XJ Photo-Op Riding Challenge: Military Relics

i think you sold me your old fairing off the 750. about 10 years ago maybe. the paint scheme/detail looks familiar...

never did anything with it on my 750. its just sitting in the shed...

 

I would love to get some military picks, if my bike was running and it wasn't raining cats and dogs here.

 

subscribed

 

Back in the day like 1940-1950 here is Southern Oregon there was a Military training base called Camp White, what today is known as White City, Oregon.
My point being since I can't ride out to get some pics of the training pill boxes complete with bullet impacts. It would be like a twelve mile ride to get there.
My understanding is when the camp white closed the federal government sold off a majority of the land to the civilian population. So people bought land complete with vintage WWII training pill boxes and they are usually a good distance from the road. Hopefully soon I will be able to provide pics for others to enjoy.

I could not help myself cause this is a really great idea to get participation from us subscribers.

 

^^I've been through there when I was a kid. Very cool. That's been 30 years ago, so I'm not sure how easy it will be to see things anymore.


Ugh....I just did math....it's been over 30 years ago.....stupid time with it's always marching on.

 

My town has an interesting one: we have the site of a mustard gas factory. Everything has been dismantled, and the land has been deemed unusable for heaven only knows how long, but i could still get pictures. It's the forest right next to the soccer field and baseball diamond where the kids play! Not the only"interesting" spot, we also have a landfill and recreation area. I shit you not, it's a ski hill on a waste dump. Toxic as hell, asbestos and industrial waste. And play. Only in Cornwall.

 

This is a pillbox between Ampthill and Bedford in Bedfordshire. It's six sided. there are embrasures on five sides, (you can see them here) and an entrance on the sixth side.


From the inside.


You can just see the entrance on the right; it's low.

 

this is further South and nearer to Ampthill, but on the same old Bedford road.


Ampthill is at the bottom of the hill. In the town, I've read, are iron eyelets screwed into walls on opposite sides of the road. The idea was to stretch a wire between them, to kill German motorcyclists.


The two pillboxes are of very similar design.

 

Europe has plenty of Military sites to be photo graphed should have to only go just down the road to get some good pics as you have.

 

Fortunately the pillboxes above didn't have to be used, and neither did these two here.


Royal Observer Corps post, for use in case of nuclear attack. Near Newport Pagnell, Bucks.


A view through the hedge, from further down the road. It's in black and white for clarity. To the left is the ventilator, and on the right is the access point. There's a hatch and a fixed ladder that takes you about 17' underground.


This is another post about 20 miles away; I haven't been in the Newport Pagnell one. This link gives you a better idea of the posts. http://lbmhs.co.uk/roc_history

 

Those pillboxes sure had a command of the surrounding countryside. Glad they were never used!

I like the "military" look of your bike.

 

Very glad that they haven't been used and lets keep it that way.
I also like your bike, it has your special touch of uniqueness!

 

My XJ750 is adapted to be practical and useful. I've had hard panniers on my bikes for quite a few years now; I don't see the point of having a bike if I can't carry anything. I run errands for myself and can carry the camera (in a thickly padded bag) or more easily load the bike for rallies.
I had 5 litres of the green paint made up. It's a brush on enamel with a semi matt finish. It's a Toyota colour, if I remember right.

 

Those home made panniers?

 

They are Craven brand panniers, but not on a Craven rack. The two top mounts on each side are the original Craven ones, but the bottom mount on each is my own design. They are the second set of Cravens to go on the bike; the first set were broken when I was tail ended while stationary at a roundabout. I have yet to swap the locks over, and when the weather gets warm enough I will paint them to match the bike.

 

English statement of the day! Almost needs to be translated to North American! Lol

 

Beautiful day out so I was able to sneak away for a short local ride to the local VFW.

 

Seems to be a 105 from Korea era?
Washington DC VFW?
Sure is a clean looking bike you have there!
Nope Florida thought the 7 was a 2 on the barrel of that cannon.

 

Looks more like some model of 3 inch or 75mm to me rather than 105mm.