The first week of 2008 has passed and I think at last we can start to zero in on some of the things that need attention around here.
Our friends Bob and Linda Williams from Pennsylvania spent the weekend and we had a great time. We visited the Canadian International Motorcycle Show at the International Centre with them on the Saturday. A bit of visual and cultural overload to say the least. Definitely a different world than what we are used to. Bob and Linda run a motorcycle tour company in PA. (
http://www.canyonvistamotorcycletours.com/ ) and came up to check out the show for any marketing potential. I have to admit I was impressed by the consideration they were given by the show's directors in allowing them some time to speak in front of a group of clubs. Typically the accord they were shown I usually reserve for Americans. Well done Canada, a great international gesture.
So, there we were, surrounded by black leather, bikes, and babes you would feel safe going into a barroom brawl with. I left Linda at a table to go out to our truck, and when I returned she was deep in conversation with a couple of Satan's Choice, at least that is what their colours indicated. I even saw some colours from my youth..."BDR". The Black Diamond Riders. Brought back memories of Johnny Sombrero and "Millies" resturant in Westhill. Way back then the BDR were the club to be dealt with, when men were men and sheep were nervous.
The bikes ranged from vintage to contemporary, crotch rockets to choppers, Japanese, European and North American. Everything you could imagine under one roof. We met and spoke to one petite lady in her mid-fifties with a big Goldwing complete with sidecar (for her husband) and a trailer. The combination was huge by any standard and not something I would tackle for an afternoon ride through the countryside. One has to wonder what this little lady did for a living...turns out she drives eighteen wheelers. Guess the Goldwing and all it's accompanyments is not that much of a stretch for her.
There were many highlights at the show but this has to be the ugliest most deformed woman ever created.
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It lacks in everything from good taste, political correctness and any consideration as some kind of art form. On the other hand...there were some real works of art.
On another note: Three days ago we were butt deep in snow. Today as I look out the window I am thinking I might soon have to get the lawn mower out. Temperatures have been in the mid to high forties and 90% of the snow has gone. The grass is starting to green up and one almost expects to see buds appearing on the trees at any moment. I don't know how long this will last but everyday is a bonus.
50 days, 14 hours, 36 minutes and it's off to Florida.
