Complete outfits

WaddWatsonEllis · December 23, 2009, 05:55:40 PM

When I came back from Saudi , I lived on my boat just north of Rio Vista for about a year .... and I have two instant memories of the water birds in the area.

It was 2 AM, and I had put it off as long as I could ... that long cold walk up to the head so that I didn't pollute the river ... I was trying to keep as asleep as I could and still walk ... eyes still pretty glued shut from sleep.

I remember seeing the shape of an odd adolescent boy ... i.e. all legs. I was not too surprised, 'cause lots of the kids of the boat owners would get up and fish at all times.

What did surprise me as when the 'kid' leaped over my head about four feet in front of me ... and yes, he was fishing, using the shadow of the boats to camouflage him ... a great blue heron.

I don't know which one of us was more frightened and scared by the run-in ... but I knew that after that, I was wide AWAKE!

Then, another time I was commuting up to Sacramento for a zero-dark-thirty shift. I was going up the dyke road next to
Steamboat and Sutter Sloughs when I saw the most beautiful sight ... Camelia bushes turn into trees in this neck of the woods, and this one was in full bloom with ten inch flowers stark white against the waxy spear shaped leaves.

The tree was across the slough from me, and I coasted my little roadster to the side of the road, wishing that I had a camera with me.

But as I stopped, I realized that it was not Camelia blossoms that graced that tree ... it was a whole flock of sleeping snowy egrets,....

Then I REALLY wished I had a camera!

Daniel Nighteyes · December 23, 2009, 06:37:37 PM

Quote from: GunClick Rick on December 23, 2009, 05:04:41 PM
VAAAAROOOOM,beeep beep beep!!!!!!!!!
aghhhhhhhhh!!!

What's wrong honey?

I almost ran over an indian on a bicycle!!

I need a drink! $:-\$

If you've been driving where I bike, perhaps you need to stop drinking...

Daniel Nighteyes · December 23, 2009, 07:02:44 PM

Quote from: WaddWatsonEllis on December 23, 2009, 05:55:40 PM
... Camelia bushes turn into trees in this neck of the woods, and this one was in full bloom with ten inch flowers stark white against the waxy spear shaped leaves.

The tree was across the slough from me, and I coasted my little roadster to the side of the road, wishing that I had a camera with me.

But as I stopped, I realized that it was not Camelia blossoms that graced that tree ... it was a whole flock of sleeping snowy egrets,....

Hey, you're talking to someone who grew up having to part the camellias and azaleas just to find the mailbox! (And camellia blossoms are pale pink...) Snowy Egrets and Great Egrets are truly beautiful and graceful creatures. Other than the size, do you know how to tell them apart? The Snowy Egret has a black bill and yellow feet (legs are black), while the Great Egret has a yellow bill and black feet (legs are also black).

WaddWatsonEllis · December 23, 2009, 09:00:53 PM

Daniel,

I am going to have to write those colors down ... I did not know that!

But it was a foggy predawn day, both outside and in my head ... and the egrets were curled up with their beaks and feet tucked in enough to be invisible at the 60+ feet accross the slough ...

Short Knife Johnson · December 24, 2009, 10:57:22 PM

Thanks guys. I really like what Gentlemen's Emporium has to offer.

I already had phoned the guys at hiwheel.com before I posted. Seemed like good guys. The model 1891 of the modern Safety bicycle would be a more accurate option. The Roadster model is a little later, about 1901 to 1905, but for $225 or so, I might overlook the discrepancy and save myself $1000 in the process, and just pull of the chainguard.

Check this out for old school bike porn. Eat your heart out Wade Simmons, Tyler Berrecloth, and Ryan Leech!

GunClick Rick · December 27, 2009, 02:51:39 AM

When i was little my grandpapa had a friend with a bicycle shop,the old boy had oblonged the rims and tires and put them back on the bike.When i rode it ,it was like riding a bucking horse,he called it the bucking bike,it was fun to ride,would make ya laugh while you was bobbin up and down and trying to steer at the same time.

Short Knife Johnson · December 27, 2009, 08:03:27 AM

He likely built the wheels so the hubs were off-centre. I think the rims would be comprimised if you reshaped them to oblong, plus they might not clear the frame. That's what happens to most hardcore cyclists,and bike shop owners. You get crazy ideas and then follow them through. Take those nutty Wright brothers for example.

Frenchie · December 27, 2009, 10:24:59 AM

Quote from: Dr. Bob on December 23, 2009, 01:16:05 AMFor cycling, garters might be needed, since the socks didn't have any elastic to help hold them up!

Actually, Vulcanized(tm) rubber "threads" were being used in suspenders and certain items of lady's *ahem* undergarments as early as 1857. A shoe style called "Congress gaiters" had side panels made with elastic rubber. I'd bet elasticized socks and stockings were in the period catalogs.

Delmonico · December 27, 2009, 11:35:09 AM

Quote from: Frenchie on December 27, 2009, 10:24:59 AM
Actually, Vulcanized(tm) rubber "threads" were being used in suspenders and certain items of lady's *ahem* undergarments as early as 1857. A shoe style called "Congress gaiters" had side panels made with elastic rubber. I'd bet elasticized socks and stockings were in the period catalogs.

Your're spot on there pard, funny how many folks think this era was more primative than it was, if you want to see some of the rubber goods from the time, go here and type "rubber goods" into the search:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/advertising/

Check out the 1877 Trade Journal #4. Now that don't show everything they made, but a lot of it will surprise a lot of folks. And some of the "Ladies Things" ain't underwear.

GunClick Rick · December 29, 2009, 12:40:51 PM

Oh to be a doctor then

Delmonico · December 29, 2009, 05:59:44 PM

You want some 19th Century porn?

GunClick Rick · December 29, 2009, 10:07:51 PM

Cain't the hulls get stuck in ma teeth