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Monday 16 December 2013

Christmas cards, Calendars , snow and past adventures

weekend edition:

Got up this morning (Saturday) and after cleaning up from the coffee maker disaster, Note to self, when setting up the coffee maker at 3 am, make sure coffee filter door is closed. Though it smelt really good when I was half a sleep and almost awake in the morning. The apt also smelt  rather nice the next day after doing a double at work.

Since I've received a few cards in the mail this week I started to think about Christmas cards and when my favorite from last year would arrive. So hopefully sometime next week it should arrive. For those who don't understand, here's what the Wide's sent last year and the only one also saved from last Christmas:









Also it's the last month of the scooter calendar ;-( So if you've seen a new one let me know.









Past adventures, well since it's snowing and Toronto's getting it's real first snowstorm, I'll have to cover some of my past trips of this year. 

Curdfest 2013

The run that I look forward to in August, it's a smaller run, though attendance was way up this year due to a great weather forecast. That and I think word has spread about the raffle draw. For those who've never been before the campsite is on the outskirts of Ottawa, you can be downtown in 20 min and a plaza is just down the road with everything that you need (ie liquor store, no fills and a Timmies). 
Over the past few years I've taken Hyw 2 most of the way but, I wanted to get there faster this year so 401/416 for me. No problem for the MP3, took about 6 hours to get there with coffee breaks. lunch and stopping up for supplies. A bit more of an adventure for the hobbits (Chris, Dave and Niall) as they decided to take Hyw 7 instead.  They try to take it easy and break it down into a 2 day trip. They had some problems, but they always seem to be able to get them running again. Here's some links to DaveYoshida's blog:


Also Dave's the guy with the waterproof vid camera, and the talent to also put the videos together. So here's his video of Curdfest 2014



Friday night is usually mellow with everyone fighting off the bugs, so if you don't bring bug spray you'll be sorry!
It's also fun watching people slowly arrive and joining in the fun. A good night and a great sleep. A light breakfast of coffee and bagels were provided to get us going. I know it doesn't sound like much but those are the real deal bagels from a proper bakery and to top it off with a nice St. Albert Cheese after being toast on the BBQ is just heaven. The weather was perfect for the Saturday ride. We lost Dave wide to some jetting issues (better safe than sorry) and I did have to use the air pump at Mill st brewpub to pump up a flat but other than that the ride went well. Brunch was at Mill street new Ottawa brewpub. One thing about Mill st is that their food does not disappoint.



                                                   Potato winner (Matt) enjoying his Poutine


For those who don't know the Potato Winner story, here it is. At PVSC's band camp one of the Saturday day games is the potato game. You ride your scooter around the hay with the hidden potatoes. When the music stops your passenger dives in and tries to find the potato. 'Guess who won?




       With this pic, matt's life as a internet star was born, here's some links to see what it's morphed to:


                            http://www.bite.ca/bitedaily/2013/06/man-finds-potato-becomes-meme/ 

                         http://www.radass.com/2013/08/03/the-potato-winner-does-it-again-22-pics/

Like the Clockwork Potato pic, anyway back to Crudfest

After feeling rather full from Mill st, it's off to La belle province" and the hills/park of Gatineau.






Still hard to believe that this is only 15min from downtown Ottawa and it's also one of the reasons I keep coming back, year after year. Then we slowly head back to the campsite and the Saturday night festivities.

First was more food which was a great setup for the raffle draw, for those who have never been, Corey buys scooter related items all year. So by time Curdfest comes around there's tons of stuff to be given away. I'll even go as far to say that over the last couple of years, this is the leader for raffeling off goodies. Also with it being a smaller rally, everyone goes home with something. Here's a pic of my draw nemesis.



Even when I put it back in the pot, I get it again. 2 years in a row, so if you come to Curdfest and need some shop hand cleaner, you know who to see. After the raffle the trading begins. Watch out for Tamara as she was on a mission to amass the full collection of the Vespa Tecnica books that were raffled individually. She pulled it off, though next year they will be mine!







