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BI2K (Big Island 2000) Vancouver Island
{here are Sid's accounts of the goings-on at his place in
Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, BC. I have inserted photos}
{if any attendees have photos they think are appropriate
for inclusion, either post them here yourself, or send them
to me to edit into this report}
{my comments all in curly brackets}
Ken Talbot and his wife Sheila, arrived on Tuesday at about noon, and
checked their stuff into the house and were off to see "relys" in Duncan,
just down the road. They came back about three and we all went to the
beach for a swim and then had a nice roast beef dinner here at home. Early
to bed and up at 7;00 for our ride around the great circle route. B-fast
at Lake Cowichan and then a nice lazy four hour ride through the hills and
lakes of the surrounding area from lakes to ocean and then home.
{Ken and Sheila are really leaving here, not arriving, but hey}
{Horst, Sid, Ken, Tom, Sheila}
I had left a note for anyone who might have come while we were out.
Dennis McL had arrived from Courtenay while we were away and had
patiently waited until about 10 minutes before we got home , before
he left. He returned about an hour later, and we helped him set up
his tent, and then Mike Hart, and Deano arrived from USA.
Johnny Yukon was not with them since he had only got 15 miles from
home with his load on and had the worst case of "Tank slap" and had
to turn back. Eric P. had been turned back at canadian customs, why
we don't know, and Have not seen or heard from him. Mike, Ken, Sheila,
Dennis, and I went to a beautiful local English pub in the country side
and had dinner and a nice ride back through the countryside after
Courtenay and Phil had met us at the pub.
{I think it was this one}
The number of xs11s in my mirrors is growing daily and it is a great
sight. We all came back to the house for some liquids and chat, and
Tom Varga and Johnny Yukon were there on the lawn waiting for us
having a beer. Johnny had gone to a repair shop in Seattle and in
the space of half an hour they had tightened his steering head bearings
and adjusted his rearshocks to what they needed to be and he was away,
total cost to him FIVE BUCKS!
Tom had tried every door on my house except the basement and therefore
could not reach the beer fridge and had to buy some. Doug Heinen,
who was conspicuous by his absence, phoned to say he would be in
Victoria by 10:00 Thurs (tomorrow), so after much chatter and beer,
we deciided we would have a late start, b-fast in Duncan after Phil
and Court got here, and slide down to Victoria to meet him and then
head out to Pt Renfrew along the West side of Van Is.There were great
tales and talk and finally everybody turned in around midnight.
{Sid Expounds late at night, that's Andy 'under his wing'}
With Doug , Mike, Johnny, Ken, Sheila, Dennis, Tom, Deano, Court,
Phil, and myself, the xs11s will be a highway "presence", and a pack.
Stayed tuned for further installments
Sid
On day two we had been informed by Doug H. that he would be on the early
ferry from PA, (which meant he had to leave home in Federal way @ 4;00AM,
INCREDIBLE AND SOLO). We all had a good b-fast and gassed up in Duncan. We
rode over the Malahat and when we got to the site where I told Doug to meet
us on the major Highway, I pulled ahead and took the pack lead over from
Capt. Hook. We made a turn around through the shopping centre, (read heads
swivel left!), and pulled up onto the shoulder of the highway with not too
much room to spare!! I don't think Sheila ever felt more nervous with her
bike at the rear of the pack and major traffic going past!!!
Incredibly, within 10 minutes Doug showed up, I was amazed at the connection!!
We all headed to Sooke and got gas and were able to hold the pack together
through the city traffic!!
After leaving Sooke, I thought we could go to the "unfinished castle",
but decided not to. The road up to Jordan River was eay and we stopped
to have a loo at the ocean and Washington's Olympic Penninsula beyond,
gorgeous! We had pulled into a rocky loose sand site and parked the bikes,
and when we left, Doug H. went up the bank to solid ground abd a three foot
drop off to the ocean, and used th downgrade to the road as a ramp, and got
through. I had to grab Johnny Yukon's grab rail and pull him out backwards
and then became stuck myself. While I was getting out I looked over to where
Tom V. was and he was lying on his side with the xs on top of him!! A guy
from an Rv was there and we were soon helping Tom up, no injuries or bike damage,
just ego, ;^)
{Tom's bike upright, but that's where it fell}
{Deano also had 'a moment' on this ride...}
The next section was the "test" of how fast or good you could ride,
with downhill tight corners and reverse twisties up. I almost "bought"
an older model GMC camper van that was having trouble making a corner,
and I was into corner too aggesively!!
The short bursts of acceleration on the short Straights were awesome and
that wonderful xs gearbox with it's ratios, really let the motor "sing"!!
We got to the end of the road at Pt Renfrew, and I commented to Denny Z.,
that I should get a decal and stick it to my right hand mirror, since he
was always there! We had a lunch and then went over to the Huge beach at
Sombrio bay and met a friend of mine who was camped there. The group was
awed by the scenery!! WE headed back for the road out, and mostly rode
"conservatively", but Johnny Yukon's beautiful xs special was crapping out.
We tried many fixes, but finally I did a fuel tank "blow job", and when he
cranked it, KAAAABBBBOOOOOM, came out of the tailpipe and all behind the
bike had soiled underware!! After a few more glitches, I put John's bike on
prime and we made it back to Sooke to gas up. The rest of the trip home
was uneventful until we got within twenty kms of home. At this point I
"sandbagged" Mike H's Suzuki Bandit, and Dean K and I raced away from the
traffic light never to look back, and both going into speed wobbles around
a highway curve at 110mph plus. Great fun!! We arrived home and Doug H.
was the maestro at the BBQ. Burgers, beer, and greatalk and hottubs were
the order of the rest of the night while I showed the group how to pick out
star constellations and "shooters" from the Perseid star shower. At this
point Mike H, informed me that Johnny