Road Trips with a Theme
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 12
From: NoVA
After motorcycle touring, photography is my next love. I combine the two and with any luck get some medium and sometimes large format negatives worth making serious prints of. The highlight of any trip will be a large B&W abstract from my ride.
That's my theme.
On the other hand here's what's been rattleling around in my head for a while. In Colorado there are 22 paved passes that are over 10,000 feet. Mark them out on a map and it's sort of a double figure eight with just a couple of short backtracks. Now that's a super theme for a wannabe Ansel Adams. Over the years I've done about half. To ride them all in one trip with all the spare time I want for photography is a dream ride. A few extra days for a putt over to Moab, Arches, Canyonlands and Monument Valley makes it even better.
This is why you want to live until retirement. Or else get it done now. Dream your theme, then live it.
That's my theme.
On the other hand here's what's been rattleling around in my head for a while. In Colorado there are 22 paved passes that are over 10,000 feet. Mark them out on a map and it's sort of a double figure eight with just a couple of short backtracks. Now that's a super theme for a wannabe Ansel Adams. Over the years I've done about half. To ride them all in one trip with all the spare time I want for photography is a dream ride. A few extra days for a putt over to Moab, Arches, Canyonlands and Monument Valley makes it even better.
This is why you want to live until retirement. Or else get it done now. Dream your theme, then live it.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 874
Likes: 2
From: Southern Arizona
Yep, Our theme this year is a Boose and Blues theme. Were goin to Kentucky for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and, of course a trip to Lynchburg, TN to check out the Jack Daniels Distillery. We're coming back through Clarksdale, MS, supposed "home of the delta blues.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Some friends and I did a "Wild West Cold War" trip through Arizona last year. We hit a bunch of old ghost towns and mining towns as well as the PIMA museum, Boneyard and Titan Missile Museum.
I did another ride a few years ago called "High Miles, Low Expectations." It was a weekend run from SLC to Glacier NP and back with absolutely zero planning involved. It turned out to be one of the better ride I've been on.
Someone else mentioned the 22 mountain passes in Colorado. I did an abbreviated version of that 2 years ago...called it "Rocky Mountain High." I crossed the Continental Divide 14 times, but not all were over 10,000 feet.
I'm a big fan of a "themed" ride. I feel like the themed rides mix it up a little bit from the normal "ride, sightsee, beers, sleep, repeat" rides that most of us have done a lot of. Great thread! I'm interested to see what others have done...
I did another ride a few years ago called "High Miles, Low Expectations." It was a weekend run from SLC to Glacier NP and back with absolutely zero planning involved. It turned out to be one of the better ride I've been on.
Someone else mentioned the 22 mountain passes in Colorado. I did an abbreviated version of that 2 years ago...called it "Rocky Mountain High." I crossed the Continental Divide 14 times, but not all were over 10,000 feet.
I'm a big fan of a "themed" ride. I feel like the themed rides mix it up a little bit from the normal "ride, sightsee, beers, sleep, repeat" rides that most of us have done a lot of. Great thread! I'm interested to see what others have done...
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
This is something I'm wanting to do some time soon. Hit all the major battlefields in the South. Would be a lot of fun.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Houston area
Rochester
Any excuse for a trip to places I've never been. I grew up in Rochester, NY and thought it might be interesting to visit all the states with a city named Rochester. I knew of a few others; MN, Michigan, NH and have found about 6 more, most in the northeast. Maybe when I retire.
Ride to one, take a photo by the city limit sign and move on to the next.
Not about the destination but the journey, right?
Ride to one, take a photo by the city limit sign and move on to the next.
Not about the destination but the journey, right?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,551
Likes: 22
From: Jacksonville Beach, FL.
I have a rollieflex(2-1/4") and a Bausch & Laumb field camera(4").
The Rollie does great, but the B&L is from 1901 and it does NOT leave the house! I wish it were in better shape so I could take some pix.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 12
From: NoVA
Thundermug, My main travel camera is a Plaubel Makina 67. With that camera my standard film is Tri-X rated at 200 ASA and souped in D-76 1+1. If I plan on walking alot I use a Rolleiflex 3.5 F model. It's a light package with filters, shade and two Rolleinars (1&2) Because of the smaller negative I tend to use slower films, T-Max 100 @ 80 with the same developer. Small Gitzo tripod.
Before I blew out my knee a couple of years ago I used a 4X5 Crown Graphic in a modified Zero Halliburton case that would strap onto a Best Rest rack on the back of my 1150 G/S. This outfit carried three lenses, 90-135-207, six film packs and a lightmeter. This setup was bulletproof and used on the dirt roads in the Smokey's. I have a 4X5 Linhof but cannot bring myself to take that on a scoot. I sold that bike because of my knee but the camera outfit can still travel in a Domke bag, (FX-6?) that fits in the tour-pac.
Back when I pulled a Bushtec trailer I would sometimes take a 8X10 Deardorff. What with the cost of film and chemicals now that sits home waiting for the economy to improve. I may end up selling the 'Dorf V-8.
While a Crown or Speed Graphic does not have much in the way of movements it is an excellent camera for motorcycling. The lenses are quite small. My 135 and 207 is as good as any Plasmat, the 90 not so much. But the camera itself is very tough and vey fast to work with.
Before I blew out my knee a couple of years ago I used a 4X5 Crown Graphic in a modified Zero Halliburton case that would strap onto a Best Rest rack on the back of my 1150 G/S. This outfit carried three lenses, 90-135-207, six film packs and a lightmeter. This setup was bulletproof and used on the dirt roads in the Smokey's. I have a 4X5 Linhof but cannot bring myself to take that on a scoot. I sold that bike because of my knee but the camera outfit can still travel in a Domke bag, (FX-6?) that fits in the tour-pac.
Back when I pulled a Bushtec trailer I would sometimes take a 8X10 Deardorff. What with the cost of film and chemicals now that sits home waiting for the economy to improve. I may end up selling the 'Dorf V-8.
While a Crown or Speed Graphic does not have much in the way of movements it is an excellent camera for motorcycling. The lenses are quite small. My 135 and 207 is as good as any Plasmat, the 90 not so much. But the camera itself is very tough and vey fast to work with.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,551
Likes: 22
From: Jacksonville Beach, FL.
My Rollei is a 2.8C (80mm planar) and was made in the early 50's. I've had some fun with it, but haven't used it in about 10 years or so. I quit using film and went digital, but only have a cheap D cam.
Time to get out my film cams and have some fun this summer!
Time to get out my film cams and have some fun this summer!
