Picto Diary - 03 June 2015 - PM - Ballaugh Bridge
Above: Superbike. Ballaugh Bridge. Time trials. Isle of Man TT. 03 June 2015.
Ballaugh Bridge is four miles closer to the course start at Douglas than where we are staying at Sulby... and where, yesterday, we saw our first bikes racing past at 180 mph on the Sulby straight.
At Ballaugh it was easier to catch a glimpse of the bikes and their riders. They had to slow down because there is a curve before the rider reaches the bridge and because of the leap (air time) on the knoll of the bridge.
Our tour organizers have, so far, found great spots for us to watch the motorcycles speeding by. This image was taken from the front of a private townhouse, separated from the street by a concrete and stone fence. Lynn and Simon had met the owners of the house at the Raven Pub across the street in previous trips to the TT. The owners invited them to bring their charges to their home front to watch the race.
Above: Stalled side car now ready to go. Awaits marshal's OK. Ballaugh Bridge. Isle of Man TT. 03 May 2015.
I try in vain to come up with a reason why anyone would want to ride in a side car at 180 mph on a serpentine mountain road. The driver also has a dangerous job but I can, at least, see some logic to his passion.
Above: The Raven pub. Ballaugh Bridge. Isle of Man. 03 June 2015.
The Raven is directly across the street from the house from where we are watching the TT racers scream by.
After the end to the evenings trials, we went to the pub for a drink. Festive atmosphere in pubs throughout the island.
Above: Cattle and horses on mountain side near Ballaugh Bridge. 03 June 2015.
Telephoto image taken from spot on the mountain course from which we are watching the TT.
Agriculture is an important facet of the Isle of Man economy... along with financial services, low taxes attracting wealthy migrants, and motorsports.
Above: Course inspection vehicle. Ballaugh Bridge. Isle of Man TT. 03 June 2015.
Considerable support is required to insure safety along a 37.7 mile course.
Above: TT Racer speeds through Ballaugh. Isle of Man TT. 03 June 2015.
Looking to the left, away from the bridge, as the riders, showing us their backs, speed on.
Above: Our TT race vantage point at Ballaugh Bridge. Isle of Man TT. 03 June 2015.
Standing, foreground, with the cap is Claude, a retired school principal from Nazereth PA. Evenings, Phil sometimes pulls out his guitar and sings everything from Kenny Rogers to the Beatles. He's good. The impulse is to sing along if you know the words!
Above: Mark (partial) and Steve at Ballaugh Bridge vantage point for Isle of Man TT. 03 June 2015.
Mark, from Las Vegas, is a principal in his family owned business... mainly real estate. He was co-owner, with Freddie Spencer, of the Freddie Spencer motorcycle racing school before it closed down a couple of years ago.
Mark is an inveterate motorcycle racing junkie. He was a motorcycle racing instructor at the Freddie Spencer school before it closed. He still does regular, personal track days and works as a private motorcycle racing instructor.
Steve lives in "the Valley," Ventura County, CA, and runs a lighting company which supports the Hollywood film industry and the production of television commercials.
Steve and his wife have two kids out of the nest. One, a son, is in law school at NYU and the other, a daughter, works in television production in Atlanta.
Grinning at rear (partial) is tour leader Lynn Brown.
Above: Spectators across the street (Mountain Course) from our vantage point at Ballaugh Bridge. Ilse of Man TT. 03 June 2015.
The Raven pub is to the left in the image.
Addendum:
Whenever I wish to avoid seeing someone, I'll say something like - I'm out of town.
Rudy Junior,
Salt Lake City, UT
More of PCMR construction
Top of King Con under deconstruction. Big unit on ground is the old huge diesel auxiliary motor.
The grading at the base of Silverlode is where the new Snow Hut will be. A construction trailer is now on site.
TWO3,
Park City, UT
Above: Grrr, Roy, Z, and Mynduveroan at Arches National Park. Moab, UT. 02 June 2015.
Image by Rudy, Jr.
Above: Mynduveroan at horse camp. Park City, UT. 31 May 2015.
Image by FeeBee.
Above: Drums at bike camp. Park City, UT. 31 May 2015.
Image by FeeBee
Above: Drums and third grade teacher, Miss Ramsay, at third grade graduation ceremony, Park City Day School. 31 May 2015.