It's officially Spring

You know it must be Spring when you bring out your tools

then you roll out the summer tires you had in the basement

then you bring out your hydraulic jack and plug in your compressor .   Check and fill your tires to the correct pressure

jack up your car and start switching the winter tires with the summer tires

I also had an excuse to use my new wheel lug remover/tire iron

which can also turn into a heavy duty 3/8" drive T-bar

It has a sliding bar where you can move to gain more leverage, if needed .   It didn't take very long as I had help.   I was at work when my phone rang.  It was our son.  He asked if I wanted to change my tires when I got home.   If so, he would get everything out for me to make it easier.   He rolled all the summer tires out

and he rolled all the winter tires back into our basement and stacked them in a neat pile.   This bi-annual task was done in around an hour.   I decided to drag out my hose and a bucket of soap and wash my windows, headlights and wheels

It must be Spring.  No sign of snow and I'm rolling on summer tires . . .

Valencia & Dom: Uraling in Vancouver

Dom is Uraling to Alaska and I was fortunate that he was able to enjoy a short stay in Vancouver.    I had been following his Spot so when he was getting close I headed outside just in time to catch him

turning Valencia around to park on the street . Of course we had to pose for a few photos

The Valencia colour of his Hack is so photogenic beside my black Vstrom

It's been nearly 2 years since we had last met in a Cabin in the middle of nowhere near Kalispel, Montana where we shared a few days of our vacation together.   We wanted to make the most of our time so we decided that rather than ride behind each other and be alone,  we would just hop in my car so we could talk for a few hours and I gave him a whirlwind tour of some of Vancouver's highlights

He sent me a photo and asked if we could get a photo of our local mountains from "that" perspective, but unfortunately there were too many clouds and the mountains were hiding.  We ended up walking around False Creek, onto the Cambie Street bridge, then we drove downtown, around English Bay, Part of Stanley Park, Robson & Denman Streets, DTES: Downtown East Side.  The hours flew by and soon we had to head to Yaletown for dinner with Sonja & Roland (link here)  and  (here2)   

Of course I had to take him to some of the places where I have photographed before and he recognized these places from previous photos

The next day (today, Sunday) we had a big breakfast and then headed to a place famous for their BBQ pork and crispy pork bellies.   We headed to Steveston to the Government Wharf to savour these delicacies

What better place to have a snack with full stomachs and enjoy the view of the water and fishing boats

It may be Spring  but there is still a chill in the air but notice, there is NO SNOW.  

It is always sad to have to say our good-byes but the time had come for Dom to leave.  His Hack is all packed up

and here he is backing up and heading out .   A final wave and he's off . . .

Alaska Here I come . . .    He told me that he has to rush and get there before the snow is gone.

Dom, safe travels to you and Valencia and I hope our paths will cross again . . .

You are welcome to come back anytime

Cool places to park your motorcycle

Gary has issued another challenge to post a photo of our motorcycle someplace interesting.    For me photographs bring back memories of good times, of places traveled and the opportunity to meet friends along the way

   St Mary's Lake, Glacier National Park,  July 2011

I smile every time I think of my trip to Montana with Bluekat, Ron, Dom and Family all huddled together in a cabin in the middle of nowhere

   Riding into a Storm.   South of Merritt, BC (Coquihalla Connector)       Spring, 2011

A day ride with the guys.  We left Vancouver before 6am and when we reached Merritt we had to turn around as a big storm was closing in.   This was the Vancouver-Hope-Princeton-Merritt-Hope-Vancouver loop.   We managed to have lunch before we tried to outrun the rain . . .

 I previously posted a video of our ride  HERE

Gaiters & Flying Pigs

Sunday is a regular non-riding day and while we usually have brunch in the surrounding area, on the outskirts of the City, today we decided to go down to Yaletown, an upscale area with many restaurants .

This used to be an undesirable area with dozens of warehouses but has transformed over the years with many high priced condominiums.

The streets and sidewalks are narrow and parking is a premium, if you can find a spot to park your car

We felt a bit out of place amongst the Audi's, Beemers, Lexus and other premium models

Since there are few lanes in this area the garbage bins are displayed in full view on the main street .  We did not have reservations and it was a full house in the restaurant so we had to suffer with a window seat, counter style.

We were not the only ones forging for a meal as we noticed

 a street resident also looking for his next meal.   Homelessness is often a lifestyle choice

They do not ask for handouts nor do they beg for money as many of the younger people of the street who choose not to work, and work the system to their advantage.

Saturday was another iffy day.  It started with spitting rain as I left home and headed towards Steveston to have breakfast with the guys.  The forecast was for on and off scattered showers.   I don't drink a lot of coffee but I usually have one cup in the morning at work and I have become addicted to a certain Vietnamese brand which is sold at this oriental market .

I do not like the taste of the Company supplied brand

I am trying to sort out my riding gear to make sure it is leakproof.   I had a problem a couple of weeks ago where I got some water into my waterproof AlpineStar riding boots.   I also had a big problem a couple of years ago coming back from Oregon in 8 hours of continuous rain.   My boots are Waterproof but when I bend my legs my pants ride up a bit and then the wind causes the water to ride up and over the lip of my boots and then dribbling inside where it forms a little lake in the bottom.    I have been experimenting with rain pants but they ride up too.   So I got the bright idea to try a pair of Gaitors

This week was not a good week for spending money as I did my tax return and found that I owed the Government BIG money so I sent my check/cheque off and they cashed it already.   Then I received a notice from my private insurance company letting me know that my excess Insurance is due for renewal (for both bikes) so I also headed down to my Agent and paid them too.   Here in BC you have no choice but to buy basic insurance from ICBC (Government),  but I can buy supplementary coverage from a private insurer which is much, much, much cheaper.

