Kicked in the gonads!

IT's true. You don't have to be a 'male' to get that feeling.

I had really good intentions of heading south for some weeks and get some early season riding in.

We do have incredible sand beaches on the Island

Well as you know, that didn't happen.  The attending frustrations with how things have been unfolding have taken their toll on me in a sense of loss and of course the stress involved with dealing with insurance (which is always such a treat) and ultimately the lack of riding time, of which this spring trip added up to ZERO.

Sure I got to ride my scooter, but then again it is really my only means of transportation while I am down there.

The XT 350 is my Arizona  ADVENTURE BIKE,  and the sum of Adventure miles in the spring of 17... Nada, like I said, Zero.

That feels like the aforementioned feeling.

Of course the Island is really nothing more than a giant sand bar!

I have a very ambitious riding season planned and the early start would have given my riding muscles some much needed post winter exercise.  That will have to wait now.

This is the kind of place XT Yamaha's thrive.

AS compensation, I did talk Brenda into a beach walk a few miles from our home on PEI.  It was a cool windy day but we did find some sought after 'sea glass' which to me is about as interesting as a snail crossing the beach.

However to her, finding these remnants of beer bottles is akin to finding Spanish gold off the coast of Florida!

I did however do a little riding since my return, mostly known back lanes and unpaved roads beginning with the hill just behind our home.  Some still with dirty red snow.

AS you can see my XT 600, which I affectionately call, Big Blue... is lookin' good and working very well.  Some times I am asked which bike I would sell last if I was forced to do, to eat.  

This would very likely be it.  She has taken me (and her sister XT) to a 6000 km ride from AZ to Baja and back.

Pretty as a picture!  Local trout stream.

She (and her sister) made the trek from Calgary to the east coast in my pick-up, and from here ridden the Cabot Trail.  Blue and I will spend more time on the road (and trail) this upcoming summer than perhaps at any time since we moved to the Island.

Last years overnight trek with Trev and his KLR were only a warm  up ride!

Hard to believe this bike was built in model year 1990!

YaHoo!

Sure... it was only an hour and 17 minutes, but it was sunny, reasonably warm, and I was out on my Serow!

Finally rebuilt my S/M deck

After a disappointing 5 weeks spent in a hotel room in Phx AZ, unable to ride my 350 because my residence was in a flooded shambles, I finished my chores for the day early yesterday and with late afternoon sun blazing like it was happy to be alive and full of energy, I was fired up.

I started up the hill from my place in Spring Valley, it's a steep climb and this time of year, rutted and muddy in places. Riding the entire 2.7 km standing up, I realize again how out of shape I am.  For anyone not familiar with off road riding, you have greater control standing on the pegs, using your legs as suspension.

Always something to do around the homestead...

I'd had plenty of experience with such things having ridden MX, trials and trails in my career.  After a winter lay off even with the snow clearing I do, those muscles we use for riding are still in hibernation.  Each and every year I begin the season slowly, building up stiff muscles.  During May I will spend much of my riding time in shorter hops, walking and practicing my rusty skills.

Lobster season is underway, this in the small port of French River

One of my favorite back roads, almost blocked by a fallen tree

Nevertheless, I was whooping in my helmet, blue sky meeting blue ocean at Sea View and generally behaving like a lunatic happy once again to be on two wheels and twisting the throttle. 

There is no need to describe to motorcyclists this feeling of joy, freedom and euphoria you get especially that first ride of the year. It's like the old saying; " if I gotta explain it to you..."


I have plenty of plans this season.  Even being retired, I have lots to do, in fact I have been thinking as of late that I would actually like to be retired!  I'd like to kick back, watch some documentaries on Netflix, ride my bikes, do a little fun wrenching and generally fill my hours with those things that don't require a lot of gray cell matter, and perhaps even the odd cold brewsky! 

With Lisa, Rick and baby William now living nearby, I have made a vow that I would go over once a month for a couple of days (don't want to wear out my welcome) and ride a different street legal bike each time.  I currently have 5 bikes licensed for the road and each of those is capable of doing the trip. 

If I wanted to get there in the shortest time, it's T Bird or V Strom and the highway.  If I feel like a slower pace, I can take my Citicom and the old highway, which is always more infinitely intriguing.  If I was interested in the hillbilly roads, I could take my Serow or XT 600 and turn it into an all day ride either way!

Tributary into Long River

I'd like to ride the entire coast of N.S. this year.  That's something I never did when I operated my Freedom Cycle business back in the 80's.

One of the big attractions for moving back to the Maritimes was in exploring the local history.  Okay it's not Spain or Austria or Italy but compared to Alberta, there are several hundred years worth for me to visit. From my home on the Island I am no more that 6 hours by main drag from the farthest point on the map!

So, if you don't hear much from me over the next 6 months, don't worry... I'll be out riding!

The Bald Eagles are back!