Zen 1, 2 ,3...

Sunday Sunday... so good to me.

Why is it we adore weekends so much?  After all, I haven't "worked" now for two years, there's been plenty to occupy my time, yet... I love the weekend.


It's a very bright sunny day here on Prince Edward Island.  About five degrees Celcious, quiet, cats fed, sitting here doing a Blog update.

As I often do, its days like this that cause me to think back.  To where I was, and how I got here, and what it means to me to Be Here.

First of course, before I do that, I have to feed the felines, give everyone a pet or two behind the ears for Abby, a full length rub for Willy, and under the chin for Phoenix.  Put the coffee pot on, not so much because I love coffee, but I know when Brenda wakes up, we love to share that experience.

Took a couple of books up last night at random.  I read a lot, like it.  This handful included a volume from my collection of WW 2 history, Bill Brysons, "In a Sunburned Country" and a very old classic, dating back to 1974 (when I got my BMW R60/5) by Robert Persig... yes, it's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"  

 
This morning after the aforementioned felines ware sated, I picked up the Persig novel.  If you've ever read this book, you know it has little to do with actual bike mechanics, and I'm not certain much to do with Zen either.  More importantly, if you don't get too deep into the philosophy, you can imagine the ride.  That is if you ride.

Me, I've been in a lot of places in my life.  From the early days of venturing to the far side of Edmonton, to the Rockies, Baja, and the old World.  I can still remember rides smelling the newly planted fields, salt water, and desert stillness.  Like life itself, the road can be rocky, smooth, up and down but never, ever boring.  Even if you were traveling the prairies, you're bound to notice something out there.

I've been a machinist first class, a financial guy, owner of motorcycle shops, a mechanic, a Dad, a lover and even a fighter.  The odd time I've even sat at the rest stop, resting of course.  But not for long.  Life moves along regardless of what you or I do about it.  Our time is limited and you can choose to be a passenger, sitting in the back seat of the car, watching it go by, maybe even asleep, or you can choose to be the rider.

 

Turn signal switch on the left, throttle on the right, fuel between your legs. 



There is really no right or wrong to it all.  We do the best we can with what we have to work with.  Every year, is a new opportunity to do that thing you've wanted to do.  Maybe it's to write that great Cdn novel, maybe restore that old Mustang.  Who knows, maybe you'll do that adventure you've always wanted, the African Safari or a visit to the zoo. 

Each day that you have a pulse, its a chance to take, risk something, climb a little higher, dream a little longer, smell the roses while drinking that cup of joe...

Zen... who cares about zen?

Life... now that's something I care a lot about... 

Cool... ?

My Velo 150

Scene:  Frank climbing back under the covers this morning;

"Oh Frank... you're so cool."

"Like the Fonz?"

"Ummm, no... like your legs are cold."

"Oh."

This past week, the subject came up more than once, in totally different ways and from different angles  I'm not even sure when the word entered the English language or how it got subverted to mean, "in" or "right on" or "hip."

a : marked by steady dispassionate calmness and self-control cool

and calculating administrator — Current Biography> b : lacking ardor or friendliness cool impersonal manner>
b : very good excellent:; also fashionable, hip : cool

My friend Mike was over the other night.  We were looking at ways to mount a set of soft saddlebags to his XV 650.  Of course they were of the faux leather, fake buckled, shaped and cool type, associated with those bikes.  Mike rode an SR250T many years ago, and to say, he's been salivating, feeding barely dormant, the bug for decades now would not be a misnomer.  After my arrival last September, he/we went and purchased a very nice 650 V Star.  Bike* is in great shape, low to the ground, twin side pipes of course, and feet waaay out there.  In other words, it's "cool."

Mike

He hasn't ridden for a long time and has some reservations, but is determined to give it the old college try.  We started with the basics last fall in the local elementary school parking lot.  Balance, clutching, starting and stopping around some pylons.  

Chris, his son.

