#vulcan 1700

[artthatgivesmefeelings]

Charles-Joseph Natoire (French, 1700 - 1777) Venus Demanding Arms from Vulcan for Aeneas, after 1732 Musée Fabre, Montpellier

[el-osario]

[rianmobili]

Top 10 Best Touring Motorcycles For 2023

By “touring” we mean it in the traditional sense of the word. Touring motorcycles are a special breed. They need to be strong and reliable, and able to accelerate to highway speeds whilst carrying heavy luggage, but they also need to be comfortable and equipped with plenty of accessories to keep riders relaxed for mile after mile. Today, there are more touring motorcycles available than before, each geared towards different riders with different touring ambitions. Organizing this list was no easy task, as our contributors discussed and debated which bikes belonged on this list, until we had ones that we all agreed upon.

[sensitivelittlevorta]

Shrancher Story Update

So, I want to give you an Update on all my Stories and WIPs.

WIPs:

Adorable Drabble: 100 words; 6+; just some waking up next to each other fluff; done, sent to @justlisalisa for beta-reading

Cloth theft (worktitle) Shortstory: ~650 words; 6+; just the normal cloth theft in a relationship, but in a funny and cute way, but mostly funny; When Shran wants to wear Archer's clothes, then Shran wants to wear Archer's clothes no matter what Archer says; done and send to @justlisalisa for beta-reading

Feelings (working title) Shortstory: ~550 words; 12+; Archer gives Shran the feeling that he does not return his feelings and Shran just breaks because he had tried and hoped too much; maybe I'll write more depending on the feedback; jealousy, sad, heartbreaking, makes you cry hopefully, ooc probably; still needs a lot of work to work the way I intended it to and to not be as ooc as it now sounds

Highschool AU (working title) medium long: ~2,350 words yet; 12+; well, it's a HS AU, Archer's POV, he tries to ask Shran out for some kind of (christmas) ball, when Shran says he does not care about those stupid human celebrations and even though everyone says Shran is just an asshole Archer doesn't give up, the only thing that dampens his spirit is the possiblity that Shran could be more interested in the one other andorian on the school Talas, or the new aenar girl Jhamel; everyone is still the same species they just go to a highschool on earth; still needs a lot of work and more scenes to not be this short and rushed

-> you'll also get a nice surprise to this by @justlisalisa, which will be posted at the same time so it could take a while until we are both done

Hope (working title) Shortstory ~550 words; 12+; open end; maybe I'll write more depending on the feedback; sad on Archer's POV, hopeful on Shran's; Archer sees how Shran interacts with a child and gets some sad feelings because they can't get a child together and then Shran sees how a woman flirts with Archer and he realizes he shouldn't wait forever to begin a relationship with the human

Hair pulling (working title) short story: ~200 words; 12+; Archer says he needs to cut his hair again, but Shran asks him if that is what he really wants as it limits certain possibilities; done and sent to @justlisalisa for beta-reading

Jealousy (working title) Medium long: ~3000 words yet; 18+; Shran thinks Archer had asked him to come to earth and then ask him out on a date, but when he doesn't appear on time, Shran searches for him. He finds him flirting with a human woman he asks T'pol for clarification on the time and gets the information that it had not been a date he had been asked out to, but rather to discuss something that would forbid a relationship for the foreseeable future; jeaolousy, misunderstandings, happy end, suddenly turned into porn without my consent...; I need to write the porn yet, it wasn't planned so I have no idea what to do, and I haven't written a lot of porn yet

Porn, medium long: ~2000 words yet; 18+; Shran sees Archer in a shirt for the first time and gets horny because for Andorians showing so much skin is an invitation for sex, he does realise Archer is human and did not do it to indicate a desire to sleep with each other but after a bit of dialogue and a meal they have sex because Shran can't keep it in anymore

Brother Bear AU; prologue and three chapters; 12+; it will have around 5 chapters plus the prologue; it will be purely from Shran's POV; I had to take some artistic liberties with the Star Trek timeline and events to make a Brother Bear AU possible, but after brainstorming with @justlisalisa this is what came out:

- Prologue: ~ 1100 words yet; Shran is on his home planet and recieves his totem from the shaman which will show is way in life - 1. Chapter: ~ 1700 words yet; Shran is on his first mission with the Imperial Guard on a remote vulcan outpost, but his brother dies in an accident that was caused by Henry Archer, so Shran follows him and revenges his brother 2. Chapter: ~ 4200 words yet; Shran wakes up as a pinkskin and meets Archer. He realises the pinkskin is his only way to go where he needs to. But because he hadn't paid attention to what Archer said he agreed to go on a little adventure with him. Fearing that taking back his promise will make Archer not help him anymore he goes on that adventure with him 3. Chapter: ~ 1800 words yet; They have their little space adventure visiting three different planets and getting closer the whole time, Shran learns that not all pinkskins are terrible and he grows as a character; (I'm kinda stuck here, because I have no idea what adventures they will go on, on the first planet they go on a little hiking trip, there once has been a plan of another planet but I can't find it in the chat, so I still need two planets for them where they can fall in love, so it may take a while, maybe it will get devided into three chapters too, depending how long it turns out) 4. Chapter: They arrive on another moon that orbits the same gas giant as Andoria, where they meet the rest of Archer's crew. Archer introduces everyone to Shran. Archer and Shran almost kiss but they get interrupted by someone telling him his dad died and how and where it happened. Shran realises he is in love with Archer and killed his dad at the same time and leaves and Archer follows. He decides to tell him everything. Archer leaves. 5. Chapter: Shran decides to do what he had wanted to do the whole time. Fly into the gas giant to ask his ancestors to remove the curse. While he talks to his brother who is proud of the man his little brother has become, Archer meets the Shaman who reminds him of the time he has spend with Shran and that he had fallen in love with the man he has become. He follows Shran and witnesses how Shran gets turned back into a blueskin. He tells Shran he loves him

