Good evening kind Sir's.
I don't even know where the heck we are yet. Where the heck are we in the Diner here anyway?
It's not even fourth of July's Eve yet, which is tomorrow and I have to go wxxk it.
Invited to many backyard barbecues for the 4th, that's good, I don't like to plan those.
Then I have the 4th, the 5th, the 6th and the 7th off.
I haven't even made plans and that's exactly the way I like it. Steady As She Comes, Steady As She Goes
How are you all doing?
Track Fiddler
At a complete show of respect, the other side of the coin. I have a friend who fought in the War. He hates the 4th of July.
I can completely understand and respect that.
Ulrich - That's great news that you get to go home.
Nittany Lion - my empire is 10 x 20 roughly and it is more than big enough. I can't imagine the commitment a 30 x 60 would entail (not to mention the expense). At any rate, congrats. You and Mr. Beasley can see who gets done first.
J.R.
NittanyLionI'm excited for my finished 24x20 basement.
.
That is exciting. Congratulations.
You space is about twice what mine is. Certainly has tons of possibilites.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Got the confirmation from our realtor this morning that we've got our first house (pending inspection and soforth). After so many years of renting one bedroom apartments and two bedroom townhouses, we're decamping from Washington DC for the Virginia burbs and a sprawling(ish) single family home. The kitchen alone is as big as our current kitchen, dining room, and half our living room. Had to come in at full ask because Amazon is crushing the market right now. Inventory is down like 45%, so seller's market times a billion. Last weekend, we were one of seven offers on a house. Listed on Friday, we offered on Sunday night, they accepted someone else on Monday night. Seriously that fast. It went for 106% of asking price. The one we got was listed last Thursday and we were one of two offers made yesterday. Both of us offered full ask, but they just liked us more.
She's excited about the kitchen and all the storage and the space we have to reconfigure the master into having a huge closet, but still end up with enough bedrooms for future plans and a guest room.
I'm excited for my finished 24x20 basement. No bar or fireplace or anything to get rid of or work around. HVAC is upstairs too. And there's an 11x24 unfinished area they used as storage that's behind a simple stud wall, so some flooring, ceiling, etc. in there and I have my workshop space and staging yards in there. I was just hoping for a spare bedroom or something! It may not be 30x60 basement empire territory, but I'm more than satisified with the prospects of my basement principality.
RideOnRoadAmen on the full-face helmet. As for leathers, another option is to look at mototcycle-specific wear incorporating kevlar and armor. I have a Joe Rocket Alter Ego jacket that is excellent.
You are absolutely right Richard, the new kevlar wear and other items I have not been keeping up with is a must and better than basic leather. We still call the new stuff leathers though, hard to break old habits.
If you can't afford the safety equipment you can't afford a bike. It is like buying a boat and saying I couldn't afford the life jackets. Stupid is as stupid does.
RideOnRoadknow your escape routes
This is what was hammered into us more than anything else along with speed kills. The course I took on the physics of motorcycles was all about making it to your escape route. We would study things like the effects of G-Force and Gyroscopic precession. We would go back and forth between the classroom and track over four days. This is a perfect example of not knowing what I didn't know and what I learned saved a bad accident.
Torque-induced precession (gyroscopic precession) is the phenomenon in which the axis of a spinning object (e.g., a gyroscope) describes a cone in space when an external torque is applied to it. The phenomenon is commonly seen in a spinning toy top, but all rotating objects can undergo precession.
Well, I am still soaking wet from my bike ride, it is pouring rain and I am going to box up my second Royal Hudson and get it on its way back to Rapido and then work on the layout.
The rain is most welcome, hopefully, it will help in keeping the Province from burning up this year. Fires have been really bad the last few years, we need a break.
All the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Tinplate ToddlerGood news! I will be home by tomorrow afternoon.
Wahoo!
Richard
MisterBeasleyI had more issues with unrestrained dogs than with cars.
