What other Hobbies do you guys and gals have?

[22Dasher]

 I've seen threads on locations and what we do for a living so I'm curious to any other Hobbies or activities you guys and Gals may have besides riding?

I'll start

I've been active in long range shooting and competition for many yrs. I've had built a numerous calibers from 22 calibers to all the way up to a 50 BMG for long range shooting. I've since quit shooting competition but I still shoot long range. I'm well known around the shooting community as 22 Dasher as I had built a 22 caliber rifle that would shoot an improved 6 br case necked down and blown out and this rnd could push an 80 grn bullet at 3600 fps. I managed to shoot a world record with the rnd at 600 yds  of 1.174" for 5 shots. I also shot 2 other world records in which one is retired and will never be broken of a perfect score of 55 at 600 yds as well.

heres a link to the article and my records
 http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek030.html

 I'm also currently involved in wildlife photography and i shoot bears deer and eagles along with many other birds.
 Below is some examples of my work. Most photos were taken with a Canon 1D MK3 and either a 600mm lens or the 400mm lens

[Super Santa]

Awesome pictures.

I really have no claim to any fame in my pursuits.

However, my favorite pastime beside riding my Valkyrie is genealogy.

[Daniel Meyer]

Gorgeous photography! Wow!

My hobbies?

Mmmmm....a minor rennovation project...

[Stanley Steamer]

I'm an amateur woodworker.....and I used to be a pretty fair bowler until I started riding the bike...I bowled in leagues for about 10 yrs out of college....I had a 186 avg at one time, but never lower than the mid 170's....

And I'm just an amateur Gigolo on the side!!.....

[BF]

Before I got kidney cancer, I used to play with toy cars (build and race).   

[Steve K (IA)]

I repair and restore old and neglected Cuckoo Clocks.  Last time I counted...about 4 years ago, I had over 70.  I have acquired a few more since then.  It is something that keeps me busy in the winter months.

[22Dasher]

Before I got kidney cancer, I used to play with toy cars (build and race).   

Ah yes I remember those days also. I started racing RC when the RC 10 was a gold tub. So now I'm telling on my age lol.. I went from elec to 1/4 scales and raced all over the SE then from 1/4 scale to Nitro Hydro race boats and had some very fast and competitive boats. I sure wish I had all the money I have spent on toys over the yrs....

Thanks for compliments guys on the photos if you like you may have a gander to my photo bucket it's open for anyone

http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r229/GliderParentsNTN/


James 

[charligirl]

i drive my tractor and ride my horse and sometimes judge beauty pageants

[..]

Weight lifting - since the age of 14.

Walking my mutt. We used to go out in the woods for hours, now it's half an hour at the local park - he's 13 1/2.

Reading.

Dreaming about a KLR, Alaska and south of the border.

  Miller Lite, Jose Cuervo Gold (pricier tequilas just taste bland).  

This sounds sad. I like looking at Google Earth. Going back to places from my childhood to see what they look like from the air.

[ChromeDome]

I would say that my hobbies are music (rythm guitar) and photography (nothing to specific). I get together with some friends every couple of weeks to make music and we have a heck of a time.

3 of my Guitars


Latest addition


As for the photography .... I get just enough good pics to recharge the batteries. My current SLR is a Canon 30D and I will either use the 18-55 or 75-300 lens. In addition I also have a point and shoot digital, Canon A470, that I usually have around my neck when riding because you just never know what you will see.




The Golden Gate Bridge - August 2008


Sunrise in Missoula, MT. - August 2008


Hummingbird at the feeder - August 2008

[Sharkey]

I enjoy anything outdoors. I love the water. I miss my Crownline. I sold her when gas was $4 a gallon and got the valk.
I also like to trail ride on the horses, and have a small farm that keeps me busy. I also take off some time to hunt deer every fall via archery, blackpowder or rifle.
A good construction project, lika a home addition is always enjoyable.

