Hobo Jungle

[DennisB]

My daughter, Dorian, was married on Friday. I took this shot while the wedding photographer was shooting the happy couple.

[2railjon]

Quite the handsome couple, Dennis!!!!! Will the reception be at Gomers?
What time does the beverage cart start its rounds this holiday weekend?

[DennisB]

I'm waiting for you guys. Drinks are on me. Gomer said he'll supply the vittles.

[2railjon]

Smokin' a loin out back of Gomers!!!!! Smells like heaven!!!!!!
Tramp, No luck on the "D" video. What a bummer. If you can't find a copy of it you could certainly entertain us with a remake!!!!!!!!!
Also send me your address again if you would!
Enjoy the weekend you hobo's and Hev, easy on the rum and salt. Doctors orders, you know. And I agree seeing as I've been in pre-med for eight years now!!!!! (Animal House)

[2railjon]

I did manage to dig up this oldy but goody!!!!!!!!!!

[rogruth]

Nobody better mess with Jons food either.

[The Dirt]

I've been working on finding old photos of Orangeville, seeing if there's enough old pics and stories to throw something together about the town. Part of this is learning to use my Photoshop program to repair these old pics, as many that have turned up have been beaten up over the years of storage and handling. Here's an example of some of my progress, a photo sent to my by a friend, of his parents...

Before...



...and after...



That of which Photoshop is capable is nothing short of magic.

[rogruth]

You're right.

[britbloke]

Belated Memorial Day salutations to you all.

I can particularly relate to The Dirt's paen to country living because yesterday I was out collecting 'trees' from the roadside. People don't ever really look at what's around them. Do you have any idea how many varieties of grasses there are? I went out with a bag and came back with it full and all I picked was ONE sample of each to be dipped in Elmers and stuck to dried twigs and become trees.

Sunday my bride and I took a 40 miles each way ride on our 50cc scooter along the back roads en route to see my daughter who lives at the opposite end of the county. There's so much to see, hear and smell, glorious waves of honeysuckle and rose wafting across from the fields on either side, riding through dark green tunnels of pine and the heady scent and shadowed coolness, the slow speed allowing us to see the sun dappled clearings inhabited by herds of deer, normally invisible to those that whizz by in their cages.

Possum, black snake, turtles (stop and help him cross the road or some ****** will run over him on purpose - sad but true) so many birds! We built a driftwood unenclosed aviary on our front porch and scatter bird seed thereon so we can sit inside and watch the variety of visitors close up, doesn't take them long to get used to our faces at the window.

What I love the most is the wonder that lights up my ex-city girl's face, all this is new to her, every little thing right down to the everyday bugs and birds she's never seen except in books or nature programs on TV. It's all 'free' she can't get over it, she used to really go on at me about my choosing to bring my children up away from the city's 'culture', she didn't like dogs, now one's adopted her and will not go away, a puppy we call Herbert daughter of Hillary an old doggie friend everyone knows. Gentle and smart, Hillary brought Herbert to see us and finally she just left her and now Herbert shows up on her own. She protected Tammy too, curls up by her when she's in the house or gardening and growls if anyone comes near.

Tammy has never encountered this before either and is charmed and impressed, God knows I've been telling her for the last seven years why I love dogs so much, well Herbert has decided to adopt her, its wonderful to watch and see her mind adapting to the advantages of life out here and she's blossoming too, if I'd shown her a movie of herself now when we first met she'd have refused to believe the change in attitude. I take no credit for this, its why I love the country, it's magic, I knew what would happen if she'd just give it a chance.

[rogruth]

Britbloke,

[Tramp]

Dirt, that is an amazing reconstruction of that cracked photo.

Mike, nice story. Small capacity bikes are a wonderful way to see countryside, but nothing beats a boxcar.

Dennis, great wedding photo. You must be pleased.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

...Sunday my bride and I took a 40 miles each way ride on our 50cc scooter along the back roads en route to see my daughter who lives at the opposite end of the county. There's so much to see, hear and smell, glorious...
... its why I love the country, it's magic, I knew what would happen if she'd just give it a chance.

I salute and applaud you for your freedom ride! Since you and I have both enjoyed the Honda50cc, and some other bikes as well, I understand just how you felt when you were gliding through a day on one. In fact, when I used to drive ("ride"?) my various Hondas around NYC, I felt it was the perfect way to see and feel it all. I loved being able to ride slowly enough to see everybody walking around, or to pull right into a space between parked cars at curbside, any time the impulse hit. I esp. loved riding the full length of the FDR Drive, up under the apt. bldgs perched above the roadway leading to the GW Bridge, down the Westside Hwy, and soon, down around the South Street Seaport area, etc. Day or night, it was a wonderful and wonderous and wonder-filled adventure.

However, riding a motorcycle Upstate NY was beyond compare, through forests and along dirt roads up in the hills, around farms (where every odor was a fragrance-of-life, to me, at least,) always staying off highways like Rt.81. Off the highways, I didn't have to fight for my place on the road and be fearful. Off-road, all I had to fear was my own possible imcompetence, which never arose, I'm glad to say.

My wife prevailed upon me to have no more bikes, once the Nighthawk550 was gone, and I have abided by her wishes. But I envy you your freedom, Britbloke - your freedom to ride as you both did.

In fact, what I am going to do, right now, is pack a bag and take off in my new-ish (5mos.) SUV for a ride into PA and up into NY. It's too tempting not to, and you've just tempted me big-time. It won't be the same as your 50cc ride, but I'll open every window and the roof and enjoy the wind and the endless glory. See ya' all later!
Murph
P.S. Hey Roger, I may take the camera w/ me, too!

[rogruth]

Murph,

Do you take your wife?

My wife has no interest in this kind of trip.She wants to go places for a reason[?]and get there as quickly as possible.
I like to take my time and see things.

[The Dirt]

Mike, great story!

How about it. I came to this rural life later in life, and I will never ever take it for granted. Neither will your wife. She is now officially 'ruined', and will never be able to move back to the city.

There's so much to see, hear and smell, glorious waves of honeysuckle

There's a road leaving home from work that was the original road through Montour valley, bypassed by Rt.11 many years ago. There is a bank alongside, in one spot, that is maybe 8-10 feet from road to top, and maybe 60-80 yards long, that is nothing but honeysuckle. I never fail to drive by there at the end of evening shift when they're in bloom, because I can sidle by at 15 MPH without aggravating anybody, listening to the katydids and getting drunk on the aroma. Intoxicating!

Hey, looks like Murph has the fever too!

[rogruth]

Dirt,

I also have the fever but it's just too far for a honeysuckle smelling trip.

Her we can go smell the swamp gas and if it is hot enough the pine trees.

In Ohio and Kentucky I walked through the woods and along the streams and rivers and was never challenged.

Here the police are called because you are "unlawfully entering an area".The friendliness of the south is,IMHO,only on the surface.