The Blog of Blues

[VermilionX]

i wanna read it too but...

i have megaparagraphobia. i need to pics to be able to read it.

[blues2cruise]

Nalian and roscowgo, I'm glad to hear you have enjoyed the stories.

Vermilion, there are a few pictures along the way. Do you want me to post you a link to one or two?

[blues2cruise]

June 10, 2006

Riding with another man………..and his lady.

I participate on another forum for the riding club I belong to. Sometimes rides are planned on the forum and there is always a good swap of information. Members can also plan things privately via the forum much like the PM’s on TMW.

An individual on the site (I shall refer to him as Starman), who is a member of the club, sent me a PM. He was wondering if I would like to join him for a ride. I was very flattered that he asked given that he is an experienced rider who doesn’t ride with the group very often. He prefers a smaller group of 2 or 3 bikes rather than the dozen or so we have sometimes.

I accepted Starman’s invitation for the ride, but I told him I already had a breakfast date with my brother for Saturday morning. I asked him if meeting him at 9:30 would be ok. He said it would. We made arrangements to meet at the Tim Horton’s near my brother’s place. Starman said he and his girlfriend (she rides pillion) would have their morning coffee and muffins at Timmies there instead of near where they live.

My brother always has a motive. He asked me to bring my camera with me so that I could take some photographs of him while I was there. I guess it was worth having the camera bag strapped around my waist to get there, because he made a good breakfast and really good coffee. I didn’t put my famous blue crate on the bike, because I wanted to make a good impression when I met Starman for the first time. I just wanted to use my small rack bag for the day because I wasn’t planning on hauling any cargo. I left my camera and tripod at my brother’s to be picked up another time.

After breakfast and the short photo session, I left to meet Starman and his girlfriend. We made our introductions and then he gave me a brief rundown of what to expect on the ride. It all sounded good to me.
We “got our motors running, and headed for the highway”. We were “looking for adventure in whatever came our way.”

Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Starman led the way across the bridge and I kept pace with him easily. We had a nice ride happening until we got to the border crossing lineup. Although we were not crossing the border today, the access for Zero Avenue was blocked by the lineup. While we were practicing our slow speed balancing skills moving at a snail’s pace in the lineup, a big white Cadillac slowly inched by and then stopped when it came abreast of me. It didn’t move until I turned my head and saw an old lady smiling and waving at me. I waved back and then she moved on. Starman and I looked at each other and shrugged. We figured that maybe she was a rider in her younger days and was happy to see a woman riding. Starman leaned over and told me that up ahead was the turning lane and that when we got to the yellow gridded lines, that I should follow him. It’s time like that I sure do appreciate that a motorcycle is small and maneuverable. If we’d been in a car, we would have been there for much, much longer.

We crossed the grid and made our left turn onto Zero Avenue. We had barely started riding on Zero, when Starman stopped in the middle of the road. I moved up beside him where upon he pointed out that this had been the location where a tunnel had been dug and eventually found. Zero Avenue is the dividing line between Canada and the USA. Some enterprising folks had dug a tunnel under ground from a house on one side of the border to another house on the other side of the border. They were planning on smuggling drugs…most likely the famous BC Bud…Anyway, when they made their way into the house on the other side, the police were there waiting for them. So much for free enterprise.

We carried on along Zero Avenue for quite a long time. The destination for today was Cultus Lake, so it meant traveling back rural roads through some very pretty farmland. We passed the prison on the way and ventured into the villages in the valley. At one stop sign I happened to glance down at my speedometer. 15,000km. Wow! I made as if to talk, but Starman had already started moving. He made as if to stop but I gestured to keep going. A few meters (yards) past the stop sign he pulled over so I pulled up beside him. I told him it wasn’t anything important, but it was just a milestone moment. He and his lady thought it was worthy of stopping to acknowledge having ridden over 15,000km.

We made a pit stop for Starman and while we were still at the service station an old guy in a van dropped by to yak. He was intrigued by the two bikes. He thought they were Harley’s at first, but Starman soon set him straight. “Notice any oil dripping on the ground?” LOL
He was quite a character. He looked like he belonged in an era gone by. After he left, we mounted up and carried on into Cultus Lake. Starman knew exactly where he was going. I followed him into a parking lot where we stopped for lunch. It was extremely casual. We sat outside on the patio which was decorated with picnic tables. The washrooms were outside around the corner of the building. I was surprised by the quality of the coffee. Quite good, actually. We dallied there for a bit talking about some of our different experiences before moving off and riding around the lake. After we circled the lake, Starman led me into the Columbia Valley. It was so beautiful. I had never been in there before so I was somewhat in awe of the surroundings.