Long story; many chapters; different age ratings; will be about Shran's and Archer's relationship after season 4; how Shran becomes a crewmember and why, how they get together, their life on board of the Enterprise, their marriage, their plans for the future, etc.; it will rather be many short stories than chapters of a whole fic, that's why I'm probably going to upload it as a series. There will also be some P18 rated chapters in between and that would make rating them easier as I don't have to give the whole fic the same rating. Also it will probably be quite different from canon as I have seen pictures of Shran with bits of stories where I didn't know what happened and I had to piece everything together myself and apparantly I pieced them together awfully wrong, but I won't change it even when I'm going to watch the end of season 4 soon, when I'll finally learn what exactly is going on.

2. Ideas:

crossdressing (18+): basically the enterprise visits a planet and Archer and Shran are on he surface as guests there, then Archer as their leader gets led away and they redress him or something and when Shran sees him he gets immediately aroused and they do the do

-> and you'll also get a nice surprise to this by @justlisalisa

bad boy good boy hs au (12+); pretty much self explanatory; bad boy shran and good boy archer; aaaand hold on tight: in collaboration with @justlisalisa

Christmas mistloe story (12+); there's christmas party on the enterprise and Archer wants shran to come and they get caught under a mistletoe

Trip wants everyone to wear something christmas-y, Shran does accept the reindeer antlers, but when Trip suggest he puts bells on his antennae he almost kills him, Archer kind of tries to talk Shran into it, so Shran says he will do it, if Trip walks around in full Rudolph the red-nose reindeer costume and Archer as Santa Claus. Especially at the christmas party. There Archer has to ask everyone if they've been naughty or nice and give them presents. This gets especially funny when he asks Shran. (maybe P18)

Shran sees Archer smile for the first time, then he tries to make him smile more often and becaus of Shran, then he notices that no matter what he does Archer never smiles at him and actually always acts a bit reseverd and distant with him, then things happen and there's a happy end

[episodeoftv]

Round 2 of 8, Group 3 of 4

propaganda and summaries are under the cut (May include spoilers)

Our Flag Means Death: 1.05 The Best Revenge Is Dressing Well

tw racism

Blackbeard and Stede attend a fancy party. Oluwande and Frenchie embrace false identities. Izzy and Lucius go head-to-head.

It's the best episode of the show in my opinion. It has the iconic line "You wear fine things well", it gives us more information about Ed, we get to see Frenchie invent pyramid schemes in the 1700s, it has a boat full of awful rich people burning, it has Lucius being a bitch to Izzy and winning against him (we love to see it). I know it probably doesn't make any sense if you haven't watched the show, but I adore this episode

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: 7.04 Take Me Out To The Holosuite

A Vulcan captain challenges Sisko to a game of baseball.

The whole crew takes a break from the ongoing war storyline to play baseball

[bucketteeth]

Ceramic Composite Wear Parts

Ceramic Composite Wear Parts Wear resistant ceramic lining is AL203 as the main material, with rare metal oxide as solvent, after more than 1700℃ high temperature roasting to special ceramic, embedded into rubber , polyurethane or mild steel for the purpose of low to moderate impact and highly abrasive sliding application. Alumina Ceramic tile and lining: Vulcanized in special rubber, the ceramic…

[avid-avian-says]

random musing: vulcans with precise internal chronometers getting really vulcan-angry about daylight savings. "it is 1700 hours, captain." "it's 1800 hours, mr. spock. we turned the clocks an hour forward last night." "...a peculiar tradition, captain." "yes, and one we've had twice a year since you joined starfleet. still haven't gotten used to it?" "it is a practice that I find myself at a loss to understand the purpose of." "oh, just call it illogical and get it over with, spock. can't fit daylight savings into those mathematically perfect brainwaves of yours?" "doctor, human traditions are often almost entirely devoid of logic. this one, particularly so." "why you-" "he did what you asked, bones. I don't know what you expected."

[williamsharley]

How to Prepare Your Harley Davidson for Long Distance Ride

Are you passionate about riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle for a long distance? Or are you planning to ride? Or do you want to explore the beautiful world riding on a Harley Davidson motorcycle but have NO idea where to start, or how to plan?

Williams HD would like to suggest you take steps on how to prepare your Harley Davidson for a long-distance ride. Depending on the length of trip you plan for your ride will ensure you are safe, peace of mind on the road.  

Before you embark, check out the service checklist to prepare your Harley Davidson for long-distance rides as challenging and make you experience the moment once in your lifetime. 

Service Checklist to Prepare Your Harley Davidson Motorcycle

Before planning your ride, it is important to know the following tips to prepare your Harley Davidson motorcycle for a long-distance ride. 

 1. Choosing Right Motorcycle:

To make a significant difference in your ride or journey it is a must to choose the right motorcycle. However, various kinds of motorcycles are specifically designed for long-distance rides. 

   ● Touring Motorcycle: 

If you are going to embark on a grand tour motorcycles are the best option to opt for. Specifically, Harley Davidson motorcycles come with packed features, top quality, and feel comfortable while riding. Following is the list of HD touring motorcycles.