  Unlike last year, the evening was a lot cooler so out so we could actually use the Sumo suits this year.






I put on the suit and surprised Chris, you'd think it would be rather one sided but it ended up as a draw as I got tired out. I write the blog so thats the way it happened ;-) Then to close the festivities the fire show was put on. Then a great night around the campfire having a few drink and socializing.

Then the Sunday morning pack up, thanks again for the coffee and bagels. My thanks to all that go to a great effort on organizing this great run.  Since there's no hurry to get home I usually take the back roads down to Hyw 2 then slowly home. So that I'll save to the next blog, you'll be surprised on what I found on the ride back.


Cheers,
Tross


Note to self:
 On the scooter repair/ maintenance side. e-mail Josh about replacing the bushing on the JCosta on the MP3.

Friday 13 December 2013

MODtreal Rally

 Labour day weekend 2014



Well, when I started this bog little did I know I'd start hearing about things so soon. Looks like the boys in Montreal have been busy putting a Mod Rally together for Labour day weekend. Way to go guys and definitely added to my must do Run list. Like I really need a excuse to go to Montreal.


                                                 




                                                                       Food!!!!!!!!




Just wondering what that greasy spoon in NDG that Darren and all those 80's mods used to take us to?  Great hangover cure. I also have fond memories of those subs that we used to order at Performance Scooters in West Montreal. Sometimes I wish I could work in Toronto and live in Montreal, well at least in the summer anyway ;-)

So anyway, keep this date open and when I hear more details I'll let you know. I can already see Rob, Andy and the Hobbits planning the drive down. Actually it's also one of my favorite drives as well. Even after all those years Old Hyw 2 rocks.



                                          Stopping by an old haunt, children of the corn.
                                                        Old Hyw 2 Mallorytown, 2011



                                              On the way back from Curdfest on Hyw 2

Well it's Friday the 13th, a day I dread at work as it brings out all the nutbars, but during good to fair weather it gives me an excuse to visit Rich in Port Dover. Even though it's December there's a few brave souls/fools willing to make the track to Friday the 13th








I'll wait till June to make the track down on the bike, and enjoy the fun. One of my more favorite rides is Cruise the coast of Lake Eire, so I usually end up in Port Dover anyway. Here's a copy and the link:


http://www.cruisethecoast.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Cruise-The-Coast-Map-2013.png






Some good rides listed on the map, next year I'll end up finishing the last part I've not done yet. Which is from Just past Port Burwell (got to go in the sub this year) down to Windsor. Sometimes to many rides and not enough time.


Upcoming Trips
Updated Dec 13th, 2013

Niagara May 24th weekend
Friday the 13th, Port Burwell, June 2014
PVSC Band Camp  June 19th - 22nd  (just checked the date with the club)
Lammyjammy July 10th - 13th in Boston, MA
Here's one link:  https://www.facebook.com/events/502678693154904/?ref_dashboard_filter=calendar
Burwell  Run and Race July 18th - 20th (hopefully)
Curdfest (Ottawa) Aug 13th - 15th or Aug 22nd - Aug 24th. When Corey makes up his mind, or when Halifax does their rally the other weekend ;-)
Modtreal Rally, Montreal, PQ, Labour day weekend


Gettesburg , PA Oct 10th - 13th ? Still on the west coast, so up in the air for this one?


Weekenders:
Hyw 6 Pennsylvania
Ride the Lake Eire Coast





Till next time,
Tross












Thursday 12 December 2013

The Tross's upcoming adventures



Since the whole point of this blog is to cover my travels, here's what I have planned.

2014

Vegas 2014 Feb 27th - March 3rd   http://www.lvscooterrally.com

Tickets and hotel already booked. Really just a mid winter getaway with a rally thrown in. However the Brits are planning to return for 2015 so you should start planning to be there for that one, they do not disappoint . Hey Dave , want to drive to Vegas in 2015 with the scoots?

