September Long Weekend Camping BC

September Long Weekend.  I love the fall.  The chill has been in the air a few days.  With the rain the worst forest fire year smoke cleared some.  I’ve had the camper at home with Eric of Starfleet RV Repairs  fixing the seam in   the Palomino Maverick camper.

“I saw Eric siliconed the seam,” Dave said.

Mack responded, “Bill’s got Eric on speed dial.”

Well I didn’t expect to hit a tree backing into a spot.  Who looks up to see if there’s enough clearance.  When I got my sailboat I hit everything for few years too.  Then I stopped hitting things. I expect it will be the same  with this camper.  When I started sailing I thought everyone was standing on their boats to greet me when I came into docks. Up closer I realized they all had spears and were waiting to fend me off.  So far  though 

,the tourists in RV parks haven’t surrounded their rigs with big tires when they see me coming. In fact my  RV was hit no doubt by some blind octogenarian.  Meridian RV thanks to my insurance with Rand and Fowler is fixing that ding next week. 

 Just before I hit the tree limb, Dave had offered to watch, but I said I could do it myself. (Wrong).  

Eric replaced the the water pump too.  

 The trouble with a second hand camper is lots of initial repairs, but well worth it.  I wouldn’t have paid for what a new one cost so these minor repairs are well worth it.  It doesn’t leak. All the systems are working.  

The KTM 690 motorcycle is loaded on the front rack. The Motorino Electric Bicycle is loaded on a  back bike rack.  I loaded the Excalibur Cross bow and bolts and the  Winchester Coyote 300 short win mag rifle.  September 1,  bow season opens for bucks and rifle for Black Bear.  I plan to ride around on the electric bike early morning with the cross bow and in the after noon ride about with the rife.  Mostly I want to ride around on country roads and say I’m hunting.  I will likely do some hiking but I’m not really that keen on hunting like I once was.  I hope to shoot something for the pot  but mostly I’m looking forward to the outdoors, exercise, dirt biking, and the exquisite company of my two favourite person’s, Laura and Gilbert

“It’s Laura’s tent, “ Dave told Mack pointing at my camper. “I know, ‘  said Mack 

I’d woken early and gone to Better Health Clinic only to remember that Kayla the MOA had reminded me I’d booked off this Friday. Gilbert and I are creatures of habit.  We were now up and had done the dance of the 3 S’s in record time. Back home I got out of the dress shirt and slacks and donned my work shorts and Hawaii t shirt.  

I’d bought some  Walmart silicone spray to touch up a crack on my white RV.  It said it’s as ‘advertised on tv’.  What could go wrong?.  Well, for one I learned that the black cap means black spray.  My dad taught me to test paint on something before applying it to the object you were painting.  I should have followed his advise.  I don’t know why I was sure the spray was ‘clear’ except that I wanted it to be. I worry I’ve been listenign too much CBC and CNN news. 

He didn’t tell me that the pray on the advertsized on tv stuff is turbo charged and didn’t appear to  distinguish between camper and white truck.  I cleaned it up mostly.  There was a surprising amount on the windshield which would have interfered with driving.  I went back and got some white spray , as advertised on tv, not that I’d seen it on the shows that I watch.  The advertisers for silicone spray don’t seem to focus on us NCIS or Bing Bang Theory folk.    I also like to watch Mom. 

When Laura arrived in her little red Smart car with her Eagle Creek rolling carry on flight bag I was  ready to go. She did change George’s litter and put out his food, hugging him good bye. For a rescue cat who used to hide from everyone he now looks so forlorn when Laura, I and Gilbert leave him. Gilbert’s his best friend.  Why else would they lick each other’s butts? 

At Holeshot I had service booked to mount the Touratek Aluminum panniers and the windshield.  I got the Motorcycle off the rack without any damage to vehicles, self or planet.  While service was doing it’s thing I walked over to Moxies and ordered Laura and I a couple of their fabulous burgers and fries.  

“The waitresses were all models, Laura.  I don’t get out much I know but we’re talking drop dead gorgeous.”, I told her.  “ Of course they’re young and I’m just another dirty  old man ogling them. I actually resisted staring because I am Canadian and it’s know the world over Canadian men can actually rape women with their eyes.”   