       - Harley Davidson Road King

       - Harley Davidson Ultra Limited

       - Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager

       - Honda Gold Wing Tour

       - Yamaha Star Venture

       - BMW K 1600 Grand America

        ● Sports Motorcycle: 

Harley Davidson sports motorcycles for long-distance rides are designed to be fast and nimble with advanced features. It is also the best option to opt for a long-distance ride without breaking your back or wrists. Below are some of the HD sports touring motorcycles are:

            - Kawasaki H2 SX SE+

            - KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

            - Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT 

            - Ducati SuperSport 950 S

            - Honda CBR 1100XX Blackbird

          ●  Adventure Motorcycle:

Harley Davidson Adventure motorcycles can handle long-distance rides on road trips and tackle any ATV / terrain motorcycle. Usually, they are equipped with large engines and distinct appearance. Some of the popular Harley-Davidson adventure motorcycles are listed below:

           - BMW R1250GS

           - Honda NC750X

           - Ducati Multistrada

           - Yamaha XT 1200Z    Super Tenere

           - Triumph Tiger 800 XCx

           - Honda Africa Twin

2. Maintenance and Upgrade Your Motorcycle:

Keeping your motorcycle in good condition for a long trip requires regular maintenance to avoid the breakdown of your bike around your town. It is always necessary to carry motorcycle accessories such as tool kit, chain oil, extra tires, covers, etc., 

If you are looking to get a Harley Davidson motorcycle or bike Williams HD offers a wide selection of Harley Davidson vehicles pre-owned and new. We provide high-quality services to our customers. Get in touch with our experts today.  

3. Plan Your Route:

For a long ride, it is always better to plan to reach your destination safely and comfortably. Even though you have planned a well-known route, you must be safe and secure. The following are some important things to remember: 

●  Check Climate/weather Conditions: Keep an eye on weather reports for a safe ride. Whether it is summer, winter, or spring. You can find information about weather conditions on the Internet.

●  Plan GPS (or) Maps: To find an easy way, map it to your end destination and decide how long it will take you to reach.

●  Check Fuel stops: Don’t be overconfident about fuel stops on your way to your destination. Stop at the fuel or gasoline area if you have completed half tank refueling it. 

T-CLOCS Inspection Checklist to Prepare HD Motorcycle for Long Distance Ride: 

T-Clocs inspection checklist is done for motorcycles to make sure it does not have any mechanical hazards. This inspection can be done before starting your ride or after the completion of your ride. 

●   T- Tires, wheels & Brakes: Before hitting your bike on the road inspect your tires, wheels, and brakes in the following conditions.

      - Air Pressure, spokes, cast, rims, bearings, seals, pads and discs for wear

●   C - Controls: Inspect your levers to see whether the action and position are correct, and if it is properly lubricated. Inspect your HD motorcycle and how it is functioning.

      - Handlebars, levers, pedal, cables, hoses, throttle, operation, pivots

●   L - Lights and Electrics: Inspect that our tail lights (red lights, brightness level, etc) are functioning properly. 

     -  Battery, tail lamp, turn signals, switches, mirrors, lenses and reflectors, wiring.

●  O - Oil & Other Fluids: Check fluid levels for your fuel, oil, brakes, transmission, coolant, and final drive for the safety of your bike’s essential systems. 

      - Engine level & fuel leaks

●   C - Chassis: Inspect your chassis for wear and tear, smooth motion, proper adjustment, chains, and lubrication. 

     - Frames, suspension, chains/belt, fasteners

●   S - Stands: Inspect your stand whether it retracts properly or not, side stand and straight stand are loose when retracted. 

      - Center stand, side stand

Conclusion:

Planning and preparing in advance is key to getting off on the right path. Follow the service checklist and prepare your Harley Davidson for a long-distance ride. If you would like to know more about Harley Davidson vehicles get in touch with us. Our team of experts are always available to help you! We wish you a happy and safe ride!

[ngmrides]

Embrace the Open Road with the 2024 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS at Northeast Georgia Motorsports

Are you ready to elevate your touring experience? The 2024 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS, now available at Northeast Georgia Motorsports, is designed to provide the ultimate ride for long-distance enthusiasts. This motorcycle combines classic cruiser aesthetics with modern performance features, ensuring every journey is as comfortable and exhilarating as the destination.

Timeless Design Meets Modern Comfort

The 2024 Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS showcases a striking blend of traditional cruiser design and cutting-edge technology. Its sleek, aerodynamic fairing, spacious saddlebags, and stylish chrome accents give it an unmistakable presence on the road. The comfortable, plush seating ensures that both rider and passenger enjoy a smooth and relaxed ride, even on the longest trips. The ergonomic design of the handlebars and footboards further enhances the rider's comfort, making it an ideal choice for extended touring.

Advanced Technology for a Superior Ride

Kawasaki has equipped the Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS with state-of-the-art technology to enhance both performance and safety. The advanced ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) ensures optimal braking performance in various conditions, providing peace of mind for the rider. The bike's electronic cruise control allows for easy adjustments, enabling riders to maintain a consistent speed effortlessly.

The 1700cc V-twin engine delivers powerful, smooth performance, perfect for highway cruising. With its robust torque and responsive throttle, the Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS provides an exhilarating ride, whether you're navigating city streets or open highways. The advanced suspension system absorbs road imperfections, ensuring a smooth and stable ride even on rough terrains.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Long rides are made more enjoyable with the Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS's comprehensive infotainment system. The integrated audio system features AM/FM, satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing riders to enjoy their favorite music or stay connected while on the go. The intuitive touchscreen display provides easy access to navigation, trip information, and other essential functions, keeping riders informed and entertained throughout their journey.

Visit Northeast Georgia Motorsports Today

At Northeast Georgia Motorsports, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best motorcycles and exceptional service. The 2024 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS is a testament to our commitment to quality and performance. Our knowledgeable staff is here to help you explore all the features of this remarkable bike and answer any questions you may have.

Don't miss the opportunity to experience the 2024 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS for yourself. Visit Northeast Georgia Motorsports today, and let us help you embark on your next great adventure. Your perfect touring companion awaits!

