Calgary 1/2 Marathon Tomorrow

Oh joy. This will be an easy on though. A bunch of co-workers are in on it. My boss is donating $200 to a charity of our choice for everyone who finishes. I will be doing this one with my sweet wife too! Should be good. I'm going to try and set a record for drinking the most cups at the aid stations.

Last night in Rockyford

Last night was our last night in Rockyford. We aren’t actually moving into our new house until next week, but I’ve got a bathroom that I need to renovate before our tenants move in, so we’re camping in our RV at my in-laws. The boys will have fun, and I’ll be able to make all the mess I need without making the family live in a construction zone.

So, being as it was the last night we would spend in Rockyford, we decided to head to the park, and then a walk around town. I brought my camera.

First, a healthy dose of playing at two of the parks in town.
Then, walked around and talk with others who were doing the same.

We checked out the fire trucks that were being serviced.

Then we came to a building that I’d wanted to shoot ever since we moved to Rockyford. I think it was a service station at one time. While I didn’t have my tripod (which would have made for many more possibilities) I was able to shoot some photos in the varying light conditions inside the building.

This was a great place to shoot. So many great compositions to be had. I could have spent hours shooting inside there, instead, the kids played outside for the 10 minutes I was inside. Some of the rooms were so dark that I couldn’t possibly get any photos without a tripod. If I had my tripod, there would have been so much more. Oh well, it’s good to be forced into being creative with what lighting and subjects you have on hand.

I love old broken down objects.

When I was shooting this, I wondered how many different cars it had filled up.

The restroom was out of service.

The fire extinguisher was gone, but the fire exit still worked, so, I left though it.

I'd love to come back to this building with a tripod and some flashlights. The outside light was still quite bright. I think the next time I come, I want to come right before dusk. With a tripod, you could get some more dramatic shots with dying light. Then, highlight certain areas with various flash light setups.

In playing around with simple flashlights, it's amazing how practical they can actually be in photography. Especially in shooting old buildings such as this one. Just get creative with how you use your light. Bounce it, defuse it, hide it. You name it. Just be creative and try using common household objects.

My bike saved my Brain

After fixating my eyes on far too many spreadsheets and word docs, I needed a little reprieve this afternoon. I didn’t take a lunch break and I was at the point of being done.

I dusted off the ole basket bike, and figured I’d time how long my new commute will take me. 8 minutes on the basket bike. I was tempted to go into the new house (they’re just putting the finishing touches on and we should be doing our walk through next Tuesday) but I opted to wait for a surprise. I actually peaked in the windows last night after we grabbed some groceries.

I had a check to deposit, so I did a little drive thru banking.
All the roads are familiar old running roads for me, and some of my favorite places in Strathmore are right on my new commute route. I stopped to take a picture of the basket bike on the dock at the Kinsmen lake. Far different scene than when I was riding the studded monster around just several months ago.

Speaking of the studded monster. I de-studded those tires when we were packing up our basement over the weekend. The screws do indeed have tremendous traction, but they simply stick out too far. The rolling resistance is huge. I suppose if I was only on glare ice, I might not mind too much. But when you have to ride to and from the lake that you want to shred, it sucks. I’m thinking a schwalbe ice-spiker would be a better option if I wanted to keep on ice riding. For now, I’m going to focus on the great summer commuting season ahead of me.

Still getting a kick out of time lapse photography.

Light

Just messing around with the camera to keep from getting bored last night. A simple glass, with some dandelions that my boys picked for my wife, and a little LED light to illuminate.

NuVinci Hub Explained

King of an interesting little tidbit to explain how the NuVinci hub works. I had no clue. I wonder about reliability over the years, but then again, it's not priced like a Rohloff. Between high and low, there is infinite adjustment. Interesting idea. I'd love to hear what users of the hub think of it.


Apparently the idea stems from some plans Leonardo DaVinci cooked up in about 1490.

What’d you do this weekend?

I built a custom shower for my parents master bathroom. This was using the Schluter shower system. Works quite slick, but takes a very long time. It took 4hrs just to do the radius alone. Apparently no one make a preformed radius such as the one above so I had to figure it out myself. What you see here is 100% water tight and ready for tiling. I quite enjoy renovating and home construction projects, only problem is it keeps me off the bike. Oh well. Soon enough it will be done.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I love Cinco de Mayo. From my days working in San Diego and several years in other parts of Southern California, I grew to love the excitement and celebration that came with the day. Tonight, my sweet wife is making Mexican food, and I'll be enjoying some Mexican beer!

Changing locations

Moving back to Strathmore. Life directs it. Makes more sense.

Back to riding bike every single day (new commute will only be about 2 miles), and more of my fleat will be used. Back to good time cruising the bike paths with the family. Selling the car. Just makes sense.

New house should be ready in about a month. Old house will be rented out. Stepping up into a bit of luxury after some down home farm-like fun. Some aspects will be missed, some not.

Now, picking out flooring, fixtures, lighting, colors and stonework. Good times.

Bikes should be back into far greater usage in a month or so. Already some changes to make them more practical for the new location. Fixie, is getting flat bars, loosing the brakes, hand made rack, and getting all messenger style. Should be good. Basket bike will get regular duty, as will the Rockabilly Boogie on those days when I just want to look good. S/S MTB is now optional as a commuter. LHT will still get the love. I'm thinking a front rack and maybe a basket? I need to finish re-building the Xtra. It will see significantly more usage, and it's practicality will be maxed.

One other bike related benefit, very large attached garage and large unfinished basement make excellent bike storage/wrenching quarters.

Oh boy

I've discovered the time lapse photography setting on my little point and shoot. Now, how many of these cheesy little videos will it take before I'm bored with the feature? I'm afraid for the sake of everyone else, it might be a lot. I set up the camera in the board room when I got to work this morning. after about 3 hrs the batteries died. Fun while it lasted.