Work continues on augmenting my growing SYW French army with the mustering out of one more French infantry regiment. This time, Regiment Mailly marches over to the Completed side of the roster. Foot figures are Old Glory with a mounted Eureka colonel. Flag is from David at Not by Appointment. David provides an interesting unit history at this link as well. Still, three more French units in the photo booth line up awaiting a chance to parade.
On the gaming front, Solferino still rages across the gaming table for the third week. Session #3 reconvenes on Monday to see the likely conclusion. Casualties have been frightful with both armies creeping toward their breakpoints. If asked, I would say the outcome still hangs in the balance but with a slight edge toward one army. Which one? I will not say. This has been great fun for me as host. Hopefully, the players are enjoying this experience just as much.
Finally, weather continues on its glorious fall run with plenty of sun and temperatures in the upper 70s F. Of course, all is not smooth cycling. I narrowly missed being taken out by an inattentive driver on Thursday when the driver failed to heed the posted signage and crossed over into my protected lane directly into my path (and nearly me!). Had I not swerved, I likely would have been picking myself up off the pavement. Close call. Do you suppose this fellow's liability insurance is paid up?
Fine French fellows there again Jonathan. It appears you are in more danger from poor drivers than wild moose, a close call indeed.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Phil! Yes, indeed. Humans are the more dangerous creature.
DeleteNice unit, the flag lifts it and detail like the flag bearer looking to his right add a nice touch of interest.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the latest, Norm!
DeleteFirst a moose, now a car! Perhaps the gods of cycling are trying to tell you something! I'd be inclined to give it a rest for a little while, so as not to tempt fate! ☺
ReplyDeleteI used to cycle a lot until lazyness won out; never had to deal with wild animals, but had a lot of close calls, mostly from lorries /trucks which was very scary (when they come from behind without leaving a gap).
Neil
Neil, I could a fill a large book retelling my adventures of near misses with cars (with photos too!). I use the Go Pro camera mounted on my bike as evidence for filing a lawsuit if I do not return under my own power. My wife thinks I tempt fate everytime I climb upon the bike.
DeleteAnother impressive unit and you painting output is always to be admired. Really looking forward to hearing how Solferino plays out over the 3 games once that final action has died down. Hmmm, not good on the car front and I've had far too many close calls over the years, including from pedestrians and loose dogs. Now I tend to try and cycle when it is quieter and to avoid main roads if at all possible. Even then no guarantee of safety.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steve! On the cycling front, Nancy is like you. She will only cycle on dedicated paths and never on the street. Still, there is no guarantee for safety. We have seen incidences on bike paths too.
DeleteSolferino is actually one game continuing to be fought over three sessions. We are about nine hours of play time into the battle, at this point, I reckon. One more session to go.
Another great looking unit, Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ray!
DeleteNice unit, glad you are OK.
ReplyDeleteThank you, George. It was close but not imminent.
DeleteAnother great unit, Jonathan. You must be close to having every unit there was! After your encounters with wildlife - of two kinds - winter and that indoor bike must be looking inviting!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mark! I am still a long way to fielding a complete French army. Not ready for winter yet.
DeleteAnother superb looking regiment
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteAnother new unit, with two marking time awaiting their photo op, plus five units of Sumerians AND your third session of Solferino in the offing....do you really have time for cycling and weekend visitors, Jon?! I would be sending every image like that to your local law enforcement agency and letting all these idiot drivers pay a few dollars for their trouble!
ReplyDeleteKeith, busy times, for sure. Here, I think near misses do not garner much attention. I have thought about starting to report all of these near misses to see if it triggers any response. First, I must figure out how to report these incidences. Really, they are much too common. I could retell one a week, without breaking a sweat.
DeleteAnother great looking unit sir!
ReplyDeleteBest regards
Thanks, Michal!
DeleteBeautiful work as usual Jonathan. You really are pumping these out. Good job on managing to evade that motorist as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I do not pump out units at your rate. After years of cycling, you develop acute biking handling skills as a part of Darwinian evolution.
DeleteGreat to see Mailly. Your productivity is very impressive, as always. Glad to hear you managed to avoid the idiot motorist. And good luck with the continuing Solferino Saga.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
David.
Thank you, all around, David! Avoiding the opportunity to become Road Kill requires much more good luck than hosting a remote game.
DeleteNice work again!
ReplyDeleteMind how you go out there. Between the elks* and dangerous drivers.....
* Wasn't sure if the plural should be moose or mooses (meese, even), so I plumped for elks.
Thanks! “Moose” is both singular and plural in these parts.
DeleteSuper unit, Jon - great job, as ever. Did the motorist ever realise that he'd just missed you? One of the great ironies, I think, is that a lot of morons never learn anything, because they don't notice much of the chaos they cause. Glad you lived to fight on - you should have left the guy's registration number showing, for posterity! We have a fortunate situation here in that it is possible to cycle for maybe 25-30 miles across the farms, without really getting on to the public roads. Sadly, the only cycling injury we have sustained was when my wife broke her shoulder, falling over a pot hole on a completely deserted farm road!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tony! Many drivers, I reckon, are oblivious to the chaos they may cause to cyclists, pedestrians, or other cars. One must ride defensively at all times with constant situational awareness and be ready to respond in an instant.
DeleteYes, I blocked out the license plate this time. Was the driver aware? I hollered when the car passed in front of me and I saw a raised hand in acknowledgement.
Gorgeous unit Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Richard!
DeleteVery nice Jonathan. I'm now motivated to find and paint my OG French.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Happy to offer up painting motivation. I like the Old Glory French a lot.
DeleteDouble AH-HA. Go outside at your own peril. If your blog suddenly goes dark we’ll all know the reason. We’ll all send miniatures to your funeral. 😀
ReplyDeleteGreat looking unit as well. 😀
Thanks, Stew! Figures should be flowing toward you not toward me.
DeleteNice unit to add to the completed pile!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Simon!
DeleteGreat looking French unit, cycling is a dangerous pastime!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thank you, Iain! Cycling is dangerous, no doubt.
DeleteMore 7 Years War French goodness. If I do the American Revolutionary War after I retire, the ability to include some French allied troops to support the colonists will be a plus!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peter! AWI French uniforms look sharp on the Revolutionary War battlefield. Do it!
DeleteAnother excellent looking French unit. I love the simple flag and the typical red waistcoats.
ReplyDeleteThank you! The flags add a lot of interest to the simple French uniform.
DeleteLovely toys as always Jonathan…
ReplyDeletePersonally I think I would rather take my chances with the Moose rather than impatient drivers in the rush hour… and I don’t even cycle 😳
All the best. Aly
Thanks, Aly! I think I pick a moose encounter too.
DeleteYour painting skills never cease to amaze me Jonathan. Your 7YW French units are stunning! Does it seem to you the drivers are getting worse in Spokane? Seems like there are motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian vs vehicle incident reports nearly every day now.
ReplyDeleteThank you but your modeling skills are way above my painting skills.
DeleteAre drivers getting worse in Spokane? I certainly think so! I have a near miss on my bike almost every day. You should see some of the close calls my handlebar-mounted GoPro has captured.
Did bad drivers come in with the influx of new residents or have skills (or consideration) simply deteriorated during the pandemic?