Music on the patio...

 

Not talking about a bar with outdoor seating.  This is out on our patio this morning...

 

 

Making some music for Joan and Rufus.  Ruf likes to have music while he's getting brushed.  Joan has her favorites that she likes to hear.  Yes, I take requests.  ;-)

A lovely morning, but it's going to be a warm one here by mid-afternoon.  Hey, it is mid-July.

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So close...

Today was deemed "a shopping day."  Joan asked if we should make a stop at Haggerty's Music Works.  Yes, the place where I was checking out 12-strings earlier this week.  I had kinda narrowed it down to two models and wanted her to see what I was considering.  I think she is more excited about adding a 12-string than I am.

 

I played both models I'm considering so she could hear.  I think her ears were swayed by her eyes, as she really liked a more expensive model than the two I was considering.  Fortunately, there were two of the model that I narrowed it down to.  Even though they are the exact same model, there are differences.  One has a richer looking back and sides.  When I played them at some length, the better looking one was also the better sounding guitar.  To add to the positives: they have a Taylor Guitars rep there right now, doing a presentation for their customers... and, they had some good price incentives for this "event."

I told my salesman friend Pat, "I'll take that one."

He said, "Good choice!  Let me go get the case for that one," and disappeared.

A few seconds after he stepped out of the room, Joan asked, "What's that?" pointing to the front of the guitar.  Well, damn, that lovely new Taylor has what looks like a crack in the finish.  I examined it closer (I sure didn't see that all the time I was playing it)... yep, that ain't right.  When Pat came back with the case, we pointed out what we saw.  He went to get the owner of the store, who confirmed, "That is going to have to go back to Taylor to be refinished."

We dodged a bullet, thanks to Joan's closer examination.  I tried the other same model... nope, it doesn't sound as good; nor looks as good.  I tried the significantly more expensive other model that wasn't in the initial consideration.  Nope, the one with the finish issue sounds better than that one, as well.  I played a couple more Taylor 12-strings and decided I was going to go home empty-handed today.

With the Taylor rep right there, Pat told us they'd have another model coming in within two weeks.  I can wait.  Seems that one of us is having a birthday on Sunday, and Joan thought this would be good to celebrate with.  For the record, I may be the only one who remembers saying, "Let's consider that my birthday present" for camera and music gear I got before we left home.

I think Joan is more disappointed than I am.  They make new guitars all the time.  There'll be another if it's meant to be.  I'm just glad Joan saw this before buying the guitar.

Lunch out, then more shopping... for stuff not nearly as much fun as guitars.  Back to the motorhome just in time for the typical "late afternoon thunderstorm" to come rolling through.  It looks ugly, and there are reports of hail and 60mph winds near Mt Rushmore.  We pulled the slides in... just in case.  As of right now, the rain is ramping up, the wind is building, and the temperature has dropped from 90º to 64º; thunder and lightning.  Looking at radar, we have an hour to go before this crappy weather passes.

Rufus is glad we are home.

Needles Highway...

 

 

Not the one that runs between Laughlin, NV, and Needles, CA.  This is the road that runs through Custer State Park and takes you on a winding adventure through the Needles area in the park.  From my perspective, it is the prettiest part of CSP.  I'm not the only one who thinks so: that road is almost always busy on any summer day... with a guaranteed jam where the road funnels down to a narrow single lane tunnel at Needles' Eye.

Things are especially busy on that road with all that is going on in the Black Hills: the Corvette Rally in Spearfish, and the 3-Wheel Rally happening in Deadwood.  Revzilla (they sell motorcycle stuff) sponsoring an ADV Rally at the Buffalo Chip outside of Sturgis.  And all those driving/riding enthusiasts wanting to take home memories of that spectacular road that is Needles Highway.

Truth be told, Needles wasn't the first choice on today's outing - we planned to ride the scoots through the Wildlife Loop in the park.  Well, we did.  But not much in the way of wildlife to be seen - there were a few buffalo about a half mile off the road; the looked like dark brown lumps in the distance.  The Begging Burros were about a quarter mile off the road, with cars parked all over, and hordes of people flocking to them.  We rode past both of those situations, and didn't see any other wildlife on that stretch of road.

