No Room at the Inn!

Have been on the phone and internet for the last 2 hours... There are 3 conventions in Vancouver this week and every hotel is booked... Every hotel!... Don't know what to do... Can't make it to there and then Victoria Island in one day... Don't want to sleep on the streets ..especially cause it's supposed to rain tomorrow till Friday... May have to stay east of Vancouver but close enough to make it to the Victoria ferry... Nothing is ever easy in my life... Sheesh!

Tuesday: Another cold Day in Paradise!

Left Moose Jaw this morning at 7am. Sky was dark, it was very cold but no rain yet!

2 hours in, I went to pass an 18 wheeler who was following behind another 18 wheeler... As I pulled up beside him... He decided to pull out and pass the truck infront of him.... He didn't see me!

He pushed me out of my lane at 125Kms ... Fortunately, there was enough pavement on the side of the road for my bike but I came within inches of hitting his wheels and the gravel shoulder... Would have crashed for sure...

I called  the trucker a rectum both in my mind and out loud!... I think he agreed with my observation...

Tales From The Road:

1- Nearly hit a redwing black bird today... It just grazed my windshield... I was ducking my head!.. I don't much like redwinged black birds ever since one decided to dive-bomb me one day while I was running... It swooped several times at me trying to peck at the hole in my haircut! I don't like that at all.

2- Today I saw 3 live deers, one dead one, one dead coyote and other unfortunate animal-outcomes.... and a big bull sitting on his but like a dog in the middle of the field... So Funny to see.

3- I laughed when I saw a sign by the highway that read, "Need Wheels? Bad Credit? We Can Help!... and a phone number... I wondered if anybody saw the irony in posting that sign beside a highway where only people with Good Credit and Wheels Already would get a chance to read it!

4- I also saw many more fields - acres and acres - of farmland that is completely under water.... Floods everywhere... What's nice about them though is the water is the colour of the Mediterranean Sea... A beautiful aqua coloe and most unusual.

5- For those of you that don't get why people like to be out on the road... Here's something that happened to me today.... As I'm going across the prairies, I see a train that is not too far in the distance off the highway... It easily, has over 250 cars ... You can't see the whole train in one glance as it is too longe to be within your field of view.There are engines on the front, the middle and the end... It was magnificent.

You look at it and can't help but feel puny in the world compared to it... That is, until the engineers on this incredibile thing catch sight of you/me - a lonely biker on the road - and from the distance, this thing begins to blast its horns in recognition of me... puny me!.. It's a surreal feeling that kinda makes you feel 'One-with-the-world'... It's hard to describe... But it feels good.

We had the same experience on our first trip to Cali when we were traveling through Nebraska...

As the afternoon went on and as I got closer to Alberta, the skys cleared and the sun peaked out for the first time in 10 days...

Made it to Calgary and decided to continue to Canmore as it appears there is more rain in tomorrows forcast.

I'm now in the Blackstone Resort Hotel... Guess what I saw when I entered the foyer?... Another 10 foot bear!

Makes Hairy Davidson look small!  Wonder if I've got room in the Harley HideAway for another bear? ^_^

The view from my room is unbelievable... Here it is:

Well... Had my din din in my room... Ready to relax for the evening... All-in-all... was a pretty good day... except for that nearly dying from the truck part... But I did call him a rectum and that goes a long way in making everything alright!

Life is good! See you in Vancouver BC tomorrow!

MB11

An Interesting Encounter with a Lady over Dinner!

So I went down and into the Casino... Circumnavigated the place once and hit the exit.... I find everybody in casinos to be largely unhappy people... You see them playing their machines... But nobody appears to be similing... They all have dowdy looks on their faces..... I don't like being in places where people are unhappy!

I walked across the street to a nice restaurant at the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa.

I was greeted by a nice lady by the name of Sharol.... She took me to my seat and would be my server for my meal.

Her demeanor was somewhat reserved but she had a stayed confidence about her...

