I've been fascinated with taking pictures of bees for some time now..

Maybe it's because I keep getting stung by them!

Oddly enough, only when I'm on the motorbike.

Maybe it's pennance for shoving my camera in their working space all the time :)

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It seems that there is where we learn the most.

Life or death.

While at Laguna Seca about 2 weeks ago, I  was delivered a shocking blow.

My Father had passed unexpectedly.

I won't go in to details, but it wasn't good.

I've said in life (motorcycling and many other sports) you learn more about

yourself in 5 seconds past your comfort zone than you do in 5 years of doing something mundane.

I learned that in dealing with this death as well.

My head hurts, my heart hurts.

That's all.

I've had to clean out his place and really didn't think I could do it.

It seemed an impossible task.

 

 

Again, I am so thankful for some wonderful people, friends that are in my life.

People I would have never expected to help stepped up and offered a hand, advice,

guidance, a meal, a peaceful place to spend the night so I didn't have to drive back and forth, trucks, muscle, a shoulder......

 

 

I wish I could share the story, but in short, one friend really went above and beyond the call of duty.

He was there at the darkest moment and I know without him and his stoicism,

 I would have fallen apart.

It was like all of a sudden the reins to this horse I was driving disintegrated.

Without skipping a beat he gained control  and continued forward,

enabling me to continue forward in that moment as well.

 

I learned that everyone , especially the elderly, need purpose in life.

Without some sort of purpose or passion, it is easy to wilt away.

I think that's the same whether you are young OR old.....

 

My father worked hard his whole life

and fought feverishly for justice.

He loved photography (go figure)

and had a genuine interest in the welfare of his clients.

He practiced law for about 50 years.

 

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photoninja

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My stepdad, Sky, has mesothelioma.

The chemo treatments were not effective.

He is having surgery to remove his left lung

next wednesday.

Your thoughts and prayers for him are most needed

and welcomed.

He is physically strong and has a tremendous attitude.

He's also one hell of a human being.

Grew up in Hawaii, sailed around the world, joined the peace corps,

taught 4th grade in Oakland for over 30 years,

avid fly fisherman,

surfer and bookhound.

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Picking up the pace :)

Awesome day last thursday on the track.

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Long time!

Well, been busy setting up a new shop

and trying to get my work done as well.

Still riding a lot, but not as much as I'd like to.

One of the nights I'll sit down and load some

photos I'm long over due on posting!

 

 

 

 

 

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Getting the hang of a sportbike.

Long way to go!!!

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Super fun day at the track though.

Unless you were there in the

morning with me when I realized

the tiger is just not the tool for the job

on the track anymore.

Hahahaha

(still an awesome road bike though!)

 

I was fortunate enought to be able to do a

few sessions on this R1.

Made ALL the difference in the world.

And yes,

I would like one, too. ;)

or an R6

or a 675

or...............

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I think I want one.
The monster 1100S.
Def made an impression.

Handles awesome on the back roads out here.
Made me hate the setup on my bike when I got back on!
Same planet, different world for sure!!!

Still love the Tiger, but.............

If I could, I'd def add that red little beauty to the herd!

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The other week...... :)

 

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Hi All!

Still squeezing rides in between production and remodel.

Was trying to get down to Baja a couple of weeks ago but that's on hold until

I can get this other project completed.

Ideas of Alaska are dancing in my mind,

but the reality for me is that I

may not be able to swing that much time away.

Canada is a lot closer,

and from what I've seen and heard,

BC is beautiful.

That may very well be a more doable route.

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Ok, so I'm a few days (or more) behind!

Sunday was gorgeous but windy.

Again utilized the need to run an errand in San Francisco to get a ride in.....

Here's one pic to start....

That's Alcatraz in the distance....

 

 

 

 

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More pics in a bit........

Standby.....

 

A beautiful early March morning here..

I've had my head buried in paint buckets all week and it's time to get some fresh (helmet) air....

Took a little spin yesterday sandwiched between errands......

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Wear your gear.

Anyone who's spent anytime with me knows that I'm a total 'gear nazi' and will preach without shame.

One thing that came to me today on my ride was

that when you are putting on your gear,

you put yourself in to a certian mindset.

Every peice of equipment has a purpose.

Think about that purpose when you put each article on sometime.

You do anyway, it's just in your subconscious.

Gearing up is an active part of any sport.

In my slalom days,

I wouldn't even set my ski in the water

unless my gloves were on tight and just right.

Why? They were my lifeline between the boat and I.

They gave me traction and grip.

Without them I would lose faith in my ability

to stay on the handle at the most extreme pull away from the boat

and not slip off and wipe out.

With MC gear, my gear makes me feel safe.

Safer than without.

It makes the ride that much more pleasurable,

because it's one less thing to think about.

I know my skin, feet and ankles, shins, knees, elbows,

back, shoulders, knuckles and head are covered.

All the pointy parts if you will :)

Don't ever skimp.

Wear all the gear, all the time.

Give yourself every opportunity to be safe in this dangerous sport.