[the-paintrist]

Charles-Joseph Natoire (3 March 1700 – 23 August 1777) was a French painter in the Rococo manner, a pupil of François Lemoyne and director of the French Academy in Rome, 1751–1775. Considered during his lifetime the equal of François Boucher, he played a prominent role in the artistic life of France.

Natoire returned to Paris via Venice in the early part of 1729. He was received into the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture on 30 September 1730.

His reputation was quickly established, and he received major commissions notably from French Queen Marie Leszczyńska to paint several of her children. From 1731 to 1740 he provided several suites of canvasses for Philibert Orry, contrôleur général des finances, who was to succeed the duc d'Antin as general director of the Bâtiments du Roi in 1736. For Orry's Château de La Chapelle-Godefroy at Saint-Aubin, Aube Natoire provided a series of nine canvasses of Histories of the Gods, six more of the History of Clovis, six of a History of Telemachus and four Seasons. During the same period, in 1732 he provided three overdoors on Old Testament subjects for the duc d'Antin in Paris.

In June 1734, Natoire submitted to an Exposition de la Jeunesse in place Dauphine a Galatea. In the same year his first royal commission arrived, for the Chambre de la Reine at Versailles and was made a full member of the Académie on 31 December with a Venus Commanding from Vulcan the Arms of Aeneas. Henceforth, numerous royal commissions came his way for the petits appartements at the Château de Fontainebleau, for the Cabinet du Roi and the royal dining-room at Versailles, decorations for Marly, for the Cabinet des Médailles in the royal library in Paris, and others.

In 1735, Natoire carried out the first of his tapestry cartoons for the series Histoire de Don Quichotte woven at the Manufacture de Beauvais, the first set for the fermier général Pierre Grimod du Fort (1692–1748). In 1737 he received the commission for the Hôtel de Soubise. From 1741, he produced a series of cartoons for the History of Mark Anthony woven at the Gobelins.

In 1747, he painted the portrait of Louis, Dauphin of France. In a more familiar vein, he provided a Saint Stephen and the False Witnesses for the chapelle Saint-Symphorien in the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 1745. A major loss was his illusionistic decor for the chapel in the Hôpital des Enfants-Trouvés (1746–1750), built by Germain Boffrand but demolished in the 19th century. Also in 1747 he participated in the competition organized by the new general director of the Bâtiments du Roi, Le Normant de Tournehem, with the Triumph of Bacchus, now in the Musée du Louvre.

Diana Bathing, Surprised by Actaeon, Charles-Joseph Natoire (French, 1700-1777)

[two-wheeled-therapy]

FINAL RIDES OF 2022

As I took the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve off, I had some time to dedicate to my scoots.  Thursday, December 29, I set aside to work on the SAC Cycle.  The clutch had been finicky lately, and it wasn’t holding fluids, though no apparent leak could be found.  I planned on putting her up on the jack and trying to find the culprit.  I hadn’t ridden her yet this month, so I was looking at a “cheat” ride - basically filling up the master cylinder with fluid, pumping the clutch till I got some action, and taking her for a quick 1.5 mile ride around the block before putting her on the jack.  Before doing that, I opted to check all connections and tighten everything down.  I was surprised when I took off the cover of the master cylinder, she still had fluid . . . I topped it off, and tried the clutch . . . it had action . . . As it was a beautiful day, I figured I would go for a quick 10 mile spin around the Manassas Battle Fields and focus on the clutch feel to see if it acted up again.  As the miles ticked away, the clutch felt rock solid . . . so I kept on riding.  All told, I put an additional 69 miles on the SAC cycle and brought her odometer up to 109,100 to close out the year.  All told, over the course of  22 rides, I put 3,528 miles on her in 2022 averaging 160 miles per day I took her out.

December 30 was a planned ride day for Jipci.  The forecast called for a great riding day, and it didn’t disappoint. 

Knowing this would be my final ride of 2022, I got up early (for a guy who has been off all week).  I realized I left my riding pants in the back of my truck, so running out in the near freezing cold, I grabbed them so I could drape them on a chair over an air vent, so when the heat kicked on, the warm air would blow on them.  As I knew I had a long day ahead of me, I made a simple but hearty breakfast - what in my family we call a Hunter's Sandwich - Because I grew up eating them while going hunting with my dad.  The simple concoction of a fried egg, ham, cheese, with a slice of raw Bermuda onion, some ketchup, and a shake of hot sauce on Dave's hearty multi grain bread was exactly what I needed to go with my morning coffee and get the day started out right.  I made one f or me and one for my son. After wolfing that down, I got my gear together and put on my now warmed up riding pants and boots.  With my helmet, battery chargers, and Hydro flasks (one with coffee, one with water), and a few "just in case" snacks, I jumped in my truck and headed off to my shed where Jipci was waiting for me.

Getting to the shed, Jipci started right up. Since I installed the Fuel X controller, she has none of the historic Himalayan hard cold starts or stalling after she got started - She was as ready for this as I was. With 4,029 miles on the odometer and the thermometer saying it was 36 degrees outside, we were off on our final ride of 2022.  The original plan I had was to head over and pick up some of Skyline Drive.  I have had Jipci now for 14 months and have yet to experience the vistas and views from her saddle . . .  Needing to change my glasses, and since I forgot to start my route in Rever, I pulled off in the Moo-Thru at the intersection of Routes 28 and 29 to make my final adjustments and decide what route I was taking.  It had already warmed up a bit in the half hour since I left the shed.  I knew I was in for a fantastic riding day.  One of my destinations was the site of a “Drop” in the Virginia tag-o-rama on advrider forums.  I wanted to get there to get the “Grab” before anyone else grabbed it.  If I got the Grab, I get to pick the next Drop for others to try to get.  But if I was in for such a day, so were other inmates (inmates are what the users of the forums are called - and once you get to know some of them- you will understand why) who were lurking, waiting for such a day to make a run for the elusive "Grab!"   Thinking I would shoot down 29 to 33 and take 33 over to Skyline, then run Skyline down to 250, I figured I could reach the Grab by around 1:30 PM.  I took a quick picture of Jipci at the Moo-Thru and sent it off to a group chat of guys from my Blue Knights Chapter because they know how I am about Ice Cream and Riding, and because it gets under Bob's skin when I do that - OK that was the first reason I sent that.

