Next friday the 19th we once again set out on our annual motorcycle epic. This year we are heading toward Mammoth Caves in Kentucky a round trip of about 3500km (2000miles). Will we get there? Who knows but is a direction and that is all we need.
We are being joined this year by a third bike so it will be two HOGS and a HONDA.
We are heading down through Williamsport, Pa. and then into West Virginia and Kentucky. Have not figured out how we are getting back yet. First night is booked at Bing's motel ($39.95 and free HBO, my kinda price).
In preparation this year I have added a Mustang seat to the bike due to the fact that the stock one was like sitting on a board. WooHoo does it make a difference. Next year Vance and Hines true duals as this baby needs to breath a little better as well.
I may even take more than my usual 3 pictures this time around and will post them upon our return.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Gone but never forgotten
I break today from my usual motorcycle related posts.
It is a sad sad time in our household. Our grand Newfoundland dog Bella has left us. She was only 2 years old but had suffered through many joint related problems. First last year she had an operation on a knee and during the operation it was discovered that she suffered from severe hip displacia. But she recovered and then in May of this year the other knee went and yet another operation. Finally this week her hips gave out completely and she was unable to walk anymore.
She was my companion and my friend and I loved her so. One does not know contentment in any greater form than when this majestic dog rested her massive head on your knee and looked up at you with the most beautiful brown eyes. I would have given anything I owned to have been able to save her but it was not to be. My wife and I took her for her last Vet visit and as we layed on the floor with her she quietly licked our hands and looked up as if to say "It is okay, I will be better now". Then she went to sleep and quietly passed. I miss her so much and my tears will not stop.
So goodbye my "Lady Isabella" your time was too short here with us but wait and some day when it is our time we will come and you will greet us and we will run and then lay under the afternoon sun....together.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Been a long while
Since December you say, well at least no one can accuse me of rambling on.
A lot has happened since last Christmas. I have endured another brutal winter in this god-forsaken land and am glad that there are only 6 or so more to go until blissful retirement in North Carolina.
This Spring my most lovely wife Jennifer happened to be in the Dealership with me and I convinced her to sit on a 1200 Sportster Low, 105th Anniversary edition. Within 30 minutes we had closed the deal and the bike was hers. Well not really, this all happened in February and if you reference my view on winter you will understand why we didn't pick it up until the end of April.
She has taken the riding course and as this is her first ever motorcycle we are taking it slow. A lot of neighbourhood jaunts so far but today we headed out for the first time down the highway. A little 20 mile trip down to a little town called Alfred "The French-fry capital of Eastern Ontario" so that she could visit a craft store there. She rode beautifully and we stopped and ate lunch (poutine....my favourite). On the way back I pulled a bonehead move by doing a last minute stop at a light that was controlling traffic over a bridge that had one lane closed. I shoulda kept going and she assumed I was. She made an expert avoidance move around my bike to the left but did manage to clip my mirror and bend my clutch lever forward. More importantly she went on past and came to a very controlled stop. No damage to her bike cept a scratch on the end of the brake lever and she has a very sore finger which unforunately will probably get sorer before long.
I don't care about my mirror but I am chastising myself for being such an idiot and putting a new rider in that kinda position. But as i said she did marvelously.
Myself I have been looking for ways to improve the old Road King and have decided this month to replace the seat with a new Mustang and next year change exhaust to V&H true duals with Monster oval mufflers. I want a little more tone to the exhaust but don't want it sounding like some refugee from an OCC build. I don't get these morons who want the open pipes. Doesn't improve performance cause usually that is all they do and they sound like s**t. Lets face it boys and girls, a Harley is never going to be fast (unless you spend mega dollars) and I got all of that out of my system long ago with my old Kawisaki ZX11.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
That's it.......It's over
After taking the Duc over to my sons for storage in early November I decided to see if I could squeeze a little more time out of the Road King. With good cold weather gear I was able to ride a few more times. But after a first snowfall in late November I finally gave in and rode it over there a couple of days later.
And then winter came. Close to 40cm of fresh snow this week and that is it....it is over!!!
And now starts the winter of my discontent. I will not see the ground again until April and so bikes and golf clubs are tucked away and gone for about 4-5 months. I hate it this typical eastern Canadian winter. I don't ski or snowboard or ice skate out of doors so here I sit my days only lightened and brightened momentarily when a motorcycle magazine arrives or I cruise the web looking at cool parts.
I may be quiet over the next little while or may come and use this space to rant and rave a little about stuff.
Speaking of rants I can't resist.
Happy End of Year Celebrations to you all. At least that is what we have been told to call the upcoming holiday lest we offend someone at work who doesn't share it. Well you know what. To all the PCers and Senior Management who foster and nurture this stupidity.....a POX on you all and in closing just let me say
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL......yes let me repeat it......MERRY CHRISTMAS
They may come and haul me away and send me off for reprogramming but it is worth it.
