Aiden’s Magical Mystery Tour

As is so often the case, it is the unplanned and unexpected that turn the simple things in life to fond memories. With Aiden’s arrival for a weekend visit with Mommy and Brent, we head out for a day of photographic play and childlike adventures. Visiting the word through Aiden’s imagination is like stepping through the looking glass with Alice. We find ourselves joining forces with brave knights to battle fierce dragons. We scale precarious fortress walls, live to tell tales of walking the plank, and endure a siege to win back the keys to the castle by our very bravery.

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

We bow low to the maidens in the castle; and promise to return. Off we go to more magical places, where turtles and fish live in harmony with fairies. The vibrant tropical pants that thrive here in this northern climate owe their survival to the dancing fairies that sprinkle magic dust upon them daily. The ornamental cabbages and mums quietly divert attention from the delicate among them by standing guard at the entrance. They are the hardy souls here. They demand attention, and by their very nature, draw evil doers away from the inner sanctum. We pay homage to the fairies, who sprinkle their magical dust upon us. We are forever protected from harm. Fortified with power puffs, disguised as popcorn, we are now ready for our next adventure.

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

Aiden’s bravery is always present, but never more so then when we visit Madame Sherri’s Forest. Aiden is the first to detect monsters just beyond the dark dank arches behind the mystery staircase. He warns us all of the evil voices coming from the depth, and we tread cautiously. Though we are protected with fairy dust, even brave knights, such as we, are not fools. We make wide circles and tread quietly by the arched openings to the monster lairs.

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

The staircase to nowhere beckons the brave boy, but his wise old Memere disapproves of the climb alone. Papo volunteers to accompany Sir Aiden to the top. What Aiden discovers can only be seen with the eyes of the innocent, and we are shocked to learn the truth. We, hardened by life, and victims of skepticism, could never see, and would never have known if not for the innocence of childhood eyes, that these steps are not an ascending spiral to nowhere. Instead, they lead to the very portal of a parallel world. Papo holds tightly to Aiden to keep him from stepping across into this parallel reality. Papo is wise and knows that hard hearted skeptical people worn down by life cannot cross this threshold. It is a place for the innocent only and we selfishly hold fast to Aiden and keep him for ourselves.

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

Before we end our day, we stop to admire a covered bridge. Again, it is Aiden who realizes we have not just crossed a bridge. In traversing the span we have unwittingly stepped back in time. The horse drawn carriages surround us. We even witness a fine being levied to one for trotting his horse faster than a walk across the bridge; a law which is strictly enforced in these parts. We notice the sun is setting and if we do not hurry back across the waters of this river via the covered bridge, we will be forever relegated to living out our lives in this long forgotten century. Our fairy dust serves us well this day, and before long we are home safely again. Young Sir curls in his Memere’s lap for the evening and she strokes his hair. While the movie drama plays on the screen before them, they both know, there is no better adventure than to spend a day with your family.

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

From Adventures with Aiden 2010

Be sure to see all of the photos from Aiden's Magical Tour.

Madame Sherri's Forest

October brings to mind, harvests, pumpkins, brilliant fall colors and Halloween with its ghost, goblins and spooks. What better time of year to visit ruins? This is what is so intriguing with Dave’s invitation to assist at this particular photo shoot. We find our way to Madame Sherri’s once glorious country home in the forest now crumbling and in decay. Formerly the site of high society parties, it is now visited by wildlife, hikers and curious visitors like us.

I see this place with the writer’s eye, but Dave sees this place through the lens of a photographer’s eye and has been itching to get back here and do a shoot with subject, lights and meters. Dave’s passion for his photography is palatable. You can tell in the way he works himself into lather as only one does with a lover. Once at his work, you cannot distract him. He is focused and serious.




Susan amazes me with how she gives for Dave. It is not a warm day by any stretch, and the weak rays of sun do little to help. Yet she is costumed in clothing suitable to wearing under much warmer weather. While I feel extremely self conscious in front of Dave’s lens, Susan is a natural, at easy with herself and those around her. She jokes, makes suggestions and takes direction all with grace and style.



I have my pocket camera with me, not for the reasons Dave carries his camera, but for a visual record of the day. Indeed as I review, I remember arms full of equipment as we trudge our way uphill to the ruins. The crunch of autumn leave beneath our feet, the crisp air and tangy scent of decaying forest foliage that fit so appropriately with the crumbling remnants before us.



