Graffiti Bus On Parade

I am not sure exactly what this bus does in the community, but it sure makes for a great photo. It was sitting at the South Washington County District Center. I really do love the colors on this one. 

Smile

I'm at a loss for words on why you do this to your vehicle....

Morning Coffee

A tanker truck full of coffee....who knew they sold it in such large quantities.

Desoto

Slick curves, what a grill.

Carport

Nicely Painted

I wasn't sure if I liked the front of the rear better, so I'm posting both sides of the car. I do however like the painted black bumper, with a screw hold it in place. Plus the nicely painted patter over the rust along the wheel well. I true classic.

Transportation

I always feel like the last cars on the trailer are going to fall off....is it just me, or do others think this also? Which one would you rather have, the Silverado truck or the yellow Camaro?

Rusty Gate

My question about this rusty tail gate is, why is the left side much more rusted out than the right?

Largest Bumper Sticker

You are looking at the Twin Cities biggest bumper sticker. Yet, I'm really not sure how safe it is to bungee a wooden board to the back of your vehicle. I've read the sign several times and I believe the intent of the message is pro-health care, but honestly, I have no idea what the message is really trying to say. Whatever it is, I found it worthy of a photo.

The Big Plow

Now this is what I need to clear my driveway of snow. It would be much faster than my current method. This plow drove by my window, just as I was taking photos of the snow falling. Yep, it does look like he is on his cell phone....haha!

Wires Everywhere

The Wild Wild West

Is this a left over wagon from 'The Wild Wild West' TV show from the 1960's? Probably not, but this weathered wagon can be found on 7th Street and Hathaway Street in St Paul if you're interested in seeing it.

The Crafts Of Flugtag 2010

I wanted to show a closeup of some of the crafts from the Flugtag 2010 event on Harriot Island this past weekend in downtown St Paul. A lot of time and energy went into making each of the aircrafts. Some claimed 200 hours of time. In the end, the skit/performance and pushing the craft off the ramp for flight lasted all but 120 seconds.

View all of the Flugtag 2010 photos.

  
  

New World Record Flugtag Flight In The Twin Cities

More than 90,000 people witness Major Trouble and The Dirty Dixies fly their craft 207 feet, breaking the old record of 195 feet set back in 2000. Their flight really pumped the crowd up as the aircraft landed just past a buoy that marked the previous record. From my vantage point, I thought they crashed into the water around the 40 foot mark, but the wings took lift and sailed to victory. The video is worth a look.

Here is the video of their historic flight.

The plane design is based off of one of the eight remaining B-25 Doolittle Raiders named Miss Mitchell. Frequent readers to this blog may recall my posting from May featuring Miss Mitchell, which is housed in the Commemorative Air Force, Minnesota Wing hanger at Flemming Field. I would have to guess, since there is the CAF logo on the plane, they either helped in the design and construction, or they were a sponsor for the project. Then again, there is also a Commemorative Air Force, Dixie Wing division as well, so perhaps they are just fans of the plane?

  

Flugtag 2010 Twin Cities

The RedBull Flugtag 2010 Twin Cities was held this past Saturday. The event coordinator was hoping for 50,000, but the draw of the Flugtag, estimated the crowd by the St Paul Police at 90,000 people. Overall, it was the most unique event I've ever witnessed. 35 teams were selected to make an craft with a theme and perform a short skit, they would then, push their craft off of the 30 foot ramp to see how far they could make it fly. A small number of the crafts managed more than 50 feet including a record setting 207 feet. While most of them, like the one pictured, topped off at 20-35 feet.

The team in today's photo is the 'Band Of Bunyans'. According to their Facebook page, they are all from the Good Ideas Club of UW-Madison. Their theme was Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, local Minnesota folklore. The wings on their aircraft was painted in Maroon and Gold, the University of Minnesota school colors on one side and Red and White, the University of Wisconsin school colors. I believe their craft landed in the 30 foot range.

  

Keep On Riding

If your in Minnehaha Park and are looking for a quick way to visit the park, these four person bike carts are available for renting. I'm unsure of the cost, but I did see plenty of these on the road during my time at the park.

Hidden Gem

I had missed my turn and needed to make a u-turn. So I drove down to the next street, took a left to turn around in the drive way were it was safer. There sat this rusting beauty waiting for me to take it's photo....

White Wall

Captured this shot while I was a passenger in a moving vehicle. I need some help on what the make and model of this car is. Where are my vehicle identifiers?

1942 Ford Fordor Staff Car Wagon

From what I could reference, this is a 1942 Ford Staff car for the US Army. Essentially it is a 1942 Ford Sedan with a military paint job and a few other customizations done too it. Shape wise, very similar to the 1941, but the front grill is much different between the two years.

Changes were made to the car besides a three-part "electric shaver" grille — the frame was lowered and softer springs were used to improve the ride. War rationing required auto makers to black out their chrome trim, and a Special Fordor model was produced with no chrome at all for military use. It is likely 1942-style Ford cars continued to be produced as military staff cars from March 1942 through summer 1945. These would have been registered as 1942, 1943, 1944, and 1945 models

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1941_Ford

Overloaded Pallets

On my way to work the other day, midway through Newport and pull in behind the truck you see in the photo. It was driving a bit slower than the traffic was moving, but I was just about at my ramp to go from Highway 61 to Highway 494, so I slowed down and followed along behind the truck. I noticed the high stack of pallets, how could you miss them? Started looking it over a bit closer, there was straps keeping them in place and they were still attached, I was safe.

So we finally make it to the ramp, which takes a very long, long curve before connecting with 494. Let me tell you, what I saw next scared the bejesus out of me. Picture this stack of pallets, truck driving around a curve, now picture two of the wheels nearly leaving the ground! I swear the truck was going to tip over. There was three or four times, during the curve, the tipping of the truck, the lean of the pallets, I was nervous as one could be. The photo doesn't do it justice unfortunately. The truck did make it around the ramp and onto 494 and a straight path. That was when I decided I needed to take a photo for the blog.