RTR

It's been very busy, new job, learning to not be tied to a device 24/7...  and working downtown, something that I have never done.

So I started the new job, as mentioned downtown.  Well you would think that you could get cheaper parking being on a motorcycle, well not in this city.  So, I decided after the first week to try something else that I have not done in a long time, take the bus!  But I also decided to add something to it, I now walk home from work, we'll have to see how that goes ;).

But really I should be talking about riding, last weekend I worked the Canadian Ironman.  Basically it involves riding up and down the parkway in Ottawa 'officiating' while the participants cycle.  One of the things you need to do at these is 'sweep' the course, basically this is riding the route before anyone is one it, you know look for 'dangerous' situations.  Well sign me up, traveling along the canal in Ottawa with no other vehicles!  I will not say I was speeding but I was at a 'brisk' pace when I rounded a corner and a deer was right in-front of me....  This is downtown Ottawa, I know we have parkland but a deer downtown!!!  It got off the road, no Bambi parts left anywhere but really, not at all what I was expecting.

This Saturday I'm riding support for a fundraiser which I have done in the past, Ride the Rideau.  This is the 100km ride I help out with every year in support of the Ottawa hospital.  It goes from Ottawa through the countryside and ends in Merrickville.  Wonder if I'll see Bambi's mother :).  If I do I'll try and get some good pics, I'll be expecting wildlife this time around.

Paws.

done

well I'm officially unemployed !!!  and that is a good thing,

off to my next adventure.  this is a very good thing.

PAWS

hot days

hey,

so I haven't posted because I've been riding :).  Well at least to work an back, the weather in Ottawa has hit it's normal hot as hell in July!  But I've been stuck inside working for a tech company that just doesn't care about it's employees....

I was out on the range last weekend, 11/11 students passed (small class), we had temps of about 32c on saturday and then sunday 28c but the rain came which just made it hot and sticky (high humidity in Ottawa).  The students were great, we had one with heat stroke saturday (keep the fluids up people especially if you have all/most of your gear on), but she kept going and passed on the sunday.

Well it's saturday and you know what that means... right, back to the office, man I need a new job, one is in my sights, wish me luck.

I'll keep riding, even if it is only to work and back, funny how it takes about 15 min to get into the office in the morning but an hour to get home :).

Paws

RTCC / Laconia

I just got back from 7 wet days away on the bike.

Day 1
We left on a Friday morning (we had rain for the first 3 hours of the ride) to help out at a charity ride RTCC, for which we met up at Ontario Place for the instructions for the weekend...  after waiting around for an hour they finally told us how it would work, it could have been done in 10 min... sigh.

We stayed in Toronto at the HoJo's near Ontario Place, NEVER stay there...  it seems like it was an old rooming house turned into a Hotel, it is at the end of the streetcar turn around and you hear squeaking and bells all night. Now I must say we did have a good dinner and we were tired after the ride so it was not all bad.

Day 2
We got up early, we had to be at the site to leave at 7:45 so we left the hotel at 6:45.  What a way to start a vacation.  We got to the starting gates and then had a quick bite to eat.  These charity rides are very well organized and there was plenty of food and drinks to start the riders off right.  Because we are volunteers we get access also.

We mounted up then sped through the city on the route the bikes would be following. At points along the route the organizers would let you know which intersection to 'man' to help the bikes through.  I got dropped with my partner for the day at Millgrove Side rd and Concession 5. It was a 4 way stop so as bikes approached all we had to do was hold cars.  Pretty easy day, it was overcast so also not too hot.

When the last bike left we were off to the Camp for the night.  Dinner and a few too many beers later we were asleep in the tent city, about 1000 tents in all.

Day 3

We woke up after very little sleep and were on our way for the next leg of the event.  This time we had to leave at 6:00am... not good but once again we were dropped at a corner and went through the whole procedure again.  we finished up this day around 1:30 in the afternoon and after checking in we were told we were free to go so, off to the hotel for the night.  This hotel was really nice, the Ramada, we upgraded the rooms, one problem, only one bed, but the couches pulled out so everyone was happy.  We went and saw the falls then had dinner and went to bed, boy were we tired.

Day 4

We woke to rain, lots of rain, the weather did not look good for the longest ride of our trip, we would be riding from Niagara Falls ON two Concord NH on the highway the whole way to try and make up the time.  We took off, crossed the boarder and rode all the way, straight through without any long breaks until we hit Concord. We got in around 7:00pm to the Hampton Inn in Bow (just south of Concord).  Boy were we tired.  A long day of riding.  We went for dinner, at the Barley House Pub which had fantastic food and then it was back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.

Day 5

Off to Laconia, Weir's beach in the rain... it just would not be bike week in Laconia without rain...