That is if you could ignore the wire fencing everywhere. The land was part of the Department of National Defense. It was to keep trespassers out, but unless it is electrified, it won’t keep anybody out who is nimble enough to climb a fence. Looking up to the mountainside, a visible scar could be seen. This was the dividing line between Canada and the USA. It reminded me of a time when I went hiking with some friends. We had gone out to the Skagit Valley to hike on a particular trail, which actually crossed into the USA. We all joked and speculated how easy it would be to smuggle something across the line via the hiking trail. But, we were all honest folks so it was never likely to happen.

Upon arriving back at the waterfront of the boat launch area, we parked our bikes for a few moments to snap a picture. Then it was back on the bikes to ride through another sleepy little vacation area before leaving Cultus and heading to Chilliwack. We rode over Chilliwack Mountain and along some frontage roads so as to stay off the freeway. Starman stopped again to explain that up ahead at the next bend in the road there is a hawk who hangs around there. He said that the hawk waits for the noise of the bikes to scare the rabbits out into the open so it can swoop down for dinner. The hawk must have been gallivanting somewhere else today for there was no sign of him. The rabbits were safe for another day.

After we came down from Chilliwack Mountain, we were faced with a construction zone. It must have been close to 3 km of gravel. I HATE GRAVEL.
“OK”, I tell myself, “you can do this”.
“Just remember to let the front wheel find its own way.”
“Keep the elbows loose.”
“You did that little dirt biking stint at the tulip festival, you can do this.”
“Slow and steady.”
Starman was quite far ahead of me, but I knew he’d wait, so I just kept going at my comfortable pace. When I arrived at the end of the gravel road pulled up along side Starman and very carefully put the kickstand down. We were beside some railroad tracks. Just as I was getting off my bike, I heard a loud whistle and turned to see the train a coming….heading down the tracks…I wondered if it was the midnight special. 

We stood and watched the train go by; our eyes never leaving the scene. What is it about a train that is so fascinating?

After the train passed and the gate lifted, we headed across the tracks. Starman was leading us back home via a circuitous route and eventually onto a road I knew. It was a gently curving farm road into Fort Langley. We turned right at the stop sign and then an immediate left. I didn’t know where he was going, but I was hoping it was for coffee. I remember his lady had said she would like to stop for coffee. We turned right at the next stop sign and lo and behold…..an ice cream parlour/coffeeshop. We pulled past the cars to find ourselves at a row of bikes. The riders were all on the wraparound veranda talking, drinking coffee and shooting the breeze. Starman managed to squeeze his bike in between some Harley hang glider….or maybe it was an ultra glide…or a Heritage Softail….and a yellow sportbike with a fancy paint job.. I managed to park in between the yellow bike and an SUV.

I suddenly had the feeling I was being watched. I looked up to see all the men watching me. When I took off my helmet, and shook my hair out, there were several smiles and hellos. I smiled back and said hello and just kept walking through the door. It was the ponytail and knee pucks….and the lecherous leer……I ordered a cappuccino and while I was waiting Starman and his lady had secured a table outside. When my coffee was finally ready I went back outside to join them. By this time, the lech (ponytail and knee pucks) had moved over a bit and I sat down beside some other friendly guy. Starman’s lady, the friendly guy and I had a short exchange of conversation while ponytail and knee pucks cornered Starman. Starman didn’t seem to mind….at least it appeared that way. A couple of the other men asked about my bike and went to have a look at it. So far this was a nice place to be.

Well, it was…until Ponytail and knee pucks finally made his way over to me. The only word that came to mind was poser. No, not hoser….POSER. He looked to be several years older than me, but attempting to look 20 years younger than he was. With his grey ponytail and trendy glasses…oh yes and don’t forget the red knee pucks on his leathers, he gave the impression of someone who thought he was so ubercool. He stood in front of me with his leathered pelvis jutted out and asked, “So, how do you like riding?”
(In my head I said to myself “I wouldn’t be riding if I didn’t like it”!) Outwardly, though, I smiled and said, “I love it.” It’s the best thing I ever did for myself.”
He then asked, “How long have you been riding?”
I told him, “A year and a half….I averted a midlife crisis.” I smiled as I said this because it’s a bit of a joke.
He then used the opportunity to start telling me about himself. He started riding a bit over 5 years previous….after he had his coronary. Yes, he had a heart attack and decided I needed to know that. He took stock and decided that he had never learned to ride a motorcycle so after he recovered from his heart attack, he got a bike…and leathers with knee pucks. I’m sorry, but he just looked so silly. This, this, this slimy guy with his (what he probably thinks it is) come hither posture trying to impress. I think Starman knew I was uncomfortable, because he suddenly got up and said we had better get going. All of a sudden ponytail and knee pucks got ready to leave as well. His was the yellow sport bike with the fancy paint job. He was at his bike and pulled on a matching yellow helmet. Of course the ponytail was hanging down the back. I asked him if I was in his way because he gave the appearance of being ready to leave. He shook his head no. I am somewhat slow getting ready.