Unrestrained dogs were my nightmare when I was riding a motorcycle. You are completely vulnerable when stopped.
MisterBeasleyHere in Delaware, helmets are not required.
Not required in Florida either. I never rode without one. Way too risky.
I used to do a lot of bicycling, always with helmet and gloves. I had more issues with unrestrained dogs than with cars.
When I was asked if I rode a motorcycle, I always said, "I'm a hockey goalie, but I'm not crazy."
Here in Delaware, helmets are not required. Foolish.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good Evening!
Good news! I will be home by tomorrow afternoon. The docs are now quite happy with my recovery and the pain is down to a level I can cope with - albeit with pain meds. I am one happy camper to be with Petra again - I bet she is in the kitchen now preparing some goodies for me to enjoy when I am home!
Talking of bikes - I bought an old army surplus bike back in my high school days. I think it was a 1944 Harley-Davidson WLA. It required some work to get it running, which took much longer than I had anticipated. By the time I was able to ride it, I was preparing for my return to Germany. I sold it for little money to one of my high school buddies. Back in Germany, I had no interest in riding a motorbike - just too much traffic here to be able to ride safely and enjoy it.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
BATMAN. . .Steven make sure you get a current full face helmet and wear leathers and most importantly take a basic course at the very least. . .
Amen on the full-face helmet. As for leathers, another option is to look at mototcycle-specific wear incorporating kevlar and armor. I have a Joe Rocket Alter Ego jacket that is excellent.
As for courses, look for courses provided by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. (Team Arizona is the MSF training provider in Arizona.) They have a whole series of courses from introductory to advanced. Mrs. ROR took the Introduction to Motorcycling course, and I have completed both the Basic Rider and Confident Rider course. I would recommend any of them without hesitation.
As I mentioned, I am relatively new to the sport of motorcycling riding, but have over 100,000 miles logged on the road on a bicycle. (You are even more "invisible" on a bicycle.) I have learned that the key to safe riding, on either vehicle, is to be constantly aware of what is going on around you, never ride outside of your skill level, always assume that the car is going to do something stupid--know your escape routes, and never, EVER, ride without protective gear, no matter how short the ride is.
BroadwayLionI would sure like a nathan five-chime on my vehicle.
Some of the 4-wheeler crowd in Florida have train horns on their trucks.
It is extremely illegal.. very high risk. Almost as bad as having a blue light on your vehicle.
TOP OF THE PAGE, and it must be 5 o'clock somwhere. Everyone have a Konig Ludwig on me. Mmmm, delicious.
I was going to show you some pictures of birds in our court yard, but the cat got there first.
Some Mourning Doves love to sit on the peek of the pottery/laundry building.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
York1I've been interested in doing some unusual things on the layout. A while back some of you posted some pictures of unusual or fun things you've incorporated into your railroads.
LION runs SUBWAY TRAINS. Him is going to put some golfers on the 76th street platform. Maybe some soccer players on anaother platform.
I got the figures, and gotta put them somewhere, and a subway layout needs lots of peoples on the platforms.
ROARING
Heartland Division CB&QJR ... Evidently, the police are not enforcing "Keep right except to pass" laws. .. Based on what you said about trucks in the left lane.
Depends on your state. In North Dakota crusing in the left lane is permitted, though most do not seem to know this. Trucks have to keep right exzcept to pass, but they do pick the damest times to pass. You are pulling up to over take them at 80 miles per and he pulls out to pass the one in front of him.
I would sure like a nathan five-chime on my vehicle.
My brother got out of the (Vietnam War) Draft because he fell off of his moto-cycle and no longer had full range of motion in his arm.
Did not stop him from riding motocycles... Him buyed a Ducati (I hear they are fast) and would run that thaing at 120 mph (On a track).
Got hit by an old man in a pick up on his way home, they had to sweep up the peices and put him back to gether ageain. The bike was a loss.