We walked around Weir's beach then off to the vendor village.  Bought the T-shirt, patch and then off to Laconia Harley Davidson in Meredith.  There was another bunch of vendors there as well as a very well equipped Harley dealership.  It was very hard to walk away without buying a bike, you can bring used ones across the boarder pretty easy.  Once the 'shopping' was done it was back to the Hotel and back to the brew pub for another great meal.

Day 6

Off in the rain again, this time we were headed for Burlington VT.  We took Highway 4 straight across and then up the 100, we had 8 miles of very rough construction roads just before we headed off on Highway 17.  if you ever get to this area hit this highway.  The top gives a fantastic view of the mountains.

And then we were off to Shelburne to stay in a Quality Inn for the night. Because we got there so early we headed off to Green Mountain Harley. Once again we tried very hard NOT to by a bike...  They seemed to have an even better selection than the last dealer and much more friendly.  If your in Canada, look for a bike from this dealership to bring across, you'll be glad you did.

Day 7

The ride home, we left before 7:45am to make the ferry across lake Champlain.  We hit the 8:00am ferry and were on our way to NY state and home.

We headed up to Lake Placid, then to the boarder, more nice roads through the Adirondack's and home to Canada.  We rolled in home at about 3:30pm, tired and happy, all in all a great trip with twisty roads and good friend, and yes more rain than we ever wanted.

PAWS

MRFD

Yesterday was a big day, the MRFD in Ottawa.

I almost didn't go, this year the ride was forced to change again from a city that just not seem to care about the good work that is being done (another $500,000 raise this year to stay local for research).  Instead of starting at 9:00am we were told we had to start at 8:30am.  You see the city said we blocked too much traffic with the parade.  Too many people were affected...  THAT'S THE POINT.  The ride has had to (all because of the city) Move dates, locations a number of times, routes a number of times and now starting time.  Soon they will want us starting at 3:00am so less people get 'inconvenienced'. I'm sure if we were not all riding motorcycles we would be opened with wide arms and the mayor would join in on the 'parade'.

Here is a thought, stop asking the city for permission and start calling the MRFD a protest against the ignorance of people that do not care about cancers in men.  That way we could just go through the city in the middle of the day and stop all traffic.  LOL

The reason I did go... a very good friend was saved from prostate cancer, he now rides every year.  He asked if we wanted to join him again this year.  A brother is worth more to me than a board of directors of a charity that allow themselves to be walked over.

We had a blast as usual, big stories, smiley faces, good friends.  Waiting, not so much fun.

PAWS

Bikers

I don't usually rank, honest but this will be one... sorry stop reading now if you like :)

There are a lot of RIDERS out on the streets now, they like to think they are Bikers.  They are not! plain and simple.  I have long heard the saying $30,000 and a leather jacket does not make you a Biker.  Well you know what, a motorcycle of any kind and whatever you wear on it does also not mean that you are a biker either.

I am truly tired of these silly little 'biker clubs' also that seem to be springing up everywhere lately.  I'm sure you all know the clubs, 'Family Friendly', anyone can join we don't care what you ride. The idea of finding like minded individuals to ride with is great and I actually like the idea that I will be easily able to identify these riders when I see them also so I guess thanks are in order.  One of my main issues with these organizations is that they put rules around how they ride together and think that now that they know these rules they are bikers and can lead others.  They then go and say people that know these rules real well can be 'Road Captains' or 'Tail Gunners' ( I always laugh at that one), they don't care how you ride, how long you have ridden, hey they passed the test, let them lead they know the rules.  One of the clubs around here I take a personal dislike for, it's really too bad also because I know there are some bikers in this group.  I know for a fact that they have 'promoted' people that can not ride to save their lives (I have seen it first hand) become 'Road Captains' and 'Officers' of the club.  For this, I paint the whole club with one brush stroke, wrong to think this way, yes but too bad, if they knew better they would say something.

I know you can find like minded individuals to ride with, anywhere.  It comes from talking with them, riding with them, then decide.  And after more riding, talking, if they are not like minded get on your bike and go the opposite direction.

So why the rant.  Today I rode my bike in a funeral procession for a biker. Yes I said biker, not rider.  he didn't have the best bike, was not even the type of person most people would bother to get to know. but he didn't pretend, he rode, whatever the weather and whenever you needed him and rode well.  He didn't call himself a biker others did, see there's the secret.  We led the procession, something I thought was wrong, it was his last ride he should have been in front, but I didn't know all the bikers see it was bad weather that usually separates riders from bikers but unfortunately a rider was leading the bikes, I was in the middle.  We took off, the procession was not up with us, the motorcycles were taking off and leaving my buddy behind.  NOT COOL!!!  I dropped back, that line was never more than 30 meters behind me, if a car came between us I got them out of there, that is what needed to be done. We finally caught up to the rider leading, he didn't think anything was wrong, I turned away, I had to say goodbye.