                      
                                               ( The GP outside the firing range)





                                                                    Show and Shine


                                                       The GP has to go to Vegas in 2015
Updated Dec 13th, 2013

Niagara May 24th weekend
Friday the 13th, Port Burwell, June 2014
PVSC Band Camp  June 19th - 22nd  (just checked the date with the club)
Lammyjammy July 10th - 13th in Boston, MA
Here's one link:  https://www.facebook.com/events/502678693154904/?ref_dashboard_filter=calendar
Burwell  Run and Race July 18th - 20th (hopefully)
Curdfest (Ottawa) Aug 13th - 15th or Aug 22nd - Aug 24th. When Corey makes up his mind, or when Halifax does their rally the other weekend ;-)
Modtreal Rally, Montreal, PQ, Labour day weekend
Gettesburg , PA Oct 10th - 13th ? Still on the west coast, so up in the air for this one?

Also some weekend trips:

Route 6 in Pennsylvania,  Got this one from the BMW forum and since we've been down that way before (Grand Army of the Republic hyw signs sound familiar?)  and guess at which motel I'll stay @ ?



 Also thinking of doing this pre PVSC, like a head down to Smethport a few days before. Looking to do PA Route 666 and pick up a shirt while I'm down there.

http://www.hickorycreekarcheryandsportinggoods.com/Pa-Route-666-and-T-shirts.html





The BIG trip and in planning for 3 years:

Route 66 and the PCH (Pacific Coast Hyw) Sept 12th - Oct 13th. Ya, a whole month off of work for this bucket list trip. 2 weeks for the route 66 part and 2 weeks for the west coast part and if I have enough time a trip up to visit Josh (maybe). I tend to take it day by day so no real planning except that I'll take a few days of in the ABQ (Albuquerque, NM) to do the Breaking Bad tours. 



and there's even a Tiki lounge for Karm that was in the show:
Burt's Tiki Lounge   http://burtstikilounge.com/



Then finishing in Vegas to unwind and where the bike goes into storage till feb for the vegas rally, so I have something to drive. Then 2 weeks off in either late spring or early summer for the drive back on the Lincoln Hyw. Route 66 lessor unknown cousin. 


Hopefully ending back at a run somewhere, but that part of planning is off in the future. 

Your always welcome to join my on any of these trips. Also if you have any ideas or rides planned let me know.


Cheers,
Tross

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Mostly set up and ready to start the winter projects.






So now that the scoots and bike are in storage, now is the time to get started working on them.





Here's what I've got to do over the winter:


BMW K1200lt

Add HID low beam head light bulb and ballast
Grease shifter and linkage
Add Aux port for GPS
Add and wire GPS
Add Ïn & out" licence plate frame (ya, west coast burger place one I bought a few years ago for the MP3, but did'nt fit)
Plus add what ever accessories I buy over the winter.

Piaggio MP3

Fix/plug flat rear tire enough to get it to the dealer for replacement.
Change the belt.
Change the oil and gear box oil for the new season.


Lammy

Get rid of the anti-dive kit and put back to original disc brake setup.


Nice thing about the storage locker is that in the evening it's real quite and I can work on the scooters and bikes with no one to bother you.  ( ya still playing with the fonts)



Gotta get the MP3 rolling again so time to plug that flat.







Looking good as I see no bubbles:







Cut off the excess and it's as good as new, just kidding as it's down to the wear marks. I got lucky that I waited to replace the tire and didn't do it sooner.



Started to take the lt apart but forgot to download the vid on how to take off the tupperware properly so I'll download that to the tablet and save that for next time. I've learned my lesssions on taking off tupperware without some instructions, the MP3 has more than a few broken tabs because of this and I'd hate to think how much it costs on the BMW or (Bring More Wallet).


Also got mostly everything squared away in the storage bins and labeled, unlike my last locker where I had to dig through every bin to find the one thing I was looking for.


So anyway I got the tire plugged and threw on the Ïn & Out"licence plate frame so at least I've done something for tonight. 


Cheers,
Tross 

























Test Blog for trips, Dec 11/ 2013







So this is a test of my blog.




Blab, blab blab



Cheers,
Tross