Adventure! Fedora Lounge Folks in Action!

[Mike1939]

Great photo Mike.K! :eusa_clap

 

[Mojave Jack]

Outstanding, Mike!

I should have snapped some shots last week while I was out in the field. Had the camera with me, but it sat in the truck the entire time. I had on my green shorts, Ariat Spot Hogs, and a Cabela's soft canvas trail shirt. I also had on my straw Stefeno, since it's still a bit warm for my Riverina, and my canteen was my trusty P-37 water bottle with skeleton carrier. I find that my Spot Hogs are excellent in the desert. Just high enough to keep out dirt and rocks, but comfortable and rugged enough for archeological work.

 

[Lone_Ranger]

It is a great pic, Mike K.

Now if Matilda was a Thompson. The picture would scream Aussie Coast Watcher.

 

[Mike K.]

I should have snapped some shots last week while I was out in the field. Had the camera with me, but it sat in the truck the entire time.

Darn right! Man, you've got all that great desert terrain and those petroglyphs. I'd love to see more pics!

and my canteen was my trusty P-37 water bottle with skeleton carrier.

Jack, where did you find that P-37?

 

[Mojave Jack]

Darn right! Man, you've got all that great desert terrain and those petroglyphs. I'd love to see more pics!


Jack, where did you find that P-37?

They're actually pretty common, with low prices. Here's a place that has a selection (scroll to the bottom):

http://www.aotp.com/Products.aspx?start=581&end=583

WPG carries them, but you have to assemble the parts. There's the water bottle itself, the felt cover that is sewn onto the bottle, the carrier (either skeleton or envelope), and the shoulder strap, which is simply one of the braces adapted as a strap.

I've heard that it is best to avoid the period correct water bottle, that is, the blue enameled ones, and go with the later green enameled ones. Apparently there are issues with the blue enameled bottles for sanity, or something. As I recall, too, the envelope carrier is a later WWII pattern, but I'm not certain.

Look at the hardware, too. The pre-war and WWII hardware is brass, while post-war hardware is blackened. I discovered that after having mine for a number of years. The unscrupulous dealer sold me a "dated" set. Well, yes, the brace is dated 1943 (and has brass tips). The carrier itself is undated…but has blackened hardware. Not too big a deal, since I wanted it for it's usefulness, but it'd be nice if it were more period, and now I know better. It's actually even more complicated than that, since the snap that holds the carrier closed migrated up and down the strap over time. I'm sure somewhere there is a detailed explanation of which carrier came first, etc.

The other thing to beware of is that the straps on the skeleton carrier can shrink over time, so that you can no longer fasten the snap to hold the bottle in the carrier.

Lastly, if you get one, also order two or three replacement cork assemblies from WPG. The corks do deteriorate over time, so I keep a couple on hand.

This place has a couple, too, including the one below, which is a pretty cool 1903 version with a leather and canvas strap. I'm thinking about converting my 1903 to this style, since the strap on mine is way short.

 

[Havana Joe]

Out and about

A few pictures of me doing some stuff.

Riding One Eyed Jack:

<a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/?action=view&current=mehorse2a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/mehorse2a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


In the swamps of South Florida:

<a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/?action=view&current=MeJeepScruffy2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/MeJeepScruffy2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

My Jeep in the Flagstaff, AZ snow.

<a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/?action=view&current=FlagSnowJeep.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/FlagSnowJeep.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Riding in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado.

<a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/?action=view&current=MeHorseDurango.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/MeHorseDurango.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

With my Jeep (pre-Zebra) on St. Augustine Beach, FL.

<a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/?action=view&current=MeJeepBeach.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/MeJeepBeach.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Enjoying a smoke after lunch in the wilds of Western North Carolina.

<a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/?action=view&current=mepipe.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/mepipe.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Big Man]

... Enjoying a smoke after lunch in the wilds of Western North Carolina.

<a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/?action=view&current=mepipe.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/mepipe.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Was that photo taken in Linville Gorge?

 

[Mojave Jack]

In the swamps of South Florida:

<a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/?action=view&current=MeJeepScruffy2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/pipascus/MeJeepScruffy2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Joe, you zebra striped your Jeep?! That is awesome!

I had a price quote to zebra stripe my Cherokee, and another one to zebra stripe my Colorado. The wife has vetoed it on both occasions.

I'm glad there's one of us enjoying his vehicle the way he wants it! lol More pics, please, so I can taunt my wife!

 

[Mike K.]

I want mine to look like this!! lol

 

[Havana]

Some fun pics from exotic Africa

Man, I am so lost. Marion?

Nobody’s home

I wonder how long they’re going to keep me in here? It’s hot!

I distinctly remember the brochure saying no climbing.

This is where Forrestal cashed in.

Okay, this isn’t funny anymore. Seriously, toss me the rope.

 

[H.Johnson]

The different configurations and types of 1937 Pattern water bottles and equipment are covered in 'British Web Equipment of the Two World Wars' by Martin J Brayley (Europa Militaria).

<Snip> As I recall, too, the envelope carrier is a later WWII pattern, but I'm not certain.