After ordering I waxed on a little about all the trials and tribulations I've faced on this particular trip to Cali.

I told her about my breakdowns and and she looked at me with a straight face and said, "Maybe you need to leave something by the side of the road!"

What do you mean? I asked.

Maybe you need to psychically leave something by the side of the road!... and then she walked away saying, "I'll leave you with that".

When I was finished dinner she brought me my bill, she looked at me again  - with that look - and asked, Do you have a brother-in-law?

Yes, several.

Are you meeting one in California?

Yes.

Do you have any unresolved issues with him?... she asked.

Well, he's a big fat poo-poo-head and he dresses like a girly-man and he likes the company of armadillos in bergundy jump-suits... I said ................................in my mind.... but managed to come out...... No... I don't think so....

She looked at me and said, You might want to reflect on an issue involving some man in your life!

I asked, Are you into this psychic stuff?.... No, she said... It's in me!

Here is Sharol:

This is what I like about traveling like this.... You meet so many interesting people...


So whomever the guy is that has an issue with me that's unresolved..... Get Over It!... I know I am!...^_^

Signing off for tonight... Won't be more unless somebody breaks into my room and does something to me!

[Paul Thinks:] I wonder what that little guy at the front desk who checked me in is doing?.....Better lock the door!...YYYYYYMMMMMCCCCAAAAA! *_*

TTFN
MB11

Monday:... Another Day of "Hell on Two Wheels!"

The Good News: I finally said goodbye the the Russian 'influence' ... All those troubles are behind me... No pun intended.

The Bad News: I started out from Winnipeg this morning at 7:15 am. It was cold, dark... but no rain or tornados yet.

I made the mistake again of plugging in Vancouver on my gps.... This out-dated piece of crap had me doing circles all around the Peg looking for the Trans Cda Highway... I looked like a Shriner at a minibike convention!


Finally made to the highway and I was off.... Good Bye Winnipeg!

And then it got colder... darker... and then the rain came down in drops bigger than a yamaca! In no time I was soaked to the bone... and I'm betting the windchill was less than 0 degrees C.

I nearly got into big trouble today when I tried to pass an 18 wheeler because it was kicking up so much water I couldn't see a thing.. As I pulled out around him, two things happened.... I noticed it wasn't an 18 wheeler... it was a bazillion-wheeler!

This truck had two 53 foot trailers on it! It was huge..

The other thing was, as I started to pass, the highway suddenly bent severely to the right... I got half way up beside the truck...Couldn't see a thing but couldn't accellorate any more than 120kms or else I'd go off the road... Suffice to say, it was the longest bend in any road I've ever seen... It was sooo scary, I nearly decided to end my ride for the day and call it quits after only 2 hours.

But I didn't....The rain kept up and so did the cold... In fact, it got colder. And then there was another thing to contend with... The Prairie Cross Winds!... Since the Prairies are nothing but open space, the wind whips up to very high speeds. It nearly blew me off the road a couple of times as I had to ride for miles on a 30 degree angle... much like I did in Wyoming....only here it was wet... Scary!

Later in the day... I'm frozen solid and I went to gear down... when... right in the middle of the highway.... my gear-shifter pedal comes loose and falls off! I couldent shift gears!

I eventually got the bike stopped by the side of the road and started back ... in the rain ... with big trucks barreling past me... to look for the pedal.

I eventually found the rubber piece when I saw a big truck run over it with all its tires. I retrieved it. It was missing the chrome outer shell and the bolt... I figured by now it must have been flatened somewhere so I turned back..... I saw it in the other lane!... I retrieved it and it was fine... But I never found the bolt so I couldn't put it back on..

There was a gas station on the other side of the highway so I changed the gears with my hand and limped to the station. No mechanic or garage... Just gas and convenience.

Fortunately too, harleys have a back pedal for gearing down that I never use because you have to have feet like Side-Show Bob in order to reach both pedals.... Sadly...I do not!