 As I headed south, I kept marveling at how beautiful this day was.  The forecast had called for Partly sunny skies, but there wasn't a cloud in sight.  As I rode south, the voices started telling me . . .  If it's a nice day for you, it's a nice day for other inmates . . . Someone else is gonna beat you to the Grab . . . Passing a few other riders out enjoying this perfect riding day only made the voices stronger, so to placate them I finally said - Fuck it!  Get the grab first, and hit Skyline on the way back home . . . It made perfect sense. Skyline wasn't going anywhere . . . The Grab could elude me . . . Somehow, I remembered the address . .  1581 Maidens . . . I plugged that into my Garmin and followed her instead of my trial run of Rever.  Having already passed by 522, I took 15 down to 250 then cut east to 522.  As I turned on 522, I knew I was close and I passed a bike heading the opposite way.  As I waved I thought, wait a second was that guy smiling, or laughing at me?  Was that an inmate? Did he just get the Grab and is now running home to post it? Sumofabitch!!! I got to get there!! 522 ran into 6, and it was a quick ride to Maidens Rd.  I made it!  But . . . wait a second . . . The sign doesn't look the same . . .  I pulled in the lot and rode back looking for that purple sign with white lettering, but it was not to be found, so I turned back to the road, parked Jipci and pulled out my phone.

I was surprised I remembered my password - Until today, I had never logged into advrider forums on my phone.  But the Gods were smiling on me as I not only had signal, I actually remembered my password!  Looking at the Drop, I compared what was around the sign to what I was seeing. The fence, the trees, the little white sign in front of it . . .  Yup this is it . . . they just changed the sign . . . I also saw that, if I did pass an inmate heading home to post the Grab, I had beat him!   Clicking my photo and quickly figuring out how to upload it from the phone, I had the Grab!  Success!!!! So 106 miles to the Grab . . . now for the amazing ride home and on to Skyline Drive.  As I was this far south, I figured, why not kill two birds with one stone . . . Let me take 6 west and pick up a bit of the north end of the Blue Ridge Parkway and get Skyline Drive in!   Visualizing where I would put the stickers for the BRP and Skyline on Jipci, I headed west.  I hadn't ridden this stretch of 6 for about 10 years, but it was as great a riding road as I remembered.  Following that for a bit I jumped over to 20 as I thought about trying to find a nice place on the BRP or Skyline for the Drop.  Then something caught my eye . . . I passed by it before I could process the photo opportunity, but as my brain caught up, I decided to turn around and get some pictures.  Not sure if this would be my Drop or not, I wiggled back through some nice roads following the signs . . .  to . . . nothing there - WTF!!! Figuring it may just be a bit further than the signs indicate, and since the roads were nothing short of amazing, I pressed on.  Until I finally decided to enter the destination into my Garmin.   It wiggled me through some more amazing roads and brought me back to the same place of nothing . . . but a little sign I didn't see before . . . I read it and followed the instructions and was there in no time.

I took the pictures at Trump Winery for the same reason I sent Bob and the other guys the picture of the Moo-Thru . . . To get under someone's skin.  Yeah I can be a jerk like that ;-)

After grabbing some pics there, I headed back towards the BRP and Skyline Drive . . . Taking the ramp to them (I was entering right at the Southern Point of Skyline and Northern Point of the BRP), I was confused by all the cars parked . . . everywhere.  Reaching the top of the ramp, I looked north towards the Skyline drive entrance and saw the barricade and sign "ROAD CLOSED"  Shit!  I turned south and found another barricade and sign for the BRP.  Technically, I was on the Parkway and there was a sign . . .   so I grab a pic then tried to decide where to go from there.

I dropped down the west side of the mountains and headed north on 340.  I figured I would take that to 33, take 33 up to Skyline and jump on there for the ride up to 211.  I would get the drop along the way.  With this plan firmly in mind, I headed up and turned into the entrance of Skyline Drive at 33.  There was a a very cute and polite Park Service lady in the booth, and as I started to take out my military ID and park pass, she just pointed to a sign posted on the outside of the booth "SKYLINE DRIVE IS CLOSED".  She said I could come in and park and hike or walk about, but I was out for a ride, so I did a U turn and headed out.  Apparently Skyline Drive was hit hard by the storms and the downed trees and what not led to the closure of both of these magnificent roads.

I took 33 down into Madison and worked my way over to 29 to head home.   My wife and I had a night to ourselves, so I may as well get home and enjoy the time with her.  Along the way I stopped at my "back-up Drop" location.  The Graffiti House in Brandy Station.  Pulling in I took a couple of pics.  I was disappointed that the house was closed for the season, as its history is pretty awesome.  From the web: http://brandystationfoundation.com/

A two-story frame structure located directly beside the railroad tracks, the Graffiti House is believed to have been constructed in 1858. According to local tradition, the building was used as a hospital site by Confederate soldiers following the Battle of Brandy Station and other local battles. Union soldiers used the house during the Winter Encampment of Brandy Station in 1863-1864. The Graffiti House is named for the signatures, inscriptions, and drawings of Civil War soldiers who drew on the walls with charcoal and pencil. Much of the graffiti that still survives is on exhibit in the house.

