My Old Photographs.

 

For me photography is an art form. I had a semi-professional Cannon and would shoot just about everything I came across. If the subject was interesting, or framed right, or just anything I thought would look good. I was shooting. A lot of these pictures I took while riding my bike through the great state of Oklahoma. And, when I get them a bit more organized, I will be reliving some of these rides here. That may tide me over until I can afford another bike, and can continue my two wheeled adventures. I also have to find a mapping software I like to trace my routes and make images of them to add along with the pictures. The pictures I have taken are a mixture of destination spots here in Oklahoma, and others were just shit I saw riding down the road and though it would make a cool pic, and turned around and found a place to park and got out and took my picture and went on my way. I was showing some pictures I took during one particular ride to an acquaintance of mine. He traveled that road on a regular basis, not daily but about every other week, to see friends and family, and I took a couple of pictures that he had no idea where was along that road. The next time he went down to his folks place, he paid special attention both going down and coming home, and when we met up the next time, he told me that he had found both of the places, and was astonished that he had never really noticed them before. Both places were right off the highway not more that fifty or sixty yards. And, that's what I love about riding. You're not just a passive observer of the world as it goes by, you're an active part of it. You're out there with the smells and sounds and you can feel the wind against your arms and face. If it's warm, you're warm. If it's cold, you're not as warm, unless you have some damn good gear. If it's raining, you get wet. It's nothing like riding down the road in a car to get to the lake, or hotel. In a car you have the cabin to protect you from the elements, but it also blocks nature from invading your space during the trip. And, when you get where you're going, you're there and don't remember much of shit about the trip you just made to get to your destination. We drove to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City last Summer, and I drove the final leg, spent about nine hours behind the wheel, maybe more. And, I couldn't tell you shit about that nine hours except where we stopped to get gas and drinks, and where we got off of I-40 to head northerly to Vegas. Even the time I spent awake and not driving, I couldn't tell you the color of the rocks in the mountains, the sand of the desert, or the color of the trees, or even if there were any trees at any given point of the journey. I couldn't tell you where the plains ended and the desert started, or when the desert got a bit mountainous. But, from my experience I know if I had been on the back of a bike. One, I wouldn't have taken I-40 out there, and two I would have noticed a lot more shit, and it would have taken me more than twenty hours to get there, my best guesstimate would be about three days. I'm slow like that. On a bike you're a part of nature, not just a spectator of it. I'm just the kind of person that would rather be in nature than watch it. Like when I go camping, fishing, or anything outdoorsy. I want to be a part of it. Not just watch it happen. I'm an all in kind of person. I like to know how to make kindling and tinder with just a knife, and how to get a spark from a couple of rocks or sticks. I like knowing how to make a shelter with minimal to no shit I carried in on a pack. But, I digress. And, will close the soapbox now by saying this, "Don't just let the world pass by, jump on and ride that sucker till the wheels fall off.

I will say, that not all of these pictures are from my motorcycling adventures. Some I was at work or home when I took them.

 

 

 

The only one that I did any photoshop on is the one to the left here, the old oil derrick with the flame. And, all I did was crop out the rest of the refinery to highlight the derrick, which was the reason I took the picture. Now, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with photoshop, I just prefer to use principles that you have to go by using a film camera, eventhough I use a digital. With a film camera, you can't go back and fix shit like you can with digital photographs. So, when I take my photographs, I concentrate on getting the angle, lighting, and framing just right, so it turns out how I want it to look. I don't have the time nor the want to sit at my computer for hours to make a bad or less than perfect picture in to a good or perfect picture. I would rather spend a few minutes to set it up right and get it right the when I take it.

Ride Baby Ride

For all who Know Motorcycle Riders ...... I saw you hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. But you didn't see me put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday. I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk. But you didn't see me playing Santa at the local mall. I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant. But you didn't see me,... attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief. I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I drove by. But you didn't see me, driving behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window. I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children. But you didn't see me when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless. I saw you stare at my long hair. But you didn't see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love. I saw you roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves. But you didn't see me and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none. I saw you look in fright at my tattoos. But you didn't see me cry as my children where born and have their name written over and in my heart. I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere. But you didn't see me going home to be with my family. I saw you complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be. But you didn't see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane. I saw you yelling at your kids in the car. But you didn't see me pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me. I saw you reading the map as you drove down the road. But you didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn. I saw you race down the road in the rain. But you didn't see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date. I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time. But, you didn't see me trying to turn right. I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in. But you didn't see me leave the road. I saw you waiting impatiently for my friends to pass. But you didn't see me. I wasn't there. I saw you go home to your family. But you didn't see me. Because I died that day you cut me off. I was just a biker. A person with friends and a family. But, you didn't see me. Repost this around in hopes that people will understand the biker community. If you don't repost this, It sucks to be you. I hope you NEVER loose someone that rides

