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

New Year

OK, new year,,, I'll do better... I swear LOL....

Leather tutorial is underway, soon to come,

Motorcycle show in TO this Friday January 6th, I'll write about when I return...  I also plan to ride every month this year... in Ottawa, that will be a feat!

Till I get going... ride safe
Paws

100

It's been hot, I've been focused on work and teaching (2 weekends in a row).  So here I am in the middle of our summer with no trips planned...  My better half is off on an adventure 2 weekends from now... I'm on kiddie duty.

The great thing is however I have reached the 100 day mark.  What is that you ask?  I have ridden 100 days this year.  A lot of people (even ones around here) think we do not ride much in the nations capital, you hear things like "we have a short riding season" or "winter lasts too long to ride much".  But I'm hear to tell you no way, we have a great riding season, you just have to get out and enjoy.

I have only one 'rule' when it comes to riding.  When riding to work, I will not ride if it is raining when I need to leave.  Working in a office it is not good to be wet all day but, on the way home, who cares, you can dry off and get a change of clothes when you get there.  This has meant that I commute most days, and I'll also start riding as soon as the salt is off the roads...  layers people, you can still ride!

I'm a little behind last years mark, on this day last year I had 102 days of riding in.  But I still have might sights set on beating last years 195 days riding...

So tell me this, if you added it up (yes I actually do keep track), how many days do you ride in a year???

Sorry gotta go ride now and add to those days....
Paws

Happy Birthday

A special treat for living in the nations capital is being able to enjoy Canada Day (July 1st) with about 300,000 of your closest friends.  My daughter especially likes this day and being able to go downtown, wonder around, see the sites and take in the people (she also must see the fireworks at night over the Parliament buildings...). It becomes a real zoo of people, but hey it is only for one day, so why not enjoy and just go with it.

We tried to leave early... that didn't work too well as we moved outside the neighbours were gathering, you see the night before we had been awakened by a phone call, one of our neighbours was going into labour, she had asked my wife to go over and watch their daughter if/when the time came...  and the time had come.  So there had not been much sleep for my wife either, the call at 12:30, their daughter up at 5:30...  now all the folks had to have the scoop...  as it turned out, they were already back from the hospital, new baby boy in tow... that kid will always have a party on his birthday.

We finally got going, we had decided this year to bike up to the hill, this would be a first but we thought this way no waiting for buses and we could leave when we wanted.  We took a route along the river and the bike paths to downtown.

Once we got downtown we spotted a parking lot they had set up just for bikes, this was a few blocks away from the hill but it also had security, so no need for locks, and also the cost was only a donation to one of the local bike clubs...  good deal I thought as one of the worries in the back of our heads was how do we make sure our bikes are still there when we want to leave.  As we came out and started towards the hill we were hit with the reality, the 'royal watchers' were out... you see last year the Queen was in town, and really that was not too bad, but this year Will & Kate were in town, and the crowds were on hand and growing.

We had to move around the hill, we actually had to go down 2 blocks before we could move freely. and worked our way around the crowds to Major's Hill Park, having to cross the roads were the royals would come by.  We thought this was a good plan as everyone would be watching there, we could look around at the tent with less crowds.  At the park every year there are displays from the provinces, and major retailers giving away product, we got ice cream and coffee even some soft drinks, and of course squeaky cheese ...

It was a very hot day and the kids were looking tired, so we decided we would head home... unfortunately the royals were now done and wanted to go home ( to Rideau Hall ) which meant that everyone had to wait for them to pass, not really a big deal but because of where we were it was like we were on a island and had to wait for them to pass. So we waited, a good 1/2 hour in the sun... this was not helping the kids any.  But we did see the royals, well Will anyway through an open window, if you look really hard you can see him...

We finally made it back to our bikes and headed home, everyone was tired, and hot but eventually we made it back along the river...  the boy stayed outside to play with the twins next door, he later said it was a great day.  The wife headed off for a nap...  being a good neighbour and mother is tough at times.  the daughter had a cold bath, tried to cool down and did make it to see the fireworks (a last minute car ride to a viewing spot and she was happy). And myself, well that is how we make this still about bikes...

I headed off to the yearly trip many from Ontario make on Canada day, you see... our province sells beer in special stores, this being a holiday those stores were closed.  But across the river...  ahhhh the dapanneur's sell beer any day of the week...  So a ride across the bridge to la belle province and we had cold beer for after the nap, a good day all around.

Happy Canada Day to All

Paws

Laconiawesome (wet weekend)

Day ONE - 436 kms:
     My better half decided to see us off so we headed out to breakfast a little late (we had to make sure the kiddies were on the bus) and met up with most of the group a little after 8:00 am, we would meet up with 2 more in Kempville after we ate.  We rode off to meet up with the other 2 and that is when our adventure started just after 10:00 am.  My wife stayed behind as we rode off, she went for coffee and a person in line looked at her strangely... she told him how she had to watch the kids...  he thought we had left her behind.
   The boarder crossing into the US was not an issue and we started our ride into NY state.  It started off as any country ride but after we hit the sign that said Adirondack State Park it got a whole lot more fun.  Up and down hills and lots of long drawn out curves all along Hwy 3 through the park, at the 210 km mark we arrived at Tupper Lake for our first fuel up.   

