Photo Hunt - Chipped

Theme: Chipped ** Become a Photo Hunter

It's another Saturday's Photo Hunt and the theme is "chipped." I love taking photos and this is just a lot of fun. The only requirement is that you use only the photos you take. No copying others or using photos from some webite. Besides, using your own is more challenging. Sometimes I go out looking for something new to use and sometimes I use past photos, like this time. That is okay. So go on over to tnchick and join the fun.

It doesn't technically start till sometime Saturday morning, but I'm working very early tomorrow morning to help pay for my college books. So Photo Hunter visitors, I will be by later in the afternoon to check out your cool photos.

These photos came to mind from a trip to Beaver Creek, Colorado in September 2007. My husband and I went away for the weekend on an all expense paid business retreat. We were the only ones to show up at the five-star hotel on motorcycles. It was a retreat just riding up and back. The parking attendants made us park our own bikes - no tip there, lol.

Well, on the way back home I kind of chipped my helmet (see photo above). The duct tape fix is kind of hiding it. The whole incident broke my heart.

You see, we were on our way back home and I was on a motorcycle scavenger hunt that summer in a contest with the Mountain Shadow Riders (a chapter of Women on Wheels (R) . I got a lot of elevation signs on this trip and actually one first place!!! The above photo is one of my elevation signs. I stopped to get a scenic photo (see below) and my bike was leaning a bit more than usual parked in the dirt. I left the engine running, to get that quick photo, and left my helmet on the seat. It vibrated right off the bike and onto the ground - ugh.

I just wanted to cry. I was stomp'n mad at myself (literally). That helmet was only a few months old and it was chipped and the visor snapped at the right hinge. We weren't sure if it was going to be fixable or not. Luckily, I was able to order all new parts and I still wear it today. Yes, I know once it's dropped you are suppose to replace it, but that was one expensive helmet and I couldn't afford to do that.

I tried riding without the visor, but it had snowed the night before and it was darn cold. My eyes were tearing up bad from the cold wind, even with sunglasses on. So after a few stops of trying a few things, my husband (Sir Duct Tape) reaches into his saddle bag (with a MacGyver twinkle in his eyes) and promply whipped out his hunk'n role of "fix-all" duct tape and fixed my helmet right up. Larry the Cable Guy would be proud, hee hee.

After that, everytime we stopped somewhere that I needed to take my helmet off my husband would come over and carefully peel up the duct tape so I could get it off. We got some weird looks. Even more confused looks when he would duct tape it all back!! Life is never dull.

Wishing you a "No Chipped" and duct tape free weekend in your part of the world ,

Biker Betty :)

Round Robin Challenge: Railroad

Many of you know me and photo challenges, I Love THEM!!! I found this one thru a link over at Nekked Lizard Adventures. This person is a Coloradian like myself. From there was the link to the Round Robin. Thought I'd have to try this. It's new to me. Gina at Gina’s Spacecame up with the idea for this challenge. Great idea Gina :)

Who doesn't like trains? I don't have any recent photos, but this was was taken two summers ago (2006) when I was doing the Mountain Shadow Riders motorcycle scavenger hunt. I didn't win this contest, but I was one of the upper four people. It was so much fun. The above photo was taken on the road between Cripple Creek and Victor. Talk about a beautiful drive. That train looks like Thomas the Tank Engine (which I loved to watch when my eldest was 4 years old). It's actually the Victor Narrow Gage Line. I have not had a chance to ride it, but it sure looks like fun.

The above is a sample of the views in store with the Victor train. Far out on the horizon is a bunch of the famous Colorado 14ers.

For the same scaventer hunt I also got a photo of the diner car of the train that goes to another famous Colorado tourist location: The Royal Gorge. As a family we went there in our car many years ago and really enjoyed ourselves.

So hop on the train and visit others participating in this challenge.

Biker Betty :)

~ Hello? Anybody Out There? ~

Wordless Wednesday

Here's a photo from last year's Mountain Shadow Riders photo scavanger hunt. I had to find a red telephone booth. I enjoyed some of the goofy stuff we had to find.

