Wing Wag October 2005 Page 1 Gold Wing Road Riders Association. Chapter AB-A A (Calgary) Newsletter

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1 Wing Wag October 2005 Page 1 Gold Wing Road Riders Association Chapter AB-A A (Calgary) Newsletter Rode to Blue Rock, Alberta October 2005 Wing Wag A NEW LOCATION FOR OUR SUNDAY BREAKFAST AND MONTHLY DINNER MEETINGS, A NEW FORMAT FOR OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY, & A NEW NEWSLETTER EDITOR! Season of Change RIDE SCHEDULE: Based on views expressed by the membership, the executive has undertaken several initiatives to encourage participation in various Chapter activities. The Sponsored Ride Program was one such initiative that was so highly successful that it will be repeated next season. The only difference will be that the process will be started much earlier. So, be prepared to October 11 Coming Events Monthly Meeting (NOTE: This will be on Tuesday because of the Thanksgiving holiday & at our new location Nov. 14 Monthly Meeting - new location Nov 26 Christmas Dinner - Dance sign up this November to lead your favourite ride on your preferred date in The aim is to have a substantive schedule available for distribution at the Annual Motorcycle Show in January. NEW MEETING PLACE: Arrangements have been made to hold our monthly dinner meetings and Sunday morning breakfasts in the Club House at the Fox Hollow Golf Club which is located just south of 32nd Ave. on 9th St. NE. The location can be accessed easily from the 32nd Ave. N exit off Deerfoot Trail, or, if you are coming from the northwest, the 32nd Ave Connector off Edmonton Trail. This year round run facility has paved access and ample parking, the capacity to provide a more private venue for our meetings and will allow unrestricted access to a light but varied menu that should amply fulfill the needs of the membership. So, as of 9 October and until further notice, we will use the Fox Hollow Golf Club location for Sunday Breakfast and we will hold our monthly dinner Meeting there on Tuesday, 11 October. CHRISTMAS PARTY: A change of venue and format is being tried this year. See Page 3 for details. NEWSLETTER EDITOR: We will have a new editor for the November issue. See Page 3 for details. What s Inside Golden Triangle 2 Christmas Party 3 Meet the New Editor 3 M-cubed 4 Member Anniversaries 5 50/50 Winner 5 Those Colored Bikes (Part II) 6 Takakkaw Falls Picnic 8 Classifieds 10 Ride/Event Schedule 11

2 Wing Wag October 2005 Page 2 Golden Triangle It was a scene we have become all to familiar with this summer. Notwithstanding the fact that it was 26 June, Sunday morning dawned cool and threatening. An electric jacket was added under the leathers, if nothing else just for an extra layer of insulation. And in deference to the dark clouds on the western horizon, rain pants were donned prior to departure in the hope that by doing so, they would not be needed. Then it was off to the COP McD s to see how many other brave souls were up to the challenge of the Golden Triangle. Not as many as it first looked! On arrival at the RV I was surprised by the number of bikes in the parking lot. On closer inspection not all were Wings and only a few looked familiar; likewise the faces inside the restaurant. By pure coincidence it turned out we and the GWTA had planned to use the same RV, the same departure time and the same route on the same day - what were the odds? Going together was not an option; they had gotten there first; we delayed 15 minutes to give them a head start. Castle Junction, AB By the time we made our first fuel stop for the 1200 s and comfort stop for the rest at Castle Junction the sun had made some serious attempts to penetrate the clouds and the threat of rain had lifted with the ceiling. The result was improved scenery and a warmer fuzzy feeling when traversing sections of the road bathed in sunshine. Before we departed on the second leg I stowed the electric jacket - but kept my rain pants on. A non-threatening encounter with an impressively majestic bull elk grazing by the side of the road was the highlight of the run past Lake Louise and Field. Fuel for the bikes and food for Golden, BC the riders and co-riders was the order of the day on arrival at Tim Horton s in Golden. When the time came to remount, the temperature had soared into the mid teens and a few more layers were shed before departing for Radium Hot Springs. Call it laziness; call it hedging your bets; the rain pants stayed on! The traffic continued light and the remainder of the trip was pretty much as forecast.. The BC side of The Rocks was warm enough to warrant a stop for cool drinks at Radium. But when they were done, the clouds looming to the east prompted many to start re-layering before heading off for Storm Mountain. We did encounter a few of Bob Van Nes so called water bugs but nothing really significant. The generally cooler temps and the late afternoon time frame prompted most to opt for coffee or hot chocolate when we made our last fuel stop in Canmore where for the first time since breakfast we encountered some of the GWTA riders. Traffic was heavier on the run down The Slab into the city but the leg was uneventful. By the time I rolled into the driveway I had put on over 700 km during this day trip. But, we had been rewarded with some wonderful scenery and rather good riding. Throw in the pleasant company and you had the makings for a really great day. Art Armstrong