I backed out and onto the road where Starman was blocking traffic. He had pulled out and done a u-turn to block the road to make it easy for me. What a nice guy. After I pulled out, Starman rode past me to the stop sign and I followed behind. Ponytail pulled out and got in behind me. At first I thought he was tagging along, but he didn’t turn right with us. Starman and I rode to the Albion Ferry where we were directed to the bike waiting area. I pulled up beside him, leaned over and said,”Thanks for getting us out of there.” He only had a quizzical look on his face for a split second, but then he twigged to what I was talking about and roared with laughter. His lady asked what was funny, and when Starman told her, she also had a good laugh. We didn’t have to wait long to get on the ferry. While we were on the ferry, we discussed the route we would use to get home. I followed Starman through Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody and finally to Burnaby where we turned to head South to the freeway. We pulled into a parking lot near where we would go our separate ways. Starman rode all the way to the end of the parking lot and did a u-turn and then stopped. So, I followed suit. I pulled up beside him and smiled as I said, “You just wanted to see if I could do a u-turn, didn’t you?”
He laughed at that. He said he wasn’t sure if was going to be able to do a u-turn. We chatted for a minute and talked about planning another ride. He said he had enjoyed riding with me. He told me I was easy to ride with. I took that as a huge compliment. We said our good-byes and Starman headed off with his lady into the sunset. I headed home because I had a date with “Jake”.

Or so I thought……..to be continued……..

[blues2cruise]

I am sorry to say that I had to tell "Jake" good bye. We had a very extreme difference of opinion in how I should be treated......he turned out to be a bully and I don't like to be bullied. So I said good bye.

Now, I will go write about my first big solo ride......

[Z (fka Sweet Tooth)]

Great blog... love the part when you talking yourself through the gravel road...I tend to do that as well...lol

[zarakand]

I am sorry to say that I had to tell "Jake" good bye. We had a very extreme difference of opinion in how I should be treated. He likes to bully and I don't like to be bullied, so I said good bye.

Now, I will go write about my first big solo ride......

Sorry to hear that he turned out to be a jerk. Looking forward to reading about your first big solo ride.

[blues2cruise]

Friday June 16 through Monday June 19, 2006

My First Big Solo Ride

I was eagerly anticipating my ride to Vernon and back. This was to be my first big trip alone. I have ridden the Sunshine Coast Hwy several times alone, but it only an hour ride and you are never far from help. The ride to Vernon was over 6 hours away via a mountain highway known for sudden extreme weather changes.

At first “Jake” wanted to ride with me, but I politely declined his accompanying me. I need to do some things alone. Then my friend dr_bar wanted to ride part way with me but he had to work. In a way I was kind of glad he had to work. Then another acquaintance asked if he could ride as far as the toll booth with me. I told him only if he really felt like going for the ride. I think he understood that he could come along if he wanted to, but that I really wanted to do this ride alone. The evening before we were to leave, he sent a message saying he was going to be a “No Show”. So, I packed my bag and set my alarm knowing I only had my self to consider.

In the morning, I hauled my stuff out to the garage and packed the crate. I was already dressed for potential bad weather and the gas tank was full of fuel. I was ready for my big adventure. I left about 15 minutes later than I had planned, but my expected time of arrival was only an estimate, so a few minutes late would not cause any worries. I made good time getting to the freeway because I was going against the morning rush hour. Once I got onto the freeway, I was shocked to see the bumper to bumper traffic heading into town. My commute to work is so easy that I am aghast when I see the congestion this early in the morning.