~ This Weeks Photo Hunters Theme is "Water" ~

I hope no one is tired of seeing my motorcycle scavanger hunt photos from last summer. It just so happens that I had another that matched this week's theme, lol. In the background is a "water"fall. This particular day I was riding with the Mountain Shadow Riders up to Terryall, Colorado. During this trip we got a little rain, almost snow, and lots of cold wind. Later in the ride most of us put on our rain gear and were quite warm. This ride, like all of them, was a lot of fun.

If you're ever looking for fun, I highly recommend taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) beginners course, pass it and get the motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license and get yourself a motorcycle.

Ladies, motorcycles aren't just for guys anymore. The motorcycle companies are recognizing this and making great motorcycle gear for us now. They just need to make more motorcycles for shorter people, that's my only complaint!! But they can lower some of the models, so don't let that stop you. After the MSF course you won't be intimidated by them. They do a great job of breaking it all down in manageable chunks for learning. So you gotta get a motorcycle. It is just loads of fun!!!

Wishing you many adventures,

Biker Betty :)

~ This Saturday's Theme is Empty ~

Theme: Empty ** Become a Photo Hunter ** View Blogroll

These pictures were taken last summer for the MSR motorcycle scavanger hunt. I had to have my motorcycle taken with the World Arena. During this time of day the huge parking lot was "empty."

It was a gorgeous day for these photos and it was the second time I ventured out on my own with my motorcycle for a long ride. When the day was said and done I had done 129 miles on August 28th of last year. I went to Penrose and back and was it fun!!!

Wishing you many travel adventures,

Biker Betty :)

~ This Saturday's Theme is Architecture ~

Theme: Architecture ** Become a Photo Hunter ** View Blogroll

When I learned of this week's theme I immediately thought of this picture taken last summer. I love the architecture of this building. It was taken for the Mountain Shadow Rider's scavanger hunt. I needed to find a red building. It's funny how things work out. This is where we did all the paper work to buy our house.

~ Are You Judged by What You Wear? ~

(Read all about it below)

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Funny thing happened this last week at work. I've been a substitute school librarian for 4 years now. Until two months ago I was only subbing in my son's school. Suddenly I started getting asked to sub at other schools and am now able to do it now that my youngest is older. Now I get calls all the time. I get warm & fuzzies that the ones I work for call me personally now to sub again. I love being with the kids and working with the books. I don't just sit behind the desk. If there's nothing to do I go out into the books and straighten them, pull them forward, put in order those books not in their proper place. I love to do this. The people I fill in for love that they can come in the next day to an orderly library and know that things are in their place.

This last Monday I was asked a second time to come back to this particular high school. With pretty decent weather I rode my motorcycle to work. So I drive up to the teacher's parking lot and park my bike and then walk into the office to check in. I get lots of stares. It's chilly and I'm wearing my motorcycle jacket and leather chaps, carrying my lunch in my helmet and a book bag over my shoulder with my notebook and all I need for the day. The above photo is showing what I was wearing, but I was carrying my helmet and not wearing it (remember - lunch?).

I walk into the office and immediately the office clerk is right there asking "Can I help you?" It just felt like that question was loaded with lots of unsaid stuff. As she was asking that, I got the impression with her tone that she was really stating "I don't think you're in the right place." She's looking me up and down. So I answer that I'm here to sub in the school library. She's looking bewildered and wants to know who I'm subbing for, but once again with her tone I sensed she felt I wasn't in the right place and she's sure I couldn't possibly be there to sub. I would have loved to be able to read her mind. She was asking questions but her tones were saying something completely different. I answer her questions and took no offense. No reason, she's just doing her job. She then asks have I ever subbed there, because she has never met me.