In order to get the back pedal off, I needed an allen key... After some time, a guy in a pickup came in and lent me his keys...Soon I was on the road again...

50 miles east of Regina, I had to stop to warm up. I ordered a coffee and toast and suddenly this guy walks up to me and says in a loud vioice for all the patrons to hear, Where ya heading?... Regina, I replied politely.

Where ya come from?... I'm from Toronto but I left Winnipeg this morning.

Have ya got any friends in Regina? ... he asked at a desable level sufficient to be heard in Hamilton Ont.

What is this?.... The fricken Spanish Inquisition?... I said......... in my mind... but managed to have it come out like, No... why do you ask?

Oh cause you wanna go to Moose Jaw!... Only 45 minutes further down the road..
They got a casino, spa... you can eat Tai.... You wanna go there!

Thanks for the tip, I replied politely... and finished my toast... and left.

Made it to Moose Jaw... and the guy was right. It's all here... Had a litttle trouble finding it though...

I stopped a one-armed indian guy and asked if he knew 'How'  [tee-hee] to get there.... He looked at me and said, Ya want me to hop on and show you?

Not a Frickin Chance in Hell Lefty!... is what I said........... in my mind... that managed to come out as, "No, that won't be necessary.

The little guy at the hotel front desk took a bit of a shine to me and gave me a nice room... I think it was because I reminded him of someone from the Village People! ^_^  Had my leathers on.

Here's my room:

So now I'm in the Harwood Hotel... Moose Jaws swankiest!  On the ground floor is the Casino... And everybody knows how much I like to gamble... about as much as I like Tai food... like the restaurant I passed on Main street Mr Loud-and-Nosy told me about.

Well, for now, you are all up to date... I am showered and on my way down to check out the Casino and get something to eat.... If anything big happens tonight I'll be sure to report it. Hope you enjoyed this... Don't be afraid to leave me a comment or two.

Regards from Mooooosse Jaw!

MB11

Sunday afternoon: SUCCESS!

First... a little 'crappy' news... I'm still entertaining the 'Trotskys'... I think I'll take the afternoon to relax, maybe order a little Imodium-sandwich to my room and try and stop singing Jonny Cash's hit, "Ring of Fire".... if ya know what I mean (>_<)


Second: The Good news!... I have my bike back from the shop...It's fixed... I hope...

Tomorrow morning I'll be on the road... Wait... Let me check tomorrow's weather... Oh Great.... Rain in the forcast with a small chance for an unexpected Tor-stinkin-Nado!... Lovely!

Here's where my bike's been for the last 4 days: Harley Winnipeg.

Nice place.

And here is Sean, the mechanic who came in on a Sunday, on his day off to install the new high performance starter and get me back on the road.

Sean taking my bike out for a test ride.... Thanks so much Sean... I really appreciate what you did for me...

I'd also like to Thank Harley Winnipeg, Craig Craft but especially, Ryan St Hilaire / Service Mgr.

Ryan St Hilaire: The Service Specialist!

Ryan St Hilaire: The Biker / Party-er / The Player!

Ryan went way out of his way to get my part from Toronto including driving to the airport not once but twice to get it on his days off.... He also took me out to dinner, then the biker-bar where we had a great time with the local bikers and one-or-fourteen cups-o-beer. ... And then he went out to really party!... Oh to be 33 again....

In sum, the bike challenge has finally been overcome and I'm a biker again... Thanks to everybody for your service, kindness and support!

Catch me later down the road...^_^...Life is Good!

MB11

Sunday Morning: "Paul!...Just walk towards the Light!"

So how's Paul doing?

The eye infection is almost gone but I must have swallowed a Russian yesterday cause for the last 2 days I've had to entertain the 'Trotsky's' ...and that ain't cool when you're trying to be cool in a club full-o-bikers at the local biker-bar.


Ryan, the Harley Service Mgr took me out to dinner last night and then to the B-Bar.... Had a great time....

