Gold Wing Road Riders Association

Transcription

1 Gold Wing Road Riders Association Chapter AB-A A (Calgary) Newsletter May, 2010 Wing Wag YA HA TINDA Text and Photos by: Lisa Miller Day 18 - Friday, September 25, kilometers (5.5 hours) Bend, OR to Ontario, OR via Burns, OR on US-20 We woke to a blue sunny sky without a single cloud but a lot of haze from forest fires. Colin again brought breakfast up to the room and we watched an episode of Monk we had not seen before. We were on the bike and headed for Ontario by 10:30 a.m. along US-20. During the day we crossed four passes including Horse Ridge Summit at 4,285 feet; Sagehen Summit at 4,596 feet; Stinkingwater Pass at 4,848 feet; and finally Drinkwater Pass at 4,212 feet. With the exception of these passes the road was virtually straight with almost no curves and it seemed to go on forever. On past trips to this area of Ore- (Continued on page 3) May 10 Jun 14 Jul 12 Coming Events Monthly Meeting Monthly Meeting Monthly Meeting What s Inside Twisty Bits Tour Pics...2 Humor...5 Ride for Stars...6 Birthday Bash...7 News & Notices...8 Meeting Stars...8 Safety First...9 Meetings Information...9 Classifieds...10 Calgary Area Team Listing /50 Winner...10 Washington State Pics...11 Co-Rider Course...12

2 Wing Wag April, 2010 Page 2 Photos by: Colin & Lisa Miller

3 Wing Wag April, 2010 Page 3 (Continued from page 1) gon we have noticed how straight the roads are for mile after mile. This is a high desert and there are many times when there is nothing to look at but scrub brush and basalt rocks, not so much as a cow wants to live in this hot desolate area. Consequently there was nothing to distract us from how hot it was having topped out at 35 degrees C. Just to make the heat aspect of the day worse as we were nearing Burns we were stopped for a construction zone and had to wait for the oncoming traffic to clear the lane before our direction could continue and that took probably 10 minutes with us to sitting out in the heat on new and very black pavement. Once we started to move we kept expecting to see an area of active construction in a zone that lasted for several miles but there was no construction activity to speak of, just two machines working on two different turn-outs. What a waste of money, manpower, and gas to pay two flaggers and a pilot car where the real work was well finished. After getting so hot sitting waiting at the construction zone we decided it would be a good idea to cool down and have lunch so we stopped at a McDonalds where we had fast food, refilled our bottle of water with ice, then we soaked our buffs and neck bands to help cool us on the next leg of the day s journey. We arrived in Ontario about 4:00 p.m. and checked in to our next Holiday Inn Express. We had stayed in the same one earlier in our trip. When we walked into our room it was already nice and cool and we got a soda from the vending machines to help cool us from the inside out. Then we changed and went down to enjoy the swimming pool and really get cooled off. After an hour by the pool we returned to our room with a second soda each and relaxed in the room for a while before walking over to the Sizzler for supper, stopping on the way to clean the bike s windscreen and put the cover on it. We ended our day back in our room waiting for the next new episode of Monk to come on the USA channel which we don t get at home. The penultimate day of our motorcycle trip was essentially a reverse of our second day on the way down and was really just a riding day. We started with the HIE free breakfast and then loaded up the bike. We opted to start the ride wearing our new warm weather gloves (we had both regretted not having worn them from the start yesterday) but we both found our hands a little cold during our first hour and a half on the road as we traveled at 65 mph. The weather soon warmed but never to the excessive levels of previous days. This time we skipped the Silver Dollar Saloon and stopped instead at a restaurant called Hoots which is just before White Bird Junction, ID when approaching from the south. Frankly, while the décor was nicer with a large collection of owl paraphernalia, the food was just mediocre, I had a BLT and a cup of something they called navy bean soup yuck. Colin had a very lack luster hamburger. Of the two restaurants we have tried in this area I preferred the Silver Dollar as the food was better. We crossed the White Bird Hill Summit (4,456 ft) going the other direction this time and after passing through Lewiston we eventually arrived in Sandpoint, ID. Last year we had done a ride around Montana and Idaho for 5 days during which we had stayed at the Super 8 hotel in Sandpoint, but as we were riding down this time we noticed that there was a brand new HIE in Sandpoint conveniently sharing a parking lot with a restaurant, called Slates Grill, that we had enjoyed on that previous trip. On the trip down we had stayed in Hayden, ID but the HIE there was attached to a recreation facility with bowling lanes, a water park, and a rock climbing facility and since on our return trip we were going to be there on a Saturday we were worried that the place would be overrun with children so Colin changed our reservation for Sandpoint. This change would also put us an hour closer to home tomorrow and would give us a chance to try out this hotel. Sandpoint happens to be in a very convenient location for us, a perfect first day s distance from Calgary for future rides. Day 19 - Saturday, September 26, kilometers (8 hours) Ontario, OR to Sandpoint, ID via Lewiston, ID on US-95 Slates Grill was as good as we had remembered and after settling into our hotel room we walked across the parking lot and ordered a couple of beers and some appetizers, opting for bourbon (Continued on page 4)