3 Wing Wag October 2005 Page 3 CHRISTMAS PARTY In keeping with the themes of being responsive and trying something different your Social Coordinators are proposing a new venue and format for this year s Christmas Party - specifically a Dinner - Dance. (NOTE: There will not be a gift exchange.) This has required a little flexibility on our part with respect to the date but if it proves popular, perhaps we can be more selective next year. Hope to see you all there.! DATE: NOVEMBER 26, 2005 TIMES: 6:30pm 7:30pm 9:00pm PLACE: Austrian Cultural Centre, th ST N.E. COST: $30.00 per person Please contact Meg Rozander or Shirley Jennings for tickets. Tickets will be on sale until November 20 th. People who purchase tickets before November 6 th will have their names entered into the early bird draw. Meg & Shirley Your New Editor Who am I... The outgoing editor says, I need a Who Am I Article from you for the next Wing Wag. Well, most of you know who I am, but for the newcomers here goes. I am a native Albertan, born and raised on a farm in northern Alberta, and recently transplanted to the west coast on a small island near Nanaimo, BC. I call Gabriola Island my home now but for the next couple of years I ll be spending a lot of my time in Calgary. My former employers made me an extremely generous offer to return to being their office manager, and I accepted. Having made that decision it became apparent that I would probably have a fair amount of time on my hands when I m not at work, so what better way to fill that time than to take on the editorship of what has become, in my opinion, a very fine newsletter. And here I am, about to embark on a journey that can only get better - I hope. My husband, Blaine, and I joined GWRRA in Being anxious to get out and ride we were elated when we stumbled upon Chapter AB-A having breakfast at Harvey s in the Huntington Plaza in March, We were welcomed and made to feel at home immediately. It was my first year riding a 1500 and also my first year riding anything since the early 70s. My motorcycle riding days started around It was sometime after I had gotten my private pilot s license and I was eager for a new challenge. Like my flying career that started the week after I had taken my first flight in a small airplane or any plane for that matter, I started my motorcycle riding career on a Honda 250 on a little-used side street in Grande Prairie, on a whim and at the suggestion of a friend. Those were the days when you didn t have to take any special courses or ride any test to get your Class 6 license, you just signed a piece of paper indicating that you wanted to ride a motorcycle. (Oops, I think I just dated myself!) It wasn t long before I graduated to a very sharp looking Honda 450. A lot of miles were logged on that bike but before long I made the leap to a BMW 750. What a glorious bike to ride. However, in northern Alberta, as in Calgary, winter has a habit of sneaking in and since I needed transportation over the winter and couldn t afford both a bike and a car, the bike had to go. Twenty-six years later, in 1999, Blaine got the bug (he too is a former enthusiast although his former riding days weren t quite as civilized as mine - if you know what I mean) that he d like to get back into riding. Well, I had no intention of being a passenger and I certainly didn t want to sit at home while he was out having all the fun so I started looking. I found a 98 Pearl Grey/Silver 1500SE for sale and bought it without having given it a test drive. The day came to pick it up and after a short practice ride around the block, I headed out into Calgary s rush hour traffic. That all seems like a lifetime ago and getting on the Wing now is the most natural thing I can think of. In December, 2000, while in the process of buying gloves, I found myself making a deal on, Dusty, my 2000, Candy Apple Red, 1500SE. The most expensive gloves I'll ever buy. Blaine and I enjoyed another two years of riding with Chapter AB-A eventually taking on the role of Ride Coordinator. We looked forward to the Sunday rides and group events. They had become our family. In 2001, we bought our retirement home on Gabriola Island and in December, 2002, I bid good-bye to Calgary while Blaine stayed for another four more months to complete his 30-year tenure with Greyhound Canada. We did not affiliate ourselves with any chapter on Vancouver Island but chose to continue to remain affiliated with Chapter AB-A. In August, 2003, we were host to a number of Chapter AB-A members who followed us home to Gabriola after the District Rally in Winfield. Then just this year, we organized a winery tour ride for Chapter AB-A members that came out to the Region J Rally in Chemainus on the August long weekend. And now, here I am. Back in Calgary, back at work, and back with my GWRRA family. It s going to be a tough act to follow but I m looking forward to this new challenge. Ride Safe. Wanda Borley