Bikers are down to earth nice people... Spent a fair bit of time talking to a guy who was about 6 feet 6, closing in on 400 lbs, grey hair in a short pony, a beard, handlebar-stash and a great sense of humor...

Ryan is 33, in the prime of his life and his entire focus on life revolves around one thing: Girls!... and what he'd like to do with them!.... I think he does quite well... I left him at the bar to do his thing and I cabbed it back to my room to dream about when I was 33... sigh!

The Good News!

Yesterday at 5pm, the lady from FedX in Montreal who said the part had landed in the Peg, then said it didn't, then said it was on a truck in the Peg... then said she would get Air Cda to fly it to the Peg.....phoned Ryan to say it was indeed on an AC flight to arrive this morning [Sunday] at 8:30 am....

It's now 10 am ish... Just got off the phone with Ryan Who assures me he has stories of Conquest to share with me from last night wherin he got in this morning at 5am....and that the part HAS ARRIVED!

He was on his way to the airport to pick it up.... There is a mechanic waiting for it at the Harley shop and it should be ready to go by this afternoon... YAAAAA!

That means I should be leaving the Peg tomorrow morning and be on my way West!

Wonder if my leathers still fit and whether I can remember how to ride...lol

I'll update later today... Stay tuned!

MB11

Saturday Afternoon: Why not whip the guy while he's down?

This will give you another little peak into my life and at the same time... how screwed up FedX is.

Ryan from Harley phones FedX again at 3pm to reaffirm the part will be in Monday Morning and it will be First delivery to Harley...

The girl from FedX said, "It arrived in Winnipeg at 1:30 pm TO-Freakin-Day!

Why didn't you call me, he asked... Don't have your Ph Number, she said.... The very phone number he gave to them this morning and said, Call me the minute you hear anything about the package.

He said, I'll come immediately and pick it up...

She then said, Oh wait! It's not here... It's on a truck!

Where is the truck?
Not sure!

She says, I'll tell you what... I'll get the package rerouted to Air Canada and it will arrive either tonight ot tomorrow morning... WTF?!

If it's here in the Peg...on a truck... she's going to somehow get her hands on it... get it to AC and do what?...Fly it around Winnipeg a couple of times and then deliver it?...

It's Friggin Torture!

A supervisor in Montreal now told Ryan she can locate the part...some how .... and get it here either by tonight or by tomorrow... when of course Harley is closed.

Ryan - trying his best ...still - to get me on the road... is trying to line up a mechanic to pick up the part 'IF' it does get here today or tomorrow and install it so I can save a day or two at this lovely hotel....

You couldn't write a better comedy!

More to Come!
(>_<)

Saturday May 28th: To HELL with FedX!

Yesterday, Ryan from Harley spoke to a supervisor / Distribution Mgr at FedX to ensure my part left Toronto yesterday...as a Priority Delivery ...To be picked up personally today by Ryan at the airport on his day off.

The Supervisor Assured  Ryan he would Personally see to it that the box got onto the plane and would email a tracking number later as proof of its delivery... For an extra fee of course... $100+ dollars... Ryan agrees and provides a credit card... Payment is made.

I was excited last night to get an email from Ryan giving me the tracking number he'd received from the FedX Supervisor.... It was on its way!

Saturday morning...Ryan travels 40Kms to the FedX address to find they had moved... Finally getting to FedX ... They Couldn't Find th Freakin Package!... IT DIDN'T GET ON THE PLANE!

They also said, there was plane problems, it got re-routed among many other BS lines of miscommunication.

I've been in Winnipeg now for 3 days now and because of FedX... I will have to stay ANOTHER THREE FREAKIN DAYS!!! At $100+ per stinkin day!

I am absolutely fit-to-be-tied!

I've been in touch with FedX to arrange to speak to a Mgr on Monday... The FedX girl ...after hearing my problem - asked, "will you be in Winnipeg on Monday?"

Yes! You Stupid Cow! .. Thanks to Freakin FedX!...I said...in my mind ... that managed to come out as "Yes".

