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Too Much Time On Your Hands...
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Ha ha ha ha!
I guess that shows our ages too.... |
If you get your hands on a digital camera that will shoot 1080p film you can just film the entire time you are riding past, then pull the specific frame you want for a photo late on with the computer... can be easier than trying to get the right spot with the camera timer :)
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Nice! All the beste! greetz
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errrr???
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Cowboys
After leaving the mountains, I felt as if I was in a Wild West film when I heard I saw a steam train's whistle and then watched as one chugged past in the opposite direction, I expected to see cowboys hanging out the windows.
http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4264-M.jpg I caught up with it in Durango, and for all you trainspotters out, I took a picture. I've had a couple of conversations with Yanks about anorak-wearing trainspotters, they don't seem to exist in America, and they had no idea what I was referring to I'm sure someone with more skill than I can conjure up a picture of some typical trainspotters, and we're not talking the Danny Boyle film. Opposite the train station was a scene that caught my eye, yes, it may well look like a garage, and I almost pulled up to one of these in an earlier town for petrol, but actually it's a drive thru bank, Americans seem to do a lot of drive-thrus including post boxes and pharmacies. http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4265-M.jpg And on into Kansas, the temperatures were still hoveringa round the 100 degrees mark - and I was sweltering every day. I was intrigued by the sign which claimed this particular field was the site of original wheel ruts from the pioneers' wagons as they headed west in the 19th century. http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4290-M.jpg I read the info signs - I seemed to be the only person for miles around, and then stared out over the fields, and yes, I reckon I could see the humps and irregularities in the grass, showing where the wagons used to go. I might feel like a roughty toughty traveller on my 48 horsepower motorbike, but it's nothing compared to the hardships people used to face crossing this huge country with just bullocks and single horses. http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4292-M.jpg My only company was a grasshopper on the path. I like to think this was his view of me. http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4280-M.jpg I was heading due east with one destination I was determined not to miss... http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4300-M.jpg Dodge City - home of the Wild West, first I had this incredible array of ironwork sculptures to pass http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4297-M.jpg And then I arrived at the fabled city itself, I was disappointed that there wasn't a cowboy or indian in sight. http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4294-M.jpg But I did enjoy the sheriff signs in the front gardens, a hint of the Wild West. http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4295-M.jpg |
Smilies Gone Mad
For some reason when I try using the word C H U G G E D, the website converts the word into a beer drinking symbol.
And err, the word B E E R itself as well! |
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beergington was beerging along the branch line when Thomas appeared from the siding. "Toot toot beerginton! How about a jeiger before we head off to the sheds?" "Great idea," replied beergington. So they beerged off together for a jeiger and bier. . Write a little story about steam trains and you get a ready-made fully-animated party invitation.... c h e e r s |
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Chugging
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Not bad
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Onward to Oklahoma!
The final night on the road in Kansas was a pretty one
http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4269-M.jpg But even so, with the temperatures hitting 111 degrees plus during the day, I was looking forward to a bit of luxury and actually staying in a house, maybe sleeping in a bed if I was lucky.(and possibly those around me hoping I'd find somewhere with a showerhttp://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/icon10.gif) However when I reached RockyDog's place in Oklahoma, (an internet contact) maybe lucky was not the word that sprang to mind, he assured me he had tidied up in honour of my visit , but his sitting room looked like this... http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4305-M.jpg The good news was that he has electricity http://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/clap.gifhttp://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/clap.gif and a shower http://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/clap.gif (with proper shower curtain) and actually quite a decent area for "My Office" http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4308-M.jpg This was my comfortable office space. However I wasn't to have much time on my computer, I was here to experience one of America's most symbolic holidays...Independence Day, and it was to be in Oklahoma small-town style Step One: Establish size of town http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../photo-2-M.jpg OK, 110 people, for me that constitues a tiny hamlet, but if the Yanks want to call it a town, I'm not going to argue. Step 2: Watch the parade http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O...M/parade-M.jpg Whoopshttp://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/eekers.gif, I nearly got run over by the parade- hadn't realised it was this small (apologies to residents of Hillsdale), note the vehicles to my left, doing my Brit Abroad impression of looking the wrong way as I cross the road. I sat down to continue watching http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O...ectating-M.jpg Step Three: Watch various races, including the unusual three-legged sack race http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O...ack-race-M.jpg Unfortunately there was a problem with the camera and so we didn't get a picture of the turtle race which I particularly enjoyed. And if I'd known, I would have gone turtle hunting the day before and brought my own one along. |
4th July
So, what did I participate in...??
http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../M/coins-M.jpg It might not look like the most dynamic of sports, but the tension was high as I lined up (sole international entrant) for the coin tossing event. I may not have been a prize winner, but I didn't let my nation down. This was followed by the water balloon tossing, in which we made it to the quarter finals, you can tell from the wet t-shirt who was the more skilled at catching the balloonhttp://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/icon10.gif http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../0/M/wet-M.jpg Having failed to make the winners' podium at any of the events in this small town of just 110 people, I retired to the town hall where I assisted witht he catering activities, they weren't letting this vegetarian near any actual cooking so I helped to open the tins of beans (which I couldn't help noticing all had meat in them). http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../beans-1-M.jpg In time honoured fashion, the festivities ended with people sitting in the back of their trucks watching the fireworks http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4478-M.jpg |
Small Town Breakfast
Breakfast in the garden with Stephen, my kind host, with rural views and motorbikes in the background.
http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4315-M.jpg More foreign food, in this case, it was his homemade Corn Bread http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4317-M.jpg and very tasty it was too. Thelma had been out in the garden feeling very at home with two of Stephen's bikes, he is in the process of "creating" a garage space for the bikes... http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../IMG4316-M.jpg A final cup of tea in the garden, before I had to hit the road again (On the first night I forgot to take my camera and get photos of the nightlife in Enid when we went out for a few drinks at the Irish Bar) http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O...M/garden-M.jpg Huge thanks to Stephen for inviting me and being such a great host, :clap:I loved my small town adventures. |
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