4 Wing Wag April, 2010 Page 4 (Continued from page 3) beer glazed chicken wings and a basket of fresh made chips. We later ordered dinner, a steak for Colin and mixed skewers for me. We also ordered desert to take back to our hotel room for later, a strawberry margarita cheesecake and a lemon drop cheese cake. We returned to our room to read and watch TV and about an hour and a half later both took half of each type of cheesecake but neither of us were able to finish everything both were delicious but I think we both preferred the Lemon Drop. Day 20 - Sunday, September 27, kilometers (7 hours) Sandpoint, ID to Calgary via Radium, BC This last day of our holiday we woke to a blue sky with a few scattered clouds and a crisp cool fall day. After a scant breakfast we got the bike loaded. Remembering our cool hands of yesterday morning we packed our warm weather gloves away and donned our gauntlets for the last leg of our journey knowing that the high in Calgary was expected to be only 14 degrees C. We were just an hour from the US/Canada border and debated whether or not we should put on our heated jackets. We decided not to and said if we were cold we could put them on at the border. We really should have put the jackets on and so after a very easy border crossing we pulled into the parking area on the Canadian side and put the jackets on, what a difference that made to our comfort even though Colin never turned on the heat. I did because I just like the feel of the heated collar on my neck. We stopped for gas at Fairmont and decided to have lunch at the same time so after filling up we went to the Farside Inn Pub and Eatery which was right across the side road from the gas station. We both selected the daily special consisting of chicken strips with bacon and cheese melted on top, a little different but quite tasty. Back on the bike we had a straight ride home with cool temperatures and beautiful light on the mountains. Even after all the marvelous scenery we had enjoyed on this trip it still amazes me how spectacular our mountains are, we just don t have the paved twisty roads running through them to compare to those in the USA. We got home about 5:30 p.m. and got the bike unloaded. Colin went down the basement to turn the water back on and restart the water heater. I put some stuff into the refrigerator then went to get a load of laundry started. About an hour after getting home I returned to the kitchen to unload the dishwasher and stepped onto the mat in front of the sink and it went squish! I looked down and realized that except right in front of the fridge the floor was covered in water! When I opened the dishwasher there was water standing in the bottom that should not have been there since the cycle had finished and it should have drained. In the basement the water was dripping slowly through one of the staples in the ceiling into the utility room. In the finished part of the basement the carpet was soaked. The water had obviously run through the ceiling damaging it and had then run down the wall from the ceiling which sloughed off the paint at the top of the wall and stained the rest of the wall but at this point the wall was dry. This obviously didn t start when Colin turned the water back on, it must have happened at some point during the past 3 weeks? How could this have happened? We would feel a lot better if we knew what had happened so we could prevent it in the future. It had been hot while we were gone and the furnace was lit and running so a pipe didn t freeze. We had turned the main water to the house off before we left but we hadn t drained the lines. Could the water in the lines have found a way to drain into the dishwasher then out through the door? If so, why isn t this happening all the time when there is water in the lines? I had run the dishwasher the night before we left and the clean light was on but I had not opened it before we left so it is possible it had malfunctioned and did not drain the water and it then seeped out through the door. We are sure that somehow the dishwasher is involved but when we ran the dishwasher through a couple of times no more water appeared. We will have to get an appliance repair guy to check the dishwasher out once this (our second home insurance claim this year for water damage and our third water issue in less than 6 months) has been resolved. This was really not the best way to wrap up what was a fabulous trip and it put a real DAMPER on our homecoming. Next year we will be traveling across Canada for 6 weeks somehow we have got to find a way to make sure that trip doesn t end this way! WW

