Roadside Memories of a Sportster

Anniversaries make me sentimental hence the trip down memory lane: Rover's selection of places that created memories of a lifetime.

Where I was home: Port Moody, at Rocky Point, BC

Buntzen Lake, just around the block, BC

The Pacific Wet Coast, Chuckanut Drive, WA

Fall foliage in Canada

6AM on Sea-to-Sky Highway, BC

Route 99, BC

Duffey Lake, BC

Route 99, BC

Confluence of the mighty Thompson and Fraser Rivers in Lytton, BC

Along Columbia River, WA

A Ghost Town somewhere in Palouse County, WA

Somewhere in Interior Oregon for the legendary IMBC 2012

***

Erinnerungen einer Sportster: Wundervolle Orte

In Port Moody war ich zu Hause und Buntzen Lake war gleich um die Ecke. Der Chuckanut Drive an der Küste Washingtons ist immer noch ein echter Geheimtip. Ich liebe den Indian Summer in Kanada. 6 Uhr morgens auf dem Sea-to-Sky Highway. Route 99 ist eine echte Traumstraße und führt am Duffey Lake vorbei. In Lytton, BC fließen die mächtigen Flüsse Thompson und Fraser zusammen. Am Columbia River entlang, welcher Washington von Oregon trennt. Eine Geisterstadt in Palouse County, Washington und irgendwo im Nirgendwo von Interior Oregon auf dem Weg zur International MotoBlogger Convention, ein unter Motorrad-Bloggern virtuell organisiertes Zusammentreffen. Was für großartige Erinnerungen!

The Next Best Thing to Riding Your Own...

 ... is becoming a sidecar monkey.

With my motorcycle still in storage the next best thing is shamelessly soliciting a ride from the famous URAL handler Dom whom we had the privilege to host before he would leave civilization for the cold wild tundra.

The handsome orange motorcycle/sidecar combination named Valencia offers a whole new perspective on riding, and it almost feels like riding in a convertible sports car, if it wasn't for the motorcycle gear.

 Shadow Riders

I want (need?) to get in as much riding time as I can, so I show him the way to Alouette Lake (50 km one way) in the Golden Ears Provincial Park through effective punch and point. This specific means of communications works perfectly, and an hour later we stop to enjoy the lake and mountain vistas (No, I still can't name them, so let's stick to Mount Bob, Roland Peak and Martha Heights).

With me out of the sidecar the next thing I watch is Dom rolling down the boat launch to find out if his hack is amphibian.

Just kidding! In fact he is looking for the perfect position to pose with Valencia, while I am waiting for the Kodak moment in which the brakes of his URAL would give way...

All goes well though, the brakes are holding, and I force Dom at gunpoint to pose for a picture, hence the face...

To test out the sidecar's capabilities I guide him and Valencia further into the forest to the "Rambo-Bridge", and with impeccable precision Dom managed to hit every single pothole on that short stretch of gravel road.

His attempts to shake me up left me completely unimpressed, though. The sidecar seat is not only safe and comfy but special shock absorbers help preventing any spinal damage. For all I know it is a perfectly smooth ride.

Dom in action... no wait a minute, does he ride with his eyes closed? Maybe Valencia knows the way...

Three hours later... and we are still riding. The light is fading and it is rapidly getting cold. Not for me on "my" monkey seat, though. I just hide under the cover and all is well.

A ride in the sidecar, especially with an experienced rider like Dom is FUN, capital letters! I enjoyed every minute of the 3 1/2 hours, and could have gone much longer.

If you like motorcycle riding but don't ride your own, forget about going pillion, get somebody with a hack! It is the next best thing to riding your own, honour bright!

Thank you, Dom for this unforgettable experience, and thanks to your wife Martha, who had sent you on this trip of a lifetime. Drive safely, and don't get hit by moose or bears. By the way I hope you will find your way to Alaska without the map you forgot on our dinner table... 

Roland and I genuinely enjoyed having you over and sharing our views on world, life and (yes, it is indeed a hobby of those bloody Krauts...) politics. Please know that you and your family will always be welcome whenever, wherever...

The Groundhog's Prediction

Punxsutawney Phil's Canadian counterpart Wiarton Willie is also predicting an early end to this year’s erratic winter after it failed to see its shadow this morning. And we all know this hairy creature's prognoses are always true...

We went to see what the this rodent is talking about and look what I found:

After the fog was gone, Groundhog Day turned out to be a lovely day with temperatures well over 10C (> 50F).

Besides my usual bird watching activities, I had the rare opportunity to capture a harbour seal that was as curious about watching us.

I was tempted to get out the scooter for a quick ride around the block but it didn't happen thanks to a pinched nerve in my back which was bothering me for the last two days. So I walked, and it simply felt good to be outside.

 No problem with Spring coming early this year!

No Riding? No Problem!

No PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome) for me this year. I am spending most of my free time on two feet (not two wheels), and I am perfectly fine with it.

Boots are made for walking! Are you ready, Boots? Start walking!

January came and went, and I walked...

I walked in dry weather,

and in the wet.

I walked in the forests,

and by the sea.

I walked in the snow,

and in the fog.

After the fog there came the blue sky.

And while at it I started to become quite fond of the bird life around me.

In the Mood for Snow

My employer had invited the team for (early) Christmas celebrations at the Summit Lodge in Whistler, and we were happy to oblige. We had booked an extra night and drove up early on Friday to make the weekend getaway really worthwhile. Our trip started in torrential rainfalls, but as we were gaining elevation the rain became snow, and the world turned from depressing grey to shiny white. There is something special about the first snow in the year, which I find quite magical.

The view from our hotel room. I managed to capture some of the rare blue sky. We geared up for a hike, and took in the fresh mountain air. As most people were headed for the mountains we had the meadows all to ourselves.

The sign reads 'Keep off Greens'. Greens? What greens? They are currently covered by a foot deep of fresh white stuff, so we crossed the snow field.

We hiked around Lost Lake which was merely a three or four mile long hike, we got however quite the workout trudging through the deep snow.

This peaceful picture was taken at Green Lake. There are a handful of lakes around Whistler adding to the outdoor opportunities.

A geeky snapshot of the two of us at the lake. There were no other people around, so we had to take the picture the good ole handhold way.

Friday night we had some pretty authentic tasting Mexican food, and the chef was great with veganizing my dish. On top of it we had some awesome drinks. Mango Margarita for me and Sangria for the spouse. This restaurant is highly recommended!

The official company dinner was on Saturday night and took place at the Wildwood Bistro.  They had exactly one vegetarian dish, which I asked to veganize, but it was nothing to write home about. There was no complaints but no excitement either around the table. I would say the food was merely average. Nevertheless we had a good time, and enjoyed a midnight stroll along the Whistler pedestrian zone after.

This is us in front of the Olympic rings.

Snow and fairy lights. 

 The perfect ingredients to get into the season's spirit.

Life is good, eh!