There are lots of codes out there, ways to 'be a biker', know a biker etc.  I got only one thing to say about that.

Your a biker when a old, good rider, biker introduces you as a biker he knows.  that's it, that's all.

RIP brother, you will always be a biker in my eyes.

PAWS

PSA & MRFD

May the 4th be with you... ok it's a cheesy joke but hey it is the 4th.

I did something today for the first time ever.  I went and had a PSA test done.  As you may have seen every spring I do the MRFD, and this year will be no different.  But this year they held their second annual PSA clinic.  Now the MRFD is a great organization and they know how to do things right, no excuses.

They advertised all over, Saturday May 4th will be their clinic, sent out emails, posted on Twitter, Facebook, radio etc.  It was only going to be for 2 hours (9:00am till 11:00am, remember this is all volunteers.  So at 10:00am I remember, only 1 more hour of the clinic so...  I jump on the meanie and head over. I entered the hospital grounds and in true MRFD fashion there are signs pointing straight to the free parking every 50' or so.  In I went, parked my bike and the volunteers directed my way.  Smiling faces everywhere, I was in sitting in a chair in not less than 5 min.  The nurse was FANTASTIC, can I say that again, FANTASTIC, another couple minutes I was done.  On my way out of the building and more volunteers saying THANKS to me for showing up?  Strange eh, they might be saving my life and they are saying thanks.

So within 10 min I have had the blood drawn for the test and am on my way, no rubber glove, how could you not go.  I will be telling all my 'older' male friends next year come this time to come with me.  How can you not get checked knowing it is this easy.

Thanks to all at the MRFD PSA clinic, I will continue to get checked!  Here's hoping for good news from the test results.  Now to go raise more money for this great organization.  The ride this year in Ottawa is June 1st.

PAWS

ever have one of those days

so what is worst, knowing that it is going to snow on the 12th of april or work just sucking...

work won out today, the worst day ever for me professionally, I didn't get 'canned' but I'm really wondering why I am still with this company, stay tuned, I could just pack it all in and head for the hills.

The upside would be that I could ride a heck of a lot more, the downside...  I still owe way to much on too many things.

Wish me luck
PAWS

Spring Riding

I took the little bike out of the shed about 2 weeks ago, actually right after our little trip to Montreal.   Then it decided to get real cold again, the kind of cold that gave us another 5~10 cm so snow.  But this week the temperatures started to rise again and now about 1/2 the snow on the front lawn is gone (yes the pic shown is with 1/2 the snow gone, we can now see the neighbours house ) I once again went back out to the bike shed.

With the temps around 5c I decided I had to ride.  I hooked up the wiring for my heated vest ( a little luxury that I picked up at the motorcycle show this year ), I will be able to wear it on any of the bikes, I have wiring sets for all of them and went out for a ride.  I decided to take a quick pic before I headed out on the road.

I went down and around the Rideau river to a little town near us, about 45 kms round trip.  The roads were pretty wet around hilly areas and I was a little fearful of Black Ice which I have hit in past springs and it is not fun.  The one year I hit it was on a morning ride going to work, it is/was the only time I have had the thoughts going through my head "I'm going off this bike, when should I go to cause the least impact", yes that time I was very much thinking this thing is going to go down and I don't want to go with it.  There was also a point where it started to rain, another bad thing for spring riding, you don't want to be cold and wet.

But I have to say the heated vest did help the ride.  I had heard how the vest will keep your 'core' warm and in that way your extremities will also stay warm.  I'll admit I was a little sceptical, but about half way through my ride my fingers were cold but got no colder.  So I have to say I am now a believer and will use the vest for all my cold riding days.

It is so great to be out riding again!  Bring on the warmer weather, one bike out, 2 to go and one project  bike to get started on.

PAWS

Weekend Away

The winter may finally be going, well at least we can all hope and we should all be riding soon.  It was decided that we ALL needed a weekend away.  Of course with our busy schedules that was going to be tough but, you don't know my wife.  She picked a weekend, got the Monday off (I had already got the day off for the kids March Break), found a place for the pooch and then booked a room in Montreal.

Like all good planning my work started to get in the way.  A release started to go long, I tried staying as late into Friday as i could before dropping off the pooch but...  it didn't look good.  The look I got told me we were going no matter what.  It was the 'suck it up princess' look, we booked the room lets go.  Off we are, we had a nice time yesterday, as we came into the city my son got to check out a lego store that he has been wanting to get to Brick Republic to pick up some very specialized pieces.  Then it was off to the hotel.

