road trip fall 2017

[Patch]

Thought I’d share a piece of our trip last fall,. Here is how it started.

One Sunday afternoon talking with my girlfriend, mentioning that it would be nice to plan a week trip up through the Rockies. Listening to her reply, suddenly I flashed back to days of well let’s say, before dating.

So while sitting there still listening to very sound reasoning these words just kind of snuck out “well if you aren’t coming” reaching for my phone I dialed up SK. “OH-NO-SK”. SK. And I have been friends since childhood. I started traveling the country and beyond in 79, I often said I’d like to take a tour with him and show him just how beautiful it is out there. I often spoke of the unique bond of man on his machine twisting down the highways surrounded by the undeveloped parts of this country!

SK. I said, let’s find you a bike it’s time for that road trip to which he replied OK! A week later we picked up an 86 Venture mileage unknown then spent the next 3 weeks making it road worthy spending every spare minute on it.

The worst of it seemed to be the carbs! Everything else was well obvious, and like SK. kept reminding me of, “ she has new tires” . Eventually I did get those carbs running after finding the gaskets for the jet housings.

This carb issue must of been going on for a long time as, the intakes ring seals very very beat-up!

 

Then it was time to take a quick run through mine and low and behold, she wouldn’t fire up? Hmmm

Pushed into the shop and later that night she decided she was coming on the trip.

 

It took us a day & 1/2 to pack then headed out through the smoke, at times driving through field blazing on either side of HW1

Edited June 18, 2018 by Patch

[Patch]

Once we hit Moose Jaw SK.’s fill ups were like 3 LTs less than I was burning…Hmmm

SK. is one of those real steady riders, every glance in the rear view he’d be right on Q; but oddly enough always looking over his shoulders, like he was sitting on a train taking in the scenery;) lol

Well one day my right hand started acting up it’s a rebuilt, anyways the thumb and wrist loose mobility. So reaching over with my left I engage cruise, then relaxed my grip; then I get the bright idea to rest it on the control housing? A little bit down the road my bike stall’s around 140klm? When I realised what was happening, 5^th still engaged I flip back the flipping kill switch - so freaking funny man… SK pulls up beside me gesturing to pull over cause he’s thinking I had a blowout and didn’t realise.

So I pulled over and he walk towards me removing his helmet and staring at the tire; well guys picture the confused look on his face all covered in soot! Right there on the shoulder middle of the prairies, we had one of our best laughs ever…

 

Finally we broke into Ontario, beautiful roads, amazing diversity to be found in the people that settle in Northern Ont. The OPP I thought handled all types of groups very well; but those logging trucks man when they fly past, what a storm they generate.

Well one afternoon around the lake head my rear began wandering and my front was hunting fiercely, I began regretting not making the time to swap rubber but they still had very good tread..

I began riding up but still fishen around in the rear so I looked for a spot to pull over and I found a service road and turned in.

Being at the lake head you are quite high above the water it is high hill country. The service road had a level plat toe then went straight down to the water front where there is a hydro plant! Well I couldn’t get the bike on the side stand and she laid over on me snapping the toes and elbow and really really hurting my pride! SK. Helped me get her back up, we then pumped the rear and I taped up and we carried on!

[Patch]

Eventually we were just one days ride from a planned stay over and catching up with family and climbing buddies I hadn’t seen in way too long..

That day was one very hot day, most of which we road through long dusty miles of construction, dirt and pitch just fast enough to set cruise in 3^rd!

Then we hit Ottawa at 4:30 bummer! I remember well stretching my legs out to meet the boiling pavement, the cars around us, the sound of clicking air compressors cycling, the bike fans blasting heat, f**ck me I was melting in my riding gear! Funny note, I saw there’s a kind of patrol car dispenser between lanes just inside city limits; they must have some efficient plate processing cause they were pulling cars over like winning lotto tickets..

After 20 minutes of stop and go I noticed SK. Began wandering a fair amount so, I pushed through lanes and hopped off looking for shade!

Coasting down the exit to a light I was looking for a place that we could rest without wandering through the old narrow part of Ottawa, really I had but one choice and I hooked a right, glanced at the rear view and NO SK. Hmmm Another right and no parking, took a left stripped down quickly and walk back to where I last knew he was. At 6’1” & 220 I had the feeling we hadn’t pulled off early enough and that proved to be the case. He collapsed form heat exhaustion at the light, someone helped him up then the bike; I found both parked on the sidewalk! SK. Was offering me something he was holding in his left hand.. hmmm?

I took it from him replacing it with a bottle of water, looking around I could see an old church above us and alongside of the highway but with lots of shade, so I explained to SK. And made my way there then back with my clutch handle;)

Well as luck would have it we called around but zip and only 2.5 hours away from where we were headed, bummer! But, we had shade snacks and plenty of water, so we chilled.

After dust set in it was time to get-r-done and we fabbed up a handle and set off in the dark down to Quebec (a culture within a country) for a cold one with friends!

Edited June 18, 2018 by Patch

[Patch]

Remember the fill-ups, well a couple days in and while we waited for my new Metz’s I looked into the why? Here’s what I found - the foam gasket that seals the air filter had decomposed and drafted down sticking to the main piston slides, go figure!

 

Any lessons learnt? No, confirmed yes. Ride with likeminded people, prepare and stay prepared. To win, take it all in stride. Each mile holds something and in less than a minute it’s past.

 

 

Patch

[Patch]

Sorry I see some duplicates above