Another summer weekend and another special event in Kingston.
Amidst the British cars was one lone 1958 Excelsior JAP motorcycle. Owner Barry Brown had tons of information about the bike and its cinder track racing history
.
The park is one block from the Kingston Yacht Club where
this weekend, “O Canada,” an IMOCA60 premier offshore racing yacht was moored and accepting visitors as part of her promotional tour.
The last photo reminded me of a brief period in my life when I thought I'd be getting out of the Army, buying a 34 ft Catalina, and live in it fulltime......never did go through with it, I wonder where I'd be now had I done so.
ReplyDeleteLife is full of 'what ifs.' All I know is that OCanada is a 60 foot boat and to me, a land lubber, it seemed just too small to go out onto big water in.
ReplyDeletePre-Martha, I dated a girl whose brother-in-law owned a 34 ft catalina, we went sailing in the chesapeake bay a few times and I loved it. 34 ft and it accomodated two couples just fine so living in one by myself was doable. No idea if a 34 footer is designed for open seas though.
ReplyDeleteChesapeake Bay is pretty big water ... The O Canada has raced around the world, but at 60' it still looked too small to take on the ocean to me.
DeleteWe briefly flirted with the idea of sailboat living, but so glad we didn't, I am not sure my relationship would have survived 30ft of space. Love looking at old cars.
ReplyDeleteDar, the idea has never even entered my mind to live on a sail boat ... but then I'm not a sailor.
DeleteI love sailing, but it's so much work, while being at it.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of JAP before. It sure looks like today's trial bikes.
Only been on a sail boat twice, didn't like it; prefer Terra firma. The bike was an Excelsior but according to Barry about the only thing made by Excelsior was the decal on the frame.
DeleteCars, bikes and boats on a beautiful day, does it get any better? Great pics!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathleen - doesn't get much better for sure.
DeleteKingston really has some cool events. I enjoy the British car events. Some neat machines there.
ReplyDeleteSomething happening every weekend (and many other days of the week as well) all summer long.
DeleteNice photos of the old British sports cars. I've always liked them.
ReplyDeleteI was also looking into a sailboat 35 years ago to "sail around the world". Then grad school in Alaska interrupted my plans.
Thanks Richard ... Grad school much better choice! Now that you've retired maybe you can take up sailing again.
DeleteHas anyone NOT dreamed of sailing off into the sunset listening to Jimmy Buffet? Sadly (or, I suppose, fortunately) life gets in the way and that dream remains just that, a dream. Still though I'd love to sail on one of those boats just once - then come back to dry land for a couple of pints and some tall tale telling.
ReplyDeleteWell ... I could listen to Jimmy Buffet but I'd be doing it, sipping margaritas from dry land. I think OCanada is now a training boat and a few lucky tourists sailed out onto the lake from the KYC, there's still a chance. (I'll be waiting with the pints on shore.)
DeleteYou can turn this around , if you attend CTMP formerly Mosport this coming weekend ; many motorcycle pictures , 1 car , no boats , thoughts? ..... don
ReplyDeleteDon this sounds like a photo op to me!
DeleteThanks for sharing the great pics.
ReplyDeleteWelcome!
DeleteLove that 1958 Excelsior JAP racer. Thx.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. It was an interesting bike with an interesting history.
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