4 Wing Wag October 2005 aka Monthly Meeting Mutterings for 12 September 2005 PRESENTATION: Although not announced in advance, Bob Quinlan arranged for a timely presentation on electrically heated riding apparel. Diana Meyenburg, the representative from Widder Canada Inc., briefly reviewed the history of the company which has been in operation in the USA since the early 1970 s and based in Canada since She also displayed and described the various items avail- Page 4 able in their line. This includes the Core Item, a heated vest (System I - no pockets and no collar; System II - pockets and heated collar), to which can be connected arm chaps, gloves and/or leg chaps. Key to efficient heating i.e. low power but high heat, is proper fit. System is operated either by simple ON/OFF switch or adjustable temperature controller. For more information on these items go to MILAGE REPORTS: RIDER EDUCATION: Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, our next meeting will be on Tuesday, 11 October 2005 and a special reminder, the location will be the club house at the Fox Hollow Golf Club (9th St. and 32 Ave. NE) Congratulations to Terry Burril who successfully completed the recently offered Riding Instructors Course. This means Chapter AB-A now has two qualified instructors to conduct rider education and to monitor such programs as our Parking Lot Practice sessions. For those interested in participating in the run for the Most Kilometers Ridden in 2005 Award, the date of record (15 Nov) is approaching rapidly. So, take full advantage of any riding opportunities between now and then and be prepared to submit your ODO reading to Wes Braden. NEXT MEETING: The Editor

5 Wing Wag October 2005 Page 5 September 50/50 Winner Chapter AB-A Membership Anniversaries for October 2005 Member Name Start Date Years Wilf Carter 01/10/88 17 Ray First time in 10 years!! Jennings Frank Edwards 23/10/01 5 Mark Jennings 28/10/02 3 Brenda Jennings 25/10/04 1 Milt Mansell 13/10/04 1 Jenn Mansell 13/10/04 1 Sharon Mansell 13/10/04 1 B. Glen Vrooman 08/10/03 2 Brenda Vrooman 08/10/03 2 NEW ADVERTISER - WELCOME TO THE WING WAG

6 Wing Wag October 2005 Page 6 Those Colored Bikes (Part II) (This is a continuation of Part I which appeared in the September issue. Ed.) Our 1500 couldn t do the total distance between Fort Providence and Yellowknife on one tank of gas so we had to deviate 10 km off path to fill up at Rae. The highways up to here had been excellent but now we were starting to experience potholes much more often. Suddenly the pavement ended with 30 km still to go to Yellowknife. Construction was underway to complete this last section and so they were doing very little to maintain the existing road. The new highway was also raised and straightened and so the old gravel road crossed the new roadbed quite a few times. One of these crossings had just been constructed and was formed with crushed rock, all about fist size. The new roadbed crossed at an elevation of about 8 feet higher then the old road and we were aghast when the flagman waved for us to ride over it. One at a time we tried it and made it. After congratulating ourselves on our skills at hill climbing on Gold Wings we completed the rest of the trip uneventfully into Yellowknife. Bob had arranged accommodations at the Capital Suites through a business associate of his and we settled into these luxury apartments. They had separate bedrooms and living rooms so we use ours to gather and review our photographs of the day. I had brought along a cable to hook my camera up to the TV set and present a slide show of my photos. Darryl s camera could also use the same cable and although Bob s couldn t, my camera would read his memory card. So with this arrangement we enjoyed a slide show review of our activities every evening. One of the first things I had to do when we got to Yellowknife was to fix my electrical problem so I could relieve Darryl of his function as push starter. With the pressure of the mosquito swarms missing I was able to work the fuse cover off from below the Corbin seat overhang. Since the headlight was off I checked that fuse but found it intact and so pulled out the wiring diagram to start troubleshooting. Darryl asked if I checked all of the fuses and I told him no because if it was a fuse it would be the headlight fuse and it was good. Well this didn t satisfy Darryl and so he started to pull all the fuses. Embarrassingly enough the tail light fuse was blown and this also controls the headlight as well as a bunch of the other electronics. I guess it makes sense to check all of the easy things before you jump into the more in-depth diagnostics. We spent the next couple of days doing touristy things. We toured the local museum, visited the headquarters of the Diavik Diamond Mines to see how they recovered these gem stones and visited old town Yellowknife where we enjoyed a fresh fish feed at a very popular and trendy local restaurant. We made a special effort to make sure we located Ragged Ass Road and also talked with the owner of one of the floating houses out on the lake. He had all of his firewood and other necessities stacked onboard beside the house and was quite happy since this arrangement got him out of paying any property taxes. It also got him out of getting any town services but he still thought it was a good deal. One of the things that attracted (Continued on page 7)

