An Excuse To Go Out In The Cold

It was -24 C with an even colder wind chill and there weren't many good excuses to go outside except to bring in more wood or to head out to the motorcycle show.  So off to Toronto it was. Yes, it's January and that means another International Motorcycle Super Show. 

There was the usual fare of new and used bikes, gear, groups, tours and all kinds of motorcycle and other paraphernalia. 

Not too many show stoppers this year but my motorcycle mentors were rather keen on this new z900 RS Kawasaki, with it's 'iconic teardrop tank'.

The Honda step-through, according to Ken, was the model that launched the brand in North America.

And I had a fleeting thought, "Harley Dominoes", what would happen if ... (The devil made me think that!)

Flashback to 2013. I couldn't find my campground and it was starting to rain. I pulled into a cheap motel. The morning came and I headed out, still raining: Turned the corner and found Orange County Choppers. 

Even if you're not a 'chopper fan' Orange County Choppers are iconic ... so ... it wasn't my destination but I stopped to take a picture just the same. Where are they now?

The Teutuls (Paul Sr. and Mikey) of Orange County Chopper fame are doing the bike show circuit along with a couple of their 'works of art' so to speak. Just like back in 2013, I didn't wait in line, just circled around to say I'd been there and headed off. 

A great day (despite the cold). And Friday, just as the show opens - the perfect time to get there. No crowds.

Notes on 2017

Some things I noted while looking back ... In no particular order.

• New BMW Motorrad Riding Boots. I was going to review these boots when I returned from my summer ride but…squirrel … So here it is, better late than never. I love them, simple eh? For 6 years I’ve been complaining about the oil filter cover on the VStar, "It sticks out too far, it bothers my ankle." Surprise - Not the cover!  Who knew, it was the old boots. Problem solved. Are they as waterproof as they claim? I don’t know, I didn’t really get the chance (thankfully) to test them.

  

  Don't know why I didn't think of this sooner.
• I lost a cousin. Ralph, a gentle giant: He was the first of ‘my generation’ in the family to pass. My Mom had 6 brothers and sisters. There are a lot of us. And I thought, what a shame that it takes a funeral to bring the cousins all together again to chat. But that is the way life goes. Since then I've had emails from some of the cousins and that is nice. Returning from his celebration I witnessed a magnificent sight. Hundreds of migrating swans stopped for a rest on their return to Ontario. Beautiful.

  

  I have at least a dozen swans who have taken up residence on the pond behind my house.
  I wondered if my swan family was among this group. 

•  High Water. This spring there was plenty of high water … everywhere. The creeks and rivers were, in many places, over flowing. The water reached the road that leads to my house though it never crossed. But there were many places along the Rideau System that were picturesque when the water was flowing at the max.  It was spectacular to watch.
  
  
  

  

  Old mills aplenty across the area.

• Friends in Sweet Places. I'm lucky to have great friends who love to meet up in sweet places. Lunch at the Yellow Canoe (several times.) It’s in Merrickville - a lovely day ride away. It's a nice destination by car too when the friends don't ride. 

  

  My friends don't like being photographed 😉

• Canada’s East Coast. It's my go to place when I can't think of any place to go. I love the ocean. It’s a little bit of a ride but how lucky am I that I can pack up and head to the beach and be there in a mere two or three days. After all, when you ride a motorcycle it is about the journey.
  
  
  

  

  PEI and Nova Scotia. I never tire of the ocean.

• I didn’t get wet. I rode to the beach and back. It rained just about every day before I left, many nights while I was out and just about every day after I returned. The ride this year was only a few thousand kilometers but it didn’t rain while I was riding. Not once. How lucky is that!
  
  
  

  

  Rain is awesome, when you are on the inside looking out.

• It rained the entire month of August. Well that's what it seemed like. For sure, it was a rotten month for riding, but it gave me the chance to do a little house cleaning. A little is putting it mildly and it felt a whole lot of ‘good.’ I didn't blog much after July, I guess I didn't have anything new or different to say anyway. And I think that's okay too!

  

  Bye Bye Junk

• Even though I'm currently living in a deep freeze ... I still think I live in a beautiful location and I know this too shall pass.  And in a few months I know I will be complaining about the heat. But for now, doesn't being in the extreme cold mean you can eat more chocolate!
  
  
  

  

  As I write this blog it is minus 23 C and snowing AGAIN!

• Another girl. Grandchild number 4 was born this spring and she’s beautiful (bald, but beautiful.) There wasn’t a lot of blogging this year, but there was life. And it was good.
  
  
  

  

  Impossible to get everyone to sit still for a group photo.

• I’m lucky to be part of this moto-blogging community. Here’s to many more miles for all of you in 2018. I can’t wait to see where the new year takes you. 

  

  Sadly, this was the scene more than once this year. As I cursed the rodents that were to blame
  I know you all had sympathy and that made me feel much better 😏😏😏😏

  Happy 2018 to you and yours!