Sailor

We were in Montreal standing on a street corner when a guy came up and gave us a sad tale and asked for bus fare home. One of the guys said we were broke and wanted to get a bottle and asked him if he could spare any change. The guy went nuts swearing and yelling at us that this corner was his and we were to get lost. He finally calmed down when we explained we were just joking with him.

We were in Kaui last year and I met a scruffy looking guy who was half white half Hawaiian. He was manning a check point for a motorcycle rally. Wasn't too interested in the fact that my wife and I were riders. Not too friendly at first then when I mentioned we were visiting from Canada he started talking hockey. Knew all the players on all the teams. My wife is a hockey nut so they got along great. You never know.

"Won't turn over" Do you mean the cylinder won't move or the plug won't fire. If the engine is free then check the plug. Let this be a lesson, quit using your mustache trimmer on the bushes.

I installed a bad boy some time ago,sure glad I did. saved me a few times.

I have seen one of those things explode, impressive. Sorry to hear about the fire but glad no one was hurt.

Went on my first real ride yesterday since getting the bike back. A friend and I rode to Lake Cowichan and stopped to say hi to my son. We then took off on the Lake Cowichan-Port Renfrew road (Pacific Marine Highway) Originally a logging road it was eventually graded and paved and has so many corners and switchbacks it can be compared to a snake with a broken back. Throw in a couple thousand feet of elevation all compressed into 58 K and it has become very popular with bikers. Just over the crest we ran into heavy smoke. It was getting difficult to breathe and our eyes were watering when we came on the site of a forest fire. We stopped to look. The fire was about 1/4 mile away up on a ridge. It was amazing to see a 60 foot fir explode into flame watch the wind twist the flames. Much more impressive than anything on tv. My friend said " I don't ever want to get closer than this to a forest fire" I agreed and we took off. About 5 minutes and 4 corners later we rounded a corner and the fire was right up to the road. We booted it out of there. Sitting in the pub at Port Renfrew we heard that they closed the road and we were the last to get through. After our beer and burger lunch we continued the ride down Highway 14. Another busted back snake road. Each year some idiots in cages out drive their abilities on this road and snuff themselves. I see today that when we originally saw the fire it was about 25 acres and has now grown to 150 acres overnight. Last ride...accident...busted ankle,ribs,bike. First ride back....forest fire. What next???

Watch out for the small charges. There was a ring here that would get a number then charge something small such as $5.00 and if that went through unquestioned then they would up the ante.

Glad you are OK. That girl learned a much needed lesson without anyone getting hurt. I was heading home years ago driving my 72 El Camino and just before the ferry I saw a young guy pull up to the stop sign. I saw him look right but not left and I got on the brakes but on a wet road and too close to stop. His car was demolished but no one was hurt. The cop asked if I thought the kid should be charged and I said "Heck no! He was picking up his mom's friend in his brothers car on his mom's insurance, he is going to pay for this the rest of his life."

I had problems with batteries. Turned out that if I had the radio or tape deck on and just turned off the key the battery would slowly drain. I have to turn off all accessories before turning off the bike then it is ok.

Those tarps over the top make me wonder if there hasn't been some leakage. If there has been the damage could be hidden. Check it thoroughly.

Just got back from Alberta. Lots of 5th wheels and some bumper tow there. Mostly 40 ft and up. Nearly all being towed by Dodges. Noticed 5th wheels had lots more maneuverability. Big sign at BC/AB border, illegal in BC to tow a trailer behind a bumper tow. We just got a 20 ft Chinook. It is fiberglass. I wanted the fiberglass because the aluminum outfits seem to have real trouble with leaks. Especially here on the wet coast.

We checked our credit score and it is well above 900. I asked why since we hardly use credit. They told me it was because we always paid it off well before due date. We use credit for gas and hotels when we travel and that is about it. When we get the bill we pay it immediately, before interest charges start.

You are right. I was born in Canada and I have had my own passport since I was a teenager but the last time I tried to renew it took 6 months and was rejected for unknown causes four times. Every person I dealt with was and East Indian female. A friend of mine who was born here but lived most of her life in the US and became an American citizen moved back to Canada and tried for five years to regain her Canadian citizenship. She even married to a Canadian citizen. Her application was denied, no reason given. Every person she dealt with in immigration and citizenship was an East Indian female. She could not even understand what they were saying half the time.

If I get a real live scammer on the phone I like to lay the "Curse of the Wendingo on them, they don't usually call back.

Just got a message that a CRA has filed a lawsuit against us and we could lose our house unless we contact the number given immediately. CRA is Canadian Revenue Agency SCAM clue 1...CRA never does this type of thing by phone. clue 2...Recorded message with foreign accent. Clue 3..listed on Snopes as a scam

So you had a nice days ride, nothing wrong with that.

I try to wave but sometimes you are just too busy with traffic or corners and sometimes I don't even notice the on coming bike. If I can't wave then I at least try to smile and nod. I think everyone understands that you can't always wave even if you want to.

Part of a speech I wrote for the local Legion goes, " They went to countries they had never seen and fought for people they had never met that we could all be free. So long as one is not free then none are free." I think this applies to all the allied countries.Have a great 4th and very happy to have you as our neighbours.

Cancer is always scary. I have had it twice now. A friend of mine has gone through bladder cancer last year and he is doing fine now. Wishing you a speedy and full recovery. Keep on bikin'.

Put my '46 chev rat rod p/u in our local Canada Day car show then went home and put on my Santa suit to do a promo for the Santa toy run in August. Temp about 95F out on the field. Did not hang around too long. Went back home for a couple cold ones.

I feel for you. Those ribs are going to take a long time to heal. I have done a lot of jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles in the last couple of months. When you go to the doc and he/she pulls out the stethoscope and tells you to take a deep breath...DON'T! Hope you heal fast and well.

Looks like a great ride. Sorry we had to miss it. Still don't have my bike back yet.

Young folks pick a destination, old folks pick a direction. Happy travels.

Great photos. Been to many of those places. Only thing I would add is going to Sedona and checking out the places around there then out old rte 66.

Did you forget to lock the gate?