April 28, 2013 – Have you ever noticed how we often don’t see the things right in front of us? We are so busy looking at the magnitude of everything around us that we miss the tiny details sometimes. Like the absolutely minute seed pods on a bed of moss on the side of a big maple tree. You can’t miss the tree, but I bet you wouldn’t even think to look for the tiny little seed pod, no more than a couple of mm high, buried amongst the mossy green fur covering the side of the tree. Do you ever wonder how much you overlook in this amazing world, simply because you are rushing through it in search of the next great thing?
It’s been a crazy busy week and I was actually glad to see the rain arrive for the weekend. The week started with a float plane trip to the Island, then two days driving up to the North end of the Island, then back down and over to the West side, then back and a flight home. We looked at more houses/townhouses, caught up on projects, and went to the theatre Thursday night. I had to finish up my marking and get the final grades in for two courses, and then I had to get our taxes done. I got the marking and grade submission done yesterday, then out for a social function last night. Taxes were on the agenda for today.
So when I woke up and the sun was shining an a clear blue sky, it was frustrating to know that I had to forgo a ride in lieu of doing paperwork. So I got up early and got to it. They weren’t overly difficult this year and I got them finished up and made my payment online, then it was a flurry of activity to get out and get a ride in before the clouds piled up and the rain started. The forecast said rain by late afternoon.
We noodled around Vancouver a bit, down past Spanish Banks where a band had set up and was playing in a parking lot, it was here I caught this tiny little moss seed pod with the camera. Out past UBC and through South Vancouver. Still trying to vary the speeds and rpms as much as possible.
We had a fabulous ride up to Squamish, the first time I’ve taken the new bike on the Sea to Sky. I’m still breaking the motor in and am supposed to keep it under 4000rpm for a few more clicks, so that means max speed of around 95km/hr.
That’s really, really hard. . . !
I wondered how the new bike would feel on the highway, how different would it be? It’s heavier, and it’s definitely more top heavy. And of course it has a lot more oomph. Turns out that weight and top-heaviness is a real bonus on the cornering. The tiniest shift in weight on the bars just makes the front end dip into the corners in the most amazing way. I’m falling more in love with this ride every time I get on it.
The best part was that at the end of the ride, my back doesn’t require pain medications and my knees aren’t cramped.
I did almost run up the back end of Kirk’s bike when we were taking an onramp onto the freeway at one point. I realized I’d fallen back and gave some heavy throttle to catch up and slip into traffic with him, at the exact same moment he released his throttle because he thought I wasn’t going to catch up. That was a moment of excitement, and one in which I learned that the new bike also brakes nicely.
I still need to put another 120km on it to step up the rpms to 6000, and that should allow me a little more room to play. I just need a nice evening and one ride to Squamish and back will take care of that.
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