5 Wing Wag April, 2010 Page 5 Thanks to Roy J. Plhak, of Houston, Texas There were 3 men - Dave, Jon, and Sam... They were all involved in a tragic car accident in which all 3 died... Now, they all stood there, at the gates of heaven. An angel came up to them and said -"You are all to be allocated a method for transportation around heaven...you will be judged on your past deeds, and will have your transport chosen accordingly..." The angel looked at Dave and said, "You, Dave, were a bad man! You cheated on your wife 4 times!!! For this, you will drive around Heaven on an oldbeat-up Jawa moped..." The angel next looked at Jon and said- "You, Jon, were not as evil...but you still cheated on your wife 2 times... For this, you will forever travel around heaven on a Harley Davidson " The angel finally looked at our hero...sam, and said- "You, Sam, have set a fine example. You did not have sex until after marriage, and you never cheated on your wife! For this, you will forever travel through heaven on a brand new Honda Gold Wing " A short time later, Jon and Dave pulled up on their cycles next to Sam's Gold Wing...There Sam sat on the ground in front of his magnificent Wing, head in hands, crying... "What's wrong, Sam??? they asked... "You got the Gold Wing!!! You are set forever!!! Why so down???" Sam looked up, ever so slowly opened his mouth and said, "I just saw my wife go by on a skateboard..." WW

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7 Wing Wag April, 2010 Page 7 JUNE 11,12,13,14 /2010 IF YOU HAVE A BIRTHDAY IN 2010 YOU ARE INVITED TO THIS PARTY Friday June Leave Innisfail Extra Foods parking 8:30 am. Go south to Olds and west to Hwy 22 then south to gas station north of Cochrane then to Bragg Creek for quick stop then take scenic and twisty road to Turner valley and Black Diamond then south on Hwy 22 to Hwy 3 then west to Sparwood. Sparwood from Innisfail is 400km. The way we are going, 6 hr drive without stops, maybe 8 hr. with stops. Sparwood, BC. stay the night. Sat. June Breakfast then meet Tim & Sharon Go for Coal Mine tour to top of mountain. BBQ after tour stay in Sparwood for the night. Sun. June Leave 7:30am. Head for Cardston to Remmington Carriage Museum via Waterton Lakes National Park (stop here for look around Red Rock Canyon, Cameron Lake, and Cameron Falls) then to Cardston. Tour Museum then to Fort Macleod for the night. Monday June Then home on Monday. Mountain Shadow Campground (Closed for the winter) Valley Motel (Across Hwy from Campground) $75.00 Plus Tax/room. This is ok but for an extra $10.00, Causeway Bay Hotel If I can get 7 rooms or Causeway Bay Hotel -$85.00 plus tax. This is just a guide line for the trip, I will keep in touch Jack Hill Also on the September long weekend we are having a camp a new member s place in Sundre. Sept. 3,4,5,6 more information to follow later. WW

8 Wing Wag April, 2010 Page 8 1. Chapter BC-G Kamloops will be holding Victoria Days Motorcycle Rally May 21 24, If you are interested in participating in this rally information is available at or from Kirk Elliot at or ocis.net 2. The Irma fire fighters are sponsoring 400 Km poker rally starting and ending in Irma, AB on Saturday, June 12, If you are interested in participating in this rally please call Doug Larson at Evenings or Our Calgary Chapter has been asked to host the 2011 Region Rally on the August long weekend. Anyone interested in being involved please contact our Chapter Directors to express your interest. WW Brian Perrin Sharon Sanders Thank you to Sharon for her Safety Minute regarding Co-Rider skills and the general benefits of participating in training courses. Thank you to Brian Perrin, out going Quartermaster (above) and Darryl Snyder, out going Treasurer (no photo available) for their respective service to our chapter over the past years. Certificates of thanks were presented to them both for their dedication.