Laura said she was glad I contained the Canadian male gaze.   “Remember the girls at Earl’s and Cactus club,  when  you asked your beautiful friend  Lisa how they got away with such discrimination against ugly girls and the feminists not doing anything.  You told me, she said, “I don’t know. I always get the job and they simply don’t hire ugly girls.”

“Exactly,” I responded, ‘ The feminists never fight fair. All this shit about racism when in fact it’s the ugly and the beautiful.”

“Did you see the Facebook thing  on Airline stewardesses, “ she responded. 

“Yes” I said, “ I hate the fat old  flight attendants.  I can’t imagine them helping me physically if the plane goes down.” 

“And they’re always so ornery and grumpy. “ Laura said, “ I feel sorry for them. I wouldn’t want to be having hot flashes at 50,000 feet either.” 

The KTM 690 looked beautiful and the boxes were huge.  Such an improvement. This weekend I’d be carrying ammunition and now with the boxes and their tie down spots I could add a net.  Grouse season opens in a week or two and now I’ll have a way to carry back game and also a place I can carry my break down 22 rifle to shoot the grouse.  I’ve a scabbard for the KTM I had from years back on my Honda. I don’t know quite how I’ll attach it.

We filled up with gas in Abbotsford and got propane in Chilliwack.  Now we’re in our favourite river side Telte-Yet Camp Site in Hope.  It just took minutes to get set up.  Laura shook out the bed while I locked up the bike and motorcycle.  Gilbert had another walk and we didn’t even bother with water or power because we’re going to leave first thing in the morning.  Heading up #1. I’m happy to be going in the day light. Maybe we’ll see game but mostly I don’t like night driving with critics waiting to jump in front of my new motorcycle and relatively new truck and new to me camper. I”ve seen pictures of guys who hit moose and with all I’m carrying I imagine it would be really messy. 

Laura is really pleased that we stopped.

“I like going to bed at 8:30 to read,” she said. 

The truth be told so do I. But bed time is more like 930 to 10 and I can read too.  We love reading.  I let Gilbert up on the bed. It’s so cute in the morning to see him lying on Laura’s pillow. If she doesn’t share he just lies on her face.  

Morning with Gilbert, Maverick and the Austrian

The Austrian is the new KTM 690 Enduro I bought yesterday at Holeshot in Langley.  The bike needs a name and that will have to do for now.  The salesman Derek Vanderkooy really knew his motorcycles. He was incredibly helpful with my trading my Honda Pioneer 500 Side by Side Quad ATV for the KTM 690 Enduro.  I liked that at Holeshot I could sit on and compare the KTM, Suzuki, Yamaha and Honda machines.

It was a truly a whirlwind day. A call from Belinda, the office manager, saying the clinic had computer problems so the afternoon was cancelled.  Belinda’s husband has the KTM Adventure.   When I was asking around and comparing motorcycles I told her, “I think your husband’s right about the KTM being the best off road on road motorcycle today. Besides a man who picks a good woman is likely able to pick a good motorcycle.”  Belinda laughed. She’s amazing managing all the doctors and patients and the constant flow of data and people. Now she would have IT  there all afternoon.  What a nightmare!  I felt sorry for the patients but a sunny day and a motorcycle waiting. Well I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.  Thank you Jesus.

I finished my morning clinic and made a quick run with Gilbert to the storage locker to pick up old motorcycle gear.  I’ll likely need to get new luggage and such fitted for the KTM but wanted to see if the old stuff fit before giving it to Paul. He has a big Triumph and it looks like my old Harley Roadster soft luggage and leather will serve him better than me now.  Part of the trading in the Pioneer was lightening up.  It sat in storage all last year only being used a couple of times for hunting.  Only a 1000 km.  If the Quad’s could be street legal like they are in Europe I’d get a lot more use out of them. That’s the beauty of the KTM 690 Enduro. I can use it as a commuter in the city and off road hunting and just having fun.  

Gilbert used to hunt with me in the side seat of the Pioneer but now he’s blind he’ll only come along in the truck.  

