Well, that seems fair. Guess you'd know better than me if there isn't much to look at there Let me know when you get home and I'll help get the picture sharing thing worked out. I usually take pictures of things that interest me, but I do it knowing that at least a few people find that stuff interesting. Makes it fun to ride places I might not have gone just to see if I can find things that strike a cord with you guys. I don't have many riding buds, so you guys fill in when I hit the road. Next good chance for new content is Wednesday this week.
Spent time wisely today. Ignored things that needed doing and rode for awhile. Things will still get done tomorrow. Went southwest of Avon today and ended up in Amo. Small town America still exists. This old Interurban rail station is smack in the middle of town. Obviously out of service for a long time. Indiana is way behind the curve when it comes to mass transit, but it wasn't always that way. Closely linked to the railway is the grain elevator. Makes sense, get the grain collected and make it easy to get it on rails. Quick to market when needed. Can almost see the crowd sitting on the bench waiting for the next train to stop. Just a sleepy place when the temps hit the upper '80's. Not many can get in the Post Office at one time, but I suspect it isn't an issue. Took this on the way home. I just found the colors interesting. Spotted a corner. Usually when you spot a cluster of trees like this you'll spot an old farmhouse in the middle. Not true this time, hence the "usually." Farmers cleared all the land except for around the homestead. The trees were used to create windbreaks during the winter and shade for the house during the summer. Photo quality was a bit off this ride. Forgot to charge the battery in my camera and had to use my cellphone.
Radian No worries - I like to "stop and see" as much as I like to just ride. I have spent an entire day on my bike in just part of the county, stopping and having a soft drink at a local small store/restaurant, checking out an old cemetary, covered bridge(s), silos, etc. I am not often in a hurry. This year has been different. Some elder care issues have arisen so spare time has not existed. However, that will change soon. Blacktruck - I feel a part of your boredom and lack of exciting sights. I am a retired combat communicator/tac air control party guy (Air Force). At one point in my life I thought I must have been born "over there." Don't hurry - that will be part of your history before you know it and you will find out some of your best memories were made with guys that shared your hardship. And thanks much for your service! J
More good pictures from you RadianRider. Thanks for sharing them. Your tastes in riding run close to mine. I've seen a fair number of cities and tourist stops in the US and other spots around the world. Your pictures show me way more stuff that I just like to see. We ain't but a few hours apart, maybe when I get back I'll look you up and see if there are more places left to find. JDfog2 Thanks for mentioning it. It is appreciated. I retired from the Army several years ago and now am a proud red ID carrying veteran. This little adventure has been in close support of the same people I worked with but I'm in civies now. I do understand about what you are saying about looking back on this. I do already. Been here long enough to have seen several rotations of troops and civilians through there. Made many good friends, seen many that weren't fit to carry the shoes of a good man and I thank God for having given me the opportunity to do this work and also for having allowed me to have met all of them. That being said, it's been good but I'm ready to go home again. Hard thing to say for someone who has spent a lifetime on the move. I hope this finds all well there for you and the other inmates that read this stuff. Stay safe all and ride hard. Ken
Blacktruck, Lots left to see! Haven't even gone more than an hour from the house yet! It would be great to ride with any of you. Seems there are some kindred spirits posting up in this thread. Loaned my old GR to a friend who hasn't ridden in years yesterday. He got used to the bike in a school parking lot, then progressed to the neighborhood. We ended up hitting some of the roads you've seen in this thread. Fun to ride with someone in no hurry to get anywhere. Think I hit 55 mph once, the rest of the time was 45 or slower. The old GR is a mild-mannered bike, so it makes a perfect re-entry bike. He had a big grin at every stop...and so did I. Got one picture. Ignore the spooky house in the background. :) Feel free to send a PM if any of you are planning to be in the area and we'll "wander" a bit.
I have been through Avon several times on my way over to Rockville and Parke Co. Seems I am drawn down to those old covered bridges a lot. Several times I have ridden Ride Or Die out of TH with Indiana Bones. Do you have an ADV bike or just streeters Radian? Do you go Southward toward the Bedford area Much? It is great riding down there in The HNF, especially if you can do dirt roads too. Also a lot of riders in that Bedford area like to explore... I enjoy your thread.
Thanks, Buls4evr, Appreciate that you took time to post up. To answer your questions: I grew up riding enduro bikes in northern MI (KE100 and XL250,) but I have been on streetbikes since moving to Indiana. Really struggled with whether to buy a KLR650 instead of the SV650 this time around, but obviously made the SV the bike of choice this time. Wee Strom might have been the bike, but I couldn't find one I could afford. Just a lot more street around here and my opportunities to get down to the Bedford way a bit limited. Wouldn't hurt my feelings to add a 250 enduro of some sort, but I'm lucky to have this bike (well, these bikes...for the time being.) I might take time to get down toward Lake Lemon later this week, but much further requires more hours than I have--plus the SV seat qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment at the moment.