[Sludge]

Well, I too love the long shot.  Mostly I play with .223, .308, and .300WinMag.  I was pretty heavy into IDPA shooting at one time and the occassional 3 gun match.  Shot (and won) one sniper match and flat pissed off an army sniper instructor LOL.  Did that with a borrowed gun.  I was just there to watch and a friend talked me into using his rifle.  Needless to say, it was spot on.

At any rate, that got me started into longer shooting and I have killed deer up to 711 meters so far.

I like my Valk, that is another past time, and I like to read.

I aspire to be a gigolo like SS, but I havent had any customers thus far...   


Oh, and great pictures 22!!!

[Jean the Black Wolf]

I would say that my hobbies is girls many many girls .......... 
no no it's just to laugh 
my other hobbies are my boat I live near the beach and I like water skiing
my boat is a Campion 170 allante 115hp Yam V4
I've got a other hobbie it's model of little bike
here it is some pics

ski nautique en famille	powered by Aeva

[Serk]

Wow, cool other hobbies ya'll have!

My wife complains that I don't have hobbies... I have obsessions...

Ony of my biggest is my aquarium. It's a 300 gallon saltwater reef in wall aquarium with a fish room, total system capacity is 500 gallons.





What it looks like from the back, and the support systems:






I don't do anything competitively with it, but I'm very into shooting, collecting guns (WWII guns is one of my areas of interest, trying to get the main battle rifle of all belligerent nations of WWII), reloading, etc...

I built this as my birthday present to myself last year... Fun lil' toy, even if it's not terribly practical...



(I bought the upper complete, but the lower was a stripped receiver and a bag of parts... I quite enjoyed putting it all together...)

I enjoy spending way too much time and money at Renaissance Faires.....





And then there's that whole computer and networking thing, although I could be excused that one somewhat since it's what I do for a living, but I run multiple Linux, Windows and VMWare servers out of my house and like to keep a home network that many small businesses would be jealous of (All the pictures I post are coming off of a Linux server at my house, for instance.)

And last but DEFINITELY not least, being the best father I can be to my daughter.....

[solo1]

I dabble in photography and have raised roses for 35 years and give them away to doctor's offices, people, etc.

Here is a pic of one of my roses.  I just recently purchased a Canon L 70-200 mm lens to go along with my collection of lenses and a Canon 30D.  Those photos of Eagles were super!  It takes very good equipment and a experienced and avid photographer to get those shots.

I'm also a ham radio operator QRP cw only.

At one time I was seriously into the shooting sports but not so much anymore.

[Varmintmist]

The wife will tell me I need a hobbie, then add to the honey do list. 

I shoot fun competition. Bolt action and Garand matches local and the Springfield, Garand, and Vintage (1896 30-40 Krag) at camp Perry.  I am mostly nearer the higher end with bone stock rifles. The Krag is a 1896 made in 1898 and still shoots as good or better than any production rifle made today. I only shoot it at Perry and benched it once. Sub 1.25 @ 127 yards. I like comp shooting, but with 3 kids I cant justify the cost involved to get a lot deeper into it.

I like to bow hunt and varmints (hmm anyone figure that one out?) but my favorite season is PA's flintlock season. Nothing like going out in the snow with a rock and frizzen behind a patched round ball to really give you a feeling.  Only took one deer with it so far, and am assembling coin to have a custom PA long rifle done.

I cut wood. It is kind of a hobbie I guess. I enjoy doing it and heat 100% with wood. The 8 lb maul helps me keep my figure. The pile is approx. 4 ranks deep, 6 foot high and 35-40 feet long and growing.

We just inherited 3 pasture potatoes so I am back into horses, weather I like it or not.

[Sludge]

Wow, cool other hobbies ya'll have!

My wife complains that I don't have hobbies... I have obsessions...

Ony of my biggest is my aquarium. It's a 300 gallon saltwater reef in wall aquarium with a fish room, total system capacity is 500 gallons.

