In curating this weblog through the years, I’ve made frequent use of sure photos. These ultimately grew to become what in my day we used to name “inside jokes,” however what folks now name “memes.” There was the Lone Wolf:
There was the Time-Touring Retro-Fred from the Planet Tridork Bret:
There was Recumbabe:
And naturally there was Bibshorts Man:
Then after all there was a ship referred to as the “Simply Kidding,” which I used after I needed to make it clear after I was in actual fact simply kidding:
A few of these photos would typically pop up outdoors the context of the weblog, and generally this was certainly the entire level. The Time-Touring Retro-Fred from the Planet Tridork Bret, for instance, was a inventory picture, so that you’d discover him in all types of locations, and it was all the time a delight when a reader would alert me to one more manifestation. Certainly, he’d seem on all the things from journal covers:
To loaves of bread:
Within the case of the Lone Wolf, he was no inventory picture; he was the real article and a god amongst males, and sometimes I’d hear from individuals who had the nice fortune to fulfill him:
As for Bib Shorts Man, he was the mannequin for the Wikipedia entry on bib shorts. So far as I can inform that is not the case, and I need to say that whereas the brand new man seems to be fairly match, he’s utterly missing in character and allure:
However I do recall listening to from buddies and/or household of Bib Brief Man at one level, and if I keep in mind proper they appeared to get pleasure from his appearances–or on the very least they by no means threatened to kill me.
As for Recumbabe, I do not know the place she got here from, and I don’t assume we’ll ever discover out.
Then there was the Simply Kidding, and its affable crew. The straightforward results of a G**gle picture seek for the phrase “Simply Kidding,” I need to confess I by no means gave them a lot thought outdoors of the context of this weblog, nor did I ever assume I or any of my readers would expertise an extra-blogular encounter with them. However simply this weekend a reader emailed me to inform me he’d noticed the nice ship on the 5:35 mark of this video:
Right here’s a better look:
It delighted me to be taught that the Simply Kidding is just not solely nonetheless plying the seas, however is outwardly in superb fettle, with its hull utterly freed from barnacles and seaweed. Based mostly on the video, it sounds just like the Simply Kidding is moored in Newport Seashore, most likely simply steps from the frozen banana stand:
I confess that in some unspecified time in the future years in the past I observed that the unique hyperlink to the Simply Kidding had disappeared, which made me surprise if maybe the hosts questioned the place all this visitors was coming from, determined they didn’t prefer it, and took the picture down. If so, I do hope the homeowners of the Simply Kidding know that I meant no disrespect, and that my use of this picture is merely supposed in the identical whimsical spirit wherein they presumably named their boat. I prefer to assume that homeowners of the Simply Kidding are lengthy retired and dwelling their finest lives, and that their jaunty wave is supposed to convey that they don’t give a fuck about something, however in the absolute best approach.
I’d even go as far as to say that every of us goals of sooner or later discovering ourselves the captains of our personal private “Simply Kidding” and crusing off into the sundown. Possibly it’s an precise boat, perhaps it’s a rental in a hotter clime, or perhaps it’s only a very nice bike. Hey, in case your “Simply Kidding” is a garden chair, a kiddie pool, and a 12-pack of beer you then’ve arrived simply as certainly as they’ve. Regardless of the case, they’re Al Czervik sticking it to the Choose Smailses of the world…or at the least that’s what I select to imagine, anyway:
In the meantime, again on shore, the DOT wish to remind you that bicycles usually are not a distinct segment type of transportation:
I wholeheartedly agree–although I proceed to enjoy my singlespeed mountain bike, which is undeniably a distinct segment type of recreation:
As I famous just lately, a motorcycle like this may be of restricted utility in an city atmosphere–and but, if you’ve solely acquired an hour and wish to get somewhat journey in, there’s no higher bike for ducking into the closest swath of greenery and flitting about on some trails the place perhaps you’re not “supposed” to journey, at the least strictly talking. And it may be fairly liberating to move out the door with only a bike and no matter’s in your pockets–although by some requirements I used to be woefully unprepared:
In fact I understand that as an inveterate city-slicker I’ve the posh of not having to hold a number of stuff. I additionally understand there are individuals who journey in far more forbidding environments, and who disappear for days at a time, removed from human contact. Due to this fact, any commentary I make regarding what they could select to hold is akin to Ed Rooney telling Mozart his newest composition has too many notes. I imply, not solely do I journey safe within the information that within the occasion of an unrepairable mechanical I can all the time name an Uber, however I can’t even refill a single saddle bag! Nonetheless, this kinda feels just like the desert equal of the Minnesota Humblebrag:
I imply…paper clips, actually?
Every now and then I’m using on like a Wednesday afternoon or one thing and I see somebody on a garvel bike with about 300lbs of baggage on their bike. “The place may they probably be going at the moment of day?,” I ponder. Usually I attempt to give them the good thing about the doubt–maybe they’re heading out for a protracted bike tenting journey and so they have been late leaving Brooklyn. However may or not it’s the gravel development has gotten to the purpose the place individuals are loading their bikes up with pour-over espresso makers and titanium sporks and paper clips and postage stamps sixteen completely different widths of strapping tape even for his or her afternoon rides, in the identical approach that roadies now use $3,000 crabon race wheels simply to journey a number of straightforward laps within the park? Possibly they learn stuff like this and get such massive journey boners they pack all their bike instruments plus the contents of each their junk drawers and their medication cupboards after which go journey up and down River street. It will definitely clarify the sudden proliferation of laden bikes with flared drop bars within the instant neighborhood of the town limits.
Once more, that’s not directed on the author specifically, who presumably lives and rides someplace the place winding up a sun-bleached skeleton is a really actual concern. Furthermore, I’ll freely admit I’m a “woosie,” and that my concept of “loaded touring” is sticking a beer and a showering go well with in a bag and using to the seaside:
One way or the other I all the time wind up extra loaded for the return journey, go determine:
It’s necessary to know your limits.