7 Wing Wag October 2005 Page 7 (Continued from page 6) our attention was a small squadron of DC3s and DC4s at Buffalo Airlines. As we were trying to take pictures of these planes through the chain link fence, Shirley struck up a conversation with one of the employees inside the fence. It turns out he was the safety officer for the airline and was also a biker. He asked us if we would like to come in so we road our bike in and lined them up in front of a DC3 for a photo op. The safety officer also gave us a conducted tour of this plane and told us tall tales of flying up there in the arctic winters. Shirley pulled it off again the next day when we ventured out to their golf course to observe how they carried their own little piece of turf along with them so they didn t need to hit off of the sand and rocks on their fairways. As the rest of us were trying to get a photo of this phenomenon, Shirley started chatting up a local who turned out to be the Golf Club Manager. She arranged for him to equip his truck with lawn chairs and to give us a conducted tour of the course. I think we are going to have to keep on taking her along with us on these trips. One of the local establishments was Harley s Hard Rock Saloon. Although this is a biker bar, apparently it is named after owner Freddy Squire s daughter Harley and not after Harley Davidson. We decided we were thirsty one evening and so decided to give this bar a try. The patrons were very friendly and seemed happy to see new faces. One of the bikers strolled over and said, Hey aren t you the guys on those colored bikes. We acknowledged we were and he went on to say that Friday was Raven Mad Daze in Yellowknife when the whole town parties and one of the events was a motorcycle show and shine on the street in front of Harley s. He asked us if we would put our bikes in the show. Originally we intended to use Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the ride home but after discussions among ourselves we decided we would stay for the event and enter our bikes in the show. Friday afternoon arrived and barricades appeared blocking off the main street from vehicular traffic. Show and custom cars started to line up alone the center of one of the blocked off side streets while motorcycles lined up in front of Harley s Saloon. Ours were the only Gold Wings in the show and so we entered as a group. Darryl printed up signs for our windshield identifying us as belonging to Calgary s GWRRA Chapter A. There were about 50 bikes in the show. Needless to say we were hopeless outnumbered by the Harleys. In the end a little minibike chopper took the peoples choice awards. On Raven Mad Daze the stores are all open into the evening with lots of shopping specials. Vendor tables are set up in the main street to peddle all sorts of good including jewelry, tee shirts and knick-knacks. Numerous food vendors were also present and we intended to sample all of the distinctly northern dishes like bison, caribou, musk ox, and arctic char. Unfortunately the choice was limited to hotdogs and hamburgers. We turned in early that evening so that we could get an early start for home. The next morning we left Yellowknife and headed out on that 30 km gravel stretch fully expecting to have to go hill climbing again. This time they had dressed the crossing with fine gravel and provided an approach from either side. The ride back that day was uneventful. The buffalo were still along the roadside and we again enjoyed the ferry ride back across the Mackenzie River. We stopped at the 60th Parallel information center again since Quentin and Carol had missed it on their way up in their rush to join us. We were targeting Manning again for our half way destination that day but riders were beginning to get drowsy by the time we hit High Level and so we decided to call it a day. Cell phone voice mail had been marginal at best up in Yellowknife. Quentin was finally able to get his messages and found a two day old family emergency message waiting for him. After placing a couple of calls he hopped on his bike electing to continue his ride until he got home. The rest of us checked into a motel, had dinner, and went to bed. Darryl decided that he was going to do the rest of ride (1100 km) over two days. Bob, Carol, Shirley and myself needed to be back in Calgary the next day so the four of us were up and on the road by 6:00 AM. The rest of the trip back was pleasant but the only thing of note was a short roadside celebration when Carol s 1800 turned over the 10,000 km mark. We caught a brief downpour as we road by Ponoka and pulled into Calgary around 8:00 Sunday night. All in all we had a very good trip and enjoyed the northern experience and each other s company. Colin O Brien (photos & text) Bob Quinlan (photos)