Barry is here too. He is a better help than I with all things photography and understands what Dave is about. I am better at holding the umbrella stand and keeping if from being victim to the wind. He is compassionate too, and offers Susan warmth when the cold begins to pucker her flesh just a bit too much. We both do what we can to assist Susan along areas of little foot traction, or in quick costume changes that preserves one’s dignity.


Yet as I stand back and watch, I feel that I am the one being watched. True there are many visitors to Madame Sherri’s Forest, yet the prickling of my own flesh has little to do with the cold. Is it possible that there are active spirits here who still enjoy the lavish parties that progressed into wee hours of the morning? Or am I sensing residual activity, a haunting that will forever touch this place? It may be possible this is the very thing which brings us back here time and again.

See Dave’s photos here.
View my photographic record of the day here.

Super Heroes on our Alien Planet2010 Fall Foliage Ride

I want to start this post with a disclaimer. The next photo you will see is not for the faint of heart; especially when you consider riding without the benefit of electric vest or gloves.

Scary! I know! Yet year after year, Andy and I mount the bikes and head off fifty miles to the start point for the New England Riders Fall Foliage ride. It’s not for the faint of heart. I have to admit that I seriously considered staying under the warm covers. Had I done so, I would have missed some very valuable lessons about life.

EasyEd put together this ride and promoted it suitable for couples; enough “flower sniffing” for the ladies, mixed with just enough fun twists for the gents. On this day EasyEd and his lovely wife BikerTrix are our hosts of the day. Don’t you just love those handles? They sound like a couple straight from the Incredibles.


Their hero sounding names prove to be an accurate assessment when out of her super saddle bag BikerTrix pulls some hand warmers and selflessly offers them to me when she sees me wringing my cold hands.


EasyEd’s power to organize a group ride is just a small part of the powers this Incredible duo are capable of, and only the beginning of how I will remember this day.

It’s interesting how we each perceive our environment. While I admire those that fear not the cold, they show themselves in other ways by the remarks that are overheard. Some see the bare branches of the trees that have lost their color, while others express joy at the colors still clinging there.




We are all looking at the same world but I realize that my perception is not someone else’s; their perception is just as valid from their eyes as from mine. Interesting. Same world, different definitions for what we see.

Autumn often brings with it thoughts of harvest and preparations for the long dark winter to come. Yet in the midst of this “end of life” theme there are splashed of vibrant life that thrives with the cooler temperatures.



I begin to feel as if I’m visiting an alien planet, where contradictions abound. Life rejoices in the face of immanent death that autumn heralds, and I try to see the world as others are seeing it. Through this kaleidoscope of images our super heroes lead us. Along paths of wonder we are adventures in a new and beautiful land.

In the end, I remember a favorite recurring theme that runs through the history of the New England Riders. “It’s all about the pie.” It’s then that I understand; while the pie is sometimes literally meant, it’s the perfect metaphor in how we remember the day.


It really is all about the pie.

(Photos by Bob Fesmire)
(GoldwingBob)

Embracing Life

My promise to share my experience at Dave’s photo shoot and post some of the snap shots I took with my own camera will have to wait. I want to give Dave the opportunity to post up his photos first. It is only then that you will be able to appreciate the contrast between a snap shot and professional photography. As with all of us, Dave was up to his eyeballs in work related responsibilities and is now off for a much needed break, away from technology and off the grid.

With Dave away, I turned my focus to the family. While I have left Blaze waiting to test out her new front tire, I had the pleasure of watching Conner discover the world with first time experiences. When watching a child filter new experiences we often wonder and marvel at their reactions to the world. There are many personality types among our population. Some stand back from what is new with reservation, trepidation and even fear. While some embrace that which is new, are curious, investigate, and travel life as an adventure. Conner approaches all of his new experiences with enthusiasm. He shows no fear in the face of the unknown, and in fact greets all with acceptance and a sense of wonder.





In watching Conner, my first thoughts were how wonderful it must be to hold such acceptance of the world and all with newness and wonder. Yet something here nags at the back of my mind; and upon reflection, I realize that there are many things that are new to us each day. Yet in our jaded minds we color and clothe them in preconceived notions, past experiences and judge them before they are fully revealed to us. Often standing back and failing to move forward and investigate for ourselves, we accept the words of others in how something is or isn’t.

You know of course that I’m speaking of motorcycling as an example. How could I not? It is the one experience that continues to be new each time I straddle the saddle. It is also the comments and questions from people and their preconceived notions that show themselves in the words and reactions that come my way. Below are just two examples I’m talking about. I’m sure you can think of many others.