Anybody who really knows me, know that I experience an inordinant amount of trials and challenges when compared to others... It's a fact!

This is just a taste of what my life is like at times.... I will make it to California... eventually... I won't dwell on this and I will move on. I am resilient if nothing else...

My Credo is: "What ever doesn't kill me ... will strengthen me... That is.... If it doesn't Kill Me First!"

Even though life is good... It can still be frustrating at times...

Oh wait...Things are already loooking up... Ryan phoned me and invited me out to a Biker-Bar tonight for a few drinks....

A couple cold beers and a room full-o-leather... Life doesn't get any better than that...Lo -stinkin-L!

Stay tuned!
MB!!
Winni-stinkin-Peg
(>_<)

Friday: An even Uglier Turn!

The starter part that was to arrive today... Didn't!  Harley Winnipeg did their best yesterday to ensure it got here to the point of regestering a "Bike Down" with Deeley [parts distibutor] which is tantamount to issuing a 'Defcon 1' ....

Still never made it out the door.

I spoke to Ryan at Harley this morning and he said he had been in touch with Deeley who said 100% they could get it out today... FedX assured him it would be delivered tomorrow by 5pm....ONE HOUR AFTER the service dept closes till Monday morning!... I'd be stuck here for nearly a week!

"No Freakin Way!" says I...Unexceptable!

I got Ryan to call Buzz Green VP / Gen/Mgr at Deeley's and to go up the ladder at FedX... "Never take a no from someone who can't say yes!" said I.

I then got onto Harley extended warranty people and spoke to an anus!  I was covered for hotel costs for the breakdown in Thunder Bay and Winnipeg. Anus-Head said TB Harley had not sent in the paperwork and therefore I would not be covered....

"No frickin way, Anus-Breath!" says I..... In my mind... that managed to come out as, "Thats Unacceptable!"

He went on to tell me how H-Dealers are tardy with their paperwork and he didn't understand why the Winnipeg dealer haden't sent his in already. "Maybe it's because they are single-mindedly busy trying to get me - a customer - back on the road and are busy with that"... I mused ... albeit sarcastically.

Anal-boy still didn't get it.

I phoned Ted in TB and Ryan in the Peg to aprise them as to anal-boy's position. Both said thay would take care of it and for me to relax....Relaxing is all I've been doing on this trip so far!...lol

I spent the day relaxing by the pool:

As you can see.. it's filled with NOBODY to talk to!... But it's a lovely place to sit and relax...

That is... unless you'd rather be out RIDING!...>_<

I did my clothes washing and drying... Nobody there to talk to either. {Thought: "Is it me?!"}

I lubed my eye today with the drops I picked up yesterday...  The infection seems to be going and the eye is returning to normal...at least normal for me...something I reluctantly have had to accept. -_*

The Good News?

Got a call from Ryan who confirmed, with a tracking number, my part had indeed left Toronto this afternoon and he had arranged with FedX to meet their plane tomorrow morning - on his day off - to pick it up, get it to Harley and have it installed before 4pm tomorrow when they close.

YAAA!... if the plan all comed together.

I heard from Ted from TB-Harley who spoke to Anal-Boy's superiors [I'll bet everybody he works with falls under that title] and Ted had a Ref # for me so I get covered for accomodations while I was in TB.

If there is a silver lining... which I - ever the optimist - think about.... It's still colder than a wich's point and it hasn't stopped raining all day today. I have kept warm and dry and haven't soaked any more iPhones.... The next one I have to pay for.

On the down side... it's still raining and Snowing in the direction I am headed and so new challenges still lay ahead....

Stay tuned!... More adventures to come!...Life is Great!

MB11

Friday: The Waiting Game!

As you may have heard yesterday, the starter I needed was in Toronto which meant it had to be flown special delivery over night to Winnipeg which by default means I have 2 additional days and nights to stay in the Peg!... That is, if it does get here today and they can install it by day's end. Stay tuned!