 

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I forgot my running shoes back at the shop........

Hate it when that happens.

The long way there......

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Well,

Happy Valentines day everyone!

Not too much new here except for being in the process of relocating my shop.

That and the cold and rainy weather has pretty much snuffed out the riding and photography for the moment.

I was hoping to try to take short trip on the bike at the end of the month, but may have to wait

 as I have a nice big painting and flooring project ahead of me.

My goal is to get through all of that, move all the equipment in and hopefuly have a few days to go knock around somewhere on the bike before

I have to get back to it!

It's been about 8 months or so since I'd been on one of these bikes.......

So much fun!

Looks like I'm trying out for the Rocketts! 

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Or so we both thought...............

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Everyone out enjoying it....

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Abbott's Lagoon...

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Best early Valentine!!

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Some great local motorcycle people.

CLICK HERE for the story about Dave's fundraising efforts to help stop Leukemia and Lymphoma

which his lovely wife of 25 years was diagnosed with last August.

As you'll see, he is close to his goal.

Less than $800. away.

No amount of kindness goes unrecognized.

They are good people and it is for a good cause.

Thanks, friends.

A lot.

The other day we had a break in the action and

I was lucky enough to find myself trolling along under the GGB with camera in hand.

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Lots of deskwork, lots of office cleaning, the threat of nonstop rain coming for over a week and halfway decent weather

 invited me to slip on my gear and head out.............

Here we go......

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That is the Pacific ocean in the background........

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More Pacific......

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Going THAT way is very important.........

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 Proof positive I made the turn.........

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Color break.

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Heading back to reality.......

The rain has started.....

And I have a party to get ready for.....

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I'll never get tired of this view.......

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Back home in one half dry piece.....

Ready to roll in a different way

and well folks,  MC gear isn't appropriate for all occasions......

;)

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1971.

The birth year of yours truly............

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And this lovely yellow bike........

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Which sits next to a dear old friend.......

My '07. 'le tigre'...

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So, the dilema today....

Which bike to ride?

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Hmmmmm....

Decisions, Decisions.........

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Well, Looks like one was made for me......

The '09 1200 GS.....

The silence you hear, is me not complaining...

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And we're off!

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My nemesis...

The opposed cylinder head.

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Let's head to the beach. I need some ocean air...

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The loveley Laguna Beach..

Little tricky getting the bike down these steps.....

but that's a whole other story...

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I saw this plant all wrapped up in vines.......

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And decided to pull them off and this is what happened!!

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Hmmmmm......now what??

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I know!!

Let's tempt fate!!!!

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More water life.......

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Thanks.

It's been real.

:)

 

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Sometimes the edge is closer than you think!

Laguna Beach yesterday.........

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This was the last ride with Vrago..........

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First thing I think about, last thing I usually do. Hahahha..............

Seriously folks, always check your tire pressure. It can make all the difference in the world.

Both for safety and fun!

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Tires all good!

Let's roll!!

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Another 'not so bad' coastal California day!

Limantour Beach

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Crab #1.............

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Crab #2.......

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At different times of the year,

 you can see these Sand Dollars all over the beach.

What we're looking at here is the actual skeleton.

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A nice live piece of kelp that floated ashore.....

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Above Stinson Beach.......

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Who let these 2 hooligans in?

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Let's roll.

I'm HUNGRY!!!

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That's HWY 1 all along the left side of this pic..

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Some of these rolling shots are a little blurry!

But still beautiful.

A sight I'll never get sick of.

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One of the best parts of any chilly or early ride...

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Adios amigo!

Another great ride!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

 

So far it's been an injury free 2010!!!

 

Rain today, so no tempting fate ;)

Looks like saturday or sunday....

I think it's time for some new video too!!!

Stand by..............

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FRIENDS!!!!

LET'S HOPE FOR THE BEST IN 2010!!

The Tiger all fixed and ready to roll

 just in the nick of time to take a spin

 or 9 on the track........

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Let's get those tires warmed up!!

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This guy tells me to stop riding upright and try leaning off to the INSIDE.....

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FINE!

HERE!

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Weeeee!!!!

More fun than any human should be allowed to have!!

 

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I know, I know............

Time, Holidays, Time,

Waiting for parts, and did I mention time??

So here's a few in attempt to catch up......

 

 

Overlooking Tomales bay from Hwy 1.....

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Late in the afternoon you catch that nifty glare.....

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Back over to Nicasio......always good when the green starts coming out........

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To Shrimo.

For everything.

You are a supercool human.

The hospital visits were very much appreciated.

Forget everything I said while I was under the influence....hahaha....if anything legible came out at all!!

 

We'll get that ride in soon I hope!!

:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE W!

In just under the wire...........

Well folks........

No riding this weekend.

Work for the next 3 days.

Turn and earn.

Here's your surly chef &

I do hope it rains at least once!  hahahaha............

See some of you soon!!

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HI EVERYONE!!

Jeez........More pictures than time these days!!

Still working on the format for this site that will make it easier for all to enjoy..