So I plan to wear rain pants over my riding pants, and then wear these gaiters on top of my riding boots.  Naturally I had to test them out.   There are also a couple of grommeted holes at the bottom to tie them under the heal to keep them in place

Since I was in a limited spending mode I also bought a new pair of shorts.   During hot weather I like to wear shorts under my riding pants and I like the ones with zippered pockets.  These shorts are also a big longer than normal.   I would have preferred them to be Capri length but they only make them for the ladies, not that there's anything with men wearing them.

Oh, and to Martha . . .

I found a Taco Bell in  Cloverdale, BC.   Perhaps one day I will give them a try

Sluggish Saturday

It was a beautiful weekend when I got my bike ready early Saturday morning and headed towards breakfast with "the guys".   It was nice to be on the road and feeling the freedom of riding on two wheels as I snaked my way south down Oak Street.  Today I had big plans to ride somewhere different so after chatting and filling our bellies we asked for the bill and when I reached into my pocket . . .  I quickly discovered that I had forgotten my wallet.  With no funds to pay for my meal I had to beg my friends to loan me enough to cover my tab.   I mean, how embarrassing .   Oh well, it will be my turn to pay next week

Now that I don't have my wallet, this also means that I have no ID and no driver's license so I had to head home to retrieve it.   I took off my riding gear and began to enjoy the heat of the sun

and also to enjoy our newly poured sidewalk and new lawn.   It's hard to believe that just days ago it looked like a construction site

but now it is all neat and tidy

We were told that we have to keep our lawn watered so we had to buy new sprinklers and garden hose and for the past few days we have been moving them around to keep the brown spots away.   It was so nice to just sit in the sun and enjoy the warmth of a Spring day.  Thoughts of riding evaporated as I relaxed and took a short nap.   I napped inside and then outside on our porch.   9:30 am quickly turned into 3:00 pm and I thought that this was a complete waste of a perfect day for riding.  I was feeling a bit guilty so I geared up and rode my usual route which was a mix of a bit of highway and secondary roads

I stopped to take a few photos at this dock

For some reason the river levels seemed very low for this time of year

This is a quiet road which follows the Fraser River

This is an alternative to the freeway which parallels a bit farther south


The following images were taken on Easter Sunday at the Vintage/Classic car display at Oakridge Shopping Centre

And beside this Royal Enfield was this beauty

and of course a shot of the cockpit, instrument panel

It was a beautiful Easter Sunday and of course I got to wear my shorts and sandals.

I hope all of you had a relaxing Easter too

Meandering with Wayne

Yes, this is the same Wayne as in Meandering in Lotus Land  .   He is prolific with his camera and you will usually find him wearing his trademark hat.  Actually I have never seen him without a hat.   If you follow his blog you will become intimate with the real Vancouver.  He has a way with words.   I manage to bump into Wayne now and again and today we managed to meet up by chance at the Easter Parade of vintage & classic cars at the Oakridge Shopping Centre

Here he is doing his magic with that Messerschmitt KR175/200 in the background.  He is very deliberate in his "framing the image" technique.   I try to be careful not to disturb the Master in action

He managed to spare a few hours so we went for lunch in Ladner and enjoyed our meal under the warm Spring sunshine where he talked about his recent travels.

As photographers were are always looking for "texture" shots and the river level was much lower than usual

    Ladner, BC   just behind Sharkey's

We had a relaxing lunch and then decided to head over to the George C Reifel bird sanctuary on Westham Island

    Catching Wayne in action

Where there were a Gazillion Ducks there waiting for a handout of bird seed.  There were brown ones, and ones with green heads (technical terms) , along with a few geese.    I am sure there were more inside but we didn't bring gumboots (bird poop), nor did we wish to spurge for admission

Did I mention that the river levels seemed very low.   That is a new floating home community in the background.

We really lucked out with good weather and warm temperatures.  It nearly felt like summer.  And to Wayne,  thank you for allowing us to spend a few hours together.  We should do it again sometime soon . . .

Sunny and a cool 8°c

Last Sunday was a beautiful but cold day.  The sun was deceiving as it looked warmer than it felt.   Vancouver is surrounded by water on 3 sides and accessed by many bridges.    There are two bridges which connect to North and West Vancouver.   The Lion's Gate bridge is fondly known, by the locals, as the First Narrows Bridge.  The Iron Worker's Memorial Bridge is known as the Second Narrows Bridge

    Looking Southward from the 2nd Narrows Bridge.  

This section of highway is part of the Trans Canada Hwy 1 ( also known as Hwy 401 ).   Vancouver is built on 7 hills, some of which could have been small volcanos .   (not unlike QE park where the flowers are growing in the crater)

Visitors may not realize that North Vancouver & West Vancouver are separate cities with their own Mayor,  elected officials and city hall  (municipal offices).    The even have their own Police Force (administered by the RCMP)      In Vancouver we have our own VPD: Vancouver Police Department

Being a Sunday the traffic is not that bad.   During rush hours this would be like a parking lot with bumper to bumper cars

Yes, those are the snow covered Lions in the background

This is the view of our harbour, Burrard Inlet.   That's the Lion's Gate Bridge in the distance  (ie First Narrows Bridge)

It's a working harbour where there is no public access.   Another view of the Lions on the top right.

Dar wrote a post  (here)  about wearing Pink riding gear.   I have many pink casual wear items and it was also warm enough to wear my shorts for the first time this year

Sunny and warmer temperatures are forecast for this weekend.   Perfect for riding . . .