Buffalo Bikes Build Better Futures.

You've maybe heard of Buffalo Bikes?  They are made in (and used by) developing countries in Africa, primarily.  I've read a couple of posts about Buffalo, and saw something tonite about their utility and clean design.  What I did not realize is that these babies cost $150/each, last forever, likely "pay for themselves" in increased productivity in short order.  I borrowed a couple of images from the Buffalo site, and encourage any velo fan to learn more about the good work done by this non-profit.

http://www.buffalobicycle.com/why-buffalo

This field is decidedly not in Africa, and the Giant Cypress posing amid the stalks ain't the Buffalo admired above. Corn pickers have begun their run through the rows; only sweat I'm breaking comes from the 10-mile ride on a gorgeous near-Fall day here in Minnesota. 

SEA-TAC airport hosts Voyager Project plane: at the time the most remarkable machine in the air. My sister and brother-in-law collected me at baggage claim after I gushed at the magic of flight.

Float Plane Buzzes Lake Minnetonka, Spectators along Lake Street in Wayzata are Spellbound.

Some hotshot pilot brought his float plane around the Wayzata side of Lake Minnetonka today.  He buzzed us two or three times before coming in for a landing to the south.  Then up he goes again, before settling down, running the aircraft up on the beach on its pontoons.  The pilot shut down his single engine, stepped out on the left pontoon, and was embraced by a gorgeous blond who had been keeping a weather eye, and raced to greet her flyboy the minute he touched down.

Lake Street in Wayzata is becoming more of the "scene" with every passing season, but we're still pretty mellow and subdued up here in Minnesota.  I can assure readers of Poppy's Velo Ventures, however, that the town tempo picked up quite a bit this afternoon when N125P8 flew in and paid us a call.

Kayakers Navigate Deception Pass, Washington, while Boat Builders, Tsunami Preparers, and Visitors to Whidbey Island Live with Water Everywhere.

The guys who kayak the treacherous waters of Deception Pass must be having the nautical time of their lives.  When you stand on the bridge, holding on tight, tight, tight to the railing, and look down at the swirling silver eddies 100 feet below, you get some deep respect for Mother Nature and the boaters who test their mettle against the tide.  You also get vertigo in the extreme! 

Hard to say how many people have taken their lives by jumping off the bridge into the chilly maelstrom below.  A small plaque commemorates a young man named Bryan who is "at one with the sea" now. Well wishers continue to bring fresh flowers to honor his memory.

OK.  Now for the boat builders.  My nephew Christian here just finished up his course of study at Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building in Port Townsend. We got the grand tour of keel-up restorations of ocean going sloops, work boats, even mahogany lake craft inboards, throw-back to the Roaring Twenties.  Christian represents a new generation of wooden boat craftsmen, a trade and passion currently in decline never mind how strong the demand for builders.

Christian and Dad Mark check out a molded fiberglass rowing skiff built by students at Northwest.

And finally, the Tsunami warnings.  Folks out there in the San Juans take the threat of earthquake and tsunami seriously.  Helpful signs are posted in strategic low lying places.  So far, residents have not been required to "Go to High Ground or Inland."  Phew.

Edina, MN Annual Fall Art Show today at Centennial Lakes Park

Volunteers from Edina Children's Protection and Safety Program were on hand to offer helpful hints, raise $$ for program outreach, and to sell raffle tix for a very cool pedal prowl car, circa 1950.

Cucumber restaurant staffers suggest sample fare for event goers, find time to pose for a foto. Pina and I tried the wild rice, veggie and cranberry salad -- yumm enough that we bought a on to take home with us.

Skilled and creative wool artisan Ian stands in front of unique sweater she wove. Exquisite work.  We ended up buying a Christmas stocking from wool and felt, to be hung by the chimney with care, come December 24, 2015.

Young couple from Minneapolis use felt to fabricate children's over the crib mobiles, plus key fobs and coasters (both of which we purchased). Nice work, nice artisans.

Any number of these creatures were set up to attract buyers and, likely, scare little kids.  Not sure why the lei festoons the neck of the biggest yeti. Quite a sight, though.

Sister Crary Adds Pespective and Scale to Ebey Prairie Trail, National Historic Preserve on Washington's Whidbey Island. .

Langley, Washington Farmers' Market - Luscious Berries on Whidbey Island.

The sun was out and gentle breezes blew as my sister and I went sightseeing on Whidbey Island, WA last week.   There was plenty of visitor activity and we took full advantage of it.  At the mid-day Farmer's Market on main street in Langley, we saw, tasted and bought about the most sumptuous berries in my experience.  Sis made up a little goody berry bag for the flight back home from SEA to MSP. I was looking forward to the airborne snack, but these berries were so tender, sweet and luscious that they'd turned to mush, leaving my face, hands and shirt stained berry-blue. 

Picking out Pina's iPhone 6 at the Verizon store in Medina, MN.

OK. Now we can text like crazy people.  Keep an eye on your smart phones, as La Nancita is poised to tap out some news, views and party shoes.

Excelsior Brewing Company's Reed Osell talks taste, ingredients, continued growth and preference for the iconic new brand.

