thank you for being patient

bicycling across America, Idaho part 2

bicycling across America, Idaho part 1

bicycling across America, Wyoming part 5

bicycling across America, Wyoming part 4

interviews on the ACA TransAM

bicycling across America, Wyoming part 3

TWJ on FB

Do you know that ThreeWheelJourney has a Facebook page?

Microsoft's blog and Windows Live Movie Maker

Microsoft, maker of Windows Live Movie Maker, interviewed me about my bicycle trip and the software I use to edit video.

bicycling across America, Wyoming part 2

"Old Town Coffee" in Lander WY

My first day in Lander WY, I awoke, showered and made a bee-line for The Old Town Coffee house in Lander WY.   I wanted a place to sit and work on some videos, post some tweets, pics and maybe a quick facebook entry, together with a couple of cups of coffee.  What follows is the dialog that happened as best as I can remember at the barista counter...

ME:  hello, can I have a large Americano, and do you have an electrical plug for my computer?


Barista@OldTownCoffee: sorry we don't have plugs and we're not going to put them in.


ME  I see, why don't you have electrical plugs?


Barista@OldTownCoffee:  There is a great article in either the New York Times or LA Times about Coffee Houses not providing electrical plugs, you should read it. 


ME: ok I will look for that article when I can plug in my computer, but can you tell me; Why?


Barista@OldTownCoffee:  People talk to each other more and interact with the baristas more if there are no electrical plugs in a coffee house.


ME:  So there are no plans to ever install electrical plugs in Old Town Coffee?


Barista@OldTownCoffee:  At this time there are no plans to ever have plugs


ME:  OK, thanks, where is a Coffee Shop in Lander with plugs?


Barista@OldTownCoffee: ... down the street somewhere...


ME:  OK thanks

If the barista would have just looked me in the eye, and been honest and said "We don't want to encourage people to hang out in Old Town Coffee and soak in the free wifi" I would have been happy to accept that answer, but the "Manager" was rude, offensive and arrogant.  I left the business immediately and went a block down the street to the Apple Valley Market.

If you are visiting Lander Wyoming, I strongly encourage you to visit Apple Valley Market, where they have excellent coffee/espresso drinks, serve wonderful food, have free wifi, ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO PLUG IN COMPUTERS, and simultaneously provide honest, polite and respectful customer service

Old Town Coffee in Lander Wy is no friend to travelling bicyclists.   With more than 1000 people riding the TransAm annually, (which runs right thru the center of town) you'd think a business would go out of their way to make electrical plugs available.     The TransAm riders offer a revenue stream to the small towns on the route.   Please post this blog post on your Facebook or tweet it.

(this blog written and posted at the Fremont County Library in Lander WY.  This place is so newly constructed, it still has that "new library smell")

Royalty-free background music on videos

I received a question today from one of my twitter followers and the question was so relevant and so pertinent that I'm writing an entire blog post to answer it.  

mujozen  

@ 

@DavefromTWJ how can we get the public domain music u use?

This question is basically about copyright and how to find compatible music for videos that amateurs can use without getting in trouble with Youtube (or other video hosting websites) Terms of Service policy's.    

The use of any copyrighted music is strictly forbidden on youtube, even a few seconds of copyrighted music can bring big trouble.   Youtube can remove all the audio from your video or even delete the video entirely.

You can find alot of music on the net, but you must find original music that the artist/musician specifically allows use, preferably with a Creative Commons licence.   

I have settled on two musicians that I use for music on my videos


Dan O'Connor 
http://www.danosongs.com

Josh Woodward
http://www.joshwoodward.com

I prefer instrumentals and both Dan O'Connor and Josh Woodward  have outstanding instrumental only music. Josh, who is an excellent vocalist and songwriter also provides all his songs (over 170) with and without vocals.   Look for the link to "instrumental version" for each album. 


Dan likes to see what your project looks like using his music, and asks you to post a link to your project on his Facebook page.


