The Blog of Blues

[blues2cruise]

Nice Pics Blues.... I envy all the group riding you get to do.

Are there any riding clubs near you?

Kinda sorta, there is a GWRRA chapter here (just started up, as well as a Southern Cruisers Chapter that doesnt really meet or do anything...

Then post post a ride on the forum and get their butts moving. All it takes sometimes is one person to make the suggestion as to when and where and others will show up.

If you look into those clubs,you will be able to hook up for some rides. Better do it soon,though.... Northern Ontario isn't exactly known for its long summers.

[blues2cruise]

I saw this bike on the weekend.


I stopped to talk to the owner. It's a rare bike here. It was popular in Japan, but never gained much poularity in North America.
For a 1986 machine it sure looked good.

I have an 87 SRX 250, they are really great bike and would love to get the 600. I have pretty much gave it to my brother who is turning it into a pretty sweet cafe' racer. Gonna post pics of it soon.

Sorry to jack the thread but I don't get a lotta chances to talk about my great little bike.

I don't mind the hijack so long as it's a positve post. It is a nice bike.

[blues2cruise]

For the most part I'd have to say the the SCRC rides here are generally within the speed limit or at about ten over. Glad to hear that there are some who recognise that not everyone wants to fly along the roads. Not so easy to enjoy the great surrounding when you are at warp speed.

You mentioned the smoke breaks. I notice that we have a lot of them in the group here as well. It appears that we have a higher percentage of smokers in the group then what the per capita average is proclaimed to be. The thing I dislike about the group rides is that when they stop, it takes forever to get them going again. Stop for lunch and that's usually it for me, I can't sit around and socialize like the others do so for as long as they usually do so I'm generally gone by the time they get back on the road.

The other thing about being on the south end of the island is that it limits the options that we have for rides, we either head up island or we head up island or........ I think you get it

Garry

Yes, I get it. The group here tends to always go to tothe same old places. Not that there is anything wrong with going to Harrison, Aggasiz or Chilliwack....but it gets tedious. And the refreshment stop is always at the same place......
That was why is was so great to go south last week.
It's interesting that you have the same observation about the smokers.
cough, cough, hack, hack,

Interestingly enough, the BC Northern Stars group that I sometimes ride with, is mostly non-smokers....so nice....although they, too, are great at killing time.

[sv-wolf]

Hi Blues

Here's a bit more solidarity on the smoking issue. Like you, I have big problems with it. I'm allergic to the whole family (tobacco, tomoatoes, potatoes, aubergines, peppers, etc). About ten minutes in a smoky room and the air starts to feel like engine oil and I get to feel as sore as hell: skin, mouth, nose, eyes. Yep, choke! wheeze! cough!

I read about your having to sleep in a room that had been smoked in. It's hard to explain to people who have no problem with smoke what that can be like.

I can't wait till next year when new laws will be introduced in the UK banning smoking in all places that sell or serve food.

cheers

Richard

[blues2cruise]

I can't wait till next year when new laws will be introduced in the UK banning smoking in all places that sell or serve food.

cheers

Richard

We have been fortunate here in that there has been "No Smoking" in restaurants and bars for a few years now.

At first the bars and restaurant owners cried the blues because they thought nobody would go out anymore...but the opposite happened. Restaurants are always busy because people like me, my friends and you can go out to dinner and enjoy a nice meal and not go home feeling ill.

There are also places now that ban smoking in entrance ways, but that one is slow to change.

[dr_bar]

There are also places now that ban smoking in entrance ways,

I believe that's now a WCB reg. Although I may be mistaken...

[sv-wolf]

At first the bars and restaurant owners cried the blues because they thought nobody would go out anymore...but the opposite happened.

That seems to be common. In Ireland a couple of years ago they introduced a total smoking ban in pubs. In Ireland! - where the pub walls are only held together by thick layers of nicotine. Everyone said, no way - but it worked. And now the Irish apparently love it. So do I, when I go there to visit family.

The government here in the UK were originally proposing a total smoking ban in all public places, but shrank back in the end and only those places where food is served are going to be affected. Pity!

[Social Distortion]

I can't wait till next year when new laws will be introduced in the UK banning smoking in all places that sell or serve food.

cheers

Richard

We have been fortunate here in that there has been "No Smoking" in restaurants and bars for a few years now.

At first the bars and restaurant owners cried the blues because they thought nobody would go out anymore...but the opposite happened. Restaurants are always busy because people like me, my friends and you can go out to dinner and enjoy a nice meal and not go home feeling ill.

There are also places now that ban smoking in entrance ways, but that one is slow to change.

Working for the Amer. Heart Assn, my team was very influential in making Chicago adopt a Clean Indoor Air act in bars and restnts.
I think so many people were set that Chicago would never go smoke free, but as times change, i was very proud to see community members, health care providers and politicians rally around the cause. If i am to make a recommendation, instead of Chicago going smoke free, we should have made the entire state of Illinois smoke free- the belief is that people will leave the city to go to other cities that allow smoking. If the entire state went smoke free, this myth would dissapear.
To be fair, i also wish there was an alternative for smokers. The smoking section was a joke and some business owners that did not provide proper ventilation in thier smoking section, ended up being one of many reasons why there are less and less smoking sections.
Being from California, i got use to no smoking in the entire state. Everyone got use to it and smokers and business owners found alternatives to indoor smoking--seemed to be the best for all, both non smokers and smokers alike.

[blues2cruise]

A local establishment here, did a renovation to include a smoking room. It is a glassed room with an open doorway....however, they did it right. The ventilation system they installed works so well that no smoke drifts out.
We can be sitting a couple of tables away and not smell the smoke.

With it being all glass, people don't feel cut off because they can still see everything that's going on.

When the no smoking laws first came into being, there was also some cities that had smoking. The non smoking cities cried foul and forced the government to make the whole province non-smoking.



Now if only smokers would quit their bad habit.......They just don't realize how much better they would feel and how much better food would taste......

[blues2cruise]

On the Labour Day weekend, I went to visit my Mom. That is when I go on the ferry and get to ride the Sunshine Coast Highway.
I don't need to go into detail about the ride because I have written about that highway before.
One of the things I like about riding this highway is that I get to measure my improvement.
I no longer have to pull over for anyone on the twisty parts.

Instead of writing a thousand words, I will let the pictures do the talking.

There were 43 bikes on the ferry coming home. I have never seen so many on the ferry before.
http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b334/ ... ur%20Ride/

the read only password is yamaha. I think it goes to the correct album. Click on Pender Harbour Ride.