I Never Asked for a Honeymoon

When it comes to new bike ownership, cyclists will often talk about the so-called honeymoon phase. Symptoms include: lack of interest in looking at other bikes, thinking that everything about the new bike is "perfect," even finding its flaws endearing. It's more than about enjoying the bike. It's like being under its spell. Some describe this as the magic faerie dust effect.



In the past, I don't think that I've gone through honeymoon phases with my bikesexactly. I am by nature analytical and tend to see things from several perspectives at once. Even in the beginning, when I was extremely excited about my first beautiful new bike, I was all the while looking at it critically. Its purchase did not diminish my curiosity about other bikes in its category, but increased it. It was in fact through comparing other bikes to mine and noticing differences, that I became interested in bicycle design. The same can be said for all of my bicycle buying and selling since: There was excitement and enjoyment, but never really a rose coloured glasses type honeymoon period. It was more about experimenting and staying open to other possibilities. Considering my interest in bicycle reviews, design, framebuilding and such, I think this is a useful attitude to have.



So it has thrown me for a loop to realise that maybe, just maybe I am in a prolongued honeymoon phase with my Seven roadbike, which I've been riding since Spring of this year. The symptoms are there: Everything about it feels "perfect." The fact that it's welded and has a carbon fork somehow only accentuates its charm, even as I wax lyrical about lugs. And more disturbingly, I have lost interest in other bikes in its category. This last part is a problem! I would like, in theory to keep trying other roadbikes and comparing them, thereby learning more about the feel of different frame materials and different handling characteristics. But in practice, I don't really want to ride bikes other than my own just yet. If it's a different style of bike for different kinds of riding, I am as enthusiastic about experimenting as ever. But for roadcycling on pavement, I would rather be on my own bike. It's as if I haven't had enough of it yet, even after 2,000 miles. The decals are peeling, but the proverbial luster apparently remains. I hope to get over this soon. Until then, you are unlikely to see much in the way of roadbike test-rides here.



Have you gone through a honeymoon phase with any of your bikes? What has it been like, and what happens afterwards?

Horned Toad

I adore real horned toads so this one really intrigued me.

James Joslin :: 1841 Sale of Land to Lysander

On July 2, 1841 James Joslin and Abigail, his wife, sold 40 acres of the original 80 that he had purchased from the United States on September 20, 1837 in Whitley County, Indiana to Lysander Price Joslin for $50.

The unusual thing about the transaction, at least to me, is that Lysander was only 16 years old at the time of the transaction. Then, three years later, on August 1, 1844 James and Abigail sold the remaining 40 acres (20 acres each) to Edwin M. and Joseph A. Joslin. (Those two records will be posted in the near future.) Edwin was only 14 years old at the time and Joseph was a month shy of 12. Edwin and Joseph each paid $50 for their 20 acres of land. If long time readers think all this sounds a bit familiar, it's because I mentioned these transactions briefly back in October ...

As I said back then, it just makes you wonder what was really going on. There must have been a reason that James and Abigail sold the land to their young sons (presuming that they are their sons) but I doubt that we will ever know why.

For some reason, I always thought that there was a minimum age of 18 or 21 for purchasing land, but apparently there isn't. The only reference I've found to the legal age for buying land was a post on a mailing list that says that a person did not have to be 21 to own land, whether by purchase, grant or inheritance. But, he did have to be 21 to sell it.

My research notes show that Lysander purchased Edwin's 20 acres on January 21, 1851 for $200. Edwin turned 21 the previous December. Joseph sold his 20 acres to Lysander on November 1, 1853 for $300. Joseph had turned 21 in September.

=+==+==+=

Whitley County, Indiana
Deed Book A Page 505
Dated July 2, 1841
Filed June 13th 1842
Recorded June 16, 1842

505

[Written in left hand column] Filed June 13th 1842

This Indenture made this Second day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one by and Between James Joslin and Abigail his wife of the County of Whitley and State of Indiana of the first part and Lysander Price Joslin of the County and State aforesaid of the Second part. Witnesseth that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the just and lawful sum to them paid of Fifty Dollars the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged by the said party of the first part hath granted bargained Sold and Conveyed and by these presents doth grant bargain Sell and Convey unto the Said party of the Second part his heirs and assigns forever all the following described premises to wit. The South half of the East half of the North west quarter of Section Twenty five in Township No Thirty two North of Range Eight East Containing forty acres according to the original Survey. To have and to hold the above described premises hereby Sold and Conveyed unto the Said party of the Second part his heirs and assigns forever together with all the hereditament and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the party of the Second part to his own proper use benefit and behoof. And the Said party of the first part for themselves their heirs executors and administrators hereby covenant to and with the Said party of the Second part his heirs executors administrators and assigns that they the Said party of the first part are the lawful owners of the Said premises and have good right full power and lawful authority to Sell and convey the Same in manner aforesaid that the same are free from all incumbrances and that the Said party of the first part will Forever Warrant and Defend the Same against the claim or claims of all and every person or persons whomsever.