When Andy and I first met Blaze on a brisk March day, she was pulled out into the lot in anticipation of our arrival. That morning she was in the company of other motorcycles all sitting out on the tarmac, the fringes of which held the last vestiges of winter snow. Other patrons were inspecting these other models and considering which suited them best, as we all do when comparison shopping. Andy and I stood, inspected Blaze, and then I took the key, started her up and guided her around the lot; kicking it up a gear or two with each loop.





It was on the last loop that I realized what was really going on. The patrons (all of them male) were standing open mouthed. They had made assumptions it seemed that Andy was the person who was bike shopping. Then to watch this woman get on and ride around the lot, AND discover that this was a 1300 cc their attention was diverted and all just watched in amazement. I scratched my head and in turn wondered what was so amazing.

It is this that amazes. People don’t expect women to ride, and if they do, they are delicate and timid creatures who ride between 250cc and 650cc motorcycles. Indeed I did ride a 650cc for a time. It was the motorcycle I selected because of advice from others, not my own discernment. Don’t we all do this? We ask, investigate, read articles and use the judgment of others to tell us what is right for us? I have to admit that I have done this too. Yet watching Conner move ahead, not caring what other people decide is correct or appropriate, he is making judgments for himself and loving life.

I am often asked questions about motorcycling that I don’t believe my male counterparts would ever be asked. One such question is this; “what was the hardest thing about learning to ride a motorcycle?” Can you imagine it being asked of your buddy? I can’t. Although my answers are authentic and truthful it typically isn’t what they expect. In considering an answer to this last question, and remembering the limited size of my first saddlebags, it was this; “downsizing my purse.” I don’t really care about the blank stare that returns with that statement. It’s true. To those other comments about “aren’t you afraid?” I have this “am I supposed to be?”

Looking BehindPlanning Ahead

Typically I am very conscientious about posting soon after a ride, yet here I am a week in arrears. While the memories are vivid, the intentions true, sometimes there are just too many balls in the air to keep them all up. So I will recap our excursion with the Amherst Motorcycle Club, which I suppose is the looking behind, and what’s on the agenda this weekend; which for me is looking ahead.

Riding with the Amherst group is interesting in that they are a much smaller and more loosely organized club than the New England Riders. With the NER, the time specified for kick stands up, is adhered to and we file out of the parking area typically right on time. With the Amherst group, kick stands up is an approximate; so we are discovering. This doesn’t bother us; please don’t interpret things that way, not at all. In fact I like days when there is no rush about anything. You have time to enjoy the people you are with, and the places you are going.

On this day, there is a delay as we wait for a few stragglers. The stragglers arrive, and we all mount and the leader files us out of the lot. I notice behind me there are fewer bikes than I thought there should be. Yet, the lead bike continues on, so I think I’m mistaken in the number. We are halfway to our lunch destination, when we pull over and in the discussion that follows, we learn that we did indeed leave two behind. One rider relays that we were waved ahead and two of them will catch up at the lunch stop. While we chat, the stragglers pull up behind and we are all together again.

From Sept 25 with AMC

It’s at this stop that one realizes he’s lost his oil cap. There’s a Harley dealer in the general area, and he and another rider drop out to head there for a replacement cap. We continue on to the lunch stop where we hope they will meet up with us later. Yet, once we are in the lot of the restaurant, one club member says he’s heading back home. This is an oddity that I’ve noticed with the AMC. With the NER, once on the ride, the group sticks together like glue, and you couldn’t shake one loose if you tried.

From Sept 25 with AMC

From Sept 25 with AMC

From Sept 25 with AMC

The day continues in this disjointed fashion, but the ride itself is great. The fall foliage has begun, and the color is in places I least expect. While we enjoyed lunch on a deck overlooking the Connecticut River, there was no color here as one would expect by the water. Yet, along some quiet sweeps back on the New Hampshire side, the color pops unexpectedly ahead.

From Sept 25 with AMC

Back home early enough to enjoy our evening, I realize my purse is still sitting on the deck at the lunch stop and Andy and I head back to Vermont. While some things seem like inconveniences, we enjoy the unseasonably warm day, the color while daylight lasts, and recounting our day,s ride. In the week since this ride, we have endured high wind and torrential rain which leaves me wondering how much foliage is left. We often don’t realize our blessing until we look behind.

Tomorrow I’m off on a photographic adventure with my riding/photography friend Dave. I’ll be assisting with equipment during an outdoor photo shoot. I’m looking ahead to that, and will post about the experience. In the meantime, take a look at this older post where there is a hint of where we will be. With the people involved tomorrow, I expect to enjoy my fly-on-the wall adventure.

Enjoy the slide show below.