Poppy Togs + Clogs, as in Poppy's Velo Ventures.

Dear Readers of Poppy's Velo Ventures:  It may interest you to you how I came to be known as "Poppy," and where Velo Ventures blog came from.

The name.

Well, it's a nickname, actually -- given with love by young grands who probably couldn't pronounce "Seth," or didn't cotton to that name in the first place.

So:  I'm Poppy. And pretty much the entire family is cool with that.

As for the Velo Ventures Blog  that title emerged from my love of bikes and riding .... the velo scene, if you will.  I still look at most of my bike rides as "adventures," though the word "ventures" works better -- v, you know -- with velo.

And what's up with the "Poppy Togs + Clogs?" 

I spied this unusual retail store last week on Snelling Avenue in St. Paul.  I was enroute from Garrison Keillor's "Common Books" shop to a lunch date with old buddy Craig Cox, Managing Editor of "Experience Life" magazine.   Coxie and I were yapping so hard that we never found time to discuss Clogs + Togs, or Garrison Keillor, Poppy's Velo Ventures, etc.

Stay tuned.

Sunrise Today, Last Snow of Season, Long Lake, MN.

We hope, hope, hope that the snow you see here is the last of our very long winter season.

No matter how stunning the sunrise we've had it with the white stuff.

Heard on the news tonite that when the mercury finally hits 60 this weekend it will have been five full months since the last day the temps topped the sixty mark. Phew.

Giant Expressway "Foldy" Semi Sure-Footed in Snow.

My Giant Expressway foldy spent the winter in its carrying case in our garage. Last ride was mid-late December 2012.

Pina helped me put all the folding pieces back in place yesterday, though we agreed it took too long to reconnect the Brooks B 17 to the Thompson extended seat post.  

Surprisingly the tires lost very little air over the winter, so into the back of the KIA the foldy went, and off to Baker Park we headed.

I was psyched for my ride, but it never occurred to me to check the condition of the 7-mile track around the Park.  When I noticed a lot of snow still there I asked a young guy with a dog what he thought; got the thumbs up in return.

"A snowmobile has been through," enthused my new pal, "and he's created a clear path.  You shouldn't have any trouble."

But, plenty of trouble I encountered.  

The foldy's 20" wheels picked up plenty of slushy stuff.  You can see the dam-up between wheel and fender in the pic above.  Either the front wheel/fork/headset was wobbly ... or maybe it was me.  And while the machine could pass for sure-footed in the clear part of the path, I ended up walking and pushing for what seemed like miles.

Finally made it to high ground, and rode a couple of miles on the shoulder of a minimal-use county highway.  The saddle never quite got "set," so my butt ached even after a short ride.

Once back home I raved how much I loved being out on the Giant: brisk wind, azure-clear skies, plenty of sunshine, adrenaline rushing, high anticipation.  Sure, the bike was less than sure-footed, but Spring is right around the corner and memories of ice and snow will melt before you know it.

Stay tuned for more.

Me and Duke.

Pina and I have been dog-siting today with "Duke, " a handsome Retriever assigned to our care by young friends Meredith and Fergus.

La Nancita is feeding the Duke Dog as we speak.  I took my turn with this remarkable animal earlier: Duke and I took a walk, threw and chased chew toys, and posed for a bonding self-portrait after all the fun was done.

Message to owners:  take your time getting back home.  Happy to be of help to our BFF, canine variety.

Blue Ribbon Wickenburg Jewelery Winner.

Check out this award-winning pendant work from blue ribbon Wickenburg jeweler.

While La Nancita and I didn't make a purchase at the annual Wickenburg Art Club Gala, measurements were taken, prices noted, telephone and e-mails exchanged.

Next time you check here on the blog, we may well have added a piece or two to the collection  :)

Gallup, New Mexico - Real Deal Gringo.

Pina snaps me behaving very much like a turista  out front of Ortega's in Gallup, NM. We were on our way east on I-40, got off the big road for a tank of gas and a cone from the DQ, and added a trip to Ortega's to check pawn jewelry.  The entire trip was a complete success.

Good Guys Make Wickenburg Great Place.

One of my fave fotos of Friends I've met here in AZ.  2 Jerrys, a Rich and a Mike.  Good Guys, all.

Hoy and Hoyt - BFF's in Wickenburg.

I met this guy not long ago. He's chef in one of Wickenburg's most popular restaurants.  When we got around to exchanging names -- he's HOY and I, of course, HOYT -- we discovered a common ancestral link.  Or maybe we simply thought it would be cool if we turned out to be long-lost cousins. At any rate, here we are: new BFF's hanging out at Victor Bedoians' Oriental Carpet emporium in Wickenburg.