Thats freakin schweeeeeet!!!  I had a 75gal that I ran for about 10 years.  Got out of the Marine Corps and moved home and lost most of it in the move.  It took the wind out of me as far as salt goes.  Its been about 15 years since then and I still have my tank, trickle filters etc.  Ive been wanting to fire it up again, but Ive got Gallon Itis.  The bigger the better.  Thats a beautiful tank ya have there!  Enjoy it! 

[Bob E.]

I have several hobbies I guess.  But like Varmintist and I'm sure several others, with 3 kids, it's hard to have the money to spend to really enjoy them as much as I'd like.  Currently, I bowl on a league once a week in the winter...averaged about 185 last season which was 3rd on my league.  I have a few RC airplanes that I first learned to fly about 25 years ago, but then quit when I went to college and started working.  Just a couple years ago, I started to get back into it, but then my 3rd baby was born so it kind of fell to the wayside again.  A couple weeks ago, I did get my small electric plane out and flew it though.  Here's a pic of my sailplane.




I also have RC Cars.  I was pretty big into indoor carpet racing before I got married and had kids.  I still have the cars and hope to maybe get back into it with my kids as they get old enough to run them.  Here's a pic of a few of them.



Then of course, as a home-owner, there's always something to do.  I like most of those types of projects and just put new windows in most of my house last year, and am planning a major remodel/addition that I hope to be able to pull off in the nex couple years.




And finally, I've become addicted to Guitar Hero on my kid's Wii system.  I haven't played too much over the summer, but I'm already planning to get a couple of the new versions that have come out to occupy my time over the winter. 

[Jack]

You guys are great!  I do whatever the voices in my wife's head tell me to do and occasionally pick my nose unless I'm scratchin my arse but never at the same time.

[ArmyValker]

I fish. A lot. In fact I just got back from fishing all day at Lake of the Ozarks. You may have seen me, the guy in a bass boat wearing a Tourmaster Rain Suit with a full face helmet going 60 mph in the pouring rain....

Used to be a very serious Racquetball player, but can no longer physically play. 

[Hoser]

I call it a hobby, my wife calls it a money pit!  hoser

[R J]

I used to chase women, never caught very many.

Now I just suck in air & let it out, so I can stay on TOP OF the sod.....

[fudgie]

Hmmm..... Since I work 2 jobs it really don't leave me for much.  ??? I live on a family farm so there is stuff to do here. I ride when I can which is usually a few days a week and some weekends. I like wrenching on the bike. Really like going to rallies and bike events.

[roboto65]

I fly R/C downsizing right now so they will fit in the trailer on the Valk LOL





Just got rid of this big one but have many small electrics!!!

[Ghost]

    I really enjoy walking in the woods, i take a week off work every year just to hunt Mushrooms. Its more than the hunt, its the peace of mind from work. I can tell by the turtles in the woods when its the best time for mushrooms. Seen more frogs this year than any other year out there. I am hoping thats a good sign. The season don't last long but it sure is fun while it last.

[Goody]

I like to do a little woodcarving.  Got into Old World Santas 15 years ago and have been carving them ever since.  I have Santas all over the world in various collections.  Satrting a 5 foot tall 38 inch diameter log this weekend.  Carve about 70 Santas a year.

[Jean the Black Wolf]

   I really enjoy walking in the woods, i take a week off work every year just to hunt Mushrooms. Its more than the hunt, its the peace of mind from work. I can tell by the turtles in the woods when its the best time for mushrooms. Seen more frogs this year than any other year out there. I am hoping thats a good sign. The season don't last long but it sure is fun while it last.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! great , this mushrooms are very expensive in France and very good to eat , I love it , we call it "Morilles "
what do you think about this mushrooms  for my dinner ?


finaly I cooking this one

[Scott in Ok]

I've been active in long range shooting and competition for many yrs. I've had built a numerous calibers from 22 calibers to all the way up to a 50 BMG for long range shooting. I've since quit shooting competition but I still shoot long range. I'm well known around the shooting community as 22 Dasher as I had built a 22 caliber rifle that would shoot an improved 6 br case necked down and blown out and this rnd could push an 80 grn bullet at 3600 fps. I managed to shoot a world record with the rnd at 600 yds  of 1.174" for 5 shots. I also shot 2 other world records in which one is retired and will never be broken of a perfect score of 55 at 600 yds as well.

