June 23 2014 - Trip around Sunshine Coast, with Darryl

Second trip of the season...

Trip around our Sunshine Coast...

Above, the trip route taken with my West Vancouver Yacht club, friend Darryl Stodalka; (Darryl  recently got his Honda ST1300). This will be his time on this route.

Motorcycles parked on the ferry, going to Gibson

the weather, traffic and road conditions were GREAT! lots of fantastic scenery!!

Darryl leading the way to the pub!

 We took the ferry from Horseshoe bay to Gibson, stopped of just north of Madeira Park, "Garden Bay Hotel Marina Pub" for lunch, then drove to the end of the ride (see the yellow line on the map above), then came back home again.

Looking out into the bay, from the Pub

Looking from the wharf

 Beer, food and company where great! Highly recommend the place!

One happy Darryl with his bike!

not sure why I look so tall along side my motorcycle...must be the camera :)

On our trip back, we stopped over at Gibson... government docks, just to take a look around before we head back on the ferry...

taking a texting break.

Got home safe and sound!....

Till the next trip!

June 17 2014 - Ride to Abbotsford

Today is a great day for a ride to Abbotsford, but going to my mum's friend funeral.

Weather was very good for the ride... not too hot nor too cold.

Stopped over at mum's place first, for coffee and a light lunch... my sister Wendy was over there too! she is taking mum to the funeral.

The drive over was just OK, nothing really to say about the ride... just lots of traffic.

The funeral for was for Simon Koostra, my dad's last friend; now all his friends have passed on :( but that's life.

My ride back was better... love the roads behind Mission... no traffic to speak of. However, as I was getting closer to Pitt Meadows the traffic really started to build (now rush hour). It would seem that every car was in a race to get home... extremely stressful for me... I found it was better to pass the traffic than to have the traffic pass me. Vehicle love to cut you off!

Anyway... safe and sound home.

See map below of my route.. route was around 100 miles.

June 3 - 6, 2014 - Trip to Summerland

 Well, the motorcycle is finally insured again, ready to hit the road!

Another season of riding is a head! First ride of the year...

Off to Summerland, to see my friend Brian Wootton!

Digging up my riding gear, I found that my old motorcycle helmet still smells like mold! Last year, I made the mistake of putting my helmet into my saddlebag wet! When I took it out, 8 months later, it was completely covered in white mold! I tried removing the mold with every chemical there was... but the smell still remained... time for a new helmet! I finally found a replacement... got a "Schuberth C3 Pro" (a newer version of my old one). In addition, I got a helmet speaker system (SRC system). This is integrated into the helmet, looks good. Now I got Bluetooth... connects to my iPhone, music, gps, radio stations and a communication system with other riders. Works OK, but will take some getting use to. I will only use it on long trips.

In for penny in for a pound... purchased a new rain suit (one piece BMW yellow rain suit) and the best thing... a new front tire. Now the bike rides perfectly around the corners! so happy with the tire.

Below are the pictures of my trip...

starting at Vancouver, going counter clockwise

 First stop was at my mum's place for coffee in Port Coquitlam, nice stop over... then off... going the Mission / Harrison Hots spring route...

All loaded at my Mum's place

 Planning to camp over at Manning Park (Skagit Valley - shown in blue), but I am just too old to camp in the snow! so I stayed in their hotel. Nice place with hardly anyone there!

At the look-out at Manning park

Yes, to was cold, but nice!

Just me and my ride...FJR 1300

at the look-out station, looking down at Manning Park

Since no one was at the look-out and early morning, I decided to coast down the mountain... no noise, just air rushing pass. We will surprised what you can see going down the road up there. Seen a few deer, lots of birds and squirrels. Makes you really appreciate life!

At Summerland - Brian's mountain cabin... living on the ledge
note the painting on Brian's cabin wall... not bad eh!

Brian's yearly garden

Preparing dinner!

His dog Monty

peaceful ride!

A lake along the Connector between Summerland and Merritt

After a few days at Brian's place... time for the home run.

Just passed Merritt - hot area.
note... no traffic!!!!

Going up to the Coast Mountains, heading for home

The ride back was a lot longer than I was planning to ride... left Summerland at 10:30 am... got home at 7:30 pm

I was planning to camp around Merritt, but just to hot now! So I kept riding... as I was just starting to go through the Coast Mountains, there was a major paving project going on... stopping all traffic for over a 1/2 hour. This means that I am at the front of the line... with no traffic ahead of me... brand new pavement... new super tires... hey who could stop! the best ride yet... going a MY speed with no cars to hold me up through the mountain. PERFECT!

Stopped at Pemberton for dinner, then home... completely beat!!!

So ends a great ride!!

till next time...