The Sky is blue
There's not a cloud to spoil the view
but it's . . . (not) raining . . . raining in your heart . . . la la la
It's looks like Spring but it's chilly like Winter with a high of only 8°c
It was a good day to take my Aunt out for Brunch and a ride . Along the way we saw a sign
and I'm still trying to figure it out
I was expecting to pick up my bike on Friday after it had been checked out but there was no time for my mechanic to go to Surrey to pick up my signal lights so after breakfast on Saturday I picked the parts up myself
where I saw a nice Gladius. I saw many bikes out and I wished I was riding too
Here they are, only $80. each and they are side specific being different part numbers
I seldom ride without sidecases. I prefer a wider road presence as I feel it is safer and you never know when you may need the extra storage space
Here's Ted from EMS: Essential Motorcycle Services working on my bike. You don't need to remove any plastic but you require small hands to snap the small connectors together
It only took a few minutes and then I was off to take care of some travel insurance renewals were I met another Beemer "K" rider. Here is Erik
We ended up chatting for a while. You know how it is. We finish our business in the office and end up in the parking lot looking at what he has done to his bike. We finally parted ways and when I arrived home I couldn't help but
admire my new right and
Left signal lights
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a mural down in Chinatown (Read Here). I also rode into the heart of an area where it is difficult to snap photos. There were less people there than usual due to the rain. Because street people have no regard for rules many are getting hit by cars as they cross the street where and when they feel like it so to keep them safe, the City has punished the rest of us by reducing the speed limits on Hastings Street to a mere 30 kmh
Hastings Street near Carrall, Vancouver, BC
That looks like a crowded place to ride. I think I'd have a hard time since there are so many potential hazards. I don't know how you do it.
ReplyDeleteNice looking turn signals but $80 each! Are they LED?
Richard:
Deleteyou get used to traffic. Now you may know why it takes so long for me to get out to the "open roads". Having no one to ride with I just don't bother anymore. It takes an hour to get out to Maple Ridge, so that's two hours of heavy traffic before it starts to thin out.
Bike parts are expensive up here and those are not LED lights, just regular bulbs
Glad you got your new indicators Bob. That's a pretty busy street but sheesh I reckon if I had to do 30km/h for that long I'd end up going to sleep.
ReplyDeleteI totally get the sign!!
Brenda:
Deleteit is very hard to travel at 30 kmh but I am sure that section is patrolled. The locals don't look and they cross anywhere and instead of cracking down on them to follow the rules, they make the cars go slower. There have been several fatalities on that stretch of roadway
Your sign reminded me of the other variation of it: There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary and those who don't.
ReplyDeleteCanajun:
DeleteI was staring at it and just had to turn around to snap a photo for you. Notice the fresh snow on the mountains in the background ? Not as much as you have. We have had a very mild winter so far
The sign? 3=2 in this case.
ReplyDeleteI tell people I can't count, but I can spell. That usually shuts them up when they brag about how smart they are at the cash register. Most people can't spell, especially the Spell Check generation.
I love the Five Sails. Beautiful. Your video shows a beautiful old city. I know that's only a fraction of it. Looks like you were the only one going that speed limit!
Martha:
DeleteI used to work in Retail and we were trained to "count back" the change. Now with computerized systems the machines now subtract the difference so you don't have to think anymore. Plus, you are not supposed to put the bills away until you give the customer their change so there is no dispute as to how much was given. I seldom see this anymore.
As for the "Five Sails", I was not going to show the whole scene and leave it as an abstract but then I thought no one would know what it looked like. The light was casting great shadows.
The more scenes I let you see may tempt you into visiting here one day
The Five Sails reminds me of Denver International airport.
DeleteI've been pining over Vancouver for about 10 years now. I've realized now that I have a "Should Have" list. I never thought that would happen to me. I guess I need to get busy.
Bob: It's a mystery to me that people working in retail no longer have the ability to count change. I made a small purchase at McBloaters the other day with change and the counter person kept looking at it asking me if it was right; several times. I could have sorted it into dollar piles in a few seconds.
DeleteI may not be a computer whiz; but at least I know how to count.
David:
DeleteClerks do NOT count back change. The total shows up on their register and they they input the amount Tended (the amount you give them), then the machine calculates the difference and that's the amount they give you back.
THEY DO NOT count it back to you
Martha:
DeleteMost of us just go about our lives just living and doing the mundane. You have to make things happen or nothing will. In the meantime time passes us by and soon enough we all get older and nothing is accomplished
Hey Bob: I know that. I was just making a friendly comment on your post with a recent experience of mine. I just found it odd that clerks no longer have the organizational skills to count legal tender given to them. I too worked in retail for a long time and I wouldn't have lasted a day without those skills. It's a strange world we live in now.