I'm enjoying the pictures greatly. I have had only limited opportunities to ride this year, and it's nice to see someone else getting out and about. John
I saw your location listed as Lakland and thought..."Hmmm...I wonder." Took at look at your profile--bass player Just as I thought. Off-topic moment: Have a G&L L2500 Tribute and a couple of of Peaveys cluttering up the front room. Refinished this one a couple of years ago. It started off life as a simple black bass. I don't like simple black basses.:) Looked at your Wandering thread and realized that I had read and enjoyed it in my "between bikes" phase. Thanks for feeding my soul during the down times. Hoping you get back out with the camera soon. You do good work.
My friend... In that part of the world you need a KLR with some 70/30 tires. You can get old ones really cheaply and they are better than the new series IMO. They will open up a whole new world of riding for you. So many cool dirt roads in Parke Co that you miss with a street bike dude.Just saying
Oh, I hear ya. Spent a lot time riding two-tracks in the Manistee National Forest before I was old enough to have a license. Lived right on the edge of it. Turn right at the end of our driveway and you are in it. Just had to make a choice this summer and went street. One kid in college right now, two next year. Lucky to have ANY bike, so the enduro will have to wait. Make no mistake, I want one, but other priorities take precedence. I lived in MI BEFORE the KLR had even been released. Not sure I'd want that much weight in that much sand anyway. Getting old
Planning to hit Cataract Falls this weekend. Going to try to find the old general store Fullcyc mentioned in post #16. Supposed to be below average temps with low humidity. May have a couple friends on this ride. The guy shown above and a police officer who just bought a big Honda cruiser. Haven't seen his bike yet, but I think it is a 1300cc VTX. Charging the camera today
Ironically my cottage is right in the middle of the Manistee NF just North of Branch, MI. I really do know what you mean about sand. I have a KTM EXC500. Those dirt roads down there don't require that much bike though. Enjoy your rides and future bikes
Still enjoying your thread radianrider. It's almost too funny how many places you've posted here that I have either been to or have plans on going to. I was just eye-balling Amo and the old train station on Google last week. I have a friend who lives near there... I hope you all have a great time at Cataract. Pretty nice all around that area... When Cataract Rd curves south, just past the falls, it will turn into " Co Rd 235 W / S. Cataract Rd. " and the General Store is about a 1/2mile south of the falls on that road. Here are the coordinates for the Store: ( 39°25'39.25" N 86°49'00.10" W ) Have a great day, Jeff...
Radian, Still enjoying your thread as mentioned by several others here. I feel your pain having put two kids through college but if you ever get time to wander further from your home we have a few gems in our backyard here in the north-central part of the state. We often entertain riding friends from out-of-state and their first reaction, once you get them off the big roads, is there's more than corn in Indiana. I just bought a KLR after riding street bikes for the last 40 years. It just about doubles the number of riding opportunities. I haven't figured out why I didn't do it sooner. Although, if I had an SV650 I might consider a set of standard bars and some dual-sport treads. Just a thought. If you're ever towards the Muncie area on your scooter look me up please. JB2
Will do, JB2 and thanks for the invite. I went to a funeral northeast of Lafayette a few years ago and was amazed at how life along the Wabash river appeared so different than my impressions of that part of Indiana formed while driving I-65.
Nice basses! Glad you enjoyed my short prolific-with-the-camera phase. I need to get out more. It seems like when I do get out I don't bother taking any pictures. I suppose I need to ride further afield to new places. Might go for a scoot this weekend if the stars line-up. John
Been a strange week here. Great weather and I couldn't ride for a few days. The homeowners association decided to hire a firm to reseal the asphalt in the neighborhood. They did the "sealant and sand" treatment. I have no idea what that stuff would do motorcycle tire traction, but I decided not to find out for a few days. Used yesterday to clean the chain (hadn't done it since I bought the bike and it still had TN and GA reddish dirt on it.) Couldn't take another day of not riding (unusually low humidity and very reasonable temps are a rare thing in IN. Better ride while you can if these two weather elements combine.) Left the house at about 12:30 and went northwest. Back at about 2:30. Fantastic riding weather. Just now hitting 77 degrees and it was extremely comfortable riding in mesh gear. Had spotted this old crane awhile ago and hadn't stopped. Fixed that today. Decided to get all artsy and try it out in black and white. Think I need to play with the contrast a bit. And another one from a different angle. I stopped at this spot back in the spring before anything had been planted. Summer is getting on and I saw a lot of farmers getting gear ready for harvest season. It'll be here way too soon. Let's just call this one, "barn in field." Part Duex Guess that makes this one "bike with barn in the field." And one more to wrap this one up. More this weekend--probably with actual people in them!
Take the camera! Too good an eye to waste it! Don't have the blue fretless anymore. It was an SX bass. Not bad for the money, but I have enough trouble playing with frets.