After those photos, I ran Jipci back to the shed . . . Putting her away for the year, her odometer read 4,346 . . . So on the 30th of December, I got her out for 317 miles.  Ironically, this is the 2nd highest mileage day I had on her all year . . . Over 2022, I had ridden her a total of 2,974 miles over 25 days, averaging 119 miles per day that I took her out for a ride.

As I closed the shed door for the last time in 2022, I reflected that while this was a relatively low year in terms of mileage, it still was a great riding year as I broke new grounds and experienced new things on two wheels . . . all this will be covered in my upcoming year in review . . .  Until then . . .  RIDE ON!

[ziekaramaik]

Before You Jump, Tell Me What You Find

(Word count: about 1700)

(Sorry for the wait. Wasn't sure I'd continue it at all, but @shadybisexualpirate and @psychicsolanum asked for it. Also, @maro0on and @ssherbet-shares )

It had been a week since I was at William's house. Mr. and Mrs. Kaplan seemed happy to see me again. I guess the no-visitors-while-grounded rule was less strict after the first week.

Or maybe it was never a rule and William was just using it as an excuse to avoid me. But I didn't ask or start an argument. We were already past that.

We left the door to his bedroom open a crack, as usual. William pulled out his desk chair for me, and he took the bed. We sat down facing each other.

I'm no mind reader, but I knew exactly how he was feeling. The awkwardness was written all over his face. "I guess I should start with--"

"Can I say something first?" I interrupted.

"Of course."

"I was kind of being a hypocrite earlier," I admitted. "You know, about how boyfriends shouldn't keep secrets. There are things I don't talk to you about. And that should be okay -- everyone deserves a little privacy."

"I totally agree," he said eagerly. "And I've tried to respect your privacy as much as I can, I promise--"

"Let me finish… I'm not trying to be the possessive type of boyfriend that makes you tell me everything you do. I was only upset earlier because it felt like you were ghosting me. Now something obviously happened to you that day. And it's still bothering you. But I'm not forcing you to talk about it if you don't want to. I'm only asking 'cause I'm worried. And… I can't shake the feeling that you're getting involved in something dangerous."

He listened to me, and he nodded. "You're not wrong. I wanna tell you, it's just hard. A big reason I haven't told anyone is because it's all so unbelievable. Like, seriously, Eddie. It is literally crazy. But then again… We live in a world after The Snap, and with the Avengers, and Norse gods, and all that. So…"

He looked at the tiny opening at his door, double-checking that his parents weren't listening outside. And then he softly said, "The first thing I should tell you is, I have special powers."

My eyebrows shot up. "Really?" It was a surprise. But for me, maybe not as unbelievable as he expected.

William reached out towards his bookshelf. In front of his palm, in the air, a blue circle appeared, like a hologram. A second later, a book shot out from the shelf, passed through the circle, and landed in his hand. The glow faded away.

"Whoa." I blinked. "That is… not where I expected this conversation to go. Was that, like, magic? Is THAT why you're into," I waved my hand around, gesturing vaguely to all the posters and notes taped to his walls, "all this witchy stuff?"

He nodded. "Kinda." He shook his head. "I mean, no. This is new. I mean--" He winced. "It's complicated. There's stuff that happened three years ago. And stuff that happened last week. And it's all connected. I didn't know where to start, but I think I can explain to you without using words."

He leaned forward. "I learned a new spell for this. It's kinda like the spell Agatha used to see Wanda's past, but in the opposite direction. I can send my memories directly into your mind. That way you'll immediately understand where I went last week and everything that happened to me. Will you give me permission to do that? Will you allow me to put those memories into your mind?"

I stared at him with a little confusion. "I dunno. Will it hurt?"

He stared back at me. "It's not… supposed to?"

In other words, he never tried it before.

I stared a bit longer. Then I nodded. "Okay."

William got off the bed and kneeled down directly in front of me. He placed his hand on the side of my head and closed his eyes. It was very "Vulcan mind meld".

Williams whispered, "Non quarere, non dico mendacium."

A second after that, memories of the day of the car accident, meeting Agatha Harkness, gathering the coven, and the Witches' Road appeared in my mind. It was like my brain was an internet browser and a dozen different tabs opened up all at once. It was overwhelming.

A second after that, I got up, ran to the bathroom and puked into the toilet.

A little later, after a concerned Mrs. Kaplan heard me and checked in, and I told her I just ate something earlier that disagreed with me, and William backed up my story and told her not to worry, I got a glass of water to rinse my mouth out and returned to William's room.

"Are you okay?" William asked gently.

I was rubbing my head. "First time magically downloading memories. It feels like a headache, a hangover, and staying up all night to cram for a big test all at once. Next time, we're doing it the slow way."

"Sorry."

I slowly sifted through the info-dump. "Okay… So… Your soul was created by Wanda Maximoff."

"And the Vision. Technically."

"Yes. Okay. And Vision. And when the original William Kaplan died, your soul took over his body."

"That's the theory, at least. It's a little ambiguous."

"You have a twin brother--"

"Tommy."

"--Who's been reincarnated somewhere in someone else's body."

"Uh-huh."

"You met up with a bunch of witches -- real witches -- and your magic powers created the Witches' Road -- by accident -- and most of those witches died there."

"…Yes."

"And speaking of died, Death is a person. And a lesbian."

"Now do you understand why it was so difficult for me to talk about this?"

Yeah, if he simply said all this, I probably wouldn't have believed it. But it was hard to argue with the memories in my own head.

The magic-hangover was mostly gone by now. The info-dump had settled.

I looked up at Wil -- No, at Billy. He called himself Billy now.

He's a mind-reader, I thought. I knew he couldn't help it, but now that I knew, I couldn't help but feel exposed in front of him.