Look at the hardware, too. The pre-war and WWII hardware is brass, while post-war hardware is blackened. I discovered that after having mine for a number of years. The unscrupulous dealer sold me a "dated" set. Well, yes, the brace is dated 1943 (and has brass tips). The carrier itself is undated…but has blackened hardware. Not too big a deal, since I wanted it for it's usefulness, but it'd be nice if it were more period, and now I know better. It's actually even more complicated than that, since the snap that holds the carrier closed migrated up and down the strap over time. I'm sure somewhere there is a detailed explanation of which carrier came first, etc.

 

[Mike1939]

Wonderful photos Havana.

 

[Mojave Jack]

Havana, is that Morocco? Looks like a fine time!

 

[Havana]

Yes, those are all from Morocco. It's a great place to visit.

 

[Copper]

I have been back for a couple weeks now, and am just catching up with the rest of my life. I rode a Royal Enfield from Delhi North into the some of the furthest reaches (for a foreigner, at least) of Northern Ladakh.

It was quite the ride.

Jacket: Belstaff Trialmaster
Trousers: Kakadu Oilskin
Boots: Danner Acadia
Bag: Kakadu Shoulder Bag
Motorcycle: 2003 Royal Enfield 500 Classic - 57,000 km, right hand shift, left side brake, kick start only.

Jalori Pass - about 10,500 feet
<a href="http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/C_Copper/?action=view&current=IndiaMotorcycleTrip176a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/C_Copper/IndiaMotorcycleTrip176a.jpg" border="0" alt="Jalori Pass 10,500ft ASL"></a>

Summit of the Khardung-La - the highest (officially...) pass on earth:
<a href="http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/C_Copper/?action=view&current=IndiaMotorcycleTrip451a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/C_Copper/IndiaMotorcycleTrip451a.jpg" border="0" alt="Kardhung-La - good weather"></a>

 

[carter]

Great Photos

Copper, That looks like a great trip. Do you have a blog or more information on your trip posted on another thread?

Noticing the Motorcycle Getaways tag on the fender, I wondered how you'd rate the experience. Was it the trip posted at this url?

http://www.motorcyclegetaways.com/himalayas-motorcycle-tour-ladakh.html

 

[Copper]

Hi Carter - I didn't keep an online blog of my trip, though I would be happy to detail a bit of the journey here if you others are interested.

I did keep a written journal, though. A friend had given me a hand made travel journal at my going-away get together (I crassly called it the 'just-in-case-I-die-party'). It is an extraordinary binding of artisanal paper in a leather cover made from my friend's old, worn out motorcycle jacket. He had the cover stamped with a motorcycle's front sprocket using a 16 tonne shop press. The least I could do in return was fill it as best I could, so I wrote a couple hundred pages worth and emptied three pens of their ink.

As for the company, they presented me with one amazing itinerary. It really was an exceptionally chosen route and one hell of an adventure. You do have to be thoroughly prepared for India though; I am reasonably well travelled (about two dozen countries in the last decade) and still, India managed to surprise me. Until you get well away from Delhi, it is a constant, brutal assault on the senses, and you have take constant responsibility for your continued survival when you choose to ride a motorcycle or operate any other vehicle. They are a new company though. I will leave it at that by way of review here, though if you are interested, please PM me and I can provide more detail for you. The tour I went on was the Lofty Ladakh ride of 21 days.

In the high altitude (~10,000 feet ASL) desert near Hunda, I take a ride around the sand dunes on a camel:
<a href="http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/C_Copper/?action=view&current=IndiaMotorcycleTrip541a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/C_Copper/IndiaMotorcycleTrip541a.jpg" border="0" alt="Camel in the Hunda Dunes"></a>

 

[BellyTank]

Well done, Copper- I was waiting to hear how it went.

I'm off to Delhi again, in early December- looking forward to it.

What did you mean, exactly, with this...

Until you get well away from Delhi, it is a constant, brutal assault on the senses,

...is this to be taken as a negative impression..?
Please expand.

I realize, however, that traveling by road can be hazardous.


B
T

 

[H.Johnson]

I think that Delhi is one of the less 'brutal' (whatever that means) cities on the Indian sub-continent. I don't think that Copper meant it in that way...

 

[Copper]

Sorry - I in no way mean that Delhi is a brutal city; It is not.

What I meant was that the city attacks your senses in a very unique way - it is constantly loud - traffic is constantly heavy and the horns are always going. It is hot, humid, polluted, and crowded in a way that I've never seen before - It made Bangkok feel deserted by comparison. Like the Moroccan medinas, there is a new smell every few feet -both good and bad- and amazing tastes can be found on every block in tiny hole in the wall places selling steaming hot chai.

A friend of mine had spent some time in Delhi and told me before I left, "It is the sort of city that you can't help loving and loathing all in the same moment." Delhi is an extraordinary city, but I wasn't there for Delhi, I was there for the solitude of the high passes of the Himalayas and the Karakoram ranges.

I will also add the caveat that Delhi is a massive city, and I expect that there are many points of beauty and relative calm that I never had a chance to see. My experience there was on the back of a motorcycle, and as such my experience of the city was limited to the roads and a small segment of the wide variety of Delhi. I will also add that being immersed in that city's flow as one does on a motorcycle probably heightens one's emotional and sensory reaction to it...