be from Alaska to be wearing boots like this in the desert.


And to think that Katie wouldn't let me bring Mr.Penguin the Wizard along. I told her I wouldn't be the only guy with a doll at the garden.


T is really trying to take her game to the next level!


The subject matter is glorious!


There is a small riparian pond at the gardens we check out. It has these glass icebergs floating in it.




I find these guys pretty interesting too

The sun is starting to set and we make our way back towards the main entrance to get some night shots before it closes.




One of those Blue Green trees


This is why I need to get a second camera with a big ole lens to get shots that just happen. This woodpecker strikes the perfect pose and I have no time to get a great picture. Still it is pretty cool to see them


Another boat which I missed back in December.


It is more crowded now as the sun sets and I am not all that into crowds tonight. T is taking it all in and I take a break while she sets off to explore some of the areas that I have already been to.


I decide to mess with my flash a little and see what comes out. I like this one a lot


This is another worthy shot that I get messing around


A future River Dancer


AS it gets dark a whole other world comes to life in the gardens.









It is a worthy night and I am so happy I am here. But I need to run to Ikea to help a damsel in distress so away I go.

NOTE: The Chihuly show is on until the end of May. You need reservations It is totally worth seeing!

Tom