I was enjoying my ride, but feeling somewhat sluggish. I was finding it hard to keep focused. My original plan was to ride to Hope for fuel and for coffee and something to eat. I didn’t make it that far. I realized soon after Langley that I was already hungry. I stopped in Chilliwack for coffee and something to eat. As I was locking my helmet to my bike, a couple of men stopped by to talk to me. I guess they were intrigued by my obvious traveling solo for a trip. They wished me well and hoped I had good weather. They were hoping for good weather, too. It looked like they were going hunting. Just as I was going to walk away, another man stopped to chat. He also said something about the rain to which I responded by showing him my stuff in the crate. The crate was lined with a big clear garden plastic bag. He smiled and wished me well and I finally got to go inside.
After my light breakfast, I felt so much better. This time while I was on the road I could feel the difference in my energy level and my concentration. I continued on to Hope for my fuel stop. Once I fuelled the bike, I didn’t dally in Hope. I headed straight to the freeway that would give me access to the Coquihalla Highway.

I made the turnoff for the “Coq” and felt the sense of adventure that I had been hoping for. The speed on the “Coq” is 110kmh so I twisted the throttle and my 650 took off like a rocket. I handled that road like I had ridden it a hundred times. I think it was because I knew I was alone and had nobody to rely on but myself. Of course over the last couple of months, my skill level has increased considerably, which made this ride all the more enjoyable. When it started to rain, I was unfazed. I had left home dressed for bad weather. As I climber higher into the mountains, I maintained a steady pace. Once I got to where the roads were dry again, I increased my speed to 130kmh. I wouldn’t normally go that fast, but I could see so far ahead of me and so far behind me that I was sure there were no police out to issue tickets that day. There was also very little traffic to worry about and what little there was actually passed me. Besides….I had left a little late, made an extra stop, and I needed to make up a bit of time.

I paid my $5.00 at the toll booth and just kept on going. My next planned stop was at the info centre at the junction to #5 and #5A. I left the highway and got stopped by a red light at the junction. The darn light would not change. Finally a car came the other direction and stopped opposite me. The through traffic lights finally went red, and I was anticipating getting to go. No such luck. The light only turned green for the car opposite me. My bike would not trip the sensor. Dang! So I did what anybody would do in that circumstance. I waited until the way was clear and I rode through the red light. What can I say….when you gotta go, you gotta go. There were two tour buses that had pulled in just ahead of me, but luckily I made it to the washrooms just ahead of the lineup. The passengers off the buses had stopped at the concession first. Phew! I went inside to purchase an up to date map and drink my bottle of juice before getting back on my bike. Once again I had to ride through the red light to carry on for the next leg of my journey.

Next stop….Kamloops. But right now...bedtime.

[jstark47]

Once I got to where the roads were dry again, I increased my speed to 130kmh. I wouldn’t normally go that fast........I was sure there were no police out to issue tickets that day ............ Besides….I had left a little late, made an extra stop, and I needed to make up a bit of time.

Blues!! 130 kmh ???? That's like 82 miles per hour. You've always been the Paragon of Sensible and Conservative Motorcycle Operation on TMW. Now you've been seduced by the Demon Speed into Rash and Unseemly Behavior?? Next, we'll be reading that you've taken up stunting!

I'm shocked!!!!


(heh, heh, heh, hehe)

[blues2cruise]

Once I got to where the roads were dry again, I increased my speed to 130kmh. I wouldn’t normally go that fast........I was sure there were no police out to issue tickets that day ............ Besides….I had left a little late, made an extra stop, and I needed to make up a bit of time.

Blues!! 130 kmh ???? That's like 82 miles per hour. You've always been the Paragon of Sensible and Conservative Motorcycle Operation on TMW. Now you've been seduced by the Demon Speed into Rash and Unseemly Behavior?? Next, we'll be reading that you've taken up stunting!

I'm shocked!!!!


(heh, heh, heh, hehe)

It was simply for research......I would never know otherwise what my bike would be capable of doing.
You're right, though, I am usually the sensible one....but you'd have to see the Coquihalla to know why it was ok for me to go that fast.... stricly for research of course.

The road is wide with clear sightlines for miles. The curves are long and sweeping...not tight twisties.

Once I got into more traffic and near the city limits, I slowed down to the speed limit.
Am I redeemed?

[blues2cruise]

My Solo Journey, Part 2 June 16, 2006

After leaving the info centre and running the red light again, I headed back to the “Coquihalla” (#5) Highway.(“Coke”) The little bit of rain I had experienced earlier was behind me and the highway ahead of me to Kamloops was bone dry. There was a bit more traffic on this section so I would have to ride “with the flow” now. I always find it amazing how on a fast long highway, traffic always seems to end up bunched together.