I stand in awe, I really do James.  I don't think many folks realize the accomplishment you have there!  5 shots, at 600 yards, 1.174"!    Didn't they tell you in that game that you can't shoot that kind of distance(for accuracy) with a .22?  lol  I'm sure you've heard it all, and good for you for proving them all wrong!

I've always wanted to shoot some long distance benchrest, but never seem to find the time(or equipment/money!).

-Scott

[raja]

I don't golf but have a pair of nine irons that I drive and putt around. (39@99) Also, this old house keeps me  occupied.

[R J]

That Coupe looks just like the one I lost in my garage fire a few years ago.

It had a Camero subframe, crate 350, Turbo 500, & a 57 Olds rear end.

Disc brake conversion all 4 wheels.    From a buck & a dime she would stop in a very short distance without locking up a wheel.

Finally used the Insurance $$$ this week to get another baby.

09 Dodge Ram with the Long Horn Super Edition.      20" wheels, leather, controls in the steering wheel, Hemi with dual exhaust integrated in the bumper & etc.

 http://www.dodge.com/en/2009/ram_1500/big_horn/

In case anyone missed my previous post of it.

[Swartzy]

Well, believe it or not, I love scheduling with models for themed shoots..as well as compositing in Photoshop.  Some images have taken a full day to edit as there is a blend of 7 images to create one.

This is 3 images composited:




Another all day work:



Something way out...titled "Robin, Defender of Narnia"



"Powers of Death"



"Beauty of the Field"



have lots from Flemming Field in St. Paul Commemorative Air Force stuff....was a super fun day!  Pin ups!



"Calling All Hands"



Thanks for looking!

[stude31]

Great Topic!! 

I like a few here I love to fish, I use to race mountain bikes and road bikes until I bought my Valk.  Now I have 7k dollars worth of bikes hanging on 5.00 hooks in the garage.  I should probably get one down and ride it. Oh wait I have a valk!   I have three studebakers 1956 2dr president w/ a 289 v8, 1947 M16 1 1/2 ton pickup, and a 1951 3/4ton truck. 

I too, love to fly r/c planes.  I have a p51 warbird gas powered and a little electric super cub.  I have two helicopters but gave up on those what a P.I.A to fly.  Planes are much more enjoyable!!  One of my stress reliever hobbies is running I love to run. 

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable three day weekend!

Stude31

[raja]

RJ  That must have been a sad loss. It's always a shame to loose a classic that has survive all those years. Built this one myself, frame up. Took seven years. I'd never do it  again, but tuned out the way I wanted, great driver. 78 firebird subframe with Fatman narrowed tube a arms. I built a 350 sb, coupled a 700r4 and 57 chev end. Hydroboost brakes. It was salvaged from being a old dirt track racer in Oregon, You can imagine It's condition when I got it. It doesn't get driven much anymore with the Valk on the scene. The wife does'nt  care to ride in the rod, but put her on the Valk and she's in heaven.

[Thunderbolt]

Ham Radio and the White's Eagle Spectrum have been sitting idle for a while now, since maybe the day I got my first Valk in 2000. 
Amateur Radio mostly 2m and 6m weak signal stuff.  Meteor scatter and have heard the astronauts on the shuttle, have yet to talk to them.  Several of them were hams on previous flights.

[alph]

Well, in a way I’m an award winning, professional bowler, but not the type of bowling you’d think.  I make and have sold artistic segmented bowls and have entered them in state competition.  Wood turning (bowling) is a hobby I’ve had for over ten years.  I’ve made dozens of bowl and have given nearly all of them away to friends and family.  I had once entered a bowl in the Northern Wisconsin State fair that didn’t receive a placing ‘cause the judge thought it was a purchased item and not hand made!!  My wife told the judge that she didn’t have a clue what she was looking at! 

