Sunday Ladysmith

As we were sitting around having Sushi in PA the night before, it appeared to me, to be enough people sitting at the table to go for a ride the next day.. Sunday was suppose to be descent weather. So I asked them what they all thought and they agreed, let's do it.

Time was arranged, we meet at the A & W in parksville, and then the shell in Ladysmith, and post it and see what happens... It happened, there were a total of 12 bikes.. let me see if I can remember all the names.

Flo, El Capitan, CC,Chris, DD, Vatman, Mark, Tanya, Tazzie, Vulcanator, Bugs, Dragon, Roadie..

Dragon took the lead and Roadie Tailgunner, what a gorgeous ride through all the back roads. All the way back to parksville where we stopped for lunch at the Kicking Horse pub. Great food and company once again.

RLAP PRACTISE IN PA AND SUSHI

Port Alberni Sushi Crew!!El Capitan-Flo-Chris-Vatman-CC-Ram-DD-Blingiton...Where is that LD?? Taking the pic I guess!


There she is, with That Guy.. her son Willi

Sorry CC where's the Chesir Cat?? Chris-Ram

Chris/Cruiser
There was a ride planned for today for a bunch of us to go up to PA and practise in Chevy's RLAP parking lot. Alot of people away and busy, but even if it were a couple people for me it is a good enough reason for a ride. Any reason is a good enough reason for aride, but to have a parking lot and Sushi at the end of the road with some good friends... Even better.
The weather wasn't appearing to be on our side, but we decided to go anyway, well at least me, my man El Capitan, and Ram. We went in and kept keeping in touch with DD to check the weather.
We did get rained on a little but the wet was worth it. That is something for me to say, let me tell ya, I hate riding in the rain. By the time we got up there the roads were dry, and DD and Blingiton met us in the parking lot at the mall and escort...literally, to the RLAP parking lot.


We didn't have a long practise, maybe 45 minutes, but boy oh boy, the lights were going on for me. I just kept hearing the MOTORMAN, talking to me.. The butt dance.. don't lean, let the bike do, sit straight, relax your shoulders, Doc would say, and smile!! Whoo hoo, I was doing it all. The scraping sounds was music to me ears!! I was in control of the sound even!! Light scrape, heavy scraped, I was doing it!!!

I got it on film too and had Motorman grade me.. On a scale of 1-10, I got me a 9!!! From the MOTORMAN... You have NO IDEA what that means to me!!

We all went out for Sushi and what a grand time we had. First time for El Capitan and Flo's new friends. He fit right in. Great Sushi, lots of laughs as usual. Ram, Capitan and I rode home around 8, we stayed at sister Bea's in Parksville, poor Ram got caught in the rain, continuing on.

Parking lot Wed

I went to the parking lot on this morning for about an hour before I went to work. I am always antious to get there after work too. I am doing better each time and am feeling in control of my scraping. I bent up the kickstand and it was hanging low and scraping before I should have been. Actually alot easier for me to reach now.
I was really surprised and excited that Tany and Wayne from 40 showed up. Just out of the blue. I had cut Waynes hair this week and mentioned the parking lot and I guess Tanya had been reading the forum. This is good.. They both did really well and it was exciting to see new faces.
Someone had told her that she didn't need the parking lot because her bike was too small and these parking lot excercises were for big bikes only...Ha!! I guess this person should maybe get out in the parking lot himself seeings he has a big bike and a big mouth that doesn't know what he is talking about. I talked to Motorman about that, not giving any names or anything, but he said he had heard alot of reasons, why you don't do the parking lot, but that was THE MOST REDICULOUS he had ever heard.
No biggy, some do and some don't want to impove their skills, the lot is there for whom ever do!!

PAYING IT FORWARD

I was just amazed this week on how the people that are on VILR are so supportive. Our little newbie... Baby, who was so looking forward to her first road trip was going to have to cancel as her little 250 had self destructed as she puts it. I think she got it up and running again, but didn't want to take a chance and take it on any highways. We have been planning this trip for quite sometime. I knew she was disapointed and so was I. We only met her once on Canada weekend. We had rode all the way down Island to meet one of our new gals on VILR.
If there is a will there is a way I always say.... I decided I would try to do a fund raiser and help her trade up a little. Like her bike is worth 500 bucks. Even if we could raise a couple Grand. I listed a couple things so did some others and the bidding began, and there was silent donations coming in.
It was overwhelming to see how everone got together, and wanted to see her ride and help her upgrade. As it turned out, she managed to find a way to finance her new ride hereself. She could not believe it... the support and then actually finding away to do it herself.
We had lost of support from my Conga members in Florida. Unbelievabe.. We had called this the PAYING IT FORWARD FUND... PIFF..... Many of us have decided that we really do need this fund. If we can get it going good enough, we will be able to help our fellow bikers that have financial struggles. I know of a couple people I would like to help right now actually but there is not enough funds yet.
If we all put a looney in a jar each time we road, we wouldn't feel it and it would help so much to help someone in the future. Not too mention how good it makes you feel when you help someone.
I know this will take time to get off the ground but it is one of my biggest wishes, and to be able to pull it off with out things going wrong would be an amazing thing. We would all decide together through private emails first if we knew of someone who was in need.
We have had some great items donated to the fund and sold and now have about 250 in our PIFF.