The girls at Holeshot were really efficient and friendly handling the finance and licensing.  As always there’s some extra to pay but the convenience and savings from a tax point of view for a trade makes the whole thing better than my trying to sell the Pioneer first and then buy the KTM with the extra money I’d make eventually. Dave, the big bearded, laughing, father of Gilbert’s buddy, Emory,  was glad to offer his help.  He’s  got a Harley and an ATV and has been doing this for years so is a terrific source of information .I even got to discussed it with Mack, the father of Max, Gilbert’s neighbour. They bark together when ever anything new comes round.  My neighbourhood friendship network is defined by dogs and vehicles.

The KTM 690 Enduro has won all the really tough races over the last few years.  The UTube videos of these crazy guys on their variety of machines going over huge rocks, straight up little trails and across desert has been a staple in recent years, not that I plan to imitate these nut bars but it’s amazing to see what the Bikes can do.  Evil Kneevils of the motorcross.  

When I was in Saipan my friend Frank and his son did motorcross like this.  I’dwatch them together, father and son, going around the course and think Frank was crazy.  

I loved reading the Bikehedonia Grace MacDonalds Wordpress  blog this beautiful young Australian girl, travelling through Malaysia alone on her KTM 690 , something about beautiful women with their own bikes makes the tale so appealing. I confess too that I’m always dreaming of such adventures , whether it’s sailing across the Atlantic in my sailboat or driving down to South America with the motorcycle. I’ve got the truck and camper now so anything is possible.

After buying the bike at Holeshot I had to load it on the hitch carrier I’d bought at Princess Auto and put together myself with wrench and ratchet.  It sure helped to have Derek pushing the bike up the ramp and steadying it while I strapped it down.  Mostly I appreciated his reassurance that he figured it wouldn’t fall off.  And it didn’t.

I drove out to Chilliwack, to the RV storage, where I unloaded the KTM so I could load the Palomino Maverick Camper. I’d never done this on my own. Laura had previously stood at the back guiding me.  So here I was loading and off loading a 300 lb motorcycle then loading the camper. It’s all a matter of lining it up and gingerly backing up with my heart in my throat.  It just seems like it would be so easy to knock the thing over as it stands so talk and vulnerable on it’s struts.  

The owner’s son came by to let me know they were locking up.  Tall handsome bright young man with a fair resemblance of his father. We were putting together the hitch coupler, the hitch being 2 1/2 inch so needed a sleeve to change dimension to the 2 inch carrier.  It was a challenge to line up the holes and connect the pieces “If your dad were here he’d know the trick to coupling these things.”  “He would at that,” he said.

Nonetheless we got the bike strapped in behind the camper and found that the extender even left room to get into the camper with the bike out back. It’s awkward so I’m still considering a hitch at the front so I can carry the bike out front to balance weight and leave the camper easily accessible.

9 pm and I was just leaving Chilliwack. I’d wanted to get to Princeton where I could camp on the river and ride the logging trails I know up there.  I picked up food at the Superstore and thought for sure I saw the incredible Surgeon and Artist I’d worked with in Saipan.  He was with family and I wasn’t quite sure and I was on a mission. I loaded up and drank a Red Bull knowing I’d regret it when I was ready to sleep. But it was past my bed time already.  The full moon was beautiful in the night sky. Gilbert was sleeping on the seat beside me. I felt pretty good with my accomplishments, getting the bike loaded and off loaded and the camper loaded and the camper water tank filled, gassed up and rolling down the highway.

That’s how I ended up here , camped by this stream off a logging road this side of Princeton.  I just love being able to pull off the road and get into bed.  Gilbert liked the walk at night.  The KTM 690 looked great on the back of the white Maverick camper in the light of the full moon alongside the stream, pine trees all around, the air so fresh.  

I didn’t sleep easy thanks to Red Bull.  I forgot to turn off my iPhone weekday alarm too. So 7 am the alarm sounded and Gilbert began barking and oh well, I did have to pee. What a beautiful morning, sun rising over the dark green forest. This incredible motorcycle hanging off the back of the truck and camper.  Paradise.  