The fragrant smell of Excelsior Beer being brewed -- it was the malt's turn -- was unmistakable. I was walking around Excelsior, MN, and couldn't help but be drawn to the nexus of something extraordinary.  Met the Taproom Operations Manger, Reed Osell, and he gave me a rapid-fire education of micro-brewing, and how his brand is really doing well.

"It's the ingredients," explains Reed, "we have something unique in the process (our secret timing and recipe, of course), and customers really enjoy drinking our beer."

If I'm not mistaken Excelsior will "boil" 500 tall barrels of the elixir this calendar year.  Demand seems to almost outpace supply, and I'd bet the brewery would be expanding before you know it.

Reed was in a hurry to get back to work, but he did give me a few Excelsior Brewing Company promotional stickers.  I keep a little journal and have already pasted in my sticker.  I'll send one off to my grandson tomorrow so he can keep his book current.

Grandson is too young to pick up a growler -- even on Sunday -- so he'll have to be content for now with the sticker -- and an exciting story of "making it" told by a proud and passionate young exec.

These kegs are a thing of beauty. 

Always on Sunday now.

Summer's Here and Time is Right for Spashing in the Pool. Big boy has NOT lost his cannon ball touch.

Big boy about to make a huge splash.  Our swimmer has not lost his cannon-ball touch.

Nailing dive after dive, can opener after can opener, cannon ball after cannon ball -- phew tires a guy out, makes him repair to the nearby grill, whip up some brats and burgers.  Yummm.

You've Heard of Ghost Bikes - they Honor our Fallen Velo Sister and Brothers. Maybe this BMX is a Clown bike, and the Circus is Coming to Navarre?

So, on my way back to Long Lake from Excelsior today.  Saw the BMX dangling from on the town sign, knew it wasn't a Ghost Bike.

WTF?  What do you suppose we have here?  

I'll go to the town site, see what else I can learn.  Meanwhile, check fotos from Excelsior that follow.  See if they don't bring a touristy smile to your face.

Yard Sale Shopper on Whidbey Buys Irresistable Treasure, pays with $5.00 bill, plus one Freshly Caught 20lb. Wild Salmon.

So, I learn from my Sis that a shopper scored an item from the yard sale for a 5-spot, plus a wild salmon the guy has just caught.   "How much is salmon per lb.," I asked. "Might be $8.99 on sales," replies Sis.

So, a 20-pounder used in barter, yielding fillets at $8.99, Washington-state style, comes out to more than $150.00.  Wow.  Good deal for the fisherman -- salmon running non-stop off coast of the island -- not to mention good deal for the yard sale folks.

THEN (and check out sign below from my local supermarket) Wild King Salmon here in the Heartland sell for $16.99 per fillet-pound.

Lesson and Market Moral?  Availability of something, like seasonal running of wild salmon, and its possible over-abundance, determines price --per item, per Pound, per sign, per whatever. You sure don't need government regulation here when it comes to pricing -- product safety, freshness, and quality, however; that's another matter.

Whidbey Island, WA back yard sale today - Marked-down items sure look different from the goodies available here in Long Lake, MN.

Check out the surf casting rods, big salmon net.  My sister and her hubby offered up their best loot this weekend and the yard sale was a huge success.  Back to that net for a moment:  it would be very cool to have one here in Minnie, 'cept I'm not much of a fisherman.  If I did buy the net, it could hang in the garage next to several bikes presently gathering dust.

Back of Calhoun Cycle and Dunn Bros. is some Tantalizing Tromp L'Oeil. Check out doors and Windows. Coulda fooled me.

You've been in that Calhoun Cycle lot at 34th and Hennepin a million times.  You've demo-ed the Brompton, stopped for lattes at Dunn Bros.  Likely parted with more $$$ at retail than you'd planned. 

BUT, did you ever notice the tromp l'oeil work on the doors and brick walls of said building?

I know there's a studio apartment upstairs, over the coffee shop.  The outside stairs give it away.  But I couldn't get over the imagination of the building owner -- tricked out what would ordinarily be, well, quite an ordinary facade.  And tricked the eye while at it. Nice execution, Picasso.

Pedaling the Stone Arch Bridge and Environs, Taking Color Pics w/iPhone 5, Converting to Black + White.

Left the velo at home today and drove to parking lot near the Stone Arch Bridge.  This is the same spot we've brought visitors, family and friends -- I remember the day Joe and Nancy joined NTS and me to walk "over and around the Mighty Mississippi."  Decided to try a few shots at infinity with the iPhoto 5, and they are presented for your enjoyment here.

The red and white interlocking barriers (now B + W),  don't look anywhere near as imposing in this here as they do in real life.  I took this shot some forty feet above the barriers, steadying the cam-phone on the railing along the Stone Arch Bridge.

The Mighty Miss is pretty subdued at this time of the year.  I like the stairs to the left, and tried to edit/adjust the shot for maximum contrast.

A new Mom cools her heels, catches her breath, and lets the magic of the Mississippi River re-energize and restore.

The iconic Gold Medal "skyscraper," Minneapolis style.  This historical gem is now Mill City Museum, and interactive, educational expereince unlike any I've seen.  You hould check this out for yourself.