Well, I had subbed there about two weeks ago and she was in the office, lol. That particular time I was dressed in normal work clothes and walked into the office and no one even batted an eye. I had driven my van and didn't need all the protective gear, lol. No one took any notice and didn't ask if they could help me. Luckily, I had been in the day before to get briefed on my sub job with the library clerk who I was to replace for the day. So I knew where to sign in and grab a badge.

Today I walk in expecting to just sign, grab a badge and go Suddenly I'm getting the third degree and only able to walk about four steps into the office. They were nice about it, but leary of this motorcycle garbed woman who had just walked into the school office that they didn't know. I did finally get my pass and was able to go do my job.

This high school is obviously not used to people driving motorcycles and wearing the proper protective gear. As I'm walking thru the halls to the library I get lots of stares from students and staff. They're the kind of stares that if I was wearing a dress I'd have to duck into the girls bathroom to make sure that the back of my dress hadn't got caught in my pantihose, lol.

It's amazing that what you wear can bring so much attention. Everyone at my son's school doesn't think anything of it, but they know me. They do think it's cool that I drive a motorcycle and love it's purple color. The kids there are in childlike awe. At another elementry school I had no problems when driving my motorcycle and walking into the office, they knew me from one other time. They remembered and recognized me even wearing the jacket and chaps.

I guess high schools can get busy and who knows whose going to walk in off the streets and declare they're there to sub. I have been asked to sub there again in a little over a week. I hope for nice weather to ride my motorcycle. If I'm able to do this, think they will remember me by what I wear? LOL

Now I ask you, do I look dangerous? Okay, bad photo, lol.
This is one of the photos for the MSR scavanger hunt last summer.

Wishing you fun journeys in your part of the world,

Biker Betty :)

MSR Motorcycle Scavanger Hunt Now Officially Over

As of midnight on October 31st the Mountain Shadow Riders' Scavanger Hunt is now over. It has been a wonderful six months of hunting out all the places listed. For anyone new to my blog, I had a list of over 350 items to hunt throughout the state of Colorado. Once found, I had to take a picture of the item with my motorcycle. To prove I was actually there. Many of you have been reading about this from myself and Christine, who is also in the MSR. Christine was the creator of the list and she did an outstanding job!!! Thank you Christine.

As the deadline suddenly loomed, I went into a panic. I realized there were some simple things that I never got, because they were so close. So Monday I set out to get as much as I could get in a few hours and before I had to be at my elementary math tutoring job. Out of the things I wanted to get I split the list into two. I planned on getting half of it on Monday and the rest on Tuesday (the day of the deadline). I did go for as many things as I could. They were in town, but some were 20 minutes from others. So I got the barber, Fed Ex & ducks.

Then I had to rush to work, of which I was a little late. I teach basic math to 3rd graders for one hour after school four days a week. They are a group of the best kids I have had the pleasure to work with. Then I went to pick up my youngest son and a friend of his, that I watch after school, from middle school. Because of their older age I am able to leave them (it is okay with the boy's parents) for a little time. So I hoped on my bike to head out to Dragon Arms Military Museum on Dragonman Dr.

As soon as I hit one of the main drags in town (Powers Blvd) the sun dips behind Pikes Peak, sigh. So I'm thinking to myself I should just turn around and call it a day. But another part of me is saying "go for it, I can make it in time and the scavanger hunt is almost over." It's a little ways out of town. As soon as I get on Hwy 94 the wind hits me with such force and boy is it cold. I observe that there is a lot more snow still out this way. I start to shiver a little, but tell myself that I'm warm. Besides, there's no place to pull off and turn around. The side of the road has lots of gravel from the Blizzard of 2006. I keep on going. After quite a few miles, I start to rethink this whole thing, but still no place to turn around. The wind is hitting me with such force as to force my bike into a tilt to keep upright and it's getting colder and dark. Still no place to turn around. I get to the point that I'm almost there and might as well keep going.