In testimony whereof the Said James Joslin and Abigail his wife have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and Year first above written.

James Joslin {Seal}
Abigail Joslin {Seal}

Signed Sealed and delivered }
In presence of
James Grant
Sarah Ann Pierce

State of Indiana Whitley County } SS

Personally came before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for Said County James Joslin and Abigail wife of the Said James Joslin Known to me to be the grantors named in the above Deed of conveyance and acknowledged that they signed and Sealed the Same for the use and purposes therein expressed And the Said Abigail wife of the aforesaid James Joslin being by me examined Seperate and apart from the Said husband acknowledged that She executed the Same freely and without any fear or compulsion from her Said husband.

Given under my hand and Seal this Second day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one.

James Grant J.P. {seal}
Recorded June 16th 1842

Eagle Mountain Hike

Above: The trail starts off in a rather enchanting evergreen forest.




Last week we hiked up Eagle Mountain, the highest point in Minnesota. Despite having lived in Cook County my entire life, I had never done the hike before. It was something I really wanted to do, considering other recent "firsts" for me in the local area (hiking Devil Track River, visiting Thompson Falls on the Cascade River). The trail to Eagle Mountain is 7 miles round-trip and for the most part is a very rugged, rocky trail. We did the round-trip hike in just over 5 hours, including several stops along the way to take photos, and about a half-hour snack break at the summit.











Before too long, you cross the line and from this point on the hike is within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.











Even though this is not known as a fall color hike, we did see a lot of nice color in the underbrush along the trail.











A few boardwalks that cross some bogs and marshes along the way give the trail some nice variety in the scenery.











Lots of color along this portion of the trail! Photo by Jessica Barr











Clouds over Whale Lake - Photo by Jessica Barr











Photographing the clouds over Whale Lake - Photo by Jessica Barr











Photographing the view from the summit - Photo by Jessica Barr











Although not the highest point on Eagle Mountain, this location offered the best "overlook" view.











Jess checking out the survey marker designating the highest point on the mountain at 2,298.1 feet.

Jacob Wise - Nashville Cemetery

Jacob Wise, one of my civil war ancestors, is buried in Section "J" at the National Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee. I had planned on posting these pictures with my previous post on him and his family, but sometimes life gets in the way of good intentions!

The first two photos were taken in the summer of 1928 and are from my grandmother's files. Shown in the photo on the left are Grace Zinsmeister, Maude Wise Brubaker Yontz, Rose Wise Zinsmeister, and (a very faded) Hazlette Wise Burns. Rose, the youngest daughter of Jacob, whom he never saw, was born two weeks after he was drafted in October 1864. Grace, Maude and Hazlette are Jacob's granddaughters.

The photo on the left, below, is one that I took several years ago. On the right is the gravemarker that was put up at the time of the death of his wife in 1901. The stone is in Hively's Corner, now St. Matthew's Church, cemetery in Thorncreek Township, Whitley County, Indiana. The date of Jacob's death on the stone in not correct. The widow's pension records show that he died on May 17, 1865 not on May 7th.

Careful with those hangers!

A reader sent me this today. Thought it worth posting.





Photo from the new Outdoor Reasearch catalog sent to mebyPat Valade

Simple Solution for Unforeseen Groceries

I have now stopped using the Urbana bike that I was test-riding in April and have gone back to my Gazelle. While overall I prefer the Gazelle, I do miss some of the Urbana's neat features and have been trying to devise ways of making the Gazelle just as accommodating. Among other things, I want to find a DIY solution that will emulate the utility of Urbana's fantastic rack that accommodates any grocery bag without requiring panniers.I thought hard, but could not come up with anything... until fate did it for me. If you haven't fainted yet from my use of plastic bags, perhaps you'll appreciate this.



Yes, two bags tied together and turned into "panniers." It was totally impromptu. We were cycling past a grocery store just as it was about to close, when we realised that we had neither anything to eat at home, nor anything to carry it in if purchased. We ran in and bought some food, thinking we'd carry it home on the handlebars. But then, in a flash of brilliance, the Co-Habitant created the objet d'art you see here. We cycled home ridiculously happy.I guess this is what one of my readers meant whenhe wrotethat "a peasant in any number of countries with a million plastic bags can figure out and equal number of ways of carrying their stuff."



Question: Why would one even buy dedicated grocery panniers, if they can take a pair of reusable canvas bags, connect them by the handles (with an S-hook or a bungee cord), and secure them to the rack either via rat trap or via the same bungee? I realise that the plastic bags in my pictures look horrible, but a pair of nice reusable shoppers could look as good as panniers while also being more versatile and costing just a fraction of the price. Does it just not occur to people in the same way it did not occur to us? While I am delighted to have this method of carrying groceries in a pinch, I am also feeling foolish that I did not think to do it earlier. It takes skill to recognise simple solutions, and that's a skill I would like to develop.