Picto Diary - 12 to 16 July 2024 - Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
Above: Bishop, Ahn Rhee, and Anni. Peets Coffee. Larkspur, CA. 12 July 2024.
Riding buddies all over the world. Rides that Ahn Rhee has done without me are Iran and circumnavigating the Black Sea. Prostate cancer survivor, Ahn Rhee wants to ride Lolo Pass (US 12 central Idaho). I told him to give me a heads up when he decides to do it. I rode Lolo Pass last year with John Galt and Wyatt Earp. Anni is local ASPCA volunteer.
Above: Il Fornaio Restaurant, Corte Madera, CA. 12 July 2024. (file image).
Out and about on the 'Wing.
Wary after ordering a pricy, and very bad bone-in ribeye steak at Grappa, in Park City, UT, three weeks ago, I took a gamble on the same steak tonight and won bigly at Il Fornaio.
Above: Eton Mum and Barbara. Royal Academy of Art, London, UK. 12 July 2024.
Image by TIMDT.
TIMDT in London, Freddie in the kennel and me "Out and About on the 'Wing" in California.
Above: Corte Madera Shopping Center, Corte Madera, CA. 13 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing.
California life here looks pretty good. Lottsa people, old, young, and in-between, out and about. Beaucoup doggies. Shop keepers and waiters uniformly friendly and good spirited. Live professional combo jazz (geezers on trumpet, keyboard, bass [no kit]). Sunny. 80 degrees.
Former president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt today, 13 July 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The good feelings at the Corte Madera shopping mall and the sobering realization of a world changing event occurring today (the attempted assassination of former US president, Donald Trump) are difficult to reconcile. I expect to have this dichotomy on my mind as I motorcycle from Corte Madera to various other California destinations, and back to Park City over the next seven days. I was on a motorcycle trip on 9/11/01 and a week thereafter in France and Italy and remember from that time the unsettled thoughts going through my head as I rode. We live in interesting, if not perilous, times.
Above: Chevron, Corte Madera, CA 14 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing. 832.
Destination today. Santa Barbara, CA and dinner with Fish.
Above: Chevron, Salinas, CA. 14 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing. 962.
Above: Mei's Chinese Restaurant, Pismo, Beach CA. 14 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing. 1102.
Kung Pao Chicken.
Fill-up at nearby Shell.
Overcast the entire ride so far.
Above: Ca Dario Restaurant. Santa Barbara, CA. 14 July 2024.
Out and about on the Duc.
Mwah (sic) 'n Fish.
Fish and Emily are into life's top experience... being with their grandchild. I met Fish in Park City, UT fifteen years ago where he was a money manager and active in local Republican politics. He was a key player in helping LSDM gather speakers in its early days. Mia Love, former Utah Congresswoman and Jake Garn, former Utah US Senator, come to mind as two speakers he brought to LSDM. I'm glad to be able to stay in touch with Fish as we participate together on email discussion forums. We promised one another to do a ski date when he comes to Park City this coming winter.
Above: Busy Bee Cafe. Ventura, CA. 15 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing.
Brand Man 'n Bishop.
Can anything good come out of Eureka, UT? Motorcycle buddies Mesa, AZ to Monument Valley, UT. circa 2004...with a stop for some bad tacos and a photo op on a corner, in Winslow, AZ. Along with many, many other magnificent, branding accomplishment, credit Brand Man with putting Michael Jackson in white socks and removing one glove. Brand Man (Mike Salisbury): iconic Hollywood player. Cyberfriends of twenty years since the iconic Arizona ride.
Above: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Musem. Simi Valley, CA. 15 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing.
Uh huh. A message requiring strong reinforcement today.
Above: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. Simi Valley, CA 15 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing. Video of assassination attempt, 30 March 1981, on President Ronald Reagan. Creepy feeling, watching this video just two days after the assassination attempt on former president, Donald Trump, but grateful that both men survived, and hopeful that one can build on the successes of the other.