I finally get to my left turn and I'm quickly loosing feeling in my hands. I'm shivering, but not badly, and realizing that I needed to dress warmer. I didn't think it would get so cold, but I'm almost there. I go down the country road and the next thing I know I accidently drive past my next turn. No problem (I think) I will just find the next pullout and turn around. I end up going many miles and finally pull off the road at a ranch. Then I have to wait for all the cars to go by before I can turn around.

It's getting dark fast. Sunday we just put the clocks back one hour and I hadn't got used to the days getting dark sooner. After all, that was only yesterday. I finally get a chance to safely turn around. I come to my next turn, that I accidently drove past the first time, only to discover that it's a wet, dirt road with some snow still. The sign for where I want to go is right there. I'm thinking it's only about a mile at the most down the road, but it's almost dark and the road is not in the best of condition. I'm not sure of the condition of the road further down and it's obvious the place is closed. If I get stuck further down, no one is around to help. Sure, I have my cell phone, but it would be at least 45 minutes before help arrived. It's getting real cold by now. I would be a human popsicle if I get stuck. So I make the decision and I turn the bike around on the dirt road and park it next to the sign. I quickly take the pic and hope it will count.

I get back on my bike and head back to town. By now I'm feeling very, very cold and thinking of my warm house. I haven't been gone but 45 minutes, but with the sun down and it's dark, it feels like 2 hours. I think to myself to relax and it helps with not shivering. I had wanted to do at least one more scavanger hunt stop, but it's dark now.

I think to myself that I will just get it tomorrow. Until the sun set, it was a pretty warm day and I thought the next day would be the same. WRONG!!! I woke up to a very cold day. I had my husband wake me up early so we could get one item before we had to take our son to school. My husband woke me up and said it's too cold and suggested to let it go. I immediately wake up (please note that I'm not a morning person) to investigate the situation. It's 24 degrees Farenhiet outside and I'm having second thoughts. But I really wanted to get this particular picture. So I tell my husband that I want to do this. He really didn't care if I did or didn't, as he had the car to drive. His motorcycle is in the shop and has been for weeks, it's waiting for a part.

He's thinking I'm crazy, but we head out. We only have to go about two miles and getting there wasn't so bad. We take the shots and head home. By the time we get home I can't feel my hands. I'm still wearing my regular gloves, as the winter ones don't fit as well as I'd like. I finally drive into our driveway and park the bike. I can't wait to get in the house and warm up. Below is the shot that was worth getting up early and freezing for. One of the items was a "mattress store" and extra points for "rider wearing pajamas." This was one item I just couldn't let go by!! And as promised from a previous post, below is the pic.


Sorry guys, nothing spectacular or sexy there, lol. It's winter, after all!!! Sadly, the day never warmed up and I didn't get the last few pics I wanted. Plus, it was Halloween and I had things to do in the evening.

I now have the process of sorting my pictures and figuring out my points. I took at least one pic that doesn't count, as I thought I had to get the UPS truck & driver but it was Fed ex. I've got to turn it all in November 11th at our next MSR meeting. I've got around 1,600 points, but I have heard there's a few ladies with over 2,ooo. So I'm not winning, but who cares (okay, I do care alittle). I gave it my best and had a blast. It was very interesting getting to know more about Colorado and what's out there to see. I think we hear about the winner at our Christmas party. Sadly, that's the same night as my husband's office party, so I will have to call someone the next day (or read about it in Christine's Corner, lol).

Wishing You Many Adventures, Betty :)

Another Type Of Scavenger Hunt

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code. Photo Theme.

Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

"Food"

Scavenger hunts are so much fun. This week's Saturday's Scavenger Hunt theme is "Food." Many of you who know me know where I love to go when I get hungry and need food. That would be Taco John's, of course, lol. I just love the Potato Ole' Bravo, Yummm Yumm.

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Motorcycle Scavenger Hunt VS My Dignity

The Mountain Shadow Riders Scavenger Hunt is soon coming to a close (Oct 31^st). I’m sad to see this. It has been a lot of fun this summer trying to locate as much as I could of the just over 350 items on the list. It started April 1^st and I have been sharing some of it with you thru the summer.

