Oyster Run Weekend.

We got back at 9pm on Monday morning from a great weekend at the Oyster Run. It was a first for me, and I woulD say it was a mini, mini, Sturgis. Of course I have never been to Sturgis but saw pics and heard stories. Probably not too much of a comparison, the more I think about it. But 20 thousand or so bikes was quite a site to behold. (HALF FOOT DRAGGERS!)

Me, Rob, Eric, and Shawn, THE FUHR FACTOR, and Stephen... We left CR at 10 am and headed to the Duke point ferry for Tswassin. The weather was unbelievable. Steven really wanted to go with us, but it was not possible, so he headed home from Nanaimo.
Brother Carl, had to back out because he had to work. We were all pretty disapointed but that is the way it goes. Shawn was really looking forward to traveling with his Uncs and Auntie... This was Shawns first trip on the Island on his new ride to. Into the US in Washington in Anacortes. The run wasn't until Sunday so we had lots of time to get there.
The weather was awesome and we did run into some friends along the way but got separated after we stopped at our hotel.
We get all settled in our room and have a good night, and are all excited about the ride in the morning. It took us a little while to get going as Shawn was having issues with is radiater fluid leaking out. Nothing a little un bolting couldn't fix.
Anyway the ride to Anacortes from where we were was about an hour of nice twisties. It didn't matter at what stop by this point, there were bikes coming at you in every direction.
It was really cool to see the smile on Shawns face and at one point, he just looked at me and said "I'm lovin it"
The scenery on the way there is beautiful, and the leaves are starting to turn colors.The water was sparkling along the coast, the smell of the farms and the twisties with the fresh air in the morning, was so invigorating.
As we were pulling into town, there were bikes EVERYWHERE!!! We just took a side road and parked out of the way, and started to walk around. Bikes of all kinds, people of all kinds. It was great people watching even though I dont normally like too big of crouds.
The bikes are just crawling up the mainstreet. OMG.... FOOT DRAGGERS!! From both sides.. Now normally I wouldn't have noticed this so badly, but after RLAPING so much it as unbelievable. If I sold a dvd to every footdragger I would have been rich.
We ran into a few people from the Island. The streets were jammed so it was hard to believe we would see anyone we knew. We went and had some raw oysters and a beer and listen to some head banging shit music and people watched, then it was time to get outa there.
The boys spent some money on leathers and then we watch the Cossacks Drill Team. That was quite the performance all the bikes riding in unisence and at one time 5 people on a bike. That was the highlight of the day for me. Thinking shit I wish I was younger I would try out for it.. Mind you the oldest guy was 73 and still had people standing on his shoulders.
We hung around people watched went for pizza and headed back to Bellingham.
All in all a great weekend, didn't want it to end because of the weather. I think we put on about 400 miles which isn't lot but better than nothing.
I have like 26,000 miles on my bike now, since I left Florida just over 10 thousand.
Oh ya... just had to stop at Trev Dealy Harley and buy another skull or two.. ;)

Man oh man, they were crawling, duck walking with there hand on the front brake while they were wobbling all over the place. Shyte, I so wanted to start selling dvd's. I found I had to shut my mouth, but then everyone else started noticing all the duck walkers on their big hogs.

Flo 12 ft offset

This is that dreaded 12 off set that I couldn't do and thought was impossible. I really did!! Talk to the Motorman, and of course what does he say??? HEAD AND EYES, FIRCTION, BACK BRAKE. I was finally getting it but I see I sure need to get the pylons to see it all better.

12ft Off Set Cone Weave

This is the unifom shirt that I recieved from the Pros down in Hudson Florida. Now I have to say.. I can start to visualise being a pro. When I talked to Doc, she said.. its yours Flo now go ride like a Pro. I was off to the parking lot to attack the dreadead 12 off set cone weave that Motorman gave me to do. I put the shirt on under my jacket and thougt no bloody way can I be caught wearing it., like a dope going through the gates of these 12ft spaces. This is the toughest excercise for me.
Tanya the gal that goes with me to the parking lot seemed to be having no problem or should I say very little problem. I was KILLING IT.. It was killing me, not to be able to do it.. I just couldn't see it being possible.. She is getting the look on her face... the same look that Sandy had way down in Death Valley when I said I can't do it... It is not me, it is the bike...
Then I hear the Whaaa Whaaa my bike wont fit shit... By this time... after about 10 attempts.. I sat back an looked at that thing, visualizing when I was suppose to SNAP my head.. I was sweating and it was very cold out side. I looked at Tany and took off my coat, with my Pro shirt on.... and I DID IT!!!!!
Not perfect but I can see it happening. She didn't make a mistake on the measurements. It was coming together.
I had to use every damn thing I was taught and double the time and dont forget not even one thing of it..
Lucky Glove, lucky shirt.... SNAP,..HEAD EYES, FRICTION,. BRAKE, BUTT SHIFT, REPEAT. as fast as you get it out of your mouth... Whewwww!!!

