Re: [Largeformat] Photo trip to on motorcycle

[Pam Niedermayer <pam@pinehill.com>]

You must be pretty strong. I know if the beemer went in a
sandy ditch, it would probably still be there. I have taken
it into the desert off the road, but only far enough to set
up camp. It wasn't happy in the sand, had to scout for rocks
and/or boards just for the side stand. One thing I did for
our long trip (1.5 years, North America by motorcycle) was
to remove the stock beemer seat, replace it with a padded
tractor seat (now there's a comfortable seat, too). That
gave me the passenger seat area for a rack and flat packing,
in addition to the back rack and case. Add some Krausers for
clothes, all was high and dry. It also gave me fairly easy
access to the down tube part of the frame, which came in
very handy for hiding money from the federales (yeah, they
aren't paid enough, tried to shake us down several times).
Would probably have room for a full LF system if I did that
on the R90/S.

I carried a Konica 35mm system in the case on the back,
never even hinted at failure, a real stong kit. And the
Rollei TLR is also a tank. Aren't old manual cameras grand!
Batteries? We don't need no batteries out in the middle of
nowhere. We don't have to show you no stinking batteries. :)

I bet a press camera would fit in a big, bulbous tank bag,
too, think I'll try it with the Speed as soon as the beemer
returns from the shop (R90/S is also getting restored right
now, almost done), see if I still have that tractor seat.

Pam

Arie wrote:
> 
> Pam,
>     Well overall the bike fared better than me.  Sometimes I found myself
> pulling it out of some pretty deep ditches, that's a lot of fun with a 600
> pound bike in the desert.  Once actually falling on the cactus while pulling
> it out, and having to pull the needles out solo (that must have been a
> pretty picture).
>     As to what I carried, the crown and the meter was in a pack on me, while
> the tripod and film holders were strapped to the seat (as well as my,
> Nikon-those old Fs are really indestructible).  The Ambassador seat is
> probably the most comfortable bike saddle that I've ever ridden on.  So
> there is a lot a padding to protect everything.
>     After 15 years still have the Guzzi (I'm in the middle of restoring it),
> still have the Nikon, but looking for another press camera to do the same
> here in Northern California (S.F.)
> 
> Arie
> 
> Pam wrote:
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Pam Niedermayer <pam@pinehill.com>
> To: <Largeformat@egroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, May 08, 2000 9:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [Largeformat] Photo trip to the South West
> 
> > Ah, I've finally met a second guzzi owner (good friend in
> > Houston is the first)! So what did you carry? How did you,
> > the guzzi, and the crown survive the cacti, gullies, etc.?
> >
> > Pam
> >
> > Arie wrote:
> > >
> > > I've done the 4x5 on a bike before.  An old crown graphic with my Guzzi
> > > Ambassador out into the desert in Az.  Used to take it where you should
> only
> > > take little dirt bikes (the joy of not knowing any better)
> > > Arie
> 
-- 
Pamela G. Niedermayer
Pinehill Softworks Inc.
1221 S. Congress Ave., #1225
Austin, TX 78704
512-416-1141
512-416-1440 fax
http://www.pinehill.com