Monday, June 26, 2017

AN END OF AN ERA AS I TAKE MY LAST RIDE

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After dragging my feet for a long while I decided this morning it was time to drive my Motorcycle to the Goderich Power Center and turn it in on consignment for sale.  And that’s what I did.  It marked the end of an era for me.

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KELLY TOOK THIS PHOTO AS I WAS LEAVING

Having never driven a motorcycle until the age of 49 I’m glad I made the decision buy a bike way back in late 1993.  Had a lot of good times and have a lot of good memories.  Altogether I had 3 motorcycles in that period.  A 650 Suzuki, a 750 Yamaha Virago, and an 1100 Honda Shadow Aero.  All nice bikes.  One accident not my fault totaled the Suzuki and broke a few of my bones.  Other than that one incident it was all good times.

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KELLY DROVE UP TO GIVE ME A RIDE  HOME

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FEELING A LITTLE SAD HERE

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WHAT CAN I SAY……….MY RIDING DAYS ARE OVER

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GOOD-BYE MY FRIEND AND THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Another cloud studded blue sky day saw Pheebs and I on the road over to the Hullett Marsh for a walk first thing.  A wee drive through the countryside after that and we were home again.  For some unknown reason my energy levels plummeted this afternoon and tonight I feel drained.  Perhaps a bit of post depression knowing my bike is gone now.

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IT’S ALWAYS NICE IN THE HULLETT MARSH SURROUNDED BY NATURE’S PEACEFULLNESS

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MONARCH BUTTERFLIES WILL SOON BE ON THIS ‘MILKWEED’

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DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT KIND OF BIRD THIS IS??

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THE RED SHOULDER PATCH TELLS ME THIS IS A RED WING BLACKBIRD

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RED WING BLACKBIRDS PUFF UP WHEN THEY SING

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Ok so here’s the upside of the downside.  No more pushing and wheeling the heavy motorcycle around in our pea stone driveway, more space in the carport, no into storage each fall and no more out of storage in the Spring.  I won’t miss that battering installation stuff, one less mechanical device to worry about in my life, no more insurance payments or licensing fees, no more worries about deer jumping out in front of me on the road or cars turning in front of me. (both those things happened to me more than once)  No more washing and polishing, and best of all no more feeling guilty about not riding my bike more often,  Geeezzzzz Louise I’m feeling better already:))

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LOTS OF BEAN FIELDS IN OUR AREA

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STILL WATER LYING ABOUT IN FARMER’S FIELDS

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I LOVE IT WHEN SKY’S ARE MODDY

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Kelly noticed a question in our Shout Box that I had missed. Lady Di asked, ‘Does the Cala Lily come up every year? Sun or,shade?  Yes it’s a perennial and the tag says it likes a mixture of sun and shade,  So far our new Shout Box seems to be working fine so we have our fingers crossed it stays that way.

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OOOPS SOMEBODY SPILLED A WHEELBARROW LOAD OF FLOWERS

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OUTDOORS CLASS IN LONDESBOROUGH ONTARIO THIS MORNING

Kelly’s Doctor appointment in Bayfield went alright earlier today but it looks like she is headed off for yet another ultra-sound scan with this one being done in Goderich.  This aging thing is a real pain!!  Me?? Oh I’m doing alright despite my periodically annoying trivial aches and complaints.  And Pheebs is good too:))

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THIS THISTLE WILL SOON BE IN PURPLE BLOOM

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I’M GUESSING THIS AT ‘CROWN VETCH’

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Another nice refreshingly cool day here in southwestern Ontario.  Sunny periods mixed with clouds and the occasional splats of rain as mild storm cells form up out over the lake and come ashore.  Not everybody’s kind of weather but it sure suits me fine. Nice cloud patterns and textures in the sky for taking photos.

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Might be off to Henry's Camera Store in the morning.  We still have a bit of trading left to do:))

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GROANER’S CORNER:((  A lady went to the police station to file a report for her missing Husband.
Lady: I lost my Husband.
Inspector: What is his height?
Lady: I never noticed.
Inspector: Slim or healthy?
Lady: Not slim or healthy.
Inspector: Colour of eyes?
Lady: Never noticed.
Inspector: Colour of hair?
Lady: Changes according to season.
Inspector: What was he wearing?
Lady: Suit... Casuals... I don't remember exactly.
Inspector: Was somebody with him?
Lady: Yes my Labrador dog, Calvin, tied with a golden chain, height 30 inches, healthy, blue eyes, blackish brown hair, his left foot thumb nail is slightly broken, he never barks, wearing a golden belt studded with blue balls, he likes non veg food, we eat together, we jog together.……..
The lady started crying.
Inspector: Let's search for the dog first!

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- Johnathan asked his young son, 'Greg, do you think I’m a bad father?'  'My name is Andrew,' replied his son.

- Lead would be great for making electric guitars. After all, it is a heavy metal.

- A cowboy was walking down the street with his new pet dachshund. The passerby asked him why a cowboy would own that kind of dog. The cowboy answered, "Well, somebody told me to get along little doggie."

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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Genoa!
Genoa who!
Genoa any new jokes?

13 comments:

  1. I am with you on the two wheel ride. It took me a good while to get over giving up my performance bicycle last year. I had a huge amount of good times on that bike. However now you will have a bit more time to go wandering with Pheebs and that is real good.

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  2. It is hard to leave a good friend, like your motorcycle, and every vehicle I sold was like loosing a good friend, but only you can know when it is time.
    There is always a positive side and looks like you found it. Now on to bigger and better things as we all get older.
    Looks like you had a pretty good day anyway as we did to. Cooler, but still pretty nice.

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  3. It's tough to give up things like that, especially something as big as a bike! I'm trying to get rid of lots of books and old tools, and it's like saying goodbye to part of your life! That bird is a Great Crested Flycatcher. Good pix of it, along with all the others!

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  4. Not easy to say goodbye to an old friend, but you are already seeing the plus sides.

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  5. I've said goodbye to many a motorcycle. Somehow, another one ended up in my garage. I know there are 12 step programs for bike addicts like me... :cD

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  6. Someone will enjoy your nice bike, hopefully for many years. Just a passing chapter in life and you must still ride well as pea gravel can be a challenge. Enjoy the memories and not having to clean the bike.

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  7. The bird is a migratory bird,the great crested flycatcher. They are fledging young right about now. Good that you are looking on the bright side of selling the bike.

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  8. As usual, love the pics, but sadly, sorry to see the end of an era for you. I had a Triumph 650 back in the '60s an rode it from east coast to west coast on my way to VNam. Loved every minute. So, glad to read you and Kelly are ok.

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  9. We went through the same tough decision when we decided to sell our motorcycle. We had been towing it around for our first 2 1/2 years of fulltiming and it was a pain getting into parks that didn't have long pull throughs. We weren't riding it either. So we made the decision to sell it and the trailer. It really was the right decision for our lifestyle. Now we could the Jeep which we have not regretted. One day we'll have another motorcycle when we decide to settle.

    You really out did yourself with amazing nature photos!! Spectacular!

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  10. I'm sure the pros outweigh the cons but still hard to part with a good friend. You are so blessed to have all those blooms nearby. Love the milkweed buds and the water drops on the leaves. Hope Kelly is feeling better and then get her sorted out with all the tests.

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  11. We had a hard decision to make too when we gave up our 1979 Honda Goldwing a few years ago. Unlike yours, ours was about to start costing us more money than what we'd paid for it. There will be another happy rider soon and they will make their own memories with it.
    Your bright upside is refreshing, never mind the weather, Al. Those pictures are awesome and what an interesting name for that bird. Great Crested flycatcher! :)

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  12. We are the ones writing the next chapter in the book of our life..make sure it's a good one!

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  13. More time to play with the new camera equipment, now that the bike days are done!

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