Moto Photo - #16 of 29

#16 - P L P (Parking Lot Practice)

Waiting for my turn.

I have been told a few times that the Hi-Viz jacket and the bubble helmet don't go too well with a 'brand like this'. It makes me look geeky. Well, I like to think that it makes me ride safer, and I am not using the bike to make a fashion statement anyway.

Now, I begin to wonder if I honor the marque enough that I am riding. Maybe I should join a club, buy a cut, and get a skull tattoo on my... hmmm. Ah, forget it. The Sporty hasn't complained yet.

Moto Photo - #15 of 29

 #15: Lady in Red

There is of course another family member that shall not go unnoticed. Bella, my husband's Vespa GTS 250. In the beginning of my motorcycle revival career I tried to convince my then non-riding husband into riding a scooter. Him being a tall guy, I figured, a Honda Silverwing would fit well. Long story short: I purchased the maxi scooter for him, and ended up riding it myself, because he was completely and utterly intimidated by that big machine.

After a few practice hours the idea of (ever) riding together got buried, and eventually the Silverwing was sold. I continued riding, ventured off by myself or with an occasional riding buddy, that is until last Spring, when my husband dragged me (ok he didn't have to...) into a Vespa dealership, telling me, he would want to try and ride one of those. Instantly he fell in love with Bella who was extremely well priced due to her 'age', being a new but 2008 model.

The spousal unit quickly lost his training wheels on this lovely scoot, and felt absolute comfortable riding it. Now all he needed was a matching riding buddy-ette, and of course it had to be another Vespa. This is how Paolo joined our life.

Totale Ebbe...

Bei unseren allabendlichen Spaziergängen am Burrard Inlet können wir momentan ein sehr ungewöhnliches Schauspiel beobachten, nämlich eine Extrem-Ebbe. Das Wasser zieht sich derzeit so weit zurück, wie wir es vorher noch nie wahr genommen haben. Bei Dämmerlicht entsteht so eine fantastische Atmosphäre, die man mit der Kamera kaum festhalten kann. Roland hat es trotzdem versucht und ein paar HDR-Fotos gemacht. Dabei werden drei verschiedene Aufnahmen mit unterschiedlichen Belichtungen gemacht, die man später am Computer wieder zu einem Bild zusammen setzt. Roland braucht da noch viel Übung, aber die Fotos sehen teilweise schon ganz schön aus. Das Original jedoch bleibt unerreicht...