Los Angeles

 It's unbelievable what is happening and the speed that it is happening at. Climate change is at work here just like last summer in Ashville, up in Northern NY at my camp, Florida and other places down south, and now Los Angeles just to name a few. There is nowhere one can run to be safe from it and that's starting to become clear to many people. The ignition cause was probably human, caused by some idiot no doubt but the conditions that let it grow into this monster are climate change in action. Back in 2010 I saw a preview of this up in British Columbia Canada when I was riding my motorcycle there. There were over 500 fires burning and heavy smoke for hundreds of miles from them .

These were taken on a cloudless sunny day hundreds of miles from the actual fires. It was a sneak preview of things to come for sure.But the rich corporations owned by the greed driven oligarchs who own everything including the government of the US have a different idea of how things should go. Drill Baby Drill and make as many babies as you can so we have plenty of dumbed down consumers going forward into the future. You know, in 1949 when I was born there were roughly 2.5 BILLION humans on Earth today the number is upwards of 8 BILLION and growing. It's all related and connected to their sick greedy agenda. It's a very sad state of affairs in the world today and it's just beginning. I painted this when I returned from that trip on my motorcycle back in 2010

And now Los Angeles burns and the whole process of global climate change ramps up. I was reading the news on the Associated Press site the other day when I saw a photo my old friend Richard Vogel shot in Santa Monica of a surfer catching a wave as the fires burned out of control near by. Richard is a very talented photographer for the AP. Here is a link to the article.

https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-wildfires-photos-8c2f2767b3722ccbb98d6e78a563c1f4

I can't wrap my mind around the fact that all this is happening and most people aren't all that upset about it and mobilizing to put an end to this. Just like when Occupy Wall Street happened the corporations trough their lackeys the politicians  and the police co-opt and marginalize the opposition to their greed motivated agendas. I'm glad I'm old. It's gonna get real ugly here on planet Earth real soon. This is just the beginning.

Here is another link to some people who are actually fighting the good fight against this madness

https://revbilly.com/podcast/?source=152-fire&link_id=4&can_id=d72a930c8d8dcd73e4fcacd7eb4cc572&email_referrer=email_2583175&email_subject=earth-riot-radio-152-the-fire-edition-from-creation-to-crisis

Here We Are In Winter

 It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that it's 2025 but we are over a week into it now and I'm working. Yup,I'm painting some rooms. Usually when I am working over the holidays I have a good year so I'm hoping this holds true for this year. I need a break. The last couple years have been tough with this never ending leg problem but even that seems to be letting up some so fingers crossed. Smiley suddenly dying back in mid December was really hard on both my wife and myself. She was part of our family for 30 years. Well, we all meet this fate. There is nothing that escapes the end, not even a tortoise. So, now it's time to look forward to spring. I'm thinking about starting to get the Moto Guzzi all fixed up to travel on this coming summer. The new seat is here and the other day a guy saw my ad in the Moto Guzzi club's classifieds looking for a headlight bucket. He gave me a good deal so it's now here waiting for me to get it ready for paint. Yesterday I worked hard all day and my leg didn't hurt so perhaps there is light at the end of this dark tunnel. I turn 76 in April and all I want to do is RIDE !

Sometimes I think I may do it this way instead of riding the motorcycle there and back across the country. There is nothing really special about riding from NY to the Rockies. It's a pretty boring ride until you hit the Rockies and beyond to the Pacific. So many decisions to make and I need to make them soon.If I go in my little Chevy S10 what bike do I take.I'm thinking smaller may be better.Well, I have a month or so to make up my mind.

If I do go this way I want to get a receiver hitch and one of those bike racks that goes behind the tailgate so I have room for my gear in the bed and I can unload and load the bike easily by myself.

https://www.harborfreight.com/400-lb-capacity-receiver-mount-aluminum-motorcycle-carrier-62837.html?campaignid=21901739249&adsetid=173216765751&product=62837&store=375&gad_source=1

Something like this only better. The wheels are turning !

And ever and ever

It just never ends . It goes as far as you can take it and then some.It can never be seen in it's total because it never ends.
 

The Road Goes On Forever

 After my last sunset and night at my favorite beach on the west coast I decided to head to Mt Lassen Volcanic National Park. It was an incredible ride and here are some photos of Mt Lassen Park . Incredible motorcycle roads with incredible views at every turn and there were many turns .

I guess this is still considered an active volcano because it last erupted in 1914-1917. Anyway, it's a great place to ride a motorcycle.So yesterday I renewed my passport. The first step in another long motorcycle ride. Probably my last but who knows at 75 I have to just take what I can every day. I'm hoping to return to this place and spend more time camping and exploring. Last time I got there too late in the season to really explore. It was cold, in the 30's F when I took most of these photos and it was the beginning of the second week in September. So, I'm gonna try for mid August this time. Last night I connected with a guy who has a good headlight bucket for my 850-T. Mine is all bent and cracked at the mounting holes.  I bought a new tent that is way better than any tent I ever owned and now I'm working on the bike and also collecting my gear so I can weed out what I don't need.  I'm going to try to pack lighter this time. So, now it begins I hope and I once again ride down the road that goes on forever.