     By 2:00 pm we were back on the road, on our way along Hwy 30 then 28 through the Adirondack's, past Long Lake, watching the creeks, rivers and lakes pass by as we snaked our way on to Lake George.  Just before Lake George we started see many bikes passing us by in the opposite direction, I assumed they were coming from Americade.  As we made another turn we came into a small town with bikes lining the street, Warrensburg Bike Week was on, we should have pulled over and taken a look but our group got separated by some cars so it was just not meant to be.  But of course the silver lining is that will just be part of the next trip to Laconia!
     We started to see signs that Lake George was just 5 miles.

     This however was not our final stop that day, we traveled another 45 mins. down Hwy 87 into Cliffton Park where we would spend the night before heading back up to Lake George to take in Americade.

Observations for the day...
      Awesome roads... great trip so far other than waking up to rain... not a big fan of rain (oh no....)
     Great weather, fabulous roads, good friends...
     Awesome ride down, Hot and Sunny, Great Scenery.
     Great route, pushing bikes is fun!! Lesson - always wear sun screen

Day TWO - 351 kms:
     Well we awoke to a light rain that appeared to be stopping.... that's not too bad.  We had a few hours before we were going to leave the hotel, the rain did not stop, then our bike that needed to be push started most of the day yesterday would just not start.  We tried to figure it out, there was nothing obvious so, we managed to push it to get going and we were off to Lake George.
     I can't really say I enjoyed Americade, it was just too spread out for me.  I like to be able to park my bike and explore most of what is going on.  There was one bike that appeared to be home made that everyone stopped and took a picture of, we were parked near it and watched all the attention it drew.  The light rain continued and just did not seem to want to stop.

     We left Lake George just after 1:00 pm and took Hwy 9L to hook up with Hwy 4, if you ever get the chance make sure you ride these 2 road, they are tree covered, up and down, sweeping curves that just bring a smile to your face.  The sun might not have been shining but it just didn't matter.  We then headed along Hwy 7 to hook up with Hwy 89, and then we had issues... 
     At around 2:00pm we stopped for a quick drink, the one bike would just not start, we tried boosting it with a car but it would not keep an idle.  We was decided that a new battery was in order, but where to get it.  I took off in search, found a garage that knew were a bike shop was, Puppy showed up with the battery, just in case I needed it for size.   After calling the shop they said we could get a battery but they were closing in 15mins...  who closes a bike shop on a Saturday a 3:00pm!!!  Puppy headed off to get the battery and I went back to the group to update them on our progress.  The battery came, the bike started, the rain started to come down hard, and we were off. 
     We hooked up to the 89 and the rain was bad, up and down these valley's the temperature can change a lot, we were getting cold, we decided better safe than sorry (we were only about 30 miles away from our stop) to pull over and warm up. That was a very good decision, peoples hands were shaking from the cold trying to drink coffee...  there are times that you just know you should stop, I'm glad we had the common sense to do it, we were back on the road and came into Concord, NH

Observations for the day...
     Awesome ride??? Yeah, not so much!  Rain, Rain, Rain!!! But, a new battery, a warm room and a shower, the memories??? PRICELESS
     Awesome Roads but not so nice weather.  Weather was cold but the route we took to NH was amazing
     Yet another fantastic route, fantastic architecture, we freaked some old guy when asking for a boost, Ahhh the Joy!


SPECIAL NOTE:  A new hand gesture is born this day,  a tribute to Squirrel  ;o)

Day THREE - 254 kms:
     It looked like it was going to clear up, but a light sprinkling would not stop, it did not matter we headed off up the back road to Laconia on Hwy 106.  No helmet laws in NH. I took advantage of the opportunity, the state motto 'Live Free or Die'  I think this is how they lose bikers....

     We arrived coming in the back roads and parked right at the beach at the foot of the sign to Weir's Beach.

     We walked around, I got the patch, got the T-shirt, saw some special bikes, too many to post here other than a favourite I saw.

     We rejoined the group and got the proof of our goal accomplished.  (and a salute to Squirrel  ;o)

     Out of Laconia at about 2:00pm on Hwy 3 which lead up to the 25 along lakes and rivers, looking up into the mountains and the clouds.  I'll have to come back along this way again, I had ridden the 3 in the past but never the 25, I need to take it and stop more to take in this beautiful part of the country.  The rain never really stopped, it was constant all afternoon but was not as bad as the afternoon before. 

