End of Summer

XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 LM OIS

As it's been a few weeks, I figured it was good time to check in.  After Norway, we've had several weeks off.  By off I mean we have been at home, not jumping on a train, on a plane, or in the car every weekend.  As awesome as traveling is, it is nice to have some down time living out of a dresser instead of a suitcase.  The cats are no longer confused about who their people are.  And, The Dog?  Well, I'm not sure if he's ever really pleased about anything, but at least he's getting regular hikes every week.

But, we haven't really been off with our feet up either.  Our evenings and weekends have been taken up with cycling.  We originally planned out that we would aim to do a 200km ride by the end of the summer.  We ended up biting off a little more than we could chew with the traveling this year and didn't allow enough training time.  So, we knocked it back to a 160km goal.  But, there was a sudden death in the family and I had to head back to Akron at the end of July.  Our training and fitness isn't where we wanted it to be when we laid down our goals at the beginning of the year, but it isn't a total wash.  This weekend we're going to attempt that 160km ride.  And, I'll be doing it on a new bike.  Upon returning home from Akron, I discovered my bottom bracket was starting to fail on my Raleigh.  It was actually easier to purchase a new bike instead of waiting for a shop to make the repairs (shops around here only repair by appointment and they have to be scheduled weeks in advance).  The new ride is a Fuji Roubaix 1.3LTD.  No, I didn't buy it because I'm obsessed with brands named after Mt. Fuji.  It was the only brand the shop stocked.  But, I'm really pleased with it.  It is another level up from the Raleigh, and, I gotta say, that upgrade makes quite a difference.  So, that's what's been going on.

As for photography, I've been going back to my roots a bit and have been shooting handheld when out and about.  The camera is always with me when we take The Dog on his hikes.  We've been hitting some local trails after our Sunday rides and I've kept my kit to the minimum, using just the 18-55mm or the 35mm.

XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 LM OIS

XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 LM OIS

The cycling regime definitely cuts into shooting time, however.  This hot summer meant the rides had to start early, right when the light was perfect.  While the X-E2 is pretty small, it's not small enough to fit in a cycling jersey.  One of the things I would like to add to my kit is a high end compact.  We pass by some incredible sights on our rides, and the iPhone camera is not doing them justice in the least.   I kinda hate opening up my portfolio from this time of year and only seeing flat iPhone exposures.  I'm really interested in the Sony Cyber-shot DSC RX100 range because they have features that no other compact has, but those price tags (and it always comes down to the price tags) are making an upcoming purchase unlikely.  The #1 gear purchase priority is still a second Fuijifilm X Series body.  Once they finally announce what the X-Pro2 is going to be packing I'll be making a decision on which camera to acquire next Spring (economy dependent, of course).  Losing shooting time and light for cycling is a frustrating situation, but I am compiling a great list of locations for later in the year.  Right now, after 4+ hours on the bike in high temperatures, the last thing I want to do is jump in the car and shoot somewhere.  On the weekends it takes a lot to stay awake past 8:00pm.

But, next week my parents are coming in for a visit and we'll be hitting the road to show them around Bavaria and the Alps.  It'll be the last major trip for 2015 before we head back to Akron for our home leave visit around Thanksgiving.  It'll be good to give the legs a bit of a break and get back behind the lens!

XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 LM OIS