Today is May 1, 2011, now officially known as A Bloggers Centerline Day. This moto-world event is the brainchild of Gary France, Harley Road King rider and author of USA Tour on a Harley-Davidson. Head over there to read the rules. If your picture is the winner you’ll receive some cash. But you need to do it today. I had planned to post earlier about the contest but just forgot. Really. Wasn’t trying to minimize the competition…
So here I am, on the road I love so much. When I left the house this morning I was a bit puzzled about where to shoot the picture. Most of the quiet secondary road’s markings are more along the lines of roadkill than paint. Persistence paid off and I was able to make a few shots. Any of you who have made self portraits with a little point and shoot camera know what a pain it is to get the timer working, get the camera in postion, get yourself in position, and then wonder if the thing is going off. And then up and check and do it all again. By the third shot I was dead and on the road.
On into town to meet some friends for breakfast. Sunday morning is quiet in State College. Only the devout students are up this early. Guess there aren’t any devout students. At least not in the alley.
And one last shot on the way home. Another road, another try. With a belly full of eggs, ham, bacon, potatoes and toast, and a big glass of orange juice there was no way I was going to get down on the road again. So here I am, on the centerline, my father’s scruffy old Wolverine boots, celebrating the first ABCD: A Bloggers Centerline Day.
Looking forward to perusing other blogs to see what kind of centerlines are in other parts of the world.
I’m trying really hard to not be jealous of all the riding you’re doing. I really am…
I love this Steve!! I know exactly what you went through!! I started with my little canon and then jumped to the big gun, but then again I was home. I think Gary really made a great call with this contest! What fun and what a way to make lots of smiles!
Great shots!
Keith: Just using the scooter for every possible errand, trip and jaunt. Much easier when the roads clear of ice and snow.
Eve: I agree — I think Gary has hit on a good idea. May take a few years to really take off but it’s a good one.
As far as photography goes I keep jumping to ever smaller and lighter cameras. The big guns stay at home most of the time.
Matching road and jacket – it’s great to see someone making an effort with their attire! Good shot, well done.
Very cool pics. The competition is heating up!
Steve W at his best. I especially like the Vespa-between-boots shot. Management of the point-and-shot timer was quite a pain in the butt for me too…
Richard: It was a pleasant surprise to see how close those colors were. Dumb luck on my side again!
Raftnn: Lots of cool pictures appearing. Gary had a great idea.
SonjaM: Yep- laying around like a slug. I’m good at that!
The first centerline shot is priceless!
That really is a great shot. Either the roads were pretty empty or you move pretty fast.
That first shot is the best!!!
Love the way the road center-lines match the yellow stripes on your jacket…wow!
Those are wonderful pictures. It’s almost as it the street painters did the yellow on your jacket too.
Well done!
Jim
Dear Steve:
I wonder if it was dumb luck that your jacket matched the road. Or did you just fall off the Vespa? Fess up?
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
ToadMama: Thank you! Have to love a yellow and black riding jacket.
RichardM: Oh, I’m fast, like lightning… No, the roads are quiet here in central PA, especially early on a Sunday morning.
FZipperer: That merging of line and jacket was one of those serendipitous events that photographers live for.
cpa3485 (Jim): When I first saw the image on the camera screen I was pleased with the colors running together.
Dear Mr. Riepe: I was traveling at a high rate of speed, around 90mph in pursuit of an exotic young woman with a mane of auburn hair flowing from beneath her helmet and flogging the wind above her 1995 BMW K75/3A, paint hot red like her hair. As my Vespa closed on her in a tight turn a Carolina Wren sitting in a lovely birch tree caught my eye, momentarily distracting me from the severe turn and causing the front wheel of the scooter to slide out and throw me into a low side slide along the road. She slowed, turned around, and rode back towards me and stopped next to me to make sure I was ok. “Are you Jack Riepe?” she asked. Now you can imagine what was going through my mind. I wished I had on my Twisted Road t-shirt. Looking up into her mirrored visor I had the presence of mind to attempt what I thought the battered baby seal look would be. A long pause and she reached up and raised her visor to reveal both a beautiful visage.
“Yes.” I muttered.
Another long pause and she spoke again.
“Well, at least you finally have a more appropriate ride.” And she kicked her BMW and was off, disappearing around a bend.
I got up, parked the Vespa and stumbled up the road looking for my camera which seemed to have fallen out of my pocket. I fell to the pavement when I saw it, thankful that it still worked, and made the picture.
No truer words have been written here.
Nice pic, and your last comment is truly epic!
Ken: The strangest things happen to you when you’re on a Vespa….*grin*
Love the boots shot!
What a great picture Steve. The matching colours of the jacket and the lines was terrific. Congratulations on your equal 4th place!
Brooke: Thank you!
Gary France: Thank you so much for putting the competition together. The 39 entries are an amazing set of views from the Moto-blogging world.
And thanks too for your kind words about my own entry.
Interesting event, nice execution of the theme. I think I’ll keep this one on the list. Gail
Steve, I lost the link to your blog over a year or more ago. So glad to find it via Gary!
Dear Scooter In The Sticks (Steve):
LOLOOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!
Very good, my friend and very funny…. This was a great laugh, and a valuable lesson to me. Picking up women is going to get a lot harder with Riepe-wannabe’s running about the countryside.
This was the bes laugh I had all week.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Gail: It was fun. Definitely should be on the list.
Also, saw on your blog you have another rider in the house. Congratulations to you both!
The upper photo with the yellow lines…viewed as the thumbnail photo it looked like a ground hog got run over by the paint machine. But I clicked on it and it’s just you.
Oh well. ; – ) PDR
Yeah, just me laying on the road like you taught me.