Oh well, I believe he will turn 70 in march, he had set that as his retirement date.
I don't know... He owns an automobile repair shop, a boat and at the moment two houses. He wants to sell the old one and move into the one that he just remodeled. Of course he has been remodeling this for two years now. I don't think he will get too much for the old house, too close to the swamp/river.
He really cannot 'sell' the business as he IS the business. Yeah he can sell the business but he will not get too much for it, but he still owns the building, and so he will collect the rent if he has a tenent.
Howdy ....
As I said, thisis a busy week with visiting grandkids. . However, I now have a little time to vist with you Diners.
Ulrich .... Thanks for opening the Diner. I hope you are recivering as well as can be expected from your surgery .
Canadians.... I hope each of you enjoyed Canada Day.
Ed... I like the pictures you posted.
Henry... Thanks for posting the Strasburg video.
Brent .... I like the old phto of Stoney Creek Bridge. ... That is quite a bird feeder.
JR ... Evidently, the police are not enforcing "Keep right except to pass" laws. .. Based on what you said about trucks in the left lane.
John (York1)... I hope you enjoy the visit from family members.
Cheers, everybody...
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good morning, everyone.
Lots to do today. One of the daughters and family coming for Independence Day. That means house cleaning, grocery shopping, grass cutting, and bed making. It's too hot out to air out the spare bedrooms.
This past weekend I attended a train show, and one of the layouts had a house that was the Psycho house. No motel, though.
I've been interested in doing some unusual things on the layout. A while back some of you posted some pictures of unusual or fun things you've incorporated into your railroads.
I think I'm going to try to build the Psycho house and motel. I do N Scale, so it will be a challenge for me, but I have really grown to like scratch-building structures. I'll try to post some pictures if I succeed.
I also like 1950s science fiction movies, so I think I will try to put in something from one of those movies, also. Of course, this will take me thirty years, so don't count on any pictures soon.
Hope everyone has a good day.
York1 John
Good Morning All,
A regular and a blueberry cake donut please Zoe. I also will avoid the bike subject as I gave up in the 70's when it just became too crowded on the roads with too many untrained drivers of all types. On that subject, I have driven trucks including semis for years. I can usually avoid just about everything by anticipating what the other drivers will do and generally have no issues getting where I'm going without drama. Lately I notice more and more truckers here in the east sitting in the fast lane oblivious to everything including the lines of traffic behind them. When everyone is passing you on the right I would think that would be a clue. I do use the fast lane when I have to, but also move back over as soon as I can. Ok, rant over. . Time to pick up tools. Ciao, J.R.
I think I will avoid the motorcycle subject since I got run off the road in one when I was 19.
Joe Staten Island West
Hello Charlie!!
Happy Canada Day!!!
This is typical of the bird activity every day in our backyard. The nyger seed feeder holds 12 x 16 oz. cups and has to be filled every second day. The sunflower seed feeder holds 7 x 16. oz cups and has to be filled every day! Sometimes the goldfinches cover the seed patches on the ground and fill the trees in addition to filling the feeder!
This barely touches the variety that we get every day. We are so lucky!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canucks!!
I used to like the fireworks but not now. Too many birds die as a result.
Today I saw 2 of the young racoons fall off the roof from the house behind us. It is a single story where they went off. I went to see if they were ok and both were huddled together. They were alert so here's hoping there weren't any injuries. I expect mum will come for them this evening. Two are still up on the roof. Reminded me of a couple of dare devil kids looking over the edge. Sure are cute little rascals.
We have finally completed all the garden planting well until my wife buys more flowers. I think she is up to about 80 pots. Looks nice but a lot of work.
Time for tea and tellie soon.
CN Charlie
Now that the diner is parked (I think), it's probably too late to suggest putting it on a siding in Gettysburg, PA, on the CSX,ex-Chessie, ex-ex-WM Dutch Line. While this may be Dominion Day, it's also the anniversary of the first day of the biggest battle fought on the North American continent. Strasburg, Enola, Hershey, the Rockville Bridge, Filthydelphia, Bal'mer, and several other points of interest are nearby.
