My Favourite Five of the Year

Kiwi moto-blogger Roger called for a challenge:

Post your five favourite photos of 2011.  Tell us why you like them.  It could just be you like the pic or it could be more personal or of great meaning to you.  The only rule is that you have to have been the one who took them, and there must be at least one of you.

Here are mine:

1. Not motorcycle related. Celebrating New Year in Germany with my bestest ever girlfriends Big & Uli. We travel through thick and thin (German Proverb: Staying together, no matter what!). These ladies have a special place in my heart.

2. Another one not taken by me, but with me in it. This picture was taken on a cold and wintry day in Calgary, the day we became Canadians, eh!

3. A happy day for me! My spousal unit goes two-wheels! Couples that play together, stay together.

4. I have been riding solo most of the time, but never dared to stray far from home. This summer I did the Lillooet Loop, my first >500km solo trip.

5. Vacation time! Mono Lake, California. A weird and quiet place, tingling my passion for geology.

I had to go through almost 5,000 photos. There were heaps of pictures with people and places, memories and vistas, and lots of them memorable, important, stunning or lovely. But above selection means the most to me this year. Thanks, mate for bringing out the best memories of 2011.

One Simple Way to Clear Your Mind

Some meditate, others go for a walk, some talk other people's ears off. I guess there are indeed many methods to untangle the knots in your brain caused by stress at work, unfinished projects at home, or other life's worries.

For me one obvious solution is getting out for a ride, which becomes a little challenging lately. It is that time of the year where daylight becomes scarce, or the weather goes crazy.

Lately we had torrential rains and strong winds going, far from ideal riding conditions. I don't mind the rain, it is the winds I fear, especially on a scooter, because no matter where I am headed, I will have to cross bridges.

I try not to think about the wind. In a still photo you cannot see the trees wavering. Everything looks peaceful, and the mix of sun and clouds makes for some soft and warm (looking) afternoon light.

But I don't let the picturesque scenery fool me, I stay alert and prepared for a countersteer maneuver every time a gust hits me and tries to push me off the track.

The Vespa however unimpressed, purrs along nicely, and by the time I get home I am one with the universe again.

I hate when that happens

I hate when I am traveling without seeing anything. I added two new states on my list of visited US states this week (or as I like to put it: states where I have touched ground.), but I have seen zip, zero, nothing.

I had a 'gig' in Atlanta with a stopover in Minneapolis. It snowed in Minnesota. The Airport is pretty, and they have a Harley Davidson store to kill some time.

The Atlanta airport is huge, being the world's busiest airport and all. I was impressed with its efficiency. Unfortunately it was already dark on arrival. I have seen a few illuminated buildings while driving through downtown up to Duluth where I had biscuits and pulled pork on a salad for dinner.

The next day it was warm (17C or 63F) - too warm for my outfit actually - but it rained cats and dogs. The day was filled with supplier meetings and a factory tour, a limousine ride back to airport to catch a plane to Houston (were is was cold, only 3C or 38F), and finally jumping on a plane back to Vancouver. The travel distance covered was over 8,000km (5,000mls), and I have seen nothing. ARGH!