Category Archives: motoring

Day One: To the train

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We left the museum to get water, some food for the 2.5hr train ride to Lublin, check out the hotel and get to the train station.

We stopped in a little market and I got yelled at (in Polish) for taking this photo of the bread display.

I had no idea what he was saying, but I could tell he was pretty upset at me. I just said, “English” and he replied, “NO PICTURES!” I gave a somewhat dismissive wave and apologized. I’m not sure why being yelled at in a language I don’t understand amused me, but it did. Quite a bit.

We ended up buying four rolls for the train ride. He wasn’t so grumpy at us when we checked out.

After gathering our things from the hotel, we made our way to the train station. We had some confusion as to which platform we needed to go to, but eventually figured it out. No thank to two ticketing agents or the random woman I asked.

Mom descends to the platform.

We are at the train station. The noise and smells  are the same as any city station. This one is not as dark as Chicago downtown Metra main station. It is more open and better lit. Chicago’s downtown Metra is one of the Nine Stages of Hell.

I understand nothing of the overhead announcer. However, in Chicago I could rarely understand the loudspeaker either. I can’t help but compare to what I know and draw similarities and differences.

The colors in this station are interesting.

Across the way, there is some mural on the far wall. I wish I knew what it says.

We are on the train. Second class here is finer than any Amtrak general admission ride I’ve taken and darn close to its first class. We have cubby seating, theoretically shared with a potential six other strangers.

We got our own room.

We had a lunch of delicious breads and pears.

Yes, I’ve been taking an inordinate amount of photos of bread. (it’s damn good here!)

A photo I took me myself

and mom reflected in our train-room mirror

. . .

inspiration

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“Inspiration” definition includes breathing, creativity, illumination.

I went for a ride yesterday. Clouds spotted the sky, but it was not overcast and the temperatures weren’t above 100F. It was lovely. When I woke up at 06:40 I had little feeling except an awareness that I wanted to be out of my house and on my bike. I put on my leathers and locked the door at 07:10. I knew I needed to eat, but the impulse over-rode my hunger. By 07:15 I was on the highway.

There are days when riding is not for pleasure or for practice, but sheer necessity. Only other motorcyclists understand how helpful being on the bike can be.

I rode north for an hour and a half up curvy mountainy roads. It was beautiful. My head cleared somewhat, but the low rumbling note of the exhaust pipe was conferring no answers.

Inspiration is that unique feeling of a lock and key fitting together, and click… something opens and you draw what feels like the first real breath you have felt in years.

I want to breathe again.

…

Aug 29 – painting

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I started painting on Saturday and soon discovered that there was a better way to do this. After the fact, of course.

That’s okay. It’s all about learning…. Just hope learning doesn’t end up costing too much money. Ha!

On Saturday, I started to paint the wheels with satin black PJ-1

What I found was that the wheels soaked up the paint. I’m thinking that I should have primered them first. But I got this far, so kept going.

When the first (and only) can ran out very quickly, I had to make a run to
Motorcycle Accessory Shop in Mesa – the only local place I’ve been able to find PJ-1. Good folks there. They mostly do off-road bike stuff, but have a fair amount of gear and parts and oil / fluids. I got more paint and ran a couple of errands. By the time I was done, it was hot and I didn’t feel like working more in the garage.

So, today….

While I had my hoopty paint booth set up, figured might as well take care of some other objects. I got two kickstands and the top and bottom tripples painted.

I also painted the swingarm.

and finished up the wheels.

Painting is not my forte.

I’m back to considering laying down the cash to get the frame powdercoated. With all the installing movement, I’m worried that paint will get all scratched up quickly. At least with the wheels, I can touch them up pretty easily. But the frame would be a lot more difficult.

Decisions, decisions.