9 Wing Wag April, 2010 Page 9 If you are interested in attending any courses please contact Alex Middleton at rider goldwing calgary.com to express your interest or for additional information. Scheduled Courses: None scheduled. WW DAY/DATE May 10 Jun 14 Jul 12 MEETING SCHEDULE May Monthly Meeting June Monthly Meeting July Monthly Meeting Friends for Fun, Safety, and Knowledge Come ride with us...everyone Welcome! For the latest updates on what we are doing and where we re going, check out our website: Monthly Meetings Monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month. This is a time to share information and to meet old and new friends who like to ride together for FUN, Safety and Knowledge. See you at the next meeting at the Fox Hollow Golf Club, 9th Street and 32nd Avenue N.E. 6:30; Meeting at 7:00 PM. Rain, snow or shine, we meet for breakfast every Sunday morning about 9 AM. This is a great year round way to stay in touch with your GWRRA friends. So, if you have missed the opportunity to join us for breakfast recently, why don t you come on over to the Fox Hollow Golf Club, 9th Street and 32nd Avenue N.E.

10 Wing Wag April, 2010 Page 10 Classified Ads The Classified ads are free to all members and associates of the GWRRA. While advertised items do not have to be Gold Wing related, we do insist that all ads pertain to motorcycling. Ads will appear on a space available basis for one month. Should you wish to continue to run your ad for a second or succeeding month, you must resubmit or renew your ad. Deadline for submission is the 25th of the month preceding publication. To post an ad or if the item is sold or the offer withdrawn, please contact Lisa Miller at: goldwing calgary.com CLASSIFIED ADS FOR SALE Honda Goldwing GL 1000 in excellent condition. Lots of chrome accessories; running lights around hard-sided luggage compartments. Low front running lights as well as floorboards with toe-heel gear shifter. Good paint with few imperfections. Never been dropped. Must be seen to appreciate. $4,000 obo. Call Ted at Calgary, Alberta, Canada. CALGARY AREA STAFF Chapter Directors Ron & Betty Syroishka (403) chapter goldwing calgary.com Assistant Gary & Susan Premech (403) Chapter Directors assistant chapter goldwing calgary.com Quartermaster??? (403)??? goldwing calgary.com Newsletter Editor Lisa Miller (403) goldwing calgary.com Treasurer Eric Roberts (403) goldwing calgary.com Ride Coordinator Terry Collin (403) ride goldwing calgary.com Rider Education Alex Middleton (403) rider goldwing calgary.com Rider Course Terry Burrell (403) Instructor goldwing calgary.com Social Coordinators Carol Myers (403) social goldwing calgary.com & Susan Premech (403) social goldwing calgary.com Membership Darryl Minsky (403) Enhancement goldwing calgary.com Coordinator & Webmaster April 50/50 Winner GWRRA TOLL FREE NUMBER (CANADA & US) NATIONAL LEADERS Executive Director Melissa Nordeoff (623) Natl Dirs for Cdn Ops Ron & Carol Hodgson (403) Asst Natl Director Rider Ed Milt Sorensen (403) Region J Directors Phil & Margaret Craven (250) District Directors Ross & Audrey Woolsey (780) Kim Coubrough NOTE: addresses in this publication are displayed in a manner that will deter automatic address harvesting programs. This step is taken to reduce unsolicited to any addresses we post. We regret any inconvenience caused for our legitimate visitors. REMOVE ALL THE SPACES IN THE ADDRESS TO MAKE IT WORK.

11 Wing Wag April, 2010 Page 11 Photos by: Colin & Lisa Miller

12 Wing Wag April, 2010 Page 12 Saturday, April 24 we held a Co Rider Seminar to improve the skills of the Co Riders. We had 30 Riders and Co Riders in attendance. Thanks to all the folks that showed up, it was a great Seminar. Thanks to Jim Baker for getting us hanger space with The Avmax Group at the Calgary International Airport, as well as Elwood Burrill who picked up and returned the Rental Chairs for the Seminar. Alex Middleton Chapter Educator WW