I'll throw my hat in the ring as a guy that has lots of hours on motorcycles. I had a Honda 500 four. My friend and his Dad had a large # of bikes of all types and sizes and my friend and I would just take whatever we wanted out of the shop and go ride. He had dirt bikes of all sizes as well as crotch rockets of all sizes and a variety of cruzin machines. I was allowed to ride their bikes because I had taken a number of motorcycle courses through various agencies. They did not let very many people ride their bikes, I was one of the few that got to.
The course that taught me the most important thing about being a safe rider was a course on the physics of motorcycles. I had a couple of close calls caused by other drivers and it was the solid understanding of the physics of motorcycles that prevented the accident. So once again it comes down to education being the cornerstone for success. I never had an accident on a motorcycle and have been awarded twice by various commercial fleet associations for having two million accident-free miles of driving while employed by the Federal Government for driving just about anything you'll find on the road.
It is much easier to avoid an accident on a motorcycle than in a car, however, if you do get in an accident on a bike it is usually more devastating than if you were in a car. Stupid is what stupid does.
I sat in on a lot of accident investigations and the accidents were not judged by whose fault it was but rather by whether the accident was preventable or not preventable by either party or both.
I have little faith in the vast majority of your run of the mill driving instructors as they generally do not strive for excellence, just their paychecks. I taught my son to drive and when he and the examiner returned to the office, instead of going in the far door where they usually went in the examiner walked the length of the building towards me and I am thinking oh-oh what's up. She asked if I had taught him to drive and I said yes, she said I did a really good job as she had not ever had anyone so well prepared for the exam. She showed me the sheet and said look there is not one mark or comment on it.
That made me a happy camper as generally, I think parents should not teach their own kids to drive as they only teach what they know and show them their own bad habits. Not knowing what you don't know is a real problem when you are teaching.
Probably the most common accident involving a motorcycle is having a driver do a left turn into the path of the oncoming biker. The reason for the collision most often is because the person in the car that turned left into the path of the bike assumed the motorcycle was doing the speed limit as it is very hard to judge the speed of an oncoming bike. If the motorcyclist had been doing the speed limit the turn would have been made safely. So speed kills and stupid is as stupid does.
Steven make sure you get a current full face helmet and wear leathers and most importantly take a basic course at the very least. If you take more advanced courses you will find that's where the fun begins. We used the school's bikes and some got damaged in the process, but that was to be expected and no harm was done, the school absorbs that as part of doing business. One guy dropped one while performing a maneuver and put the brake pedal through the oil pan. He just went and got a new bike out of the shed.
The courses I took were done at an abandon WWII airport and that gave us room to really go through the paces unlike what you will get taking a course at the local shopping mall parking lot. Do your research on choosing a school.
Good luck, be safe.
cudakenThere are only 3 kind of riders! 1 Those that will go down! 2 Those that have been down! 3 Those that will go down again!
I rode from the time I was 15 until I was 30.
1) Enduro 125
2) 1984 Honda 450 Rebel
3) 1981 Honda CBC 900
4) 1979 HD FXR
5) 1973 HD FLH
6) 1996 HD Dyna Daytona
I NEVER went down. Never had an accident. Never had a ticket. Always rode safely.
Eveing Diners
Flo, give the gang and I a and what ever Ulrich wants.
Just to dang hot and humid to do anything but spend money.
Front Yard Pourch. My wife is not happy that I am cutting all the dead bushes and vine junk out. So today I bought a Giant Reed Peppermint Stick. Says it should grown to 5 to 7 foot tall. Next year I like to get around 5 more.
Steven If you buy a bike, remember there are only 3 kind of riders!