Above: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. Simi Valley, CA. 15 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing. Reminds me of visiting Stalin's railroad car at the Stalin Museum, in Gori, Georgia in 2014. I don't mean to imply a moral equivalency, but the Gori visit is what popped into my mind.
Above: Stalin Museum, Gori, Georgia. 05 July 2014. (image captured by Mwah [sic]).
Stalin's death mask. Almost exactly ten years separate my visits to the two "presidential" museums, Stalin's and Reagan's. That the pernicious ideology pushed by Stalin persists in various guises today should be a warning to Americans ruminating on who they will choose to be their government leaders.
Above: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. Simi Valley, CA 15 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing.
United States Secret Service (USSS) exhibit.
Dark times for the USSS today. Many unanswered questions on the attempted assassination of former president Donald J. Trump two days ago in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Above: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. Simi Valley, CA. 15 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing.
Then. Ronny and Gorby. Communism subdued. Today. Communism revived, this time, not in Russia.
Above: Shell Gas Station, Thousand Oaks, CA. 16 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing. 1224.
Early, in the AM I walked for an hour around a nearby shopping center.
Above: Jaipur Restaurant, Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 16 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing.
Mariko, Panama and Bishop. We touched many of the same geographical bases at Citi but at different times. Last 20 years Panama and I have maintained a valuable, strong cyber friendship.
Stahvan!
Whadareyooooduuuinghere???!!
Geddout of here!
Take Pico to Sepulveda. Go left to National and turn right. Bear left and get on the on ramp for the 405 southbound. Go to Newport Beach and don't come back!
Above video: It's funny what popped into my mind when Mariko gave me directions to get onto the 405 freeway (California speak)
Above: Jaipur Restaurant. Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA. 16 July 2024.
Out and about on the 'Wing.
Mariko and Bishop caught unawares by paparazzi across the street.
Addenum:
Steve, sorry we missed connecting at the BOO meeting. Know Wendover well - - terrific Basque restaurants. You've got quite an "arsenal" of bikes!
RJO,
Palo Alto, CA
What a ride this was for you! Very interesting insights and thoughts through all of this.
Thought you should know that Tim has recently been into the emergency hospital sector twice in the last month. Could have lost him. It’s been difficult, but these last three days he’s made a positive turn. 👍 Life has a not-so-subtle way of making one develop a healthy respect for it.
Hope you keep riding and writing! Enjoy.
Survival,
Hatch, UT
Oh no! I'll be in touch.
I can only imagine wearing your body armor riding suit in that temperature. You lost more water than two qts of Gatorade but it’s got more electrolytes than Brawndo, the Thirst Mutilator Idiocracy: Brawndo Has What Plants Crave!.
The In-N-Out in Auburn was barely accessible to me in a semi when it was new. More development has choked off access completely for truckers.
The ruts you speak of may be caused by tire chains. CalTrans seems to post the chain law for a heavy dew. If they don’t, the least among us will crash us all.
Peterbilt,
Bountiful, UT
Dear Steve,
Thank you so much for this edition of your Picto Diary. It is very interesting to learn about Musk’s personality as an entrepreneur, leader, boss and it’s intrigued me to learn more about him. I grew up as an out and out introvert. My profession helped me open up in the later part of my life. But at heart I am still an introvert.
Thank you for all the wonderful and interesting topics that you take up and write so eloquently about them. We are fortunate to be recipients of such knowledge that we get without having to make too much effort.
Have a great weekend.
Mohan,
Gurgoan, Haryana
Thanks. I too believe it’s important to have “scary fun” as I call it when striving for solutions individually or as a group. Pushing the envelope of what’s possible with the license to think and speak can bring original thought and ideas. The reward can be quality which is a marvelous reputation and as important as money for reward.
As little I know you I do see a corollary with you and Elon taking the same joy and pride with what you have done and are still doing in your life. It’s an inspiring example. I’ve had his bio in my to be read pile for 6 months. I’ll have to move it up the stack.
Tony,
Park City, UT