I’ve made myself stove top espresso with canned milk and honey.  The heater is making me hot water for a shower.  I’m thinking I’ll continue on to Princeton and the campground I’d planned to say at. I’ve got two full days.  I could stay here but I like going with the plan where possible.  Today’s big event is riding the KTM. Ready to Race. I won’t be racing but I’m sure going to enjoy exploring the back country.  I’ll also be able to drive into town leaving the camper on the truck.  By fall hunting season I may even have most of the kinks out of the system so that I can actually focus on shooting a deer with my bow or rifle. So much of the fun is the preparation and planning. I was as successful hunting when I had a Broncho II and a pup tent, rose before dawn and stalked the woods or lay in ambush.  Now I’m outfitted for an expedition. It’s not more fun. It’s less productive from a hunting perspective but it’s sure a lot of fun in so many ways.  

It is a great day to ride a Harley!

It’s a great day to ride a Harley!  I just drove out to Langley on my glorious Electraglide.  Trev Deeley kept it all winter in the warm with a special blanket and oil toddies. Once a week the staff gathered around the bikes and sang Biker Lollabies.  Steppenwolf’s Born to be Wild. Then in the spring they checked it out and tuned it up so I didn’t find myself splashed across the road because of poor maintenance.
I had to pick up some wheels for my folding Porta Bote from Maple Marine.  Any excuse to ride on a spring day like this is Godly.
Now I’m sitting at Barnes Harley where I once traded my 600 Buell Blast for a HD 1200 Roadster.  I loved that Roadster.  It took me all over BC often with Laura on the back. I even road it on logging roads and commuted to and fro work in the city.  I’ve loved the maintenance at Barnes and Trev.  I wanted to go to Sturges and Gilbert had joined me.  He liked a bigger bike so we took a deal at Trev one day and I graduated to the Electroglide. I’d sat at one in the Abbotsford Bike show. That always seems to be the way to stoke the imagination.
Riding to Sturges from Vancouver was an unforgettable experience. ZZ Top.  Doobie Brothers.  Buffalo Chip.  I dream of going back. I’ve a Toy Hauler now so might haul the bike, getting out at the festival and acting like I’d ridden all the way from Vancouver Canada.  At least I’ve done it once. Nothing like seeing the antelope in the fields of Montana.  I loved the wildlife. Cowboy country and the modern Harley Davidson iron steed.  There is simply no motorcycle made for the American freeway like the Harley Electroglide.
I’ve jut  been over at Holeshot Motorsports.  I’ve got a Honda Pioneer 500  side by side quad for hunting. It takes up a lot of room in storage.  Gilbert had become old and blind. I got it for him but he prefers the warmth and comfort of the truck.  I really enjoyed the year I had a Honda 250 CRF Enduro and road all over the back roads. I was supposed to be hunting mule deer but really all I shot was cans. What a great time. I also road the enduro year round whereas I'd treat my Electroglide like the Cadillac it is and don't trust the slippery Vancouver streets with the stoned Vancouver drivers.
Now I’ve come to love the Honda 1000 African Twin CRF. So I sat on one again.
If only Harley would take their 883 and give it some off road capacity. The Harley 1200 was the motorcycle used throughout WWII.  Harley are built to take a beating.  I’d rather they move in that direction than electric motorcycles which they’ve got coming out. They once had a 500 and I’d think that would be a sweet machine to make into an enduro or adventure bike.  As it is Honda is the go to place for off road and durability.
I’m back at Barnes having a coffee. It' s hard to believe I felt at death door with an abscessed tooth last week and letting the mismanagement and corruption in government get to me.  It's all above my pay grade. All I've got is this "sunny afternoon in the summertime."
Being a member of the H.O.G., Harley Owner’s Group,  I’ve just been upstairs in the Harley lounge.  When I’ve ridden in Canada and  especially in the US,  I’ve loved stopping at Harley. They’re watering holes and club houses and just destinations. Like today.  It’s hot and sunny.  A beautiful day to sit outside on the Barnes patio. Lots of bike roars. Leather people coming and going.  Pink Cherry blossoms on the trees. The good feel of people with purpose.
 It’s a great day to ride a Harley!