Gettin A Bit Antsy

Yup, I said it. I'm getting antsy. Haven't had the chance to ride in quite some time now, and it's getting on me nerves. Wheather just hasn't permitted any good riding with the gear I have. If I had some of the plug in underware I'd be on my bike every day, but I don't so I'm not. I'll be glad when it starts getting warmer so I can start my riding season this year. Churning down the road on two wheels offers a freedom that you can only feel from one other ride I've ever been on. And that's on horseback on a lonely trail. It's just you and the world in either instance. You can't get the same feeling from a convertible car, or on a plane, or anywhere at all. The motorcycle was modeled after the horse and it seems that would be good cause for the feelings of freedom to be so similar. If you haven't nocied that a bikes riding position is a reflection of the horse riding styles of the country they're initially built from. Harley's and Indians have a relaxed, feet under or in front of the seat/saddle. Aprillia's, BMW's, Triumph's, and Japanese bikes have a more upright or forward leaning with the feet behind the rider postitions. And, yes I'm aware that most motorcycle makers have adopted the American Cruiser style in their line ups. You have to look at the first bikes these companies produced, not ones that have came about since the seventies. They are reflective of the popular saddle set up they use on their horses. And, If you know horses and work with them you will notice that a Triumph and an English saddle have a very similar seating postition. Same with a Harley and a Western saddle. The American Cruiser style is more suited to my tastes, just laid back and relaxed going nowhere in paticular, just going to be going. For me the journey is the reason I ride not the destination. I go to great lengths to avoid major highways especially our wonderful Interstate System. Yes, I have topped out my bike, hit the governer at a hundred and ten miles per hour. It was a blast, and yes being a thirteen hundred cubic centemeter or in American eighty cubic inch it's pretty darn quick off the throttle. So, yup I'm getting a bit restless wanting to go for a nice long ride. And, untill then I'll just have to bear with myself. Weather you ride a flesh and bone or iron horse, keep the hoves to the ground and the rubber down. And, get your fix when you can.

Ridin' In The Wind

As Autumn sets in and Winter draws nearer, and we see less time on the pavement on our bikes. You stop and think about the miles and memories you've put under them old tires. Some bad, most good hopefully. And, you may be thinking about one last long haul before garaging her up for the winter, some will be thinking about, or already have gotten their cold weather gear out for the season. Personally, I plan on making the trip out to Talihina, and taking in Highway 1, or Talimena Drive. Planned on going last year, but the slight mishap of laying my bike over around the first of September, and a majorly sprained ankle prevented me from going. So, I plan on hobbling my gimp ass over to my bike one set of days off, and heading that way.

The basic route I plan to take. No guarantees though.
http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=34.853039&lon=-96.27115&zoom=9&q1=Moore%2C%20Ok&w0=35.18727767598896%2C-97.3553466796875%3B35.09743980936419%2C-96.2677001953125&q2=Talihina%2C%20OK%2C%2074571

Talimena Drive, from Talihina, Ok, to Mena, Ak.
http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=34.737278&lon=-94.588824&zoom=11&q1=Talihina%2C%20OK%2C%2074571&w0=34.70549341022545%2C-94.53872680664062&q2=mena%2C%20ak

To start

I got to thinking on my way into work today, I have a lot to let's say "rant" about. So this is pretty much about my thoughts riding down the road and working in the oilfied and on drilling rigs.

I have a lot of time to think about things and topics will range from riding my motorcycle to religion to drivers to life in general and who knows what else.

I'd like to start out with an experience I had a few weeks ago while driving. And I have to ask myself, "Why do we do stupid stuff and then get mad at others for the outcome?"

I was riding down I-40 going home one morning from work. I'm in the outside/far right lane of a this wonderfully smooth highway. And, someone decides that he needs to go around me. Because the cars in the other two lanes are not moving quick enough for him, he decides it's a good idea to pass me on the right, yes that would be on the shoulder of the highway. Now, not expecting someone to be passing me on the right I get a bit startled. And, yes I flip him the bird. And, this guy honks at me like I'm doing something completly wrong, and had no right or reason to be perturbed. After thinking about this, I could do nothing but scratch my head at his reaction.

Later that week, I was in my truck turning onto that same stretch of highway. While making this left turn, someone in another truck tries to cut by me in the corner from the left. And, yet another horn blast. And, yes another birdy flies telling him he's number one in my book.

Now, I'm not saying I haven't or don't do the same things. I just don't remember any recent events. But, I have gotten aggrivated at my lawnmower because I ran over a rock or small limb, and the lawnmower dies.

I just wonder what is in our human psyche that makes us place blame elsewhere rather than in oursleves. I think I may be the singularity nature we have developed lately, maybe our parents didn't teach us shame and decency well enough. Or we may just be like a bomb waiting for any little release from combustion from either our bosses, spouses, or peers, who knows?