     A short hop onto the 89 north and then down Hwy 100 we pulled into the White Horse Inn in Waitsfield around 5:30pm.  We went off to a little place down the road called the Easy Street Cafe which served us up a great meal with beer from the state of Vermont.  Back at the Inn we congregated in the great room where we enjoyed a fire and good conversation, what a great way to end the day!

Observations for the day...
     The ride to Vermont was Spectacular!  Saw a dog pee on another dog - very funny!
     Rainy day again, Laconia was awesome, got me some new boots.  In the middle of the wilderness right now at an inn in Vermont, thinking of the Newhart show.
     What can I say but more freakn' rain!  Beautiful ride into Vermont.

Day FOUR - 443 kms:
Homeward bound...
     We woke up early, and had a great breakfast prepared by our hosts at the inn then it was time to hit the road, first up Hwy 17 up and down a mountain, this is the road I was waiting for, unfortunately we were once again faced with wet road, and this road being a challenge we did not want it wet.  Once we were onto the road, wet won out... better to be safe and go slow then faster and crash coming home.  I will however need to come back and ride that route a number of times, once will not be enough.
     We continued on our way, through many curves and bends until finally the Sky's looked clear, everyone stopped and took off their rain gear, and talked about the road we had been on so far that day.  Back to more riding and when Vermont ended... a little ferry ride over to NY was in order.  Somewhere along the line rain suits had to come back on also, that was going to be the cycle this day, on and off rain suits.

     Once in NY we again carried on with the twisty roads and beautiful scenery along Hwy 22 and 9N.  We went by Lake Placid on Hwy 86 and then stopped for Lunch at the 'Tail of the Pup' a strange little place in the Adirondack's... BBQ and seafood mix, the rain had stopped for a little while but the sky's were very Black and we would hit more rain.

     Back on the road and heading to Malone and Hwy 37, the last fun filled road on our adventure.  People were starting to get tired, it was a long day and at the Boarder we made plans to hit the highway and get home asap.  More rain hit us on Hwy 416 on the last part of our ride and then home safe and sound.

Observations for the day...
     A Great adventure had by all.  Thanks for the wet roads, the fine scenery and the companionship of just riding...  not a care in the world.  We may get wet but it is better than working.  Curves, that's why we ride.

Paws

Motorcycle Ride For Dad

First Saturday in June...  the kids are off at the grandparents, we have a early start.  6:30am we are on our way to meet for breakfast before the parade, we are suppose to be getting into the top group of riders, those with special permission to run up front.  We need to get there early to make sure this happens, if it doesn't we'll need to go to general population ;o).

We meet up with everyone, we were over 20, I was thinking there is no way they will let this many people in, our escort a retired RCMP officer said no problem.  Breakfast went very late, we had only 1/2 hour till start time when the parade left, I was thinking this better work.  Guess what, it did, as we rode up to the start there was an enormous Canadian flag between 2 ladder trucks from the fire department there to ride through to start the parade.

Being at the start of the parade is different.  The big advantage is that you don't have to stop and start during the parade route, it is a constant flow straight through.  One thing I missed was there is a point in the route that you crest a hill and normally we would only see a constant stream of motorcycles in front of us leading the way, well with only about 100 bikes in front we only saw the lead police bikes ahead and empty road...  different but still a great experience.  Now a HUGE plus is that you are the first bikes into the stops of the poker run also which means you are some of the first out also...  Poker stops look like this, a confusion of bikes, coming in and going out.

We had great weather the entire day, a little overcast but great to ride in.  Another post I now need to get up for the enjoyment of others is how to move a large group through traffic.  For most of the ride I was back in the pack, we were getting separated a lot at lights, stop signs, and yields... I sure don't like that but the people up front, didn't seem to see any issues, well after lunch and a gas stop, I thought enough is enough.  I got to the front and from that point on, the pack did not stop.  I blocked at traffic circles, stop signs and lights, when I was finished (the pack was through) I would speed up to the front to do it all again (remember we had a retired police officer riding with us, and at times I thought, once a cop, always a cop, this may not turn out well...) this moved the group pretty well, some members had not seen this happen before so it was a little hairy for me to come back up around.

We made it to the last stop with the group still intacted and way quicker than expected.  And guess what, the first person to come up to me after was our friend the officer.  Here I am thinking... lecture time.  Out comes a hand and a big thanks for getting the group through so well, he says it was nice knowing they could keep moving, then his wife and others start saying the same thing...  It's nice to know at heart, we just care about each other and the ride...

At the end of the day a few more than 2300 people had registered (not sure how that translates to bikes) and over $400,000 raised for a very good cause.  There are rides all over Canada currently and I know interest to bring the ride to other countries, if you can, ride the ride and support it, as a male... I'll say thanks for doing it right now, and if you are male, you might want to thank those that ride the MRFD!  1 in 6 of us will get prostate cancer...  Think about it!

Paws