"It's not like I hear every thought," he said defensively. "Only the loud stuff in the front of your mind. I don't go snooping, I promise."

No wonder he always seemed to understand me so well. And now, I understood him in a way no one else did.

I sat right next to him on the mattress. I grabbed his hand, and entwined my fingers with his. "It's not your fault they died, you know," I said.

"What?"

"Mrs. Davis and the others. You made that place. But what they did there -- that's not on you."

He calmly replied, "Thanks for saying so. But if an architect builds a house, and people die because it collapses, it's absolutely the architect's fault."

"Hey, listen." I looked him right in the eyes. "It was awful. But it was an accident, Billy. Nothing more."

I really thought that. So I knew he knew I meant it.

He stared at me. His eyes started watering. Then he looked away, smiled, and rubbed his nose. "I don't deserve a boyfriend like you."

"Yeah, well, you're stuck with me."

"Am I though?" he asked, his smile faltering.

"What?"

He spoke nervously. "Today at school, you didn't want to break up. But… You thought I was a normal boyfriend. You never signed up for all this craziness."

"Bill--"

"A-And it's not just the witchcraft and the mind-reading and looking for Tommy. I have to warn you: the Personification of Death doesn't like me very much. She agreed to let me go for now. But if you stick too close to me, you might get into trouble."

"That… is a scary thought…"

"Like I said, you didn't sign up for this, Eddie. If you want to ghost me this time… I'll understand."

I confess, I did think about it. The death thing aside, I spent a long time wishing for a normal life.

I loved this boy. But when I said that, there was a lot I didn't know about him. Just like he said: He was like a different person now.

But now that I did know who he was… I didn't not still love him.

I came to a decision. Holding his hand a little tighter, I told him, "I try not to think about this too often -- which is, apparently, why you never knew it -- but even if I left you, my life still wouldn't exactly be normal."

Billy's face looked into mine. I fought down the urge to kiss him and continued, "You know how I'm adopted? My mom found me and raised me on her own?"

"Yeah."

"Well, she adopted me from… a lot farther away than I led you to believe."

I held up my hand, the one that was still holding his. I concentrated, and my hand turned green. The skin became thicker and harder, like leather, or scales. We stared at my green fingers intertwined with his pale pink fingers. And then I made my hand and forearm look human again.

I nervously looked back at Billy's face. He stared at our hands in shock for several long moments.

"Well, say something," I blurted.

Finally, he grinned and said, "That is so cool."

I giggled from relief. I leaned in and was just about to kiss him when--

"Huh, a shapeshifting alien," said the ghost that appeared RIGHT BEHIND ME.

"YAH!" I fell off the mattress.

"Yeah, she does that sometimes," said an unamused Billy.

"I knew an alien once," the ghost said. "We almost made a movie together. Long story."

I got to my feet and stared at the translucent woman. I recognized her from Billy's memory.

"Agatha, this is Theodore Altman," Billy said. "He used to go by Teddy, but people kept making Grey's Anatomy jokes, so now it's just Eddie. Eddie, this is Agatha Harkness. My semi-evil, semi-dead, witchcraft mentor."

"Uh… Hi?"

"Good choice for a boyfriend, Billy," Agatha said with a smirk. "Shapeshifting will keep things fresh."

"So you're his… familiar?" I looked from Agatha to Billy. "That's the term, right? You're a witch now, and she's your familiar."

Billy smiled at that. Agatha did not.

"I take it back. You have horrible, horrible taste in boyfriends."

"Glass houses and stones, Agatha," Billy replied.

Can You Read My Mind?

(Spoilers for Agatha All Along)

(Word count: about 1500)

William was missing all night. Then all day. And then all night again.

At first he declined my calls. Then the phone just kept ringing. My texts were left unread.

I was totally prepared for something bad to happen to him while we were in a parking garage to meet a stranger from the internet. Except that turned out to be nothing. The guy was a paranoid nut, but harmless. It was after William dropped me off at home and drove away safely that he went missing. I didn't know what to think.

After a full day of worrying, he finally called me back early next morning.

"Are you okay?!" I asked.

"I'm fine," he said, sounding completely exhausted. "Well -- Yeah, I'm -- I'm fine."

"Where have you been? I've been trying to call."

"I know. I'm sorry. It's been a crazy day. And night." He mumbled to himself, "Did all of that happen in just one night? Oh man, what day is it?"

"You've been missing for over twenty-four hours," I explained. "Your parents are probably ten seconds away from calling the police."

"Yes, I'm sorry for scaring them. I'm driving home right now. And… Look, Eddie. Can you do me like a really, really, really huge favor? …Can you please tell my mom and dad that I was with you the whole time?"

"Actually, no. Because they already called me, and I told them I had no idea where you were."

"Oh… Right…"

There was a pause.

"Are we just skipping the part of the conversation where you tell me what happened?" I asked. "You didn't meet that Ralph guy again, did you?"

"No, it wasn't Ralph."

"Then where--"

"Eddie, I do not even know where to begin. I promise I'm okay, but I'm tired. And I really shouldn't be on the phone while driving in the first place. All I wanna do right now is get home, shower, and maybe take a nap. Can we please talk about it later?"

I didn't want to, but I said, "Okay. Later." Then I said, "I love you."

"Me too. Bye." And he hung up.

Only we didn't talk later.

William was grounded. He couldn't use his phone and I couldn't visit him. Or at least, that's the excuse he gave me when I saw him at school. I couldn't shake off the feeling he was lying.

He wouldn't talk to me at school either. Any time I tried, he made some excuse and took off. "Later. Promise." He stopped coming to the GSA too. Not because of his parents, he said he was too busy for it.

Once I caught him on a computer in the school library. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that he was searching news websites. But it wasn't about the Westview incident this time. He was looking up articles from all over the country about people who drowned, or nearly drowned.

