Shell Beach, stairs to the sunset

On my recent Harley-ride-jaunt to the Central Coast to visit Mom Betty, sisters Kris and Kim, I snapped a few seaside sunset photos. They included this one at the Shell Beach stairs. Betty was patiently waiting in her new Kia Sportage just out of the frame on the right as I played photographer.

This photo has also recently been posted as Photo of the Day on the SLO.com blog site

Oceano lagoon gulls

The gulls had gathered en masse at Oceano Lagoon. I mean thousands of them came to, what appeared to be, taking a bath.

I was riding the Harley back to my mom's place and just had to stop at this scene and snap a few pics. My favorite shot was not the bathing frenzy, but the occassional taking of flight. In between ducking as they flew over and shooting the birds in the water, I aimed my new Image- Stabilzed telephoto lens skyward a few times.


I escaped unscathed and un-pooped on!

Happy Thanksgiving Dad.

It may seem unusual to post pictures of a pelican rock in a blog saying, "Happy Thanksgiving Dad".
But this seaside overlook is where his family chose to hold a memorial just hours after his passing, my mom visits this location on a regular basis...a place where they used to go at sunset all the time.

My mom and I visited the Shell Beach cliffs just recently to take pictures and remember my Dad. We kind of lucked out and found it clear to the horizon with a few clouds fronting the setting sun.

So, Happy Thanksgiving Dad...we'll think about you when we dine on turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, and those little creamed pearl onions you always requested.

Cheers Jimbo!

The 912 project - don't feel overwhelmed Skip!

As I continue to (try to) punch out at least one improvement per day on the 912, that old feeling is beginning to well over me again: what was I thinking? In other words, its' that all-consuming feeling that I have too much work to do on this thing and how am I ever going to finish it?

After going back to the internet (on a daily basis) to look at some of the 912 projects other people are working on (or have completed), I have to keep telling myself, "Baby steps, Skip, baby steps". Afterall, I took out the driver seat Friday...removed all the old upholstery on it Saturday...and today, Sunday morning, I wrestled the bottom seat upholtery kit on and have begun the gluing process. This will have to dry for a while before moving on to the finish work...I'm riding the Harley to Pismo tomorrow morning anyway for 3 days to help my mom move. Forget about it for the time being dummy!

I am posting another "before" picture of the seats as they were when I bought the car to help inspire me. The next photos of the interior will slap me back to reality...and motivate me to go to the next item of the punch list (which I haven't quite decided on yet).

Oh yea, I did figure out the horn (or lack thereof) problem yesterday. I found that the original horn was still installed under the front bumper and very operational (after purchasing a new VW horn on eBay). Then I plugged in the wire that had been disconnected, fiddled the new Momo wheel and horn button back on, connected the horn wires and voila...I was honking!

One small step for Skip...one large step for...oh, nevermind.

The 912 Project...good, bad, and ugleeee!

When I purchased the car in Portland, it was running relatively well (afterall, I made it back to Modesto!), so...I am concentrating on the interior and other cosmetic things. The perlon carpet was all tore up, damp, and mildewy (it stinks!) . The seats were all torn also.

As of this date, I have removed a lot of the carpet and purchased a new perlon kit. I also bought a self-upholtery kit and and am re-doing the seats myself. Somewhere down the line, I plan on buying a couple of Recaros...for now, it will be respectable to drive when I finish. As you can see, I did the passenger side and am now working on the driver seat. The frames and structures are OK, but need a lot of cleaning up and re-painting of the metal. I will remove the seats again later to install the carpet and repair some of the hardware...gotta keep it driveable you know. The dash elements are also being done at the same time, I bought a nifty dash cap kit that will cover the old one (among other things).

One thing at a time. My goal is to do something, however small, ever day.

The 912 Project

My "new" 1969 Porsche 912 is the car project I have been planning for a long time.

Toying with ideas that ranged from a late 60's GTO to (another) MGA to a Porsche...I settled on the latter.

This one was purchased by me in Portland a few weeks ago...I flew up there and drove it back to Modesto (solo, 651 miles in two days)...breaking down only once due to a dead battery!

So, this blog will be semi-dedicated to the progress of this task: restoring a '69 Porsche 912. For the uninitiated, the 912 has a 4 - cylinder, dual carburetor engine...no computers, no fuel injection, etc...all things that I can actually attempt to work on. It runs well now, so my focus will be on a lot of cosmetic and minor functionality issues (electrical stuff).

The game is afoot...onward!

Happy Birthday Jimmy!

My son, Jimmy (James R. Hansen III) was born in Twin Falls, Idaho 24 years ago today.

It was an all afternoon, all night thing...my wife went into the hospital around 2:00 pm (her water broke at home) and Jimmy was born around 4:00 am after many hours of induced labor.

I remember it was raining and cold and I was sick as a dog. The nursing staff at Twin Falls General (I think that was the name of this archaic institution) was right out of the 1800's. All fat, old battleaxes with absolutely no bedside manners whatsoever. We were very happy to get out of there and back home.

Jimmy is one of the three most important loves of my life (not counting my mom of course). He is a great kid, much smarter and much better looking than I ever was. He lives on the Central Coast of California. We just saw him last week and went out to dinner with Loretta and my mom.

Happy Birthday son...enjoy your youth (and your hair) while you have it...the years will start to go faster and faster...as will your hair.

You're a great kid!

It's just farmland...

I just had the opportunity to look through some photography site bookmarks. When I find an interesting photographer, I bookmark the page...then (maybe) go back and peruse the pics. Honestly, I was looking at the websites themselves, trying to get some ideas for the one I am working on...didn't really see anything too exciting. Besides, it seems I really am a minimalist when it comes to design...less is better nowadays for my taste.

I remember years ago when I was in radio, I read a a little story about Duke Ellington. He played the piano while leading his legendary big band...but he never really played much. His was more of a "tinkling" than anything else...one or two notes, here and there. His theory was simple, "Less is better...I play economically...keeps 'em guessing".

Anyway, while looking at these photo sites, I was getting a little envious (again) of some people who were able to go on photographic safaris to Australia, England, Spain, Thailand. But the funny thing was, so much of the shots posted showed nothing indicative of that particular part of the world. In other words, there were a lot of closeups of rocks, and trees, bushes, and rivers. Cool...but they could have stayed home for that...and saved a bunch of money!

Hence, my recent photo of the irrigation canal about two blocks behind our neighborhood. I think it cost me $.25 in gas and 10 minutes of my time. I suppose I could have flagged the photo with: "Austrian Farmland at Sunset"...nah.

I'd still like to go to Thailand and Australia though!