From there, north to get to 16A again, then north again on Needles Highway.  We stopped at Hole in the Wall (where we sometimes picnic) to drink some water and eat some fruit.  And, rest our butts.  Then, on towards Needles' Eye again.  Traffic was grouped: 3 or 4 vehicles driving slow, we'd get around them, then come up on another 3 or 4 grouped together going slow.  It didn't really get crowded until just before Needles' Eye, although we got stuck behind a couple on a Goldwing who were moving pretty slow.

Through the tunnel at Needles' Eye - traffic on the other side was backed up for a mile or so; we lucked out on the direction we were traveling.  Congested again as we rode past Sylvan Lake Lodge area, then behind 3 Harleys (two trikes and a cruiser) who were doing about 10 mph less than the speed limit.  Once they pulled off, we had pretty clear riding for the rest of the day.  Through Hill City, on the county road that runs between Hill City and Keystone, then took Hwy 16 so we could stop and fill up fuel tanks.  I got 88mpg on the Vespa, Joan got 102mpg on the Xmax.

I took the Insta360 One X2 along today, only planning to shoot some video on the Wildlife Loop.  As you read above, not much happening there, so it is more about Needles' Highway and some of the scenery and other vehicles on the road today.

I'll be working on the video this evening, and plan to post it here when I'm done.

A lovely day: lots of blue sky, temps in the upper 70s to mid-80s, wind occasionally gusty.  A good day to be out riding.

Here's the video...

Does this make sense?

 

Joan orders from Amazon.  Seems frequently to me... if it goes more than a couple days without an order, we get an "Are you OK?" message from Amazon.

Yes, I'm kidding.  If you look up anything on Amazon to get buying info, it is a certainty that you will start seeing ads for that item while you're surfing.  With Amazon Alexa at home, I am convinced that she is listening in on our conversations - if we discuss any purchase, without doing a web search, that item shows up in ads.  The first time it happened, I though that was cool.  Then, creepy.  Now, pretty much expected.

This morning, when I got back from my bicycle ride, Joan said, "Would you go to the Mail Room - I got notice we have something there."

"Is it small enough that I can use the bicycle?"

"Yes, it is just a short cord you wanted for your Vespa - it will probably be in a small envelope."  Literally, a 6" USB charging cable (to use in the glove box of my Vespa).

The box is 12" x 10" x 3.5"... for an item that would fit in a #10 envelope; or at most, one of those small padded envelopes.

 

The cord is in that small pouch in front.  They put it in that much larger than necessary box to ship it.  Now I know that Amazon has some kind of "deal" with the Post Office, UPS, and FedEx, but does this make sense to anyone??  The increased cost of handling and materials seems like an incredible waste.  Yes, we have Amazon Prime, so there isn't any increased cost to us for the shipping, but it has to cost Amazon more to send that out with 2-day shipping in that box compared to an envelope.  If I were to ship that box with 2-day service, I'm guessing it would cost me $20.  For a $6 cable.

?????

I try to avoid that...

 

Out for some solo riding today.  No agenda, so I kinda wandered around.  That's not the part I try to avoid... I got rained on 3 times today.  Not a hard, soaking rain; more of a spitty nuisance.  Not even enough to stop and put on rain gear - as long as I'm moving, it's only my arms that get wet.  Well, and my helmet.  The Vespa has pretty decent protection.

When I stopped for lunch, there was a couple on a Harley trike coming back to their bike at the same time.  Of course, the usual: "How fast will that go?"  I think he was surprised; not sure he believed me.  ;-)

I shot no video today; a few stills...

All in all, a pretty pleasant day out there.

Haven't done that in a long while...

 

I did something today that I haven't done in over a year and a half (thanks to Covid): I spent some time in a quality guitar shop. I bought gear from these folks when we lived in the Black Hills (Haggerty's Music Works). No, I wasn't looking at carbon fiber today, actually considering another wood guitar (watch out for that flying pig!!!). This place has an impressive offering of Taylor Guitars (one of their Top 10 dealers globally). The only non-carbon fiber acoustics I still have are Taylors.

It was nice to look, select, and play. And a friendly, knowledgeable salesperson who brought me things to play that weren't on display. Nice experience. He asked if I'd bring my Emerand X20 by on my next trip in... he hasn't seen one in person... he said, "I have sure heard good things about them."

Still an ambassador for carbon fiber.  

The Long Way Around...

