Mystic, CT Bike Share Program Sponsored by Local 4-Star Restaurants, Oyster Club and Engine Room.

Young friends Dan and Jane are on a velo roll.

They operate two 5-star eateries along the southeastern CT shoreline, and they give back to the Mystic community with sponsorship of a loaner bike program.

Some of the velo iron is shown here.

And while I didn't have time this trip to pedal one of the Schwinn classics, courtesy of Engine Room, my wife and I did dine at Oyster Club on our last visit: sublime.

Ride 'em, Cowboy! It's the mid-Century Gene Autry edition, circa 1953, of the American-made Monark western-style boys 24" two-wheeler.

Some of you regular Poppy Blog readers may be familiar with this illustration, and the bike itself: 1953 Monark Gene Autry edition two-wheeler.

Faithful watercolor rendition is handiwork of my artist friend James Terman, whose art has been reproduced and posted on these pages many times before.

Another artist amigo, Sid, and I were sharing memories over the weekend of Gene's Monark, speculating on how many of these bikes remained in working order, and what one might bring at auction these days.

While searching for that info, I did come across the image of a full-page newspaper ad of the era, promoting the Monark line.  It follows.  Please note that the "Autry" cost $59.95, and came with a one-year insurance policy protecting its owner from loss of the velo by theft and fire.

Long Lake welcomes pedalers who attempt interesting selfies. No expereince necessary.

The public works dep't in Long Lake, MN installed this compelling and helpful new sign a couple of weeks ago.  I rode by yesterday, stopped to examine, snapped a selfie. My hope was to tell an interesting story and draw you, dear viewer, into the scene.  How did I do?  We'll try something else over the weekend !

Swoosh! Sun Country LAX Passenger leaves Hipster Hat, pair of Nike's at Humphrey Terminal in Minneapolis.

The dude must have been in a big hurry this afternoon to board his Sun Country flight out of Humphrey Terminal.  So it seemed when when Pina and I arrived to drop Jason off at Terminal 2. There was a nice straw hipster hat, exactly as you see it here.  And if that weren't weird enough, near a trash can, just to the left of the hat, some guy had changed out of his running shoes, and into .... who knows?  At any rate he left behind a gently used pair of Nike's.

Pet and Pee Emergency along I -35 in S. Minnesota.

While most guys likely use this rest stop facility on I-35 for intended purposes, some of us had other plans. 

I asked my navigator if she'd mind us pulling over so I could walk my dog, so to speak. "Oh, no, not again," she replied.  

Then, without permission, La Nancita took a foto from the open window on the passenger's side of the T + C.  Check the blue socks, formless bare legs, wide stance.  Then juxtapose with image of man and setter on the sign, doing things the right way.

Pretty funny, and imaginative.  Phew. When Nature calls, it calls. 

Crawfordsville, IN - Home of Wabash College, "The Little Giant," and alma mater of two of My Good Pals.

Two of my high school buddies, Morrie Adams and Tim Werbe, are proud grads of Wabash College in the central Indiana burg of Crawfordsville. 
This estimable institution continues to be all-male, adheres to a rigorous academic standard, has plenty of Greek houses, and (according to Werb), is known far and wide as "The Little Giant" for athletic prowess of the Wa-bash-men.

(I made that last term up.  Don't you think it's got a nice ring to it?)

My wife Nancy and I paid a visit to the college on our way down I-74 toward Indianapolis, with final desination Louisville, KY.  We'd been on the road for a long time, in stifling heat and humidity, but had to stop for a foto op.

Nancy thrust the Canon P + S (point and shoot) out the passenger window of our T + C (Town and Country) mini van, and snapped away.

In the shot to the right I pose in front of the Admissions Office -- too old and late to matriculate.  

Probably couldn't make the grade for Class of 2019 anyway, no many how strings I might ask my pals Werbe and Adams to pull.

Excellent x-country skiing in Vermont. Ask Rodi and Wick.

Long Lake Lilacs at Peak of their Glory.

Too bad you cannot SMELL these lilacs. They are fragrant and haunting, and so enchanting, and only a couple of paces outside my back door.  I went to the mailbox for the paper last evening and was stopped in my tracks by this lilac bush.  The blossoms were robust, full of life. The fragrance beyond description.  If you've smelled lilac before -- this one outdoes your best experience by a factor of 10.

