The Random Rideout Pictures

Absolutely perfect retirement day here in November. The youngsters are going to have to worry about global warming because Im loving it! Perfect for the GS today.

 

Not one of those calendars with forum members in the scud, covering their modesty with motorcycle parts?

 

Worrever floats yer boat, Dave ....................

 

It certainly doesn't float mine, Adie. I was seeking Bikerman's assurance that that wasn't what he had in mind! Though they say you shouldn't knock things until you've tried them...

 

It was a bit nippy too… DSS900

Crazy weather here. Mid-November and was haven't had a hard freeze or bad frost yet. Some of the ornamentals have died off, but some seem to be carrying on like it's summer.

Begonias seem happy


Little rose bush is still blooming


Fig tree still figging along


The banana plantation is a bit wilted, but not ready to give up yet


Anyway, it's supposed to hit 70 degrees tomorrow. Packing all else in and riding.

 

Nice one @Fork Lock, bananas ain’t too common in the wild here, unless you count the tourists

 

Really enjoyed the latest pix @DCS900, @SleepyOwl and @Fork Lock, as Bikerman says Cracking!

 

Spectacular photos, @SleepyOwl! I particularly like the one with all the moss. But each and every one is, as @Bikerman said, "cracking pictures".

 

Yes, bananas in New Jersey. A few years ago I was up in North Jersey on the job to interview an Indian fellow. He had these ten foot banana plants in his yard. He said they were a hardy strain of Japanese banana called Musa Basjoo that grow in the mountains. In the fall, after the frost, you cut them down to ground level and cover them with about 8" of mulch. They come back up in spring, like a bulb. Only thing is, the fruit is inedible. Too seedy. I just like the look of a backyard jungle. No lions or tigers, yet. Just bears.

 

About twenty miles from my place, toward the end of a crumbling, macadam road, near where it turns to sugar sand, stands a lonely, stone monument in a desolate area of the Jersey Pine Barrens. The middle of Nowhere. It looks out of place. It’s as though somehow an ancient Inca or Aztec monument was teleported here. It’s out of place or out of time, or both. It has strange carvings on it in the style of those long-gone civilizations; A fanciful dying bird, an arrow pointed toward the heavens. It is surrounded by yucca plants and prickly pear cactus. It is a monument, funded by Mexican school children, to honor Captain Emilio Carranza.

Emilio Carranza was known as the Mexican Lindbergh. At a time when Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart were dazzling the world in the infancy of the airplane, so was Emilio Carranza. He had several record-setting flights under his belt. He was a friend of Lindbergh’s.

In 1928 Captain Carranza was on a “Goodwill Flight.” He had flown from Mexico City to New York and was on the return trip when he crashed and died in Southern New Jersey. He was eating dinner in a New York restaurant when he was given a telegram. He immediately excused himself and drove to Roosevelt Field where he told the ground crew to ready his plane, the Mexican Excelsior. There was a violent storm and he was advised not to attempt to fly, but he did. Although the exact cause of the crash was never discovered, it is suspected the plane was struck by lightning.

When his body was recovered the story is that the telegram was in his pocket. There was war in Mexico at the time, rebels in the north. It was supposedly sent by the head of the Mexican military, ordering him to leave immediately and return to Mexico.

There is a commemorative ceremony every year in July.





Batona Creek near the memorial

 

Had a run into Wales today. Weather wasn’t brilliant. Done just over 200 miles on the day.

Had to call in for a coffee and breakfast bap.


Then headed for home…. and a well earned pint in my local.


A cracking days riding this late in November.

 

Nice bit of history @Fork Lock , cheers fella!

@Wessa good to get out dude, I’d much rather have 200 miles under my seat today than the usual daily bs!

 

Wow, that is really interesting, @Fork Lock. Thanks for sharing the photos and the story of Emilio Carranza.

 

Sounds like a lovely day out on the bike, @Wessa, even if the weather wasn't sparkling. Those hills are so green they make my desert rat eyes water! Glad you got in a good solid ride before the weather turns worse in your part of the world.

 

200 mile day in the middle of November is good going! Well earned pint

 

Had to Google that company. Looks like that have been around for a long time. Love your Thruxton . Do you have a connection to the company?

 

Yep, they’ve been around for a while…other than living 15 minutes away and some great riding in that area, nope. Behind me is a farm market/fruit stand run by the same company…they make some amazing deserts; the kitchen isn’t half bad either.