And then winter came. Close to 40cm of fresh snow this week and that is it....it is over!!!
And now starts the winter of my discontent. I will not see the ground again until April and so bikes and golf clubs are tucked away and gone for about 4-5 months. I hate it this typical eastern Canadian winter. I don't ski or snowboard or ice skate out of doors so here I sit my days only lightened and brightened momentarily when a motorcycle magazine arrives or I cruise the web looking at cool parts.
I may be quiet over the next little while or may come and use this space to rant and rave a little about stuff.
Speaking of rants I can't resist.
Happy End of Year Celebrations to you all. At least that is what we have been told to call the upcoming holiday lest we offend someone at work who doesn't share it. Well you know what. To all the PCers and Senior Management who foster and nurture this stupidity.....a POX on you all and in closing just let me say
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL......yes let me repeat it......MERRY CHRISTMAS
They may come and haul me away and send me off for reprogramming but it is worth it.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Last Ride for the Year?
Haven't posted anything here for awhile.
Decided on the 12th of October to head down to Gilbertsville NY to visit a firend. Just a little over 500km from home. It was a cold damp day with temps in the 5-6C degree range and got mistier as I passed through Adirondack Park. Rain threatened continuously but nary a drop fell. Clemintine ran like a champ and I enjoyed the quiet. At this time of year there is very little traffic on the road and I like it that way.
Anyway got to NY and spent that evening drinking a little scotch and helping load wood into the cellar of my buddy's farmhouse. Spent Saturday loading a little more wood and touring around the area looking for used furniture and other bargains. Closed the evening with a fine pork roast and a little more scotch.
I had to be back at work on Monday so I left first thing Sunday. A beautiful cool autumn day and let me tell you I could have turned Clemintine in any direction and just kept going for a month or two.
Next Spring I will be adding a new seat and some other accoutremonts to help my wife be comfortable on the back. I really think it would be cool if she caught the bug and got herself a motorcycle. Francesca could easily be sacrificed in exchange for whatever struck her fancy. Then the two of us could head out together looking for those endless 2 lane highways and the small little podunk towns along the way.
Well that is it for now as I seem to have been a bit verbose today. Still riding to work and will do so until it starts to get icy. Dang I hate living in a place where I have to store the bike for 5 months of the year and oh yeah besides that work is starting to become somewhat of an inconvenience as well......I mean when am I supposed to find time to ride.
Decided on the 12th of October to head down to Gilbertsville NY to visit a firend. Just a little over 500km from home. It was a cold damp day with temps in the 5-6C degree range and got mistier as I passed through Adirondack Park. Rain threatened continuously but nary a drop fell. Clemintine ran like a champ and I enjoyed the quiet. At this time of year there is very little traffic on the road and I like it that way.
Anyway got to NY and spent that evening drinking a little scotch and helping load wood into the cellar of my buddy's farmhouse. Spent Saturday loading a little more wood and touring around the area looking for used furniture and other bargains. Closed the evening with a fine pork roast and a little more scotch.
I had to be back at work on Monday so I left first thing Sunday. A beautiful cool autumn day and let me tell you I could have turned Clemintine in any direction and just kept going for a month or two.
Next Spring I will be adding a new seat and some other accoutremonts to help my wife be comfortable on the back. I really think it would be cool if she caught the bug and got herself a motorcycle. Francesca could easily be sacrificed in exchange for whatever struck her fancy. Then the two of us could head out together looking for those endless 2 lane highways and the small little podunk towns along the way.
Well that is it for now as I seem to have been a bit verbose today. Still riding to work and will do so until it starts to get icy. Dang I hate living in a place where I have to store the bike for 5 months of the year and oh yeah besides that work is starting to become somewhat of an inconvenience as well......I mean when am I supposed to find time to ride.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Francesca and the defibrillator
Went out this weekend to start Francesca in preparation for a ride to work on Monday. Her battery gave one slow spin and then clickety clickety. DEAD!!!
Figured this would be a good time to try the mini-charger I bought this year. Of course unlike Clementine who exposes things like that with just a lift of the seat Fracesca's heart is not so easy to get at. In the interests of sleekness and Italian beauty Ducati saw fit to place her battery under the right fairing centre section. Of course the side fairing is in three pieces and the bottom and top come off in order to get at the centre section. So about 45 minutes later the battery is exposed and the charger goes on. I must say these little chargers work great! Twelve hours later and she is ready to again. Fairing is back on it's off to work tomorrow. This is good as the weather is calling for a bit of rain and she provides much better weather protection than the Harley does.
Off again next weekend for New York to visit a friend from Kosovo. Nothin too far just a little burg about 30 miles from Cooperstown and about a 7 hour ride through Adirondack State Park. Colours should still be good and I will take rain gear and cool weather gear just in case.