Just this last week I got out and located about 30 more items within the city. Now I’m getting to some of the more goofier stuff. It’s stuff that I wonder if it’s worth the 10 points to get. Yah, I have no problem getting a pic of my motorcycle in front of a “mattress store,” and if I’m in the photo wearing pajamas, I get for 10 extra pts!!! I can just hear my “Dignity O’Meter” going down: da-ding, da-ding!!!

I’m not sure I’m up to wearing pj’s in public, lol. Oh sure, I can get there and then slip them on over my clothes. BUT!!! Someone is most likely going to see me, YIKES!! Not to mention my husband is going to laugh his head off.

Then there’s the “Costume Shop.” No problem, I can drive up and get a photo there, but I can get 10 extra pts if I’m wearing a costume in the photo!!! Once again I hear the ‘ol “Dignity O’Meter” going down: da-ding, da-ding, da-ding, da-ding!!!

After an incident this last week, maybe I can do these things. My husband & I cruised up to one more item on the list – “A Strip Club.” My husband found this for me, as I had no clue where one was. Well, it turns out there’s one not far from our house, hmm . . . how’s my husband know this? LOL. Okay, we get up to this place and I get in position for the picture.

But wait my husband get this gleam in his eye’s and decides we need to change things a little. He tells me to pretend to strip for the pic, lol. Well, there are three guys in the next lot over eyeing us. You can tell they are wondering what we are doing. I agree and pretend, but my husband takes FOREVVVERR with the camera!! I’m getting uncomfortable doing this, the guys are liking this and my husband is having a blast. Okay, for the record, nothing much happened. I just messed with my motorcycle jacket. How sexy can that get? By the photo above, not much.

It’s the next day when I get to thinking about this that I realized I was also facing out to the street and all those cars going by were probably wondering what in the world was I doing? Once again I hear the ‘ol “Dignity O’meter” going down: da-ding, da-ding, da-ding, da-ding!!! I just hope nobody I knew was in any of those cars, lol. I’m just glad a cop car never went by.

After that, you’d think I had enough, but NO!! I go to a “Skating Rink” and “rider wearing skates” is an extra 10 pts. I pick a time when it’s closed. I drive up and my heart sinks. There’s a car parked right about were I need to park and there’s people in it, sigh. Okay. I park and quickly get the skates on (but knowing I’m being watched I can’t get the skate on fast enough, lol). How’s the “Dignity O’meter?” It’s going down: da-ding, da-ding, da-ding, da-ding!!! I’m feeling pretty silly with those people watching. I get ready to leave and they then drive away. I quickly get the skate back on to get my husband to take a photo without their car in it.

Then there’s “Fitness Gym” and an extra 10 pts if “rider is wearing workout clothing.” Turns out all the gyms I find have huge glass windows all across their fronts. So the one I pick, I park and quickly get into the final gear. Jump on my bike and pose. I’m feeling eyes boring into my back and I just want to get the shot and get out of there, lol. I feel my “Dignity O’meter” going down again: da-ding, da-ding, da-ding, da-ding!!! YeaGads!! By the look of the above photo I’d better head for a gym, lol.

I don’t mind finding the stuff where I can quickly get in, get the photo with my bike (and me included at times) and get out without much notice. But this last week I got lots of quizzical looks from people. The items lately are more out in public and that’s tough for me. But hey, I’m finding that I’m actually up to the challenge (most of the time, lol).

I’ve already surprised myself by going into a fire station and asking some of the fire fighters if I could get them in my photo. When I first looked thru the list and saw fire fighters in a photo were extra points, I thought, “well I won’t do that.” I thought I’d die of embarrassment if I did. Well, I did ask and I’m still alive, lol.

I find a “street with my first name.”

So will I let my “Dignity O’Meter” drop a few points for a few goofy photos? Will I wear pajamas at a mattress store and/or a costume at a costume store? I really don’t know. I guess time will tell, lol.