Change in Plans

 

I had some errands to run this afternoon before doing what I really wanted to do which was go to my new favorite place, the wetlands refuge, and maybe see some wildlife. But there I sat in traffic. 

My wife had to work today and I got some things done at home this morning. I saved the fun stuff until this afternoon. Fun stuff being the potential to take my cameras to the refuge and maybe meet a Screech Owl. While at the refuge the other evening I met a guy taking pictures who told me where this owl resides during the day.

My first stop was Costco to buy an external hard drive they have on sale. What a bad idea that was. Going to Costco on the afternoon before the Super Bowl. What was I thinking? I saw a couple with a 42" flat screen TV on their cart. I wonder how many of those they sold today? The guy in line in front of me had, among other things, a big crab leg in a plastic bag and a nice tub of rather large shrimp. Hmm... a seafood Super Bowl. It would have been interesting to get a hot dog and just sit and watch people but I had things to do.

 

And then this happened. I really didn't know it was supposed to rain today and it can be an extra bummer when you have something planned. Rain isn't ordinarily a bad thing but not good for hiking into the woods with cameras and tripod to get some Screech Owl pixels. Oh well, maybe tomorrow I can meet Mr. Screech. I don't think he's going anywhere soon. 

Here's an image taken the other day just before sunset. These guys were just cleared for takeoff. Actually I think my shutter startled them. I'll have to learn to be more stealth.

Out for a spin this evening

 

I had planned to work the Portland area today but ended up being pinned down at home at the office. About 4:30 I blasted off from the house to blow the cobwebs off and run an errand. At a big intersection near the store I got caught at the red light. As I sat there and then took off with the green light I counted 6 other motorcycles. The paper today said that this has been the third warmest January in 70 years. I think the warmer weather for Portland has translated into more riding days this year.

While at the store I browsed my favorite photography and motorcycle magazines. Rider magazine has an article about the new BMW sport bike, the S1000RR.

  

Whoa, this looks serious. Weighing in at 450 lbs wet with 193 hp, the horsepower to weight ratio is unlike anything else. This would definitely require wrist management.

  

When I got back to the beemer a guy walked over and started asking questions about it. He said he has a BMW 1200GS and another bike. We talked motorcycles for a while. I always find it interesting that a motorcycle or scooter can breakdown barriers making it easy for conversation with strangers. 

 

On the way home I came up our mountain the back way to maybe catch a good sunset. I like how the sunsets are getting later. Spring is just around the corner! I went into a newer neighborhood to find an interesting spot with a little altitude. There wasn't a good sunset tonight but I'm happy that I found what might be a good place to capture them. I didn't have my tripod but there was a light post conveniently located right there for bracing myself.  At first I took shots without the houses below but then decided to include them. I think it sort of adds an element of an urban setting.

Just after I got there a lady came out of her house which is to the right of the photo. We smiled and said hello to each other. I told her it looks like a good spot for sunsets and she nicely agreed as she got in her car and drove off.  But I wonder what she thought. Here's a guy on a motorcycle at the end of a dead end road under a street light with a camera and she's leaving her house with this stranger out front who might be appearing to be a photographer.

Oh well, she'll see me there again no doubt. Anyway I'm just a harmless biker-photo-nut.