Outside it's cold, overcast and rainy... Here's a view from my room:

I'm in my room watching "How It's Made"... I now know how to make Hammers, Colored Pencils, Banana Chips et al.

My eye infection is getting better... Gave myself a small hair cut this morning... Got a bit of a mullet action going on *_* Gonna do my laundry this afternoon.... Oh the Humanity!


Was quite bored yesterday... Need proof?

Dr Phil?

Ordered a Hungry-Man Pizza to my room last night:

It actually tasted better than it looks!

This morning I took myself over to a Supercentre to pick up shields for my new iPhone that I got replaced for free at the Apple store... My old one got soaked the other day when I was on the road... Jeez... When I was on the road.... Feels like a distant memory! ...sigh!

So bored I took myself to a restaurant for more food... Anybody who knows me know I only eat one meal a day on average... If I don't get on my way I'm gonna be bigger than a whale!

View from my table... Since I wasn't dressed as a biker... nobody came up and talked to me... so I talked to the chair.... Did I mention that traveling alone can sometimes be lonely?

TTFN
Paul



Day5: The good...The Bad... and The Ugly!

The good: I finally got out of Thunder Bay
The Bad: It was freakin cold all day
The Ugly: My bike broke down AGAIN... this time in McMunn [1 hr East of Winnipeg]

My day started off quite pleasant... Stopped back into Kakabek Falls to see my friend Tom at the Shell station and thank him again for putting me in contact with Ted - the Harley store owner.

Tom and his wife... I had a better picture but lost it when I exchanged my phone the following day.

I stopped into a small diner and met the most unique-looking man:

His face was like a Caricature  someone might draw... His head and face were as long as a horse's and his nose was long, bumpy, wide and big enought to house a backyard full of cats... I had to get his picture... BTW... he too, was very nice... Wonder if he took my picture?


After thatI stopped at a Trading Post for gas and a coffee to warm up a little when I came upon a bear.... an BIG Bear!

I thought Hairy Davidson was big... This bear was over 10 feet tall!


Later in the day it started to warm up a little and the bike was runing fine... until I pulled into the McMunn Motor Hotel and Gas bar... [McMunn: Population: 10]

You can see my bike in the distance and these 2 red vehicles are Grant's... He's owned the McMunn hotel for over 35 years... I walked into his establishment to find him hard at work at his desk:

Grant is a nice down-to-earth guy who enjoys runing his business and vacationing in Coco Beach Florida... He's a man of few words... When I asked if the place fills up on Fridays he said, "Yup".  When I learned McMunn's population was only ten and asked him where all the people come from he looked at me and said, "The Highway"... Still not sure if he was being funny or was just a little tired of my Columbo questioning...

Said my goobyes to Grant and went out to start my bike... It didn't start!... Again!

I phoned the CAA again and an hour later Scott showed up with his flatbed.

Turns out Scott is a Harley man... He and his daughter both ride sporsters and bike together to places like Sturgis SD.... Scott took me to the Winnipeg Harley shop where I met Craig and Ryan [no pics yet] who had a quick look at my bike and concluded I needed a high-performance starter to go with all the other high-performance Screamin Eagle upgrades I've put on the bike.

Ryan was quite confident he could have me fixed up and on my way the following day by noon....As I write this... It's the following day....3:20 pm..... Stay tuned for more devastating news!
MB11

Day 4: "Hurry Up .. and ... Wait!"

Stayed as long as I could in the hotel... Had to get out at noon... Dave from Harley came and picked me up and took me to the shop.

Was entertained all day by Lynda and Dennis.. Nice people.

Lynda likes to fish and hunt... Bagged a 14 point buck last year... Dennis used to race cars on ice... Until he flipped his... many times... Now he's rebuilding a Jeep.

Met many nice harley customers... Like Mike:

Mike rides a beauty trike... We jawed about Harley stories for a couple hours...

Here is where my bike was the whole day:

I paced every inch of this place waiting for Ted and his mechanic to tweek my bike.