During our talk, I suggested, as I have to many people over the years, that maybe he should consider any number of mid displacement scooters as an alternative.  Sitting in my spare office chair, he gave me a most definite "I wouldn't be caught dead on one of those things, they just aren't "cool" looks accompanied by a frown that added, "how could you even suggest that?"

Rock stars, pretty "cool"

Even my very long time pal, Ronnie M. and I had this talk at various times over the years.  Now here's a guy that's been riding since knee high to a grasshopper, and for a long time had a sports touring version of Honda's six, the CBX, and finally, in his mid sixties, he's added a scooter to his flock.  It's a Suzuki 650 twin, and he just loves it.  Comfy enough, fast enough and yes... even "cool" enough.


Back in '82, as Yamaha was introducing it's CV 80J (Beluga) to Canada, as a separate line to its motorcycles, I was one of the first, if not the first to sign up and take them on.  After the initial season went by, I found that dealer reception had been luke warm or even 'cool' but in a cold way.  Why?  Turns out most of the existing dealer body, that cut their teeth on proper motorcycles, thought the little two up fan cooled two stroke single, just wasn't cool.  After all, as I'd heard, what self respecting motorcyclist would be caught dead on a scooter.  (Mods and Rockers anyone?) 

 

Course those were the same days when I was advertising motorcycles and training to women, after having operated a very successful NTP for years with a lot of women participants.  My ads aimed at attracting women (which then represented about 1% of the riding public) were met 'cooly' by the co-op folks at the manufacturers level.  I'd heard not once, but many times that "it was a waste of money, trying to attract females to the club."  

My Adventure 150  (Phoenix)

Well guess what... thirty years on, scooters are now considered cool, and women make up 35% of the new riders these days.  

Recently sold, SD Sense

How cool is that?

:)* PS Mike bought the 650, from a female rider!

Provincial Parks

ONE of the greatest things about living near the Rockies during my long stint in Calgary, was the abundance of parks.  Within an hours ride/drive, there are many great getaways for a picnic, hike, bike or paddle.

For anyone living in the area or contemplating a visit, check out the Provincial website for info on what is on offer.  Several of my favorites are located in Kananaskis.  There's Peter Lougheed, Sheep river, Elbow falls, and Bow Valley. Nearer to town, are Big Hill Springs, and the newest, Glenbow Ranch.

When living within a bustling metro like the Stampede city has become, it sure is good to know that within minutes, you can find a quiet city park, or not much farther afield, a natural getaway. 

For me over the years I was self employed as an independent financial adviser, I had plenty of opportunity to slip away during a weekday, without the crowds and escape to some secluded paradise.

Here's some pics to give you an idea of what I am talking about...

Enjoy the views!

ONE year has passed since I landed on the Island to begin construction of our new digs.  Where does the time go...  

In that time, we have cleared out my life (and Brenda's) in Calgary, sold (or gave away) a tent trailer, travel trailer, a bunch of old motorcycles, furniture, knick knacks, my beloved MGB, and after tremendous hardships, moved across this fabulous country called Canada, to start a new life as Maritimers.



We've experienced a fairly mild winter, bought a quad with a snow blade, a travel trailer, cleaned out (most of) our boxes, got the kid into the school system, had many a coffee with old and new acquaintances, finished a lot of the work on the house that needed doing, had another Phoenix desert story published, acquired two more cats, taken numerous photos, and got the garage mostly organized.





We're in the process of closing a deal on a rental property as income and making plans for a visit to Halifax soon to see Hol and Kevin as they wrap up four years of Masters degree's in architecture. 

Looking forward to our first spring leading into summer... walks on the beaches, riding my grass track, setting up a couple of simple trials sections, getting out and riding on the back roads and scenic routes of the Maritimes. 

 

This week I found the back boundary to our property, and marked it with surveyors tape, Brenda walked 18.5km today unintentionally, and we had a return visit from our fox!

To say we have been busy as beavers, would be a mild understatement.