Try as I may, I could not shake the red van from Washington or the silver sedan from Alberta. They would drop below the speed limit, so I would pass them. I would then pick up my pace and move back into the right lane keeping well ahead of them. Then for some inexplicable reason, the red van would pick up speed and pass me, move in front of me and slow down again. Every so often the Alberta driver would do the same thing. This happened several times until we finally got to the Kamloops city limits area. At the time we arrived to the city limits area, I was ahead of the van and the sedan. The speed drops from 110kmh to 90kmh. I have been through here several times in the past when I was driving Greyhound buses, so I was aware that this was a popular speed trap area for the police. I dropped my speed (with ample warning to the vehicles behind me) to 90kmh. The red van slowed down, but not for long. I suppose he didn’t like the new speed limit, because he finally passed me and when he picked up speed I saw him for the last time. It didn’t take long for the sedan from Alberta to pass me and zoom out of sight.
I don’t know why some drivers do such antics. (rhetorical queston) Are they bored? Are they hoping to engage for a little race? Do they just need to be in front? If so then they should keep up their pace and quit slowing down to below the speed limit.

The highway through Kamloops is a bypass with plenty of exits to get into the city. My plan was to stop in Kamloops for fuel. I suppose it’s both an advantage and a disadvantage to having limited fuel on a bike. It means you have to stop and refuel more frequently which costs time, but on the other hand, it forces you to stop, get off the bike and take a break. Sometimes, it’s too easy to ignore the ache in the shoulder or the bit of fatigue that starts to set in especially when you are getting close to your destination.

I bypassed the main area of the city, thinking I would fuel up a bit farther down the road, when suddenly my bike gave me a lurch… I wasn’t sure at first what I felt so I kept going, but then it did it again. I hadn’t expected to be needing fuel at 230km, but then I thought about it and realized that I had really pushed the bike up those long steep hills so of course it would suck more gas. I reached down and switched the petcock to reserve, and kept riding. I could see a PetroCanada sign down the road, so I planned to pull in there. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize there was no entrance off the highway and I missed the turnoff to get there. At 80kmh, and lots of traffic, one just doesn’t slam on the brakes because of missing an exit. So, I kept going. I figured there would be another gas station along the way. However, after traveling several more km and seeing none, I was beginning to think I would have to turn around and go back to town….and prepare to do some walking…..

Wait…what’s that in the distance….I see a familiar yellow shell shape….I was glad to see there was a gas station up ahead. I really didn’t want to have to backtrack into town. As I left the exit, I felt somewhat disheartened. At first it looked like a card lock only. But it turned out that the card lock is what you see from the highway. The civilian pumps are at the back of the station where there also happens to be a store, washrooms and a pub/restaurant. I fuelled up my bike and pulled it away from the pumps. That is when I realized that the scenery around me was quite lovely. I decided to take a few minutes here to regroup. I went inside to pay for the gas and got myself a cup of coffee and a snack. I then wandered outside with my coffee to enjoy the surroundings. This was one of those times when I was glad I was by myself. I didn’t feel pressured to hurry up. So often when you are with other people, they are always anxious to get going.

I did have people awaiting my arrival, so I couldn’t dally for long, but it was nice to stop and relax for 10 minutes before continuing on my journey. I got back to the highway and began looking for the Vernon exit. It was about 10 minutes down the road. I made the exit and was now on unfamiliar terrain. This next leg of my ride took me a little over an hour. This was the best part of the ride so far. The road was interesting, a bit winding and traveled through some small communities along the way. There were lots of bikers along here, too.

One of the things I like about being in the motorcycling community is the camaraderie. When you are riding in the city, another biker who passes you may lift the fingers off the grip or nod the head as an acknowledgement, but out on the Coquihalla, there seemed to be something different. Instead of the discreet little wave with the hand down, other solo riders out here on the “Coke” waved high and long. It was almost as if there was a bond between us because of taking on the challenge of going solo through the mountains. Whatever it was, I liked it. It made me feel somewhat secure in thinking that if I ran into problems, someone would stop to see if I was ok.

I must admit, by the time I was approaching Vernon, I was glad the ride was coming to an end. I didn’t realize it was that far from Kamloops to Vernon, so mentally, I hadn’t been prepared for the distance. Looking ahead I finally saw some of the signs I had been told to watch for. I saw the sign for the Spallumcheen Golf Course and knew I was almost there. I saw the sign for the road I had to turn on, and signaled and made my turn onto their twisty little access road. I must say, that my friend gave me quite good directions. I found their place and pulled into their driveway. My friend was outside to greet me even before I could get my helmet off. She had heard the rumble of the engine as it pulled in.
It was great to be here and lunch was being served……They had made room for my bike in their garage and it sat safe and secure for the next 2-1/2 days while my friends and I played tourist.

Next…..the journey home.