Cuidado! Agua no Potable. Peligro!

Pedaling Three Rivers "Baker Park" trails this afternoon.  Overcome by a powerful thirst.  The one water fountain I could remember from last season was out of service.  Yellow "caution" tape suggested danger at the water's source.  On closer inspection one learns that the fountain is being repainted for the season, and will be returned to service -- with clean, fresh, cool, pure drinking water -- likely within a few days.  Problem solved.

Afghanistan in the '70's - "An Era of Peace" writes Brother Joe Hoyt .

I think I've posted before about my Brother Joe.

Accomplished photographer, world traveler, author, father, husband, entrepreneur, cyclist, horticulturalist, and passionate advocate for the beleaguered country of Afghanistan, Joe recently published an influential book of his photography from Afghanistan in the 1970's -- an "Era of Peace," as Joe refers to the period. 

Several remarkable tid-bits emerge from this saga.

One, Joe was a hippy kid with a Nikon around his neck when he traveled first to South Asia.  Afghanistan?  Where is that our mother asked?  And is it safe over there?

No one knew the Afghan story then; few can ignore it  now.

Next item:  the B + W negatives from Joe's journey sat in a shoe box in a garage in Coral Gables, FL for decades.  Thanks to preservationists working in the digital field, old film negs were converted, remarkably high quality prints were made, and a book became the end result.

Exhibitions: Joe's work has been on display in San Francisco, Miami, Baltimore, London and even Kabul itself (capital of Afghanistan). There's talk of tour of the Far East - kicking off in Tokyo. Another book is in the works.  And Joe has been able to channel proceeds from his art into deserving non-profits which serve the people and the land he came to love and admire, now more than 40 years ago.

Let me know if you'd like to see Joe's work.  I'll be happy to put you in touch with my "little brother."

Wisconsin-Side Mississippi River Ramble.

Pina and I hit the trail yesterday, with a destination eye on Stockholm and Maiden Rock, WI.  Travel down WI-35 was effortless, big, bold Mississippi to our right as we headed south.  Plenty of sail boats out on Lake Pepin already.  Sun ? Bright and strong as we left the Twin Cities (after days of endless rain).  Spirit of adventure? Very much alive, and we still had a few bucks in our credit line on the trusty VISA card.

NTS had down her homework. With a couple of magazines on her lap, opened to dog-eared pages of  must-see shops in Maiden Rock and Stockholm, the anticipation was palpable.  I'd forgotten that combined populations of these two burgs couldn't have been more than 250 hardy, creative souls.  So, we knew we were in for a special treat.

Secret Heart Gallery was our first stop.  B. J. Christopherson is owner, iconic artist, and whimsy inspiration behind the place.  Poppy and Poppina had bought a wedding present from B.J. a couple of years ago at the Arts Show in St. Paul's XCel Center, but hadn't been at the shop.

B.J.'s work, as she explains: "....represents protectors, guardians, saints and their symbols. My intent is to explore the heart -- the center of life, strength and understanding." 

Cultural Cloth, LLC is right across WI-35 from Secret Heart, but half a world away from the sources of its creative offerings.  Business owners Mary Ann and Jody do well at the same time they do good.  From the B-side of the company's business card we learn that: 

"As textile artists and women ourselves, we are honored to collaborate with talented women from developing countries around the world. With each extraordinary piece in our shop you not only acquire a work of art, you support women's economic independence.

"Women who earn money stand taller.  They invest in their families. Children stay in school. Communities prosper. Lives are changed." 

Nancy Hoyt observes as Mary Ann Wise displays gorgeous ceremonial fabric, hand loomed and dyed in Kyrgyzstan.  Design and colors are representative of pomegranates - signs of abundance and fertility in this South Asian region.

Had to take a break from the culture
and re energize ourselves -- which we did at Stockholm Pie.  Rated by some would-be Anthony Bordain as one of the 100 top places in American to eat, Stockholm bakes pies that are to die for -- with homemade whipped cream smothered all over the place.  Pina and I shared a man-sized slice of the triple berry.  And bought a 6" rhubarb pie to take back home to Long Lake.  Someone in our household has already sliced into this beauty.

Below is a shot of the inside of Mary Ann's store.  Should give you some idea of the richness and diversity of the fabrics and woven goods acquired from the world's developing countries.  And, as Mary Ann is quick to remind,  everything they carry has been created by the women in these countries of origin.  You can't help but feel good shopping there. 