Ted is the guy on the left... Thanks Ted for opening up your shop yesterday on your holiday [Victoria Day]... Few Harley Owner/Dealers would do what you have done...As Lynda said, "You haven't forgotton your roots!".. Good on you!

Tonite I am still in Thunder Bay yet again for another night...But that's ok... My bike will now get me where I need to go and tomorrow I'll get up early and cruise to Winnipeg.. only 8 hours... Life is still good and the people I meet renew my faith in humanity... God Bless every one of them!
Nite Nite!.. See ya tomorrow.
MB11

Day Three: An Ugly Turn!

Ok... So after the scary fog and rainy day yesterday... This is what I woke up to on day 3:

Colder and Rainy-er!

I get on my bike and plug in Vancouver to my GPS.... I ride for about an hour... to the freakin USA Border!

Had to cut across the grass to stay in Canada. The border guard said at least 3 people a week do exactly the same thing. Found out later, my gps setting is on fastest route which means going into the USA and speeding across their highway... not our Trans Cda Hwy!

Soaked to the bone, cold and ticked, I made my way back to Thunder Bay and got on the right highway..

Stopped 30 minutes later in Fantasy Falls Kakabeka to fill up at Esso. Meet a lumberjack who confirms I'm on the right road.

Go to start my bike... Nothing! .. The starter is pooched again... No mechanics in town.... It's Victoria Day Monday... Harley won't open until tomorrow!

The lumberjack and the kid from the gas station push my bike until I nearly sucked the life out of them trying to start the bike manually... No luck!

Across the street is Tom and wife Lise Richardson who own the Shell Station.

Lovely people! Tom phones a guy who know a guy who knows Ted - the guy who owns the Harley place in town... He says, If I can get the bike to his shop, he will meet us ther and take it inside for tomorrow...Unbelieveable!

I notice my iPhone has taken on water and is not working all that well.... It too.. may be pooched!


Tom phones CAA for me and 60 minutes later, Albert shows up.

View from Tom's place looking at my bike parked across the street.

Albert arrives.

Turns out he's in training and has to wait for Jim's truck to watch how he hooks me up... We wait out of the rain in Larry's Bait Shop. Larry's a great guy... Tells me all about bait.

Jim arrives.

Albert

Jimmy

Getting the bike on the flatbed was sooo scary... The ramp is lowered and is about 50 degrees incline....

They push me and the 1000 lb bike onto it ... then I have to hold onto it while the bed lifts up on an angle and then straightens... Even though I had the brake on, at times the bike was slipping due to the incline and the rain... Could have lost the bike off the end of the truck! Freakin Scary!

Jimmy takes me to the Harley place... Ted is there... Say's he hopes to get me on the road tomorrow by 10am if all goes well... Gives me his business card and tells me to give it to the people at the Travel Lodge to get a discount and he'll send somebody to pick me up tomorrow to reunite with my bike..

So it's now 1:45.. I'm ok, the bike is in good hands..But!... The LCBO is closed and I have no wine to enjoy tonight while I wait...and you know how I enjoy 1 or 14 glasses of white wine in the evening..lol

Life's still good!... My adventure still continues... Maybe I'll meet someone interesting this evening in the restaurant before I turn in... If I do.. I'll LYK.

Tomorrow: Day 4!

Stay tuned.

^_^

Day #2

Only took one pic today... Spent the whole day in rain, dark, fog-like-you-wouldn't-believe, danger, cold...and did I say Danger?  Tomorrow....Rain in the forcast with.. wait for it...Tornados! As you can see by the sign...Moose on the loose..Didn't see one but saw moose droppings and trucks with moose-catcher bars on the front of their grills.

First Day Break Down!

Bike wouldn't start 50 Kms this side of Sault Ste Marie... The good news was, Mike the mechanic was across the street.. He got it going in 2 hours and I was on my way.

Stayed at the Quality Inn in SSM...
Life is good.. Thanks to Mike!
See ya tomorrow!

Leaving for California