Bogieblog

Weekend Plans

Tomorrow evening we will be attending the Chickenfoot concert at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballrom (which isn't a casino at all). We have only been to Hampton a couple of times. Usually we have been riding the bikes and stopped for lunch, maybe taken in a sand sculpture or two, then headed on out.

We decided that we should go a day early, grab a room for the night, and do a bit of touristy stuff and see the sights. So, we are headed there this afternoon - just in time for Hurricane Bill to be felt along the seashore. Guess what, the beaches are closed! Just our luck.

Well, we'll make the best of it and find other things to explore. Guess we won't be taking the bike either.

PS - we are staying at a place without internet, so I won't be reading blogs or writing to this one until next weekend.

Vermont Made

Last weekend was hot; in the 90's and massively humid. For those of you who have suffered high temps for most of the summer - this was brutal on us as just a couple of days earlier it had been in the 70's, Yes, we had had days in the 80's, but only a couple and we just weren't used to the heat.

Saturday, when I got home from running around in the 92 degree city for a while looking for the UPS Store (no air conditioning in the vehicle), I got home to a house that was in the high 80's. So I did what any sensible person would do who's spouse is nowhere to be found (so can't help load a canoe onto and off the truck), I called SIL and we went for a 3 hour ride (a bit over 100 miles).

Sunday, we met BIL/SIL and Jimmy for breakfast then headed out for Vermont, via the long route thru the southern part of the White Mountains. What were we looking for in Vermont? I'll give you a hint:

Guess now, before looking past the fold.

Summer Finally Made It to NH

You know it is really summer when you get to eat green beans picked fresh from your own garden, wrapped in foil with a little butter, and cooked on the grill. Tomorrow we get peas, straight from the garden, buttered and cooked on the grill.

Summer is really finally here and people are complaining about the heat (90's at work - but only high 80s at home). We are threatening to break records thru the week, but only time will tell. We might even make it into the 90's at the house before the end of the week. These are the days that riding the motorcycle to work is at its best; since my truck's air conditioner doesn't work, I stay a whole lot cooler than if I drove.

Just hoping that the pop up thunderstorms stay away (rain is okay, it's the lightning that bothers me).

Voices in My Head

Forgot to put out the "Gone Riding "sign this weekend (it's in the 90's - no time to sit at home in the heat). How appropriate that this video talks about the voices in my head when riding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L05XsP7TfP0

Yep, I get voices too - mainly the calm one, sometimes (more often than I would like) an apprehensive one, rarely the "bad" one.

Found thru the BegginerBikers.org.

Thanks Captain Crash!

We Must all be in Wheelchairs

Scott, over at AMCGLTD, lead me to a piece on women entering the motorcycle riding world (as the driver, not passenger). Interestingly, the article only talks about Gen Xers and Gen Yers - it doesn't talk about Boomers (of which I am one). I can think of 4 women my age or older, off the top of my head that ride. I see plenty more on the rode, at bike week, and at bike shopes.

Guess the author just decided that us "old foggies" can't possibly be getting into the 2-wheeled machines - the only thing we must be into is wheelchairs..

Concert of the "A" Groups

Last week we went to see AC/DC down at Gillette Stadium (Foxboro). Let me tell you, some of the other bands that we have seen in the last couple of years can take a page from these oldsters because the Kicked Ass! If other bands would put in half the enthusiasm and energy into their shows (much less talent), there would never be any disappointed concert goers!

The had an Irish band for the first warm up, called The Answer. They were very good and it is too bad that they started at 6(ish) when most of the concert goers were still out in the parking lot grilling (hey, it's a football stadium, that is what they do), or hadn't even gotten there yet. If you are looking for a new bluesy rock selection, might I suggest something form their Every day Demons album.

The second band, Anvil, was more a headbangers band, that just didn't seem to fit with the other two (or even jsut the headliner). Maybe if they had been playing with Metallica, I would have been in the mood to hear them. Also, the bass was so loud that we couldn't hear anything else; vocals, other instruments - anything.

And as I stated, AC/DC was just awesome. If you ever get the chance to see them - DO(assuming of course that you like that type of music). There were fireworks at the end (yes, Foxboro is and open-air stadium) and it was over a little after 11.

Since the concert was on a Tuesday night and several hours from home, WS and I took a couple of days vacation. We spent the night at a hotel 4 miles from the venue (using points from the credit card, so the stay was free - woohoo, can't get any better than that), then coming home the next day.

Four thumbs up for this concert - two each from WS and me!

Cruising on the Water

It has actually gotten into the 80's for the past week - well, from Sunday to Thursday anyway. That must have been our summer; now it back down ito the 70's with nights in the 40's.

Anyway, here is where we went Monday and Tuesday after work to cool off:

  This would be part of Deering Reservoir - the dam is in the left quadrant and loks like a line of shrubs.

  We are further out on the lake and you can just see the dam a ways behind the boat. For some reason, we had never realized how big the lake is; there is even water skiing. The only thing that keeps big boats from coming is the shallow boat ramp.

Overgrown No More

Last weekend I went to work on an area that I use as a throw-away section. It really started as a peony section, then I had extra irises that I couldn't stand to get rid of, so planted there. Then there were some roses that I thought were done, but gave a chance by putting them in that area (some have made it, some have not). I also have used this spot to dump all the soil from planters in the fall.

Anyway, in trying to decide where to place some roses still in pots and lupines given to me by the neighbor, I decided that this section would be good, so needed to clean it up.

Before:

 You can see the peopnies in the foreground; everything behind them is weeds (except that phlox in the lower righthand corner

  Irises overgrown with grass to the right, and survivor roses at the very end of the rocks. Everything inbetween is weeds and trees

After:

  Peonies are in the foreground with some newly planted roses behind

  Irises with lupines and more roses added

  Survivor roses in the foreground

Naturally, we had plenty of rain thru the week, so I didn't have to worry about watering the newly planted stuff. By the way, July 2009 was the 8th rainiest Since the 1800's (I think 1872, but don't quote me). We are also in good position to challenge as the rainiest summer (June, July & August) iever recorded.

Here's to hoping that the rain quiets down some, although not too much - I am picky, I want enough to do my watering for me, but not so much that I can't ride  to work or that the plants are drowning!

Day Lillies

The day lillies are in bloom and looking good. I worried about the regular orange lillies (which bloomed earlier this month) as the leaves were turning yellow. I took that to mean that the roots are drowning/rotting off from all the rain. The blooms on thoses weren't as spectacular as they usually are but there has been no further yellowing, so hopefully they will be okay and make it thru the winter.

The named daylillies haven't had any trouble even though they are planted in the same soil, sometimes amongst the other lillies. Here are some shots of they named varieties (which I was too lazy to look up the names to):