Well, who'd have thought I'd be looking at pictures of Fairies this morning, thanks Stagbeetle, they're wonderful. Do you paint from memory (too much acid in the 60's) or life models (you lucky bugger) ? I'll look forward to reading about your travels.

Good luck.

Stephan
yes i did forget to put an e in!! silly old sod!!.either that or i have got some saharan sand in the keyboard..thanks

jeff

Gonewandering

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jeff watts

So many years since a young nubile wench stood still long enough for me to catch the details that memory is not enough

On the other hand, it's also 20 years since I sat in a life class. (As an artist, not a model)

So I use a montage of photos of arms, legs, torsos and heads, joining them together on the canvas, changing shadows, highlights and blending the whole lot with my knowledge of anatomy. (Needs updating though, any volenteers?)

I have never been much of a landscape painter, but on this trip will be taking a small watercolour pallet and sketch book to relax and record the landscapes I pass through.

Which prompts me to ask, any other overlanders out there painting their trip, if so tell us about it, you may have started something here Hanna, I hope so

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Happy Trails

Stagbeetle

It is not the Journey nor yet the Destination, that is the Prize; it is the people you meet on the way.

Blog on http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fairless/

My old brother in law used to draw comic books (Sandman, Batman) and he'd use porn mags for the models.

Take a couple mechanic classes and do your trip on a Goldie! If I had the money, I'd be doing my trip on a Vincent.

Let me know if you come through California. I'll buy you a !

--Dave

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Not Ted Simon since 1970!
http://nokilli.com/rtw

I spent 7 years as an agricultural mechanic and previously did all my own repairs, so no worries there. However I would probably have chosen a Greaves perhaps, or better still how about a Heinkel bubble car. The Goldie never could keep oil inside the crankcase, I was always shouded in smoke every time I pulled up after doing a ton down the Western Avenue to the Ace Cafe, no as my own bearings get more worn out I need something a bit more reliable thanks.

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Happy Trails

Stagbeetle

It is not the Journey nor yet the Destination, that is the Prize; it is the people you meet on the way.

Blog on http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fairless/

Hey Stagbeetle, as an ex-ag mechanic, I think you're stuck with a Guzzi, BMW, or a Ural. Can you get any more agricultural than a Guzzi?

The Heinkel would be nice. I've got an NSU Sport Prinz that I'm going to have to sell to help finance Round 2 next year.

I should answer the original question for Guesswho. I'm 37. I spent a lot of years in IT doing nothing (a lot like the movie "Office Space" if you've seen it). I also play(ed) in punk rock bands for 15 years. I was walking home from a show and got mugged. 4 days in ICU (heavy duty health care) with 4 hematomas (3 minor, 1 major) that left me with epilepsy.

I always wanted to travel and realized that life is shorter than I thought (and I already knew it was going by fast). I worked at a monkey lab for a 18 months, along with being a programmer, paid off my student loans and saved up money.

Right now I'm running a movie theatre while saving up for Round 2. I don't want to work with computers ever again. If I could, I would've done this all at once.

The only change I would've made is, I would've bought a Vincent Comet instead of my Ducati single. I got ripped off a wee bit and spent almost as much on the Ducati as a Vincent would've cost.

If you're thinking of taking long rides, do it! It's a lot of fun and a learning experience.

--Dave

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Not Ted Simon since 1970!
http://nokilli.com/rtw

It seems to me that many travelers are or, if they are lucky, were IT-nerds (like me).
This raises the question: Do IT-nerds and travelers have the same brain-molecule (was it K5 or K9 ) or
is a job as IT-nerd so boring that you start to dream about distance travels?

I can't be sure, but for me I think it was the latter...
Then again, it has been at least 6 years since I touched a computer with an other goal then to Email my friends
which are stuck at home

The same question can be asked about sports like rock-climbing, scuba-diving etc...
Percentage-wise mostly IT-guys (and gails) do this kind of scary stuff (at least scarry in the eyes of
the by-standers)
Why? Bored by IT and dreary novell or NT-server screens that need to be watched for days.... or a K5 (or K9)
brain-defect?

Life is filled with intrueging questions....

Which brings me to the folowing question:
Why is it that motorcycle-travelers aks so many and un-usual questions?
Is it becuase of their brain-thing (K5) or is it becuse they spend so much time in the sadle
looking at the road ahead. .... much like the former monitor, looking at the console-screen of a major network....

Questions, questions.....

Maarten
(confused as ever)

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maartensworld.com
beyond-anywhere.com

@ Stagbeatle, I think having a forum or a website where travelers can put there sketches, paintings and inpressions ect. on would be a really good idea. Don't you think?

@ Dave,I'm sorry to hear about the mugging, did they ever catch the guy?
I use to have a light version of epilepsy as a a kid and young teenager. The doctors tolled me that I think about 5 % of kids or teens with epelepsy grow out of it. I got really lucky and now rarly have any problems with it anymore. But (if you don't mind me asking) how can you drive/ride with such a conditon? Thats where I had the most problems. if these questions are too personal then don't answer. Its no problem

Mmaarten, I don't think its only IT neards who need a good adrenalin rush
A tip, if your after adrenalin, go sailing on a tall ship, climb into the rigg,get yourself in a storm. It is seriously fun and will have your heart beating a lot faster

Again, thanks to everybody for answering my question so well and honestly

A lot of the IT nerds I know who travel work as contractors rather than being full time, salaried employees. I work in the same way but in a different field, partly because it gives me some flexibility to travel between jobs, but mainly because I am such a nomad by nature that I can't stick at a permanent job for any length of time (I'd be rich if I was better suited to following a career structure, and Mrs MarkE would have left me for someone less boring, so I'd be even richer!!! ).