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Pick, Pull, and Parade, part 1, July 2018
4th of July in Healdsburg: A Photographic Log
4 July 2018, 24 miles
The Challenge of the Month for July over at Cycle365 involves photos of stuff old and/or broken and/or rusted and/or collapsing. Selfies don't count.As often happens, my ace support crew was playing a gig on the plaza in Healdsburg, in this case as part of the 4th of July festivities. As often happens, I decided to pedal up to Healdsburg for the performance, and then maybe catch a ride home with her. I also had a notion this ride might yield some photos for the Challenge of the Month. I didn't realize how many! Thus, the ride has been split into part 1 and part 2.
To begin part 1, I snapped some rusty old farm equipment along Pleasant Avenue. This could have produced many more pictures, but I settled for two.
Then I continued on my way until the Pick-n-Pull on Old Redwood Highway caught my eye. For those unfamiliar with it, "pick and pull" is a generic term for a junkyard of old cars offering self-service used parts. (Pick-n-Pull is a chain of such self-service scrapyards.) You wander through rows of vehicles in various stages of dismemberment, find what you need, and use your own tools to remove it from the automobile. Pick and pull. This place was amazingly busy on the 4th of July. When I told the clerk I didn't need any parts, I just wanted to take some photos, she replied "There's a two-dollar charge just to look, and bikes aren't allowed." After being referred to the manager, it was eventually determined the Ogre represented no threat to the junkyard. I paid my two bucks, signed the requisite form, and headed in. Hey, it was US$2.00 well spent!
I enjoyed wandering through the Pick-n-Pull with my camera so much that I was a little late getting on up the road to Healdsburg, and I missed the band's opening number on the plaza. Oops. More on that in part 2.
I reckon this tractor definitely qualifies as old, broken, and rusted.
You know you've pedaled into a rural part of the county when you start seeing this kind of stuff used to decorate driveways and front yards.
Along Pleasant Avenue there are quite a few old homes on huge lots with long driveways. Many of them are decorated with this kind of stuff.
In this case, the tractor is towing an old grader. There's so much stuff (like a stepladder) in the background that it's difficult to see in the photo, but the back of the grader has controls for setting the pitch, depth, etc of the blade. There's a wooden seat on the front, but I didn't see any controls there. I've never seen anything quite like this old rig.
Both this house and the one in the first photo had long driveways leading to big sheds where I could see a ton of rusted out farm equipment and ancient pickup trucks. If I had knocked on doors and asked, I probably could have gained permission to take more photos. As it turned out, just as well that I didn't.
I expected the Pick-n-Pull to be closed for the holiday, but it was open and busy.
After I coughed up my two bucks, the Ogre and I wandered around with the camera. Wow! If I had my tools with me, I would have pulled a couple of four-barrel carburetors just for the heck of it. I bet they would make the Ogre go a lot faster.
Not much more to say, except that I lost track of time, and when I finally departed I had to set a Tour de France pace to get to Healdsburg for the concert and parade. Shoulda picked and pulled an eight cylinder engine with a super-charger.
No telling what you'll find in a junked car at a pick and pull. I hope Ashley and her dad are okay.
But I'm late for the concert, so I gotta go.
Summary
Date: 4 July 2018
Time: 8:00 - 10:30
Weather: 55-60° F, overcast
Route: To Healdsburg via Old Red, Faught, Pleasant, Hembree, Arata, Old Red
Distance: 24 miles
Bike: Surly Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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