Rod's Memorial Ride Aug 3

Qualicum Beach

Buckley Bay fueling up

Rod's Students

Flo-Wendy-BigE


We left Dragons house about 8:30 and only had to go to the highway which is seconds away from her place, and wait for the first group to show up.. 443 coming from Victoria and there abouts. I assumed probably 4 bikes as a lot of people were away on holidays. I can't remember all the names, as a lot of them I met for the first time. I think we had a dozen bikes there. I was already getting excited. Everyone introducing them selves and big hugs all around.

I had my new vest on that I got from one of my Conga girlfriends Tequilasheila, from Nova Scotia. I had the ROD RIDE WITH ME patches sewn on each shoulder. I always said that Rod rides with me on my shoulder... (course now I got the MOTORMAN too)

We rode to Ladysmith to pic up the Taz, she was sitting there waiting on the side of the road with her usual big grin.. Boy this gal is getting some experience in on her first year of riding. After we fueled up we headed to Northfield parking lot where the gang from Courtenay, CR, PA, were waiting, I figured about at least 8 and we would have our 20 people and then when we went to the school to meet Wendy she would get a great big smile on her face of 20 bikes coming in.

As we were pulling up to the spot our road lead Slyboy, must not have saw them or didn't know we were to stop, so we turned off and I was waving away to about 30 or more bikes. omg... I could feel tears fro some reason. It is always such a pretty picture, and to know the reason behind it makes it even more special.

Suddenly Dragon our tailgunner realised what went on a whips up beside Slyboy and and before you knew it we did the most beautiful U-turn of about 20 bikes.

We all pulled in and I was gob smacked at how many of us there were. I knew about half the people, but we just all went around hugging and introducing ourselves. So when we all pulled into he parking lot at the school, it looked so nice. There wasn't many from Wendy's side and she later told me she was worried we would not show. It was a very nice surprise.

I still had 10 patches left over that I had ordered a year ago, and they all sold. I also had 10-001 patches that I gave to Wendy and she insisted that I keep one for myself. Rods brother and his wife Micheal and son were there and a few others I had never met. Her son told me how much he enjoyed the patch and is having it tatooed on himself. That did make me feel good, that I chose something he was so proud to wear , for life. I can't believe a year has gone by already.

As we had such a big group, on a busy weekend, we all agreed that we needed to split up because without a doubt we were going to get split up anyways. We had 5 groups of about 10. It was a nice leisurly ride to Qualicum Beach our next meeting stop. Little did we know though that one of the riders went down and another ran into her, shortly after getting out of the parking lot. It was Wendy's sister inlaw Micheal. She was on her new Harley and wasn't really comfy and the rider behind her ran into here.. Sad as she ended up in the hospital and Rods brother and her never got to do the ride. Fortunately it was too too bad and she will be okay.

We are luck to have our experience road leader and tail gunners that took care of business really well.

The riders were held up at Qualicum for awhile and we lost some riders because it too long of a wait. The rest of us just mingled and got to know each other more. Lots of laughs... pictures of course and food.

Our Robocob Dave showed too which was a really nice surprise as he has offered his time to work with us in the parking lot in CR.

Off we went eventually to our next stop in Duncan Bay, where we fulled up and Wendy made a little speach thanking us all for coming out. We all decided that it was so great, we wanted to do it anually. I believe one of the SCRC members will take it on.

From there we went to Oyster Bay and had a great lunch buffet at the Driftwood. Everyone went there separate ways and headed home.

It was a fabulous day weather wise, friends and food.

Ride to Duncan

Shees, it is hard to get on here, time just goes, and even though it doesn't take long to blog once you get going, it's just getting here.
The weather has be fanomale. We had a couple days rain, which gave me a chance to get some things done around the house.
All I cared about was that sunday be a nice day as we planned this memorial ride for Rod Wiseman and it mean alot to me, also to his wife Wendy and family of course.

We decided BigE and me got go to Duncan and stay at Dragons, that was we were closer to where the ride would start at Malaspina College in Naniamo. We headed down that way fairly late in the day, as I needed to spend some time with a couple non biker friends and get my fix of garage sailin... Usually I spend my saturdays all day going to garage sales, and this year hadn't don it once. Okay, so I got things done, house shit, friends and salin... All is good, now let's get back on the road with the wind in my face, and the breeze on my knees!!

BigE and I headed down south with a few stops along the way, and met up with Dragon in Ladysmith. We picked up some stuff for a nice dinner and an early night, to get up early for the memorial ride.
Not knowing how many people would arrive for the memorial ride. I was hoping we would have at least 20.

A no riding day

I rode my bike to work as usual and was going to go out to practise after work. It's only 3km to work, but I got caught in the rain on the way home, so no practising at all. Crikey, I only have 18 miles on the road this week and it is Friday. I usually have at least 500 miles per week. The memorial is on Sunday so that should put a few miles on. Sure do miss it. Things are not the same here at the barbershop in between haircuts, when I can't look out the window and see the Queen. There is no body stopping by to drool over her..lol She is usually such a conversation piece sitting there so purdy!!

It was raining again today so I never rode to work and I had to pick up a friend. So I thought I would take the truck. I have only driven the truck twice since I arrived home two months ago.. So off I went, grabbed my helmet and headed for the truck.. Stopped in my tracks, and started to laugh... looser, I don't really think I need a helmet to drive this truck.

Now I am at work and it is slow this afternoon, and the sun is shining brightly, and I can hardly wait to go riding, and I can't go riding, because I have a friend coming and no bike here. My frieinds have been complaining that I am never around to visit, so that is exactly what I will be doing, at least for a day... Stepping AWAY FROM THE QUEEN!!