The Creative Commons Attribution Licence requires that a link be placed on the video itself, as a credit somewhere in the video (I place them at the end).  I also put links to the musicians websites (and Facebooks, Myspace, blogs, youtube channels and twitters).  I keep a text document for each artist with so I can cut and paste all the links and other information quickly and easily.  Each artist is different and the information they require as an attribution is spelled out on their websites.  You should look for music that the musician allows commercial use with only attribution.   Youtube may ask you to monetize your videos by placing relevant advertisements on the page where the video is hosted or on the video itself using a pop-up ad.   If you make a profit from your video, it's only fair that some of the profit be shared with the musician.  If you use music licensed under a Creative Commons non-commercial use licence, the original creator of the music does not allow you to profit from their work and you cannot monetize your videos.   So remember, you're looking for music that the original creator allows used on a "Creative Commons, Attribution, Commercial Use License".


I've used other music and here is some I've found


http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free


http://www.internetaudioguy.com/iag/freemusic/freemusic.htm


http://www.soundjay.com   (also sound effects)


Jamendo ( http://www.jamendo.com/en/ ) is another website that has a very large section of music under a Creative Commons licence.   Go to the Jamendo website, click on the music tab, then scroll down to Creative Commons .   You can find tons of different genres of music, alot of which is under a commercial, attribution, Creative Commons License.   Personally, I would contact the musician or band and ask if their music is available for use.  I've been happy with the music of Dan O'Connor and Josh Woodward, but I've checked out some of the artists on Jamendo and will probably use them at some point in the future.


When I am done with this bicycle tour, I intend to make a multi-part video explaining the process of making video documentary of a bike tour.   I have learned alot about video editing in the last year and I want to share the little tips and tricks I've picked up along the way.

I use Windows Live Movie Maker (which is free video editing software from Microsoft).  This program is simple and  easy to use, and the forums at WindowsMovieMaker.net has been a excellent resource 


thanks mujozen for the question


Safe Travels!


I tweet  @DavefromTWJ


(this blog post written over a cuppa joe at The Split Rock Cafe in the tiny town of Jeffrey City Wy)

Jeffrey City WY

I jumped on the TransAm (the ACA Trans America route) at Muddy Gap Junction and turned west on HWY287.   22 miles west, pedaling thru some rolling hills brings you to the town of Jeffrey City (elev 6324, pop. about 50).  Jeff City as it's affectionately called is a once booming mining town town that went bust in the early 1980's.  There are only two businesses in town; The Split Rock Cafe and Bar, and a pottery shop.  The Monk King Bird Pottery is operated by the slightly eccentric Byron Seely whose beautiful and unusual mixed clay pottery is sold online and in the gallery in town.

The Monk King Bird Pottery is across the street from the Split Rock Cafe.  Byron is the owner and potter and encourages traveling bicyclists to camp in the back yard of the pottery (or in the old camper RV during inclement weather.  

The Lions Club Pavillion is also available for overnight camping (free), and if a call is made ahead of time to the Baptist Church, you can overnight in the basement of the church in town. 

The Split Rock Cafe and Bar  in Jeffrey City was a major headache to touring bicyclists.   The previous owner of the one and only place in town for food and water was almost universally hated by bicyclists passing thru town.   Most of the blogs and journals covering this section of the TransAm are filled with venom for the previous owner.  Many bike tourists would plan an ultra-long day to be able to pass thru this town without having to stop to resupply or camp.   

ALL that has changed. Vikki, the new owner took over the Split Rock a couple of months ago and truly understand the needs of ACA TransAm touring bicyclists and hikers on the CDT (Continental Divide Trail) which passes 5 miles south of Jeffrey City.  "We serve BIG food" she told me, and the pancake I ordered arrived to the table on the front end of a bulldozer.   Measuring 20 inches across, the single cake weighed 22 pounds and required a gallon and a half of syrup, at least it seemed to.  Vikki's approach to bike tourers is perfect.  Good food, resonable prices, huge quantity, and free wifi. If you're traveling on the ACA TransAm be sure to follow Split Rock Cafe on twitter for specials and events  @SplitRockCafe

The town of Jeffrey City was originally named "Home on the Range WY" but the named was changed to memorialize Dr C. W. Jeffrey who financed the early uranium mines which brought wealth to the small town and it grew to have a huge high school, stores and shops, hotels, and a small hospital.   When the mine closed down, 95% of the residents of the town moved on, leaving just a handful of residents.