New BFF Nina Wong and Old Buddy Jim Jowett after yummy Lunch at Nina's "ChinDian" Restaurant on E. Hennepin and 15th.

Nina Wong Signature Sauces

Nina spent nearly two decades with the Wong family restaurant, Rainbow Chinese Restaurant and Bar, located on Eat Street in Minneapolis. In 2005 she opened East River Market which evolved into ChinDian Café, a full scale restaurant.
As her menu grew, customers started asking how they could take Nina’s signature sauces and syrups to use at home, including her famous Ginger Syrup, Lemon Syrup, Black Stir Fry Sauce, White Stir Fry Sauce, Egg roll Sauce, Sweet and Sour Sauce and Dumpling Sauce. Nina now offers a full line of sauces and syrups that make it easy to create the flavors of ChinDian Café at home.
For more information on where to buy Nina Wong Sauces and recipes, please go to NinaWong.com.

Chef Nina Wong grew up immersed in the diverse flavors of Asia. Born in Vietnam to Chinese parents and raised in the United States, she learned to create dishes that reflect the essence of Asia.When Nina met Thomas Gnanapragasam the two combined forces in not only matrimony but cooking as well. Thomas’ ethnic Indian heritage and upbringing in Malaysia stood as the ideal comp- lement to Nina’s Chinese and Vietnamese background.ChinDian Café reflects Nina and Thomas’ vision for a warm, inviting restaurant that combines the diverse flavors of their family. The menu features locally produced organic ⁄ free-range meats and vegetables from farm producers including Kadejan Inc, Thousand Hills Cattle Co, Pastures a Plenty, Amor Pork and Larry Schultz Farms.

Dunn Bros. Coffee, Plymouth, MN -- Bill, Natalie, and art by Bill's Daughter. .

Bill owns the Dunn Bros. java stop on Vicksburg in Plymouth. I'm a regular there, so I get primo service from Bill and barista Natalie when I fill up my growler with Infinity Black cold press. I snapped a foto of our intrepid team yesterday, then persuaded Bill to pose solo, as in foto below.

Here's our hard-working independent businessman behind the roaster, holding (with great pride) a blow up of the master at work, snapped by Bill's daughter.  Part of a senior project in her photography class, the work is very good to this eye:  tight focus on the beans (which, after all, are at the heart of the business) and the master's hand as he assures that the process is just-so.

This is Art: sand, water, air bubbles are intoxicating to look at, impossible to ignore, ever-changing, almost magical.

Barely an inch thick, and layered with the finest grains of sands, of many hues, this active-art piece is filled with water and air, presenting an ever-changing landscape to delight the eye, and soothe the soul.

Our hosts at dinner last night found the piece in the Denver Art Museum. They were mesmerized: the tiniest grans of sand fell like mist from top of the frame to the bottom, creating landscapes as it settled.  Like an egg timer, you they turned this art upside down once all sand had settled, and the process started all over again.

Instructions call for adding water when the original eau evaporates. There's also a tiny hole in the frame just big enough for a needle to fit.  A hypodermic is supplied to add air when more bubbles are needed. 

After dinner guests could sit around the table and watch this art progress.  Never the same results. Not able to predict the fall-out.  A cool marvel is this Art form.  We're going to get one for our home!

Cousin Cash Hoyt Honors Dr. Charles, My Dad.

Grandview Cemetery sits on the highest hill in the Scioto River Valley, with a "grand view" of Ohio's first capital, Chillicothe.  Chillicothe is my home town.  My cousin Cash's home town.  His dad Joe's (my uncle) home town.  And home town to my father (and Cash's uncle) Charles N. Hoyt, MD.

Cash paid tribute today to the many Hoyt's at Grandview.   Dad and Uncle Joe were both decorated vets from WW II, and are interred next to each other there.

They called my father "Chesty" in admiration of his formidable upper body.  A man of average height, and above-average intelligence , compassion and creativity, Chesty's chest was massive.  It was his calling card in many ways.  It held a generous, grateful, oversized heart.

Thank you, Cash, for the photo.  It's been way too long since I've been to Chillicothe, and Grandview, and in front of my Dad's headstone. This Memorial Day would have been a perfect opportunity to pay tribute to this wonderful man.

Next year, for sure.