- New carbs (My fault, and I get to learn how to rebuild a carb!)
- New piston rings (Maybe my fault)
- New engine gaskets (Time is a killer of all things sequestering)
- New brake, throttle and clutch lines
- New bolts, screws and other miscellany (a mixed of old metal and... my fault)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Oliver Gettin' Clean
So a few days of hard work have completely cleaned the pistons in the bike, at the cost of my arms, fingers, a few brushes and more solvent than I care to have inhaled. At this point I am pricing out the various gaskets and parts I will need once I get past cleaning the rest of the engine. Alas, some of the parts are needed due to my own clumsiness. But I prefer to consider it enthusiasm!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Two Hikes, or Meeting Strangers in Dusty Places
Over the last week I went on two night hikes in the LA are. One near Malibu, the other in Griffith Park. The most intersting difference was not the terrain or the views, both of which were phenomenal. It was the people who organized and led the hikes that made each feel so different. I found both of these groups through Meetup.com (a fantastic group probably worth a post by itself).
The first hike was on a Friday night, started at 9pm and was about 6 miles out to a spot called Parker Mesa. This is a beautiful spot overlooking Malibu, Santa Monica and the greater LA area. The hike was awe inspiring. A marine layer drifts in at night filling the valleys on wither side of the trail with an ethereal blanket of white mist lit by the lights below. Once at the point, the mist began to roll back and reveal the entire coast from Topanga Canyon to LAX. The moon was full and one adventurous fellow brought a telescope so we could watch the moon and stars.
The second hike was this evening, starting at the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, up to the woods ET was filmed in, then down and back up to Lookout Point. We had great views of Burbank and Glendale to the north, Downtown LA and the Griffith Observatory to the south. While not as remote as Parker Mesa, it was still a very pretty gem tucked away between the Valley and the City.
But more importantly, Parker Mesa was a miserable slog through uncertainty, whereas Griffith was a great time, and may lead to some new friends to explore other hikes and events with. It all came down to the people running the show.
Out in Parker Mesa parking was a nightmare compounded by odd park rules and no streetlights within 5 miles of the trail head. It took many of us a good fifteen minutes to figure out we were in the right place and then make our way to the trail head. The group leader left 5 minutes past the meeting time, and the remaining two thirds of us made our way by guessing and luck to the overlook, only two find a man who complained that we got there late. I could have had fun, but I spent the whole time running back and forth between the fast lead group who would not wait and the slower group that was lost. I hoofed it out a few minutes at the top and will not be back to that group again.
Tonight was amazing. One man who lead the hike chaperoned over 60 people together across four and a half miles, and even helped out a few people who got some unlucky bee stings by popping out a first aid kit. He gave out chocolates to everyone who wanted them at the top of the hike. He waited and made sure everyone was accounted for each leg of the way. Most importantly he made everyone feel welcome and made sure everyone knew what was going on. SO on this hike I got to enjoy conversation, meet some new people, and have a relaxing time taking in the strange beauty of LA lights at night, especially when compared to the beast it can be when the sun is up.
So in the end, two very similar groups set out on two different nights to accomplish the same goals: Enjoy nature, meet some new people, and relax for a few precious hours. Over each evening, one person completely changed the atmosphere in hugely different ways. I know I will go to another hike with Bob. I have already forgotten the other man's name.
The first hike was on a Friday night, started at 9pm and was about 6 miles out to a spot called Parker Mesa. This is a beautiful spot overlooking Malibu, Santa Monica and the greater LA area. The hike was awe inspiring. A marine layer drifts in at night filling the valleys on wither side of the trail with an ethereal blanket of white mist lit by the lights below. Once at the point, the mist began to roll back and reveal the entire coast from Topanga Canyon to LAX. The moon was full and one adventurous fellow brought a telescope so we could watch the moon and stars.
The second hike was this evening, starting at the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, up to the woods ET was filmed in, then down and back up to Lookout Point. We had great views of Burbank and Glendale to the north, Downtown LA and the Griffith Observatory to the south. While not as remote as Parker Mesa, it was still a very pretty gem tucked away between the Valley and the City.
But more importantly, Parker Mesa was a miserable slog through uncertainty, whereas Griffith was a great time, and may lead to some new friends to explore other hikes and events with. It all came down to the people running the show.
Out in Parker Mesa parking was a nightmare compounded by odd park rules and no streetlights within 5 miles of the trail head. It took many of us a good fifteen minutes to figure out we were in the right place and then make our way to the trail head. The group leader left 5 minutes past the meeting time, and the remaining two thirds of us made our way by guessing and luck to the overlook, only two find a man who complained that we got there late. I could have had fun, but I spent the whole time running back and forth between the fast lead group who would not wait and the slower group that was lost. I hoofed it out a few minutes at the top and will not be back to that group again.
Tonight was amazing. One man who lead the hike chaperoned over 60 people together across four and a half miles, and even helped out a few people who got some unlucky bee stings by popping out a first aid kit. He gave out chocolates to everyone who wanted them at the top of the hike. He waited and made sure everyone was accounted for each leg of the way. Most importantly he made everyone feel welcome and made sure everyone knew what was going on. SO on this hike I got to enjoy conversation, meet some new people, and have a relaxing time taking in the strange beauty of LA lights at night, especially when compared to the beast it can be when the sun is up.
So in the end, two very similar groups set out on two different nights to accomplish the same goals: Enjoy nature, meet some new people, and relax for a few precious hours. Over each evening, one person completely changed the atmosphere in hugely different ways. I know I will go to another hike with Bob. I have already forgotten the other man's name.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
All Growed Up
Over the last half decade I have always wondered, in the back of my mind, when the moment would come when I finally feel like an adult. It hasn’t happened yet. I used to think it would come after I graduated from college. Then I thought it would come after I got a Real Job. I thought it might come when I fell in love, or when I had my own place, or financial freedom. I have experienced or achieved all of those things, but the moment has not yet come.
I do feel older, I suppose. I understand how a 401k works. The ideas of a budget or planning (and paying) for a vacation now seem familiar. I am more responsible than I used to be, but that is more a function of making my own way in the world. Paying bills, doing taxes, holding a steady job, realizing that sometimes we have to subsume desires for duties. I know true depression and heartbreak. I know the joy of love and the happiness of having true friends. None these things have left me feeling as though I am all grown up.
There are so many things that have not changed though. All the silly emotions, desires and follies are still lurking under the nine to five life I live. I still make mistakes I would tell a younger me to steer clear of. I still find myself occasionally wasting an afternoon on the simple joys that don’t seem adult. And the best part is this does not bother me.
The longer I have been an “adult”, the more I realize there will be no moment when it all suddenly clicks into place. Perhaps having a child will do it, but somehow I think that may not change things. After all, of all my friends who have had children, they seem younger on the whole than the rest of us.
It seems to me that becoming an adult is a mindset we use to box ourselves in and limit the “what ifs” in life. We call people free spirits and refer to people who act youthfully young at heart. What comes to mind when year someone described as dour or frumpy? I have given up on growing up. Don’t take this to mean I support kidults (a horrendous term) or the shirking of things we must do! By all means we must be responsible and considerate and emotionally mature. There are some advantages to knowing what children do wrong! But moving forward, let’s forget about growing up. Instead just grow, period.
I do feel older, I suppose. I understand how a 401k works. The ideas of a budget or planning (and paying) for a vacation now seem familiar. I am more responsible than I used to be, but that is more a function of making my own way in the world. Paying bills, doing taxes, holding a steady job, realizing that sometimes we have to subsume desires for duties. I know true depression and heartbreak. I know the joy of love and the happiness of having true friends. None these things have left me feeling as though I am all grown up.
There are so many things that have not changed though. All the silly emotions, desires and follies are still lurking under the nine to five life I live. I still make mistakes I would tell a younger me to steer clear of. I still find myself occasionally wasting an afternoon on the simple joys that don’t seem adult. And the best part is this does not bother me.
The longer I have been an “adult”, the more I realize there will be no moment when it all suddenly clicks into place. Perhaps having a child will do it, but somehow I think that may not change things. After all, of all my friends who have had children, they seem younger on the whole than the rest of us.
It seems to me that becoming an adult is a mindset we use to box ourselves in and limit the “what ifs” in life. We call people free spirits and refer to people who act youthfully young at heart. What comes to mind when year someone described as dour or frumpy? I have given up on growing up. Don’t take this to mean I support kidults (a horrendous term) or the shirking of things we must do! By all means we must be responsible and considerate and emotionally mature. There are some advantages to knowing what children do wrong! But moving forward, let’s forget about growing up. Instead just grow, period.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Back Off Track
After quite some time, I have gotten back into the garage and pulled apart the engine head and cylinders. So far the casualties in the screw department are starting to mount. The metal just gives under the pressure of either a screwdriver or the drill, so the next tool coming up will have to be a manual impulse driver. Although I have started to pick up on the art of extracting stripped screws, it is time consuming and I'd rather avoid it if at all possible.
Aside from the screw issues, the cylinders and pistons look ok, aside from some nice thick carbon build up. Hopefully once that gets cleaned up it'll look nice and undamaged. There aren't any obvious wear marks on the pistons or the cylinders, so all looks good in that department.
Mmm, carbon!
Aside from the screw issues, the cylinders and pistons look ok, aside from some nice thick carbon build up. Hopefully once that gets cleaned up it'll look nice and undamaged. There aren't any obvious wear marks on the pistons or the cylinders, so all looks good in that department.
Mmm, carbon!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Belated Books
So I finished a few more books lately, but have been lax is getting the photos sorted and up. Here is the first, that I made for a friend doing some extensive traveling abroad. It is my first full leather hardcover, and it turned out ok. I think a wood cover with leather over it would give a much nicer feel in the hands. Maybe that'll come in a bit.
A little about this: I used suede leather, with thick car covers and a "soft" spine. Linen paper, hand stitched book block. Played with adding a headband and ribbon.
A little about this: I used suede leather, with thick car covers and a "soft" spine. Linen paper, hand stitched book block. Played with adding a headband and ribbon.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Music Notebook
I took a nice old piece of sheet music and used that to make the covers. Endpapers on this one are just simple black. Inside, each set of facing pages has 6 staffs on the left and a blank page for notes on the right. It was interesting setting that up, as this is the first printed book I have done.. Binding is just black cloth. Since it will hopefully be seeing use going into and out of bags on the go, the corners got the cloth treatment too. the only part not really visible is a black ribbon page marker, glued into the binding.
New Books Coming Soon
It's been crazy with work over the last month or so, but I have two new books I just finished! I'll get the pictures up soon (as in later this week). And I've finished my first leather bound book, which is pretty awesome!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