If there were a place to shower here, Jeffrey City would be one of the best small towns for a cross-country cyclist.  One day The Monk King Pottery Shop may build a proper Bicycle Hostel complete with campground, showers, and shelters.  

ONE YEAR ON THE ROAD!!!!

I've been riding a bicycle for ONE YEAR!   over 9000 miles!  and still having a blast!

bicycling across America, Wyoming

bicycling across America, Nebraska part 4

Posting from Douglas WY

I know I don't post very much on this blog other than videos embedded from YouTube, but I really should spend more time on here.   I have been tweeting quite a lot on twitter, and interacting with many other people who are currently riding bicycles on long distance tours.  Follow me @DavefromTWJ and find out what's happening in real time (when I have cell service).  

I also created a page on Facebook, just go to FB and search for ThreeWheelJourney.

I'm camping tonight in the city park (which is free here in Douglas) and the restrooms are top shelf.   The town actually has a bunch of cool stuff to see like the Pioneer Museum, Railroad/Train exhibit and the grave of George W. Pike.  

Thanks to my 30 faithful followers here on blogger.  Sometimes the only time I come here is to check out the blogs that I follow (which is located on the right side) or to update the blogroll with new blogs as I find them

Thank you very much

Safe Travels--Dave

bicycling across America, Nebraska part 3

bicycling across America, Nebraska part 2

bicycling across America, entering Nebraska

bicycling across America, Iowa part 3

bicycling across America, Iowa, part 2

bicycling across America, leaving llinois and entering Iowa

bicycling across America, entering Illinois

bicycling across America, (eastern Indiana)

Cooking On A Bicycle Tour (Succotash and Rice, vegan)

bicycling across Ohio (the entire state from east to west)

bicycling the Montour Trail to the Panhandle Trail

bicycling the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) part 8

bicycling the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) part 7 (Kenda Kwest tire fail)

bicycling the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) part 6 (Vegan Asian Stir-fry)

bicycling the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) part 5

bicycling the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) part 4

bicycling the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) part 3

bicycling the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) part 2 (bloopers)

my review of Trail Inn, hotel, hostel, campground, Frostburg MD

bicycling the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) part 1

bicycling the C&O Canal, part 8

bicycling the C&O Canal, part 7

bicycling the C&O Canal, part 6

bicycling the C&O Canal, part 5

C&O Bicycle shop and Hostel, Hancock Maryland on the C&O Canal

Flip UltraHD test footage

bicycling the C&O Canal, part 4

bicycling the C&O Canal, part 3

bicycling the C&O Canal, part 2

bicycling the C&O Canal, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath

interview with Appalachian Trail thru-hikers

bicycling Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park (part 5)

bicycling Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park (part 4)

bicycling Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park (part 3)

bicycling Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park (part 2)

cycling The Blue Ridge Parkway, cycling Sky Line Drive in Shenandoah Nat...

bicycling the Blue Ridge Parkway, bicycling across America

bicycling the East Coast, bicycling from Selma NC to Virgilina VA

bicycling the East Coast, entering North Carolina to SmithField

bicycling the East Coast, cycling HWY 17 across Georgia to South Carolina

bicycling the East Coast, Ocala to the Georgia State line

my route so far

bicycling the East Coast, The Villages, Ocala.wmv

Flip UltraHD test footage

Jerome and the harp in Key West

Things to do in Key West, Part 4

Things to do in Key West, Part 3

Things to do in Key West. Part 2 (Key West Cemetery)

Things to do in Key West, Part 1

bicycling from Marathon to Key West

bicycling from Homestead to Marathon FL, 7 Mile Bridge

bicycling across the United States, South Bay RV Park, Homestead FL.wmv

bicycling across America, biking south into Florida

bicycling across America, biking across Florida

bicycling the Southern Tier, heading south in Florida