I've got photos from the last 3 rides yet to review and post.....

As many of you know, the self employed wheel can be a bear to turn sometimes.......Especially during the holidays!

And it's one wheel, not 2 right now  ;)

Aside from all of that, I'm happy as ever to be upright and have a pulse..........riding has been a little sporadic, but all quality time on the bike.......

Nearing 10,000 miles on the new Tiger and still very much in love with the black machine......

Loveyouallmeanit!!!

 

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More to come........

still love the tiger.

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My mantra is ' money making things first' when it boils down to a decision to ride or not on a beautiful day in the middle of a busy week.

So, off I go to pick up some fruit waiting for me....

(not on the MC)

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Black mission figs........

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persimmons.

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bins of olives getting ready to be pressed for oil..

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the milling stones at work........

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The raw finished product.........

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

BE SAFE.

BE WARM.

AND DON'T EAT TOO MUCH PIE!!

You all know what that means.........

(insert mischievous smile here)

 

Really great to meet a bunch of new faces today!

Thanks for taking the time to stop and say hi!

Not too many pics from today,

here you go......

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Last sunday was unusually nice for November......

I was just happy to be on the bike and not freezing.

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YES.

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Found trouble....

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Passed touble.

and still perfecting the rolling shot......

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Nicasio.

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The Nicasio Resevoir...

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Yours truly,

Trying not to fall, slip or maim any fish.

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At this point, I decided to head to the Marin headlands, but realized I hadn't eaten all day.

This is typical me.

Eyes bigger than the stomach.

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So half a bagel down I'm satisfied,

I now have 3.5 of the best fresh bagels

in the world left.

But with no more room in my tank bag,

What am I going to do.........

There IS some space under my seat......

Perfect fit.

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More bridge......

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Crappy zoom.

Cool hawk.

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 Even cooler bike .......

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And headed home before it gets colder and darker.

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Awesome day.

One of those days that reminds you why you like riding so much.

More to follow.

Pictures, I mean.

I'm tired.

Need sleep.

The GGB from the Marin Headlands..........

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Ever get so caught up in your daily life and events that

you find you lose yourself a little?

You become lost on the clearest, most wide open path imaginable.

I tend to bury myself in work as some sort of gravitational pull to the illusion that I'm in balance and on track.

When in all reality, I lost myself.

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Not in a bad way, just in a way that makes you look back and reflect on the path you took to get to this moment.

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As many of you know, It's been a hell of a few years injury wise for me.

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I am a firm believer in that we are only given as much as we can handle.

That what is on our plates is there because we CAN deal with it.

Even when it feels overwhelming and can't see your way out of the mist.

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I woke up this morning thinking of the day I got out of the hospital from the burns a couple of months ago.

I had settled in the hotel room

and took a bath. I wasn't suppose to really put

any wt on my foot and had to do so much care and maintenance to it before wrapping it up again.

 

I slipped and fell on the wet floor and when I got up started to cry, feeling that I can't do this.

I can't go through rehabbing another part of my body.

That I didn't have the energy and just plain wanted to give up.

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I wasn't allowed to walk or get out of bed for 16 or 17 days in the hospital.

I failed to appreciate that my body was weak and my mind tried to pick up where my healthy body had left off.

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I thought about that moment this morning.

And here I am, 2.5 months later.

Walking, running, riding, working.

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Also wanted to give a very special thanks

to Michael and Tony for ALWAYS being on the line during that tough month of August in the hospital.

AND Jim for keeping me in touch with the world and restoring my faith,

as so many others did, in basic human kindness...

And a special thanks to many people for all the encouragement and letters.

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No man is an island.

I heard that many years ago.

And with each year of living I've come to appreciate that more and more.

 

So, with that, I'm about to get in to my leathers and boots

 and head out and take in some of this gorgeous day and see if I can't find myself a little.

 

 

Lookout from Hwy 1 just south of stinson beach.

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A part of the guardrail where I stopped.

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Some goofballs I passed on the road.......

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I know, I know..It's been a few days.

Also been a few days since I've been on my bike.

Some foul weather and a lot of work got in the way.

But it did give me some time to reflect a little on why I do like to ride so much and try to ride as often as I can.

Riding involves skill.

And in order to keep your skills sharp and improve,

it's necessary to use them as much as possible.

Almost like an athlete training for an event.

Even if you were an Ironman triathlete winner

and didn't train for 6 months and attempted to finish a triathlon, you'd never make it because you hadn't trained for it.

 Your muscles (skills) wouldn't be in shape and naturally you'd suffer.

I personally believe that riding is much like that.......

There are so many factors that come in to play.

Each hand and foot has it's own independant thing to do, but it's also necessary that they work together.

You have to think about cars, people, other motorcycles, animals and other objects that may come in to your path.

So, I don't know.....

I guess my point is this,

Use your skills, think about what your doing, be aware constantly ( road conditions, bike conditions, not riding over your head), wear all the right gear,

wear GOOD gear and most importantly, have a good time.

:)

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WRONG!

:)