When I asked him about it, all he would say was, "I'm trying to find someone." He was frustrated. "They're all dead ends. It probably didn't make the news."

I tried to get him to talk more, but it was about time for next period. He had to go. Again.

Whenever I saw him in the hallways, he gradually looked worse. He had stopped putting effort into his hair and make-up. His black nail polish was old and chipped. Instead of eyeliner he had dark bags under his eyes. I could tell he hadn't been sleeping well.

This went on for a week.

"You're avoiding me," I said. It wasn't a question.

I cornered him at his locker. He looked back at me and said, "I'm not avoiding you, Eddie," in a calm tone that completely contradicted his deer-in-the-headlights expression.

"You really sort of are."

He sighed. Struggled to say something. "I -- I'm sorry. I've just been really distracted lately. I'll explain everything later. I promise."

"You've been promising that all week. Frankly, it's not good enough anymore."

That's when the school bell rang. Everyone around us headed for class.

William looked at me guiltily and said, "I'm really sorry."

He tried to walk away, but I grabbed his sleeve. "Eddie, we're gonna be late for cla--"

"Then we'll be late!" I snapped. "This is important."

He stopped protesting after that. I let go, and even as the hallway nearly emptied, he didn't run off.

"William, be honest with me," I pleaded. "Is this because I told you I love you?"

"What?"

"Because I can't help but notice this radio silence started right after that. I came along with you to meet Crazy Ralph. But then as soon as you don't need me any more, you suddenly want more space." I meant to sound angry. I hated how pathetic and desperate I sounded instead. But I kept going with, "Don't say you love me back just 'cause you don't want to hurt my feelings. If I scared you off, just say so."

Is it wrong that I felt a little bit relieved when I saw how heartbroken William looked?

"No. No, Eddie. It's not like that. I promise." He held both my hands. "I love you too. Seriously, if I could, I would be with you all the time. It's just that I really am busy now."

"Where did you go missing that day?" I asked point-blank.

He looked guilty again. Hesitated. Then he answered point-blank, "I can't tell you."

"What have you been so busy with all week long?"

"I can't explain that either."

The hallway was empty by now, except for us.

"I'm sorry, but that's not good enough," I said. "You go missing for almost two days, scaring the hell out of me and your parents. You're meeting strangers from the internet. You look like you haven't slept through the night in ages. Something is obviously wrong, William. Tell me."

He rubbed his face, exhausted. "Listen. A lot of different things happened. There's a lot that's still going on right now, and every part of it is really difficult to talk about. I know I'm not being fair, but can I please keep this to myself for a while longer?"

"If we love each other, we shouldn't keep secrets. I don't keep any secrets from you."

I shouldn't have said that, I thought guiltily. It's a lie. I'm keeping a huge secret from him.

William furrowed his eyebrows. "That's a lie?!"

I froze. Clearly, my poker face wasn't nearly as good as I thought.

"I'm -- I'm not lying," I said lamely.

He was both angry and confused. "How are you keeping a secret from me? I've never heard any--"

"We're not talking about me," I said defensively. "I get that you're going through an identity crisis. I get that it's complicated, and you think researching all this conspiracy stuff will help. I've been extremely supportive and patient with you -- And a lot of boyfriends wouldn't have."

"Do you think I enjoy keeping this all bottled up?! I don't! It's giving me nightmares, Eddie. I keep seeing their faces and thinking it's my fault--" He caught himself and stopped abruptly. "I want to tell you. I just can't."

"Why? What could possibly be so bad that you can't tell me? Did you kill someone?!"

I said it sarcastically, but William froze.

A second later he pressed his eyes shut and put his hands on his head. "I can't have this conversation right now…"

"Willia--"

"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"

The lights flickered a bit as he yelled that, but I didn't pay attention.

Once the lights returned to normal, I turned on the spot and walked away from him.

"Eddie? Where are you…?"

I didn't answer him. I just walked away.

I didn't know where I was walking to. I was thinking… Actually, I don't remember what I was thinking in that moment… I wasn't thinking much of anything. Except leaving him alone.

"Oh my god," William said. "No, no, no! Snap out of it!"

He ran behind me and grabbed my hand. The moment he touched me, I stopped and blinked. I hadn't even realized how badly I was spacing out, but suddenly I was alert again.

William ran around to face me and grabbed my head in his hands. "I'm sorry, Eddie," he said quickly. "I'm so, so, so, so, so, so, sorry. I didn't mean to do that, I swear." His eyes were watering.

It seemed like a pretty extreme reaction for shouting at me. "I-It's okay," I mumbled.

I grabbed his hands and gently pulled them away from my head. "Are you ready to talk now?" I asked.

He stared at me, still on the verge of tears. His mouth trembled. But after a second, he nodded.

"Yes… You're right, I can't keep this bottled up… Just, can we please not get into it right this second, in the middle of school? Come over to my place this afternoon. I'll tell you everything then."

"All right. When I come over, are you actually gonna be there this time?"

He looked guilty at that, and nodded again. "Yes."

"Okay."

"I'll explain everything today, Eddie. All of it. I promise. For real this time."

[motorgirls]

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[hildegardavon]

Antonio Balestra, 1666-1740

Thetis asks Vulcan for weapons for Achilles, ca.1700, oil on canvas (framed in a Louis XIV period carved and gilded oak frame), 103.5x150.5 cm

Private Collection

[life-imitates-art-far-more]

Francois Boucher (1703-1770) “Vulcan Presenting Arms to Venus for Aeneas” (1740) Oil on canvas Rococo Located in the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States

In Virgil’s epic “Aeneid,” Venus seduces Vulcan and persuades him to forge weapons for her son Aeneas.