8 Wing Wag October 2005 Page 8 Takakkaw Falls This years edition of the ride to Takakkaw Falls was again a great ride. We had ten bikes and one Jeep with a total of 19 participants (No, only 4 in the Jeep). Throughout the week prior to the ride I was concerned that this ride might be another one that gets rained out as has some of the other rides this summer. However, the weather was very cooperative and allowed us to play for the most part in sunshine. Our first pit stop was at Castle Mountain for a splash of gas and pressure release. Due to the lineup at the gas pump and the washrooms it was suggested that next time group two should head to the washroom while group one heads to the pump. Although it took a little longer, this stop is always a good chance to meet any newcomers. The ride up to the falls was without any major incident which is a sure sign of success. If you haven t ridden to the falls, there is one very technical corner. It requires the rider to move into the left side of the road, shift into first gear and swing wide to make the right turn. Once around the corner the rider is invariably facing oncoming traffic because you are on the wrong side of the road. The ride down is much less intimidating. At the falls the group was able to secure some picnic tables to have lunch under sunny warm conditions. This was followed by a game of ring toss. There was strong competition and many variations on how to land a shower ring in an OVERSIZED bra how- (Continued on page 9) Authorized Dealer for Josh Radu Featuring the Voyager XL/3

9 Wing Wag October 2005 Page 9 (Continued from page 8) and we anticipated we might run into some water bugs on the way home. We weren t disappointed as the skies opened up just after we left Canmore but didn t last very long. ever John Pacello showed his skill and received a prize of a mug, tea and finger cookies. Congratulations John. Of course we all had to take a walk up to the falls to feel the spray and secure some pictures. Both groups stopped in Canmore for another splash of gas and rain gear. The weather had turned This is a ride I always look forward to and will again next year. Bob Van Nes (Text) Wanda Borely (Photo) Art Armstrong (Photos)

10 Wing Wag October 2005 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. 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 Art Armstrong at: janice-art-armstrong@shaw.ca WANTED GL1800 Stock Windshield - good condition Contact: Terry FOR SALE Complete driver floor boards with heel toe shifter for a Gold Wing GL Should also fit the GL Contact: Peter at cell (403) WANTED Fixer upper Wing, or phone Ken VanderBurg, Barrhead Chapter AB-G kenvb@telus.net or FOR SALE Gold Wing 1500 SE, July 97, two tone red: c/w matching cargo trailer in mint condition. Fully loaded with approx $2500 of extras including Alpine 6-CD changer. Also included are two Arai helmets ($1000 value) c/w Honda sound talk-sets. Asking $17999 obo. CALGARY AREA STAFF Chapter Directors Bob & Joanne Quinlan quinlan_rw@accountant.com Treasurer Joy Somers jjsomers@shaw.ca Member Darryl Minsky Enhancement dmm@shaw.ca Coordinator & Webmaster Social Coordinators Meg Rozander mrozander@shaw.ca & Shirley Jennings Quartermasters Jim & Dorothy Baker Ride Coordinator Phil Poirier paadlrd@shaw.ca Rider Education Wes Braden Newsletter Editor Wanda Borley WingWagNews@shaw.ca GWRRA TOLL FREE NUMBER (CANADA & US) NATIONAL LEADERS Executive Directors Mike & Judy Wright (219) Natl Dirs for Cdn Ops Dennis & Yvonne Evans Natl Rider Ed Director Gordon Murphy (709) Region J Directors Ron & Carol Hodgson (403) District Directors Terry & Betty Collin (403) ESTATE SALE Pearl White 50th anniversary edition, loaded, cruise control, reverse, AM/FM cassette, CB radio, adjustable passenger floor boards, back rest, highway boards, trunk rack, Honda Full Cover, three Honda travel bags. Used every year but limited amount. Mint condition, 6,640 km Yes 6,640 km. $20,000 Also available - 2 helmets with microphones, 2 First Gear Kevlar jackets and pants

11 Wing Wag October 2005 Page 11 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. Sunday Breakfast 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 OCTOBER to DECEMBER EVENT SCHEDULE DAY/DATE EVENT AB-A SPONSOR Tuesday, 11 Oct Dinner Bob Quinlan Meeting Monday, 14 Nov Dinner Bob Quinlan Meeting Saturday, 26 Nov Xmas Dinner Shirley Jennings Dance Meg Rozander NO MONTHLY DINNER MEETING IN DECEMBER October is OPEN but if good weather prevails be prepared to take full advantage. Watch your or check the website for possible ad hoc ride proposals! 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:

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