DeleteWe too have had some spring sunshine, but brrr it is sold.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Gladius picture. You sure don't see any out in the wild here. I have seen one other Gladius when riding through Springfield (Eugene) in the last two years and that is it. No others.
I'm with Martha - loved the five sails picture.
Trobairitz:
DeleteIt didn't seem that cool. It was nice in the Sun, you could feel a bit of warmth even without a jacket on, but in the shade it was cold. I don't seem to notice whilst I am riding though.
I don't see many Gladius's either but they are great bikes with a nice engine.
We went down to the waterfront and the light was just right
I love the five sails pics. Alas, I have a very slow wifi connect and cannot watch videos :(
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the photos though, and seeing some blue sky even though it's still cold outside!
Kari:
DeleteIs the slow WiFi because of your router, or you do not have hi-speed service ? It was cool that day because it was raining otherwise there would have been many more people out.
Yesterday was deceiving. It looked warm from the inside, but when you went outside you could feel the coldness
Love the pictures Bob! I was out on Scarlet on Friday and rode out of town a little way and there was snow!!!! March is an iffy month, I have dubbed it Marcember, becauser it has been really chilly. Loving the new turn signals.
ReplyDeleteDar:
Deleteon Friday we had Hail about mid-afternoon. I may have ridden to work if I had my bike. It was just too late on Saturday by the time I got my signals repaired. Around 4pm it starts to cool down again.
My old turn signals looked new too, except they were broken. I don't know why they don't make rubber stalks for the signals, then they could move around without getting broken. I notice the new bikes have the turn signal lights integrated into your mirrors.
Oh, my least favourite road in Vancouver. Better with 30km/h though, lowers the health care cost... I don't know if people are just inconsiderate, stupid, drugged or are looking for a warm place over winter. Sometimes it seems they jump voluntarily in front of you.
ReplyDeleteThe new indicators look very nice by the way.
Sonja:
DeleteI think they jump in front of you on purpose so they can get hospital room and board. They don't care, they cross on Red lights it doesn't matter.
THEY break the law and action is taken against us who are expected to abide by the slower speeds.
They also lowered the speed on Point Grey Road just West of Kits beach. It is really hard to only go 30 kmh
Looks like a lot of construction on the start of that street before you get to the old section - great little trip for all of us though.
ReplyDelete$80. (for turn signals) seems expensive I guess ... but I'm thinking if you lost a mirror with built in signal light you'd be looking at a whole lot more.
Enjoy your spring weather!
Karen:
DeleteI threw that traffic section in, that was near False Creek. Lots of new hi-rise condos being built. As for Suzuki parts, they are expensive here.
I wanted to ride today but I was afraid that I would not have a parking space when I got home. Sure enough, today they spread out the SOD. I can't wait until things get back to normal
That is a nice Gladius...thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteA morning chuckle from the sign and your new lights...all good stuff!
Suzu:
DeleteSince I used to ride an SV650k3, I also like the Gladius.
I am glad to have my lights working again. Now I can ride
I often think about trying to be more of a motorbike commuter. I'm tough. But then I get to thinking of all the crazies I have to deal with in a cage, let alone on a motorbike. Then I read through Face Plants on ADV and some guys saying they are just wise enough to not commute on the bike, dealing with the hazards. If there were some benefit to commuting for me, it would be a different story. But like you, traffic is so bad, it just isn't worth it. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteHi Lori:
DeleteI am commuting less because of the traffic. The morning is okay as I am against the traffic flow, but the afternoons are gridlocked the whole way home. Most serious riders here don't bike commute but I would have if I didn't have a new pile of gravel blocking my way, and I don't want to ride over my new SOD grass
Is it spring yet? Must be here -- I saw a dandelion this evening.
ReplyDeleteOne of the huge benefits of living in the sticks is commuting, and riding in general, is a far less risky activity. Put a gun to my head and ask me what the biggest risk is here? White-tailed deer....
Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks
Ah, the deer - and the racoon and fox and coyote and rabbit and groundhog ... the hazzard us stick folk face are fearsome.
DeleteSteve:
DeleteFortunately we don't have critters around here, but we have bear and deer in the interior. I like your less traveled roads where you are. Soon enough your weather will change for the better.
Have you fixed your Vespa yet ?
Karen:
DeleteI forgot, we do have racoons living in the park a block away. They used to come down our lane and scrummage through our garbage cans. They can be dangerous. I think there are Coyotes too, they look like German shepherds sort of but with a long tails.