 

 

Here's the video from yesterday's ride; about 90% of it "left on the cutting room floor."  Shooting the video is the easy part.  Downloading and picking the angles is the tedious part.  Editing is interesting, trying to retain the feel of the ride, while keeping it concise; doing split screens and transitions.  And when the video looks right, you start the search for the right music.  It is definitely a labor of love... yes, the riding is the part I love the most.  ;-)

While Joan and I ride, we have helmet communicators so we can talk back and forth.  It's also how we coordinate a pass or other positioning.  I control both cameras (one on the back of Joan's bike, one on the front of my bike, with this project) from my left handlebar grip.  The cameras are both 360: Insta360 One R and One X2.  No change in camera positioning, the different views happen in the editing process after we get home.  If you keep the raw video (I generally don't), you could assemble a completely different looking video from the same 360 footage. 

I worked on this most of the evening last night, just getting each clip downloaded and selecting the point of view.  Up early this morning to start the editing and assembling.   It was fun using two cameras, but that is a lot of work.  I'm happy with this final product...

 I told Joan, "I think I'll take the day off today."

She asked, "From riding or shooting video."

"Yes."  ;-)

The Shrine of Democracy...

 

 

If you said, "Mt Rushmore," well... duh.  We did not go into the grounds around Mt Rushmore last year, due to Covid.  Oh, we rode by there a bunch last year, but never went into the parking lot.  I have missed the Rushmore experience.  Oh, sure, we visited it a bunch when we lived here, and have gone there every time we've been to the Black Hills after we moved away.  Except last year.  I marvel at this giant sculpture every time I see it... it is amazing that jackhammers and dynamite, and some impressive imagination, allowed men to carve this.

I enjoy "having breakfast with the Presidents"... having ice cream while sitting out on the viewing terrace... walking through the "Parade of Flags".  I remember Rushmore when it was a more natural experience, before the major renovation of the grounds that made it more like a Washington, D.C. memorial.  I wasn't a big fan of that renovation - it didn't change the carving, but a 6 level parking ramp, and big columns changed the feel of the experience.  And with that parking ramp came a fee for parking.  Gutzon Borglum, the artist who (along with other workers) carved the Memorial decreed that "there should never be a fee for viewing the work"... so, those who decided to "upgrade" the grounds around the carving got around that by charging for the parking.  In the grand scheme of things, it is a small fee ($10), but it is valid for a year.  So, locals who want to visit multiple times in a year don't have to pay again and again.  But, if your are touristing through the Black Hills, it is probably a one-shot.  And, if you are a senior (age 62+), the parking is half price.  Geezerdom has some privileges.  The fee is per vehicle, so we pay two of those parking fees for the scoots.  But, we will come back here again this summer.

One one of my scooter forums, I was asked for some "shots of the Vespa from the front."  Now, to be fair, shooting video isn't Joan's thing, it is mine.  But, today, I put a 360 camera on each bike and set them up so I could control the shooting of either camera from my bike.  I held my breath, but it all worked fine.  Of course, this mean Joan would be taking the lead frequently so I could get shots of my Vespa from the front (we did this last year, but with only one 360 camera).  I set up the perspective on her bike so it would be the point of view of "a passenger" on her bike when looking forward, and a frontal view of my bike when looking back.  On my bike, the view will be looking forward and a closer view of me from the rear lens.  So, yeah, today was about featuring the Vespa.  Maybe one day I'll be able to do the same for Joan on the Xmax.

We took "the long way" to Mt Rushmore, so we could get some video on Iron Mountain Road.  I didn't know what to expect for traffic on a Saturday in July, but it was pretty light, allowing for some fun video.  From Iron Mountain Road, we took the highway to Mt Rushmore, rolled in through the gates (all automated parking permits now), parked the scoots and walked up to the Memorial.  We took in the carving from a couple different perspectives, then went for some ice cream.  We found a shady spot by the building with a great view.

Then, back to the bikes.  I assumed we were heading more or less straight home from there... but Joan asked, "Do you want to take Iron Mountain Road again?"

"Yes, I do."

By this point, I had put away one of the cameras, and the one left was nearly out of battery.  No matter - I had SO MUCH video from the ride to this point.  And when I say "SO MUCH," it is going to be a long time in the editing process.  Here's a short clip to give you an idea, but it may be tomorrow (or later) before I can get through all I shot today.  (you may want to mute the sound)

A beautiful day, a fun ride, and time with the Presidents.  It felt real good.  :-)

(more video will be coming)