Bucket List Bikers Having Time of their Lives.

Into town they rode.

Loud and Proud.

You should have been there to see, hear and experience the arrival of these Bucket List Bikers. 

They came from Canada, Indiana and Minnesota, and who knows where else? Off on a once-in-a-life-time journey through the best biker roads in Arizona.

Think "Big Chill Weekend" on steroids.

I met up with The Gang, as my son-in-law Charlie refers to them, out front of Bedoian's Cafe in Wickenburg. They were headed next door for ribs, but I urged them to save a little room for dessert and lattes and pop back into Bedoian's.

While I had the attention of the Bucket List Bikers, I posed them for a pic for my scrapbook. Hope these intrepid travelers don't mind the shout-out on the Poppy Blog.

As Peg, one of the bucket list, biker chicks, wrote:  Life is good when you have a bucket! 

Business End of an Arizona Amaryllis.

Our friend Pierce played Santa this December and gave Poppina quite an amaryllis bulb.

Tended with loving care, resting on a shelf above the kitchen sink, and soaking in the sun's beneficial rays, this precious gift  burst forth recently in three stunning blossoms/flowers.

I'll post those shots in a follow up blog foto.  In the meantime, check out what's left of the bulb and stalk -- the business end of this wonder of nature.

Pretty wild and weir and wonderful, all rolled into one.

Wickenburg Airstream Reunion!

I had THE nicest time today with Dick and Elaine of the Airstream Club of Arizona.

In town for their annual Wickenburg outing -- some 120 Club members in all, of which 20-25 trailers made the trek  -- Dick rhapsodized the lure of the open road and the appeal of trailer life.

I confessed I'd longed for my own Airstream for a number of decades.  I occasionally say to Poppina:  "I think we should go Airstreaming."

And she generally replies that I'd have a good time.

Dick: "Come, join our club!"

Seth:  "Maybe. You never know."

He invited me into his quarters, introduced me to his wife Elaine, handed me an application form, and wished me happy trails, and hope to see you again.

And we might just meet up again one of these Airstream days.

One Lucky Guy, Five Gorgeous Gals!

Talk about being a lucky guy in the right place at the right time.  Check THIS out!

Our friends Betsy and Pat came to visit from Steamboat Springs, and their friends Jessica and Melissa joined us all for lunch at Los Caballeros Golf Club.  Joe, the Club manager, parked our table almost on the putting green, served us memorable garlic cheese french fries, and took this photo.

Joe rocks on all accounts!

As for the only male at the table?  Nice to be in such lovely company.  Thank you, Ladies.

Girl Scout "Samoas" Saturday.

Girl Scouts and their cookie-leaders have been out in full force this weekend.

Tables of Trefoils, Samoas, and all the traditional goodies, have been there for the asking: $4.00 per box, and all purchases guaranteed to please.

I asked my young entrepreneurs to read the carbohydrate numbers on the side of the Samoa box before making my decision.  When I learned that I could enjoy a couple of cookies per day with minimal damage to my aging system, I bought a two-pack .... and dug in right away.

"Where does the money you collect from cookie sales go," I asked one Troop Leader.  Her scouts support a children's hospital in the Valley west of Phoenix.  Other troops select their favorite charitable causes, and work to maximize the support they give.

Pretty impressive group of women and girls.  They're bent on making this world a better place in which to live.  Keep buying Samoas, and keep up the good work!

Old Glory, Presidents' Day, Bedoian's.

American Flags flew all over Wickenburg -- in honor of Presidents' Day, of course.  I was sitting in Bedoian's Cafe along the main drag, the place was empty of customers ('cept me) and I spotted Old Glory out the front door. Hope you enjoy this as much as I do.  Lemme know.

Baby Cat Graces Triad Steel Services.

If you dig old machinery, here's a smile-maker suggestion next time you're "Out Wickenburg Way."  

Head west on Hwy 60, turn into Sabin Brown Industrial Park, and follow the road to the end.  Right in front of Triad Steel Services is a gently rusting Caterpillar tractor, up on a deserving and respectful pedestal. 

Wish I knew more about the model Fifteen Cat. That way I could write with authority about the fabled history of this exquisite machine. I do know the engine is gas, and not diesel -- you can still smell fuel, and get grease on your shirt, as you poke around the engine compartment, and climb on the treads.

The crank still works. I was tempted to give it some serious turns ... but my bursitis persuaded me otherwise.