   

This winter I’m considering making burial urns.  I’ve been asked by several people to make one for their loved ones, but I find the idea kind of morbid. 

On average my bowls consist of over 180 pieces and takes 20+ hours to make.  The actual turning of the project takes two hours or less, glue up is were you require patient’s. 

Also love RC aircraft, certainly not as good as Roboto65’s CAP, just a trainer.  I’ve built some off the wall, no plans involved airplanes that have actually flown, but because our flying club decided to go AMA I no longer fly.

[Ghost]

   I really enjoy walking in the woods, i take a week off work every year just to hunt Mushrooms. Its more than the hunt, its the peace of mind from work. I can tell by the turtles in the woods when its the best time for mushrooms. Seen more frogs this year than any other year out there. I am hoping thats a good sign. The season don't last long but it sure is fun while it last.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! great , this mushrooms are very expensive in France and very good to eat , I love it , we call it "Morilles "
what do you think about this mushrooms  for my dinner ?


finaly I cooking this one

Wow Jean, thats a big mushroom. If you need help eating those just call me.

[Jean the Black Wolf]

ha ha ha ha ha ha  thanks a lot ghostrider285
I think finaly I will open one limps of preserve it's more surer
 
the big red on my first pic is in French "anamite tue mouche "

very dangerous ha ha ha ha ha ha  !!! if you eat a great plate of course
have you this mushroom in your country ?
how is the name of the mushroom of your pic ? this one

in French it's " Morilles " very nice mushroom I love the Morilles
in my Restaurant I cooking this mushroom
wow !!!!!!!!!!!!! very good with a beef or chicken
just a little cream and oignon  wine of Porto
pfoufffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff !!!
time to eat , 
ho I forgot ..........a bottle of Bordeaux (chateau Margaux or St Emilion 1998) 
enjoy your meal my bud

[Stanley Steamer]

ha ha ha ha ha ha  thanks a lot ghostrider285
I think finaly I will open one limps of preserve it's more surer
 
the big red on my first pic is in French "anamite tue mouche "

very dangerous ha ha ha ha ha ha  !!! if you eat a great plate of course
have you this mushroom in your country ?
how is the name of the mushroom of your pic ? this one

in French it's " Morilles " very nice mushroom I love the Morilles
in my Restaurant I cooking this mushroom
wow !!!!!!!!!!!!! very good with a beef or chicken
just a little cream and oignon  wine of Porto
pfoufffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff !!!
time to eat , 
ho I forgot ..........a bottle of Bordeaux (chateau Margaux or St Emilion 1998) 
enjoy your meal my bud

I'd probably gain 100lbs extra if I ate all your creations!!.....I love the crab-stuffed mushrooms here at places like Red Lobster, but realize they would NOT compare to your FINE French cuisine....I'm just an old Country Boy living in a small city, so I am not accustomed to such fine eating as what you are able to provide.....I can say though, that us American VRCC Boys can really put some "grub" away when we're hungry!!........If only I were banked like Smokin Joe and Normandog, I'd be able to come visit you folks over in Europe....alas, I'm just a low-paid local Govt. worker.....now if I were to ever win the lottery???...... ....

[Jean the Black Wolf]

same for me Stanley Steamer  if I were to ever win the lottery???......
wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I visit USA for long long long time
it's good to dream Bro
time to sleep for me now , up at 6 am tomorrow morning
see you later
JEAN   
 

[Sharkey]

Jean the mushrooms you are talking about we call "MOREL" mushrooms They grow wild here in the spring. We go horseback riding in the spring, and stop along the way to pick them. Usually end up with a saddle bag full. Morel hunting spots are top secret. many return to the same spots for many years. In the spring people sell their extras, the usually go far around $25 per pound in Missouri. The proper redneck way to cook them is pan fried, with a side of venison tenderloin, all washed down with a nice cold beer.