Flo-Ride Like a Pro Uniform!!!! :)

This is what I would look like as a paid instructor for RLAP. I recieved these in the mail today, do I look proud or what???? Believe me, the Palladinos don't hand these out to just anybody. These are their official instructing uniforms. I am totally 100% honored, and will wear them with pride.
They have more than one use to I might add. Nothing like a little bit of pre advertizing getting the word out, having people ask questions. You can't see because I am in the way, but the RLAP dvd is sitting on the window sill for all to see. There is a sign that says.... Do you want to learn to Ride Like a Pro for $35.00 Up above my mirrow I have DrDonna's lisence plate off the Queen. I did have my certificate of RLAP hanging on the wall, but some guy knocked it off and I have to replace the frame. Of course if you look a little harder you can see on the windsill my latest trophie of the Queen.
If you look a little closer you will see it is pissing cats and dogs outside. Normally I have the Queen parked outside the window and she has her own shelter. She is a real attention getter sitting outside the shop. I usually go to the parking lot from here for an hour which is a 5 minute ride away.
I am looking forward to getting back at it if the rain stops... Just so looking forward to attempting the dread 12ft OFF SET CONE WEAVE... NOT!!
What I am looking forward to do is getting it and showing Doc and MM that I am listening, that I can do it!! All these challenges...

Parking lot- 12 Ft Offset Cone Weave

The last couple of days I have been going to the parking lot for a good hour. I was starting to get a little bored with the excercises so VGrl and I decided it was time to put a couple more down. You know you think you know it all! Ha!!! That is funny!
Anyway, Motorman has been telling me, I am getting pretty good so it is time to shorten up the length of the off set cone weave from 24ft to 12ft.. The Offset cone weave is my absolute favorite excercise, as I have managed to scrape good on both sides. It is like music to my ears ya know!!
So we get that set up and all of a sudden, the Off set cone weave becomes, my absolute worst excercise.. Omg, how can I not get this?? It is highly impossible, my big bike WILL NOT go through, not even 2 of them :( :( I swear I practised 10 times and it was not coming, where did it go.
I am SURE that Tanya measured it all wrong. We took the instructions down wrong!! It is all freekin WRONG!! I made her measure it over again, NOPE... not wrong.. Well something is bloody wrong.... I went from riding like a pro, to riding like a newbie..
There has to be a trick to doing it. I post to the Motorman and tell him of my whoas... Now I can see the smirk on his face as he is typing to me on my forum....
"My bike won't do that Whaaaaa...whaaaaa. nonsense. The techniques don't change, the bike is still the same, everything just has to be done faster..The techniques MUST be used to the extreme."
" I'll bet if you use head and eyes, the friction zone, and the rear brake, they'll be easy."
The Rotter I say!!!! (In terms of endearment of course!!!!)
So I am just itching to get to the parking lot today and it is pissing down rain and windy. So I will be watching the DVD tonight.... 3 SIMPLE TECHNQUES!!
My goal is to be freekin awesome when I return to Florida to work with Motorman next summer and get certified and get yelled at...lol I know I will loose some skills while I am in Mexico but it shouldn't take long to pick it up again, at tleast if I have them semi mastered by the time I get there.
We have also set up a Snowman Excercise and the Texas Star. I have lots to keep me occupied now on my one day off a week.
The weather is changing and the nights come earlier every day. Soon, there will be no parkinglot... Sunday parking lot day soon. Until of course the frost sets in.

Conga Bracelet!!

A very WyzWmn, asked my what a Conga bracelet was... These were the bracelets I had made on the Beach in Mexico for all the people I may meet along the way of the Conga. I just couldn't go empty handed with out a little something to say thankyou. I couldn't afford to buy a bunch of tshirts or nor did I have room to pach them all. Any way, as soon as I met someone that road with me I would tie one on them. Every one said they would wear them until I got home safely. This picture is one of my favorites and it wasn't even my idea. It was taken just before we Slayed the Dragon.
I had a peddler on the beach make 100 of them. His eyes lit up that day let me tell you. Okay so many people I know that were involved in the Conga still have theirs tied to the handle bars of their bike. I know mine will be there until it rots off. I still have about 50 left for the Conga Reuninon that I will take back and pass around.
My brother Bling had them sewn right over his pocket on the vest so I did it and so did my other bro. It looks cool.
There is lots of talk about the next Conga and it will soon be time to post on WWR!! It takes awhile to plan but a bunch of woman want to do it.. Now it probably wont be to escort me home, can't afford another bike, but hey one never knows at this point. The point would be to go have a Reunion with all the folk and bring more together to go around and ride some states together. Woman who have gotten to know each other on WWR FORUM and supported each other through triles and tribulations of riding and other things in their life.
I still have mine, do you have yours??? ;)

My Vest from my newfie friend Tequila Sheila.

This is the vest I recieved from a friend in Nova Scotia, Tequila Sheila. I had it given to me before I went to Slay the Dragon, and it was to put all my pins and patches on along the way.I have my Canadian flag on one side and American on the other. All the pins and patches from the coold stops I went and all the states I stopped in. Some were from friends and some I bought. Right along the top of the pockets I had my conga bracelet sewed above each pocket. There is also a VILR patch and a WWR patch sewn close together. There will never be club patches sewn on this vest. It is a memory of mine that is very near and dear to me of a trip of a life time, that brought so many women close together. Sheila if you are reading this, thankyou very much, and I do hope to meet you in person one day. Anything is possible I have found. You are a very kind and thought person to send a complete stranger such a wonderful gift, and I am sorry it took me so long. I just got all the patches sewn on today. Big hugs..
My next task is to order pics and fill up my lovely photo album I got from another friend, I have never met in person.