If I were one of the dwarfs...

I could be Goofy...

I could be Sleepy...

or I could be Sicky!  And I am... I've had the monster energy zapping flu bug for a week.

The drive so far has been, well...

Pretty Much a nightmare from Hell frozen over.

Now keep in mind, I know what I am talking about here.  After all, I'd driven Highway 63 about a hundred times in the old days, where -40 (on either scale) was pretty much death  if you had problems, and I did on occasion.

I'd driven Highway 2, and everyone knows that when the blizzards hit from the Rockies, if you can see 10 feet... you're dang lucky.

Then there's PEI, where a white out resembled a State wide KKK convention jammed into a little 10X10 room!

Many times visibility was less than 12 inches.

But today, the drive thru Montana over the Monida pass and into Idaho (closed for several days) was almost too much to handle.  Going into and leaving Idaho Falls, I saw so many cars, RV's and Semi's in the ditches, I lost count.

Wanna hear something funny.  On gridlock SLC I 15 traffic, where we are alternately moving at light speed or not at all... I am startled by a Big Dualie zooming by me in the HOV lane!  Too bad it was dark, cuz that would have been a good pic!  Keep mind... the roads are ice covered for the most part!

More later...

Snow White, and the seven...

After a crummy Motorcycling year, winter arrived with a vengeance this week.  Living on a corner city lot and having two large driveways, there is always an abundance of snow to shovel when the fluff hits.  High winds and steady snow over two days, only succeeded in aggravating my usual back pain.  When this happens, I just seethe over that collision in 2002 that brought this on, changed my life.

Four guys, one 1/2 roofs, 10 hours!

Young guy from Lethbridge, speeding on McLeod, seeing the light change to yellow and seeing me, decided that I would twist the throttle and run the light.  Wrong!  I stopped, he didn't.  The only good news was that the tire squeal from his Mazda was so LOUD that no one moved, except me. I dumped the clutch (was still in gear) and turned the throttle. That extra few yards and the corresponding decrease in impact speed, saved my life.  Still, the after effects linger and will always.  A shoulder without full mobility and a dozen back ligaments stretched beyond their usefulness. 

To add insult to injury, I was caught in the stupid short lived Government decision to cap personal injury claims, resulting in a token settlement after three years!  Naturally, they quickly found the folly of such things and rescinded the cap, but all to no avail for my case.

Anyway, whenever I shovel I think of that episode with disgust. 

No One's Ark heading to her New Home

This week... I was thoroughly disgusted!  I must have been out there 16 times shovelling.

I'm sure glad to be heading to my little home in Glendale in a few days. 

There never seems to be quite enough time to do the things you have to and while still a 'working man' I have an awful lot to do.  Having the www.  allows one to still keep in touch and even though this is a mini holiday for me, I am still going to have to deal with some work issues.

On the bright side... the roofers are done and "No One's Ark" found a new home in Lethbridge with Clark and Ibolya.

Winter has landed!

Some day soon, I would like to leave all that behind and move into the next phase of the Life and Times of Dr N. Thusiast!

 

This will be?  is me... in a few more days!  Deja vu...

Pulleeeeeez!



Palapa # 8... my part time home on several occasions.  Playa Las Cocos.  Bahia Conception 1000km south of CA.



Gosh, I can hardly stand it! I have had my two Serows since my last stint with Motorcycle training in the early 90's. They are 1992 models (really the same as all of them) and they have been most reliable. Apart from routine oil changes and the (very) occasional valve check (they never need adjusting) I have put gas in the tank, lubed the chain and washed the dust/dirt/mud from their bodies. They are veterans of Baja, the Mojave and many jaunts in the backroads of Alberta and British Columbia. Sure they have battle scars, signal lights wearing band-aids from Baja spills, and paint scrapes, but you couldn't ask for a better mid size Dualie. The odd battery replacement and hand lever, have been pretty well the only parts I have used.

                                         



A see/sea view of the Gulf of California, or as we like to call it, the Sea of Cortez.



Course... like losing your Virginity, there is always a first time for everything right! Well prepping for Holly's ride last month, I had to pull the sidecovers, the seat and the tank... then the carb. The fuel was spilling out the overflow like a burst beaver dam! An hour of cleaning and compressed air, seemed to cure the problem, certainly for the day, but since... it's back. I took 643 for a ride Tuesday to drop my overdue? Library books, and the whole time the carb was piddling regular.

I decided to pull it apart toute suite and after calling around found a replacement needle and seat assembly at Seitzco Yamaha in Okotoks. Neither Bow nor Walt Healy had one in stock and the prices varied from mid 40's at WH, to nearly $60 at Bow. Hmmm....

The boys in Okotoks not only had one available, but it was in the low 40's and my long time Yamaha buddy, Ronnie N. (can't tell you his full name because he may still have a Cross Canada warrant for his arrest) a simple credit card transaction, and RN delivered the part right to my door!

I have to tell you guys, after twenty years in the MC biz, and having owned my own shops and having worked for many... there are still the Best and Worst experiences. Case in point, the little Yamaha shop in Metro Okotoks has always been friendly, helpful and cheerful.  I bought my little Phoenix DR from George, and when Ronnie left Bow, he landed in a good spot.

By contrast, Pro-Am, where I worked upon first arriving in Calgary, as their Sales Mgr/trainer, has proven itself to be well, ahem... less than ethical/honest over the years. If my own most recent personal experience is any indication... they continue to be.  It was PA where Ronnie had his first job in Calgary. Yup... I hired him away from Runners Cranbrook and was glad to have him.

After all these years, we are still great buds and have no problem laughing about our PA days over a beer. He's a swell Dad and motorcycle racer guy, and his wife is smokin' hot to boot.




Alone... One day in Baja... broke my ankle on this fall climbing up a rocky goat path.  40km off road and 120km from camp!



Anyway... I digress... easy to do for me...

After dismantling the carb Tuesday past, I find my front tire flat as the proverbial Salt flats of Bonneville!

And I'm leaving in 10 days!!!

That Murphy is always out to get us :)

Ride on gang... and don't forget to Honor the Vets on this Remembrance Day :)

PS.  How do you like the new BLOG layout?