We are staying downtown, at the Hilton Bonaventure and as you come in you get to see the attraction the kids are waiting for, the outside pool that is open year round.  'Yes' we tell them we will go swimming, 'No' we tell them not right now.  'Yes' we tell them before you go to bed :).

We check in and then it's off for a walk around downtown, a little shopping, dinner (with a few emails from work, but it looks to be done now) and then back to the room.  We went for the swim, it was great to be outside on a cold March night in downtown Montreal, looking at the stars and swimming outside.  Everyone got to bed and now the sun is up and I have gone for coffee, on my way I pass the pool, it looks even nicer early in the morning.

Siting here my coffee is done, people are moving, time to get exploring!  What are you doing on the laptop dad ;)....  off we go!

Where's my bike is what I'm thinking now, it is in the + degrees this morning :).

PAWS

Snow

I guess I should not really be surprised by a snow storm coming through the great white north in February, but somehow I think 25 cm is a bit much, it was just starting to feel like we would not have to shovel again.  On top of that my 30 + year old snow blower has decided to finally roll over and die.

This is what my back yard looks like.

Can you guess where my bikes are kept?  I make sure a path is there so I can get them out even if the snow is not all gone :).

Come on spring,
Later
PAWS

Drifter

So pictured above in the title bar of this blog is my last bike, it is a 1999 Kawasaki Drifter. I sold it a couple years ago (yes I need to update the photo, I'll get to that this year), and I think it may have started me wanting to get my old bikes back, I still miss riding that one.

I had a lot of custom leather work that I did on that bike, Tank bib, mud flaps, side tool bag, grips, braided leather on the levers and a rear fender bib.  While I was working the motorcycle show in January the guy I sold her to came by, I immediately asked if he wanted to sell her (I had to try :) ) he said no way, but maybe if he ever got his Harley,  I told him I would be interested if he did.  We kept talking and he let me know that the Fender Bib I had done for him (I took the one off I had on it, I didn't think he would want one with PAWS on it) had fallen off one ride this summer.  So I volunteered right away to make him a new one, this worked out well for me as I now have an email address and a point of contact.  You know just to keep in touch, in case he ever wants to sell, I'll keep asking, maybe he'll sell it to me just to stop the harasment.

Here is the progress of the custom fender bib for HillBilly.  I hope he likes it.
Started with laying out the outside boarder pattern:

Then the tooling was done, I kept it simple, sometimes that is the best:

Next came the dying, he said he may paint the bike a flat black so I thought I should get some black in the design:
Finally the lacing, this takes a while but I think it sets my work apart:

I'll let you know what he thinks.
Till next time,

PAWS

Cold

I just had to post, this is when living in the great white north is not fun...  it is now - 31' c, with the wind -40'c.  you don't even think about riding in this cold.

Well most people wouldn't, it just makes me focused on getting at trailer this coming summer. At the end of next season I am going to make sure my bike is nice safe and sound in a trailer and when it gets this cold I'm going to take it somewhere I can ride.

Now that I've written it, it must happen right :).

I'll leave with a few things I've been working on to pass the time. Belt buckles.

Paws

Motorcycle Shows

Ok, so the start of a new year always brings Motorcycle shows to the great white north (btw, this year we are living up to that name even here in Ontario)

Last week I went down to visit the Toronto International Motorcycle show, now this is a big show!  I go down every year, this year was good as I got to go down with my wife, last minute changes meant we got a day together (and a night away) just the 2 of us.

There were some interesting bikes a little bit of everything:

And this past weekend I worked the Ottawa Motorcycle show for the OSC which meant I attended my second show in as many weekends.  Now this show does not offer as much as the Toronto one but hey, at least they are trying.

So I passed away the winter blahs looking at more bikes, can it really be all that bad :).  I'll leave this post with one last pic, this is the newest little brother to my mean streak, a 2013 Vulcan Custom,  I like it, just needs another 700 cc's.

Let me know if you like the pics, I got plenty more...

PAWS

That went well

Ok so not, went a whole year without doing any posts and now were back in January.

I did just go down to the Toronto International Motorcycle Show and had a great time with my sweetie.    Got a brand new Bristol Jacket and a Heated Vest!  that should make the winter riding up here much better.

I'll post more this year, to start here is a wallet I just finished:

I think it turned out pretty well, biker style but the regular size.  I still need to work on how the inside is put together.

Here's another thing finished this last year, a set of saddle bags for the little bike, (did I mention I got a couple more bikes, one is a project [I'll step through it here] and another is an old course bike [remember I teach riding with the OSC]) they turned out pretty well for a first try at doing multiple styles:

I feel much better now, got a post in on the new year, posted some recent work, lets see how this all rolls forward!

Happy New Year
PAWS