Later
Figured this would be a good time to try the mini-charger I bought this year. Of course unlike Clementine who exposes things like that with just a lift of the seat Fracesca's heart is not so easy to get at. In the interests of sleekness and Italian beauty Ducati saw fit to place her battery under the right fairing centre section. Of course the side fairing is in three pieces and the bottom and top come off in order to get at the centre section. So about 45 minutes later the battery is exposed and the charger goes on. I must say these little chargers work great! Twelve hours later and she is ready to again. Fairing is back on it's off to work tomorrow. This is good as the weather is calling for a bit of rain and she provides much better weather protection than the Harley does.
Off again next weekend for New York to visit a friend from Kosovo. Nothin too far just a little burg about 30 miles from Cooperstown and about a 7 hour ride through Adirondack State Park. Colours should still be good and I will take rain gear and cool weather gear just in case.
Later
Thursday, September 27, 2007
ROAD TRIP
Road Trip
Well this is my first actual post to this Bloggy thing.
Spent the second week in September touring a number of American States by motorcycle with a friend. The bikes ran well with the exception of the sorry excuse of a seat on my Road King. That thing will find a garbage can come Spring. It astounds me that companies can advertise and sell bikes as “touring” motorcycles (this includes most brands) and then put a fifty cent seat on that isn’t comfortable 20 minutes out of your driveway. Oh well it is good for the aftermarket.
Speaking of shopping for things for the bike my trip to the US has convinced me that I will no longer deal with the gouging Canadian retailers in any way shape or form. With the dollar at par I still see a whopping 30-50% price difference. Thanks boys but may your stock rot on the shelves.
Well, back to the trip. The first thing that struck me was the condition of American highways, and no I am not talking about interstates. This trip of 3000km saw us on interstates for less than 100km, the rest was on 2 lane backroads through every little Podunk town and burg out there and guess what. The asphalt was like glass. I can sum up U.S. vs. Canada road maintenance as follows.
Canada….
”Looks like we have a pothole or 30 here Jake what should we do?”
“Well Jim lets take care of that right away”
“Okay Jake I will get a crew out to repair it.”
“Don’t be stupid Jim just put up one of these BUMP AHEAD signs and we are good for the next 5 years.”
U.S…….
”Looks like we have the start of a possible pothole here Bob what should we do?”
“Well Steve lets take care of that right away”
“Okay Bob I will get a crew out to repair it.”
“Don’t be stupid Jake put the order in and we will repave this section and the next 50 miles as well just to be sure there are no more.”
Besides that good food, good beer and low prices. For example 8 oz. (was way closer to 16oz. than 8) Prime Rib, salad bar and two pints of a fine Black and Tan all for less than $20. Another night a great meatball Calzone, 3 pints of the same all for $12.
Also stopped and saw "Falling Water" for those of you who don't know what it is.....look it up. It is amazing
I do love living close to the border.
Well this is my first actual post to this Bloggy thing.
Spent the second week in September touring a number of American States by motorcycle with a friend. The bikes ran well with the exception of the sorry excuse of a seat on my Road King. That thing will find a garbage can come Spring. It astounds me that companies can advertise and sell bikes as “touring” motorcycles (this includes most brands) and then put a fifty cent seat on that isn’t comfortable 20 minutes out of your driveway. Oh well it is good for the aftermarket.
Speaking of shopping for things for the bike my trip to the US has convinced me that I will no longer deal with the gouging Canadian retailers in any way shape or form. With the dollar at par I still see a whopping 30-50% price difference. Thanks boys but may your stock rot on the shelves.
Well, back to the trip. The first thing that struck me was the condition of American highways, and no I am not talking about interstates. This trip of 3000km saw us on interstates for less than 100km, the rest was on 2 lane backroads through every little Podunk town and burg out there and guess what. The asphalt was like glass. I can sum up U.S. vs. Canada road maintenance as follows.
Canada….
”Looks like we have a pothole or 30 here Jake what should we do?”
“Well Jim lets take care of that right away”
“Okay Jake I will get a crew out to repair it.”
“Don’t be stupid Jim just put up one of these BUMP AHEAD signs and we are good for the next 5 years.”
U.S…….
”Looks like we have the start of a possible pothole here Bob what should we do?”
“Well Steve lets take care of that right away”
“Okay Bob I will get a crew out to repair it.”
“Don’t be stupid Jake put the order in and we will repave this section and the next 50 miles as well just to be sure there are no more.”
Besides that good food, good beer and low prices. For example 8 oz. (was way closer to 16oz. than 8) Prime Rib, salad bar and two pints of a fine Black and Tan all for less than $20. Another night a great meatball Calzone, 3 pints of the same all for $12.
Also stopped and saw "Falling Water" for those of you who don't know what it is.....look it up. It is amazing
I do love living close to the border.
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