1 Those that will go down!
2 Those that have been down!
3 Those that will go down again!
I love ridding and not trying to discourage you! If I did not have all of the up coming home repairs I be in the market for another bike! Regardless of what your state helmet law is, ware a full face helmet! My Bell Start Helmet may have saved my life. Woman did not think I could accelerated as fast as I could and pulled out in front of me and I had to lay the bike down. Nasty Road Rash on the Bell Star Helmet.
All so wear Leather bike jackets! One day it was hot and I took leather jacket off. Hit a Bee or wasp at 70 mph and dam it hurt and the stinger was baried deep!
Later None Smoking Ken
I hate Rust
Good afternoon all and HAPPY CANADA DAY!
Other than being Canada Day and sunny and warm and having a worry free lifestyle without a care in the world, today sucked rail spikes! Thanks for letting me borrow that Ken. As I mentioned in the other thread my new Royal Hudson packed it in.
Had my Daughters hoity toity grad bash in Vancouver on Friday night, a posh affair that was fun. It was several levels above my pay grade but what do you do. I bought a suit for my Son's grad two years ago and had not had it on since until last Friday. I have more muscle than I did two years ago and it was a little tight in the legs from the bike. My arms were a little tighter as well but still okay. I would be surprised if I ever wear it again. Casual dress is much more in fashion these days.
Ulrich thanks for opening the diner this month, I don't care where we are as it is the company that makes it enjoyable. Glad to see you are on the mend.
Bear, keep posting pic's of New Zealand, I really hope to get back there before I am placed in the green bin out at the curb. New Zealand has been rated best country in the world to live on more than one occasion and is always near the top of the list. It would be my first choice if I were to move elsewhere followed by Australia. My Sister gets down there most years to judge dogshows and usually does a circuit that includes Australia. Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef was pretty special, I did dives at a few spots between Sydney and Cairnes. One place we did some dives we took a boat for several hours and were way out of sight of land, that was a good day. So much to do in the world, so little time.
Checked out the house we liked and it needed more work than the photo's let on, it was way over priced.
Kid has to have surgery that will keep him in hospital for a week, it is an E.N.T. issue that he was born with. The reason for the long stay is the possibility of swelling that could block the airway. They booked him in July 23 after his midterms. They were most accommodating.
The kid also was ask to go for lunch with some movie people on Thursday as they want to see him. He has not done any work so far this summer as he has been taking Law courses. He is not against taking a year off if something comes up that pays good, he could be set for a few good years of good livin while at University if the right work comes along. A "Lord Of The Rings" TV series is in the works and he is on good terms with some of the people involved with that. It may be filmed in New Zealand so we could go visit him, that would be fun. Bear did they shoot the movies anywhere near your home?
Daughter got a bunch of scholarships just like her Brother did so our wallet will not suffer much if at all for her first year at University. She was going to go to Edinburgh to medical school but has developed an interest in medical forensics so is going elsewhere as she needs to study Anthropology a little more extensively before med school.
Well I think I'll do some yard work as it is such a nice day. Next round on my tab for the house.
I've lost friends whose names are on the RIP track list. I think the list started shortly after Jeffrey passed on and we decided to rename the diner in his honor. At that time, we realized that we had lost many members who deserved to be remembered, so the RIP track has been with us since then.
My carfloat terminal is the Westport Terminal, after Wolfgang Dudler's fine models.
York1When I die, if you come to my house, you will know I am gone. All of my belongings, including a layout, will be out at the curb waiting for the trash pickup.
You will know when I am gone.
My house will be gone, the lot will be empty, and my kids will be auctioning the building site to split the money.
Probably better than finding all your clothes in the front yard today.
BroadwayLionOf course how do we know if you are dead if you did not post to tell us about it. I guess someone has to go to you house to see if your trains are running or not.
When I die, if you come to my house, you will know I am gone.
All of my belongings, including a layout, will be out at the curb waiting for the trash pickup.