Thursday, February 6, 2025

Let's Cut To The Video...

 

The long "processing" for the 360 video finished last night just before we went to bed.  More editing, and here's the result from yesterday's outing on the CTX...


 Two cameras: the DJI Action 4 on my helmet and the Insta360 X4 mounted on a mirror stalk; a DJI Mic2 in my helmet for the narration while riding.  It takes time to edit the 360 video on my iPad, then send that over my MacBook Pro for final editing.  It keeps me out of the bars and pool halls.

I like the look of the two edited together.  Certainly more time and effort than just downloading "flat" video, but I'm happy with the results.  

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And, the real reason most people look at this blog...


 Photo of Murphy by Joan.

 

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

The CTX Rides Again...

 

I pulled something in my back a while back.  Like Uncle Joe, I've been moving kinda slow (if you said, "At the Junction - Petticoat Junction," you get 30 bonus points).  It was a little better this morning, so I went after a chore I've been putting off: the oil pressure sending unit on the CTX came apart.  About a month ago.  I got down on that hard garage floor and slithered myself under the bike... with my forehead against an exhaust pipe and a cheek pushing against something solid, I could almost see the issue.  Joan did take pity on me, and brought me a mirror and a flashlight (I really didn't want to have to slither out from under there, only to have to slither back in).

With some decent light and a mirror so I could see up around the oil filter, I was able to get one hand in there to work on it.  Can't say it was "my good hand," 'cause they're both creaky.  My new goal: try to get this done before the blood rushing to my head made me vomit... it's important to have a goal.  In time, I got the wires together and felt/heard a victorious "click" as it went back together.  I pulled lightly - seems to be holding.  Pulled a bit more - still holding.  Time to slither out from under all those pointy things.

Joan helped pull me to a sitting position, after I laid there for a while like a turtle on its back.  I got myself to a standing position, checked for any bloody wounds... none!  Time to roll this lovely bike out of the garage and fire it up.

We had put a charger on the battery a couple days ago; the bike fired right up, all the lights shining brightly.  The "OIL" light on the dash turned off right after the motor started.  It was that oil light that came on the last time I rode it that led me to the problem.  I let the bike run for a while.  Revved it a bit.  Turned it off and checked the oil - yep, full.  No leaks.  I'm calling this good.

We had to run an errand, then have some lunch before I could get out on the bike and give it a thorough running.  I hooked the Insta360 X4 to one of the camera mounts on the bike, along with the pretty new mini remote that runs it with a push of a button right by the handlebar grip.  And a DJI Action 4 camera on a chin mount on my helmet.  Hooked up a wireless mic to the Action 4, and I was ready to ride!

A beautiful afternoon in the desert: the high was 79º, blue skies, and sunshine.  I know in a few months it is going to be blistering hot, but this weather is a real delight!  And the bike ran like a champ.  With the Corbin seat and the floorboards (that brings the foot position back and down), the riding position on this bike fits me like it was made for me.  In fact, my back felt better when I got back than when I left.

Yes, there is some video.  OK, a LOT of video.  That 360 camera eats up an incredible amount of data.  I started working on it this evening, but it takes a while to edit, then transfer all that 360 footage.  It might be a day or twelve before I get through that project.  But, here's a photo (from the 360 camera)...


 It was a very good ride!

 

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Garage Band...

 

No, not the software/app from Apple.  The music buddies got together today (7 of us)... in Mark's garage.  Another beautiful February day here in the desert (mid-80s).

Proof...


 A good time today, set up in Mark's garage.

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The pedal board came in today, while I was at Mark's.   I went to work on getting it set up; how it looked out of the box...

 

Experimenting with placement, connecting power cables and 1/4" patch cords and...


 It's a work in progress, and room for expansion.  As far as guitar pedal boards go, this one is pretty light... but it's a start, and will make using the pedals a lot more convenient (instead of using each one separately).

I tested it out - it all works just like it is supposed to.  Plus, it is Joan-approved.

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Out of chronological order: the sky this morning, just before sunrise (clouds being lit from underneath)...

 

That intense color lasted a very short time.  Murphy wanted to go out, so it was good timing.