On National Register of Historic Places.

The brass plaque in the background proclaims National Register status. Chipped paint on the window frames, plus the funky clapboards, suggest otherwise.

The color combo of this old house caught my eye. I only noticed the plaque -- National Register of Historic Places -- once I'd parked the bike, stepped into the street to take an iPhoto shot or two.

Two Wickenburg cops cruised by in a department Dodge Durango.  Perhaps my behavior seemed a little erratic?  

At any rate, it's all good.  No sudden moves or bizarre antics on my part.  Just a curious veloster ever alert to photo opps to share with readers of the Poppy Blog.

By the way, if YOU know how a building achieves National Register status please post a comment.  I'll share your know with the other.  Thanks, as always.

'34 Chevy Coupe, Rumble Seater, Frame-Up Resto.

Lookee what I saw this week!

 It's a 1934 Chevy Coupe, working rumble seat, and barely 1,000 miles on the odo since chassis up restoration in 1997.  

Wish I could tell you more about this very sweet ride.

116,058 page views so far, and counting!

Your blog has attracted more than 116,000 visits since we launched a couple of years ago. As I've written before, I am grateful for your interest and enthusiasm, and would LOVE to hear back about your favorite posts, and what you'd like to see more of, read more about.  

Gracias.

"Plena" and "Bomba" at Musical Instrument Museum, Scottsdale, AZ.

Indigenous music and dancing -- plena and bomba -- from Puerto Rico, performed in February at Musical Instrument Museum, Scottsdale, AZ.

Plena music is uniquely Puerto Rican, generally thought to have originated in the early 20th century in the city of Ponce, on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. It’s a hybrid of African, Spanish, and Caribbean sounds. Traditionally, plena functioned as a “singing newspaper,” allowing residents of the barrio to hear about events of the day. The various drums would establish the basic plena rhythm and then interact rhythmically with call-and-response vocals and the melodic instruments.

Best-Tasting Fruit, Veggie Water Samovars.

Thirst took me to this yummy water oasis last week at Rancho del los Caballeros.  Samovars did not disappoint.

Met a Kestrel Today, a.k.a. "Sparrow Hawk"

North America’s littlest falcon, the American Kestrel packs a predator’s fierce intensity into its small body. It's one of the most colorful of all raptors: the male’s slate-blue head and wings contrast elegantly with his rusty-red back and tail; the female has the same warm reddish on her wings, back, and tail. Hunting for insects and other small prey in open territory, kestrels perch on wires or poles, or hover facing into the wind, flapping and adjusting their long tails to stay in place. Kestrels are declining in parts of their range; you can help them by putting up nest boxes

Dental Hygenist Olivia @ Wickenburg Gold Rush Days.

My daughter, grandson and I took in the scene yesterday at Wickenburg's 67th Annual Gold Rush Days.  Floats and bands, cowboys and aging twirlers, Christian rock bands and the local pony club -- the event was fun, funny, unpredictable and enormously popular with the audience.

My gang was a tiny part of the several thousand spectators who lined Wickenburg Way (US Hwy 60) to watch this parade.  Hands-down fave performance was delivered by local dentist Dr. Kirk and his staff.  The good DDS drove a quad (turns out he'd borrowed it) pulling a home-made replica of an old fashioned outhouse.

Dental Hygienist Olivia was perched on the on-seather, drawers drooped around her ankles, and flashing a toothy grin like no other.  When my sister saw the photo above she remarked that Olivia's eye shadow was the same color as her gums.

Eweeeeuuuu.  Gross..

Wait, there's more.

To draw even more attention to this very clever promotion, Olivia tossed tooth brushes to the fans along Wickenburg Way.  To keep matters clean and to encourage regular brushing, the Dr. Kirk krowd had wrapped the brushes in cellophane.

The judges likely have announced parade winners.  I'd be surprised if ovely Olivia didn't take first prize.  At least she'd get most memorable smile. 

Funky Specialized, on its Way to Missoula.

If you hang out at the Safeway in Wickenburg, AZ, you'll for sure see cross country velosters, generally working their way East from SoCal.  Generally the bikes are pricey rigs like Surly Long Haul Truckers, or Treks, or custom-built tourers, outfitted with matching Arkel panniers and all the bells and whistles you can imagine.

THIS one, on the other hand, is hardly pricey, or custom, or classy.  No fancy nothing -- don't even see a helmet hanging from the mirror. In fact, no mirror!  Not even a triple chain ring.

And yet, our bike gets the job done  Proving that you don't need the newest and the best to make the journey you've always dreamed of.

Breckenridge, CO - Snow Sculpture Challenge

Sure looks interesting -- and COLD -- up there in Breckenridge, Colorado. Brrr. Take me back to the Sonoran Desert, por favor.   Thanks to Linda and Bill Ferris for cultural contribution.

Pedi-Cab Working at Trilogy Wickenburg Ranch.

Today was grand opening of the new planned community development at Trilogy Wickenburg Ranch.

Thousands of home-buyers, curiosity seekers and pedi-cab riders showed up to check out the scene.

The couple here was on its way to listen to band 3-D, gnosh on pulled pork and bison burgers, and take a tour of five model homes built by Shea.

Cab pedaler here was one of a dozen kindred velosters hired by Trilogy to make the passage from parking lot to new home area easier, more comfortable and memorable.

J, P and I were impressed.  If you're in the market and the 'hood, check it our for yourself.

2 Cowpokes at Scottsdale's Western Spirit Museum.

We may be a tenderfoot but we sure look good, don't we?  A little tromp l'oeille goes a long way in this remarkable painting.  It looks 3-D, but it's flat, with no depth at all.  One of docents encouraged Jason and me to line up just-so:  me with my feet on the rock, and Jason standing on the bank of the creek.  We moved our hands and arms at the command of the docent, so that we achieved the appearance of stroking a mane, or holding the horn of a western saddle.  The painting was created, in 72 hours, start to finish.  Can't wait to share this creation with .... well, the world!

Ford Model 'A'. Cabriolet right, sedan left.

Received this gorgeous photo today from my brother Joe in Coral Gables, FL.   

I surmise that the guys in the shot are Joe's neighbors, and their rides are seen with regularity on San Esteban and Miracle Mile

Both sets of wheels are Model 'A' Fords -- sedan on the left and a cabriolet on the right.

Restoration and painting accomplished by third party geniuses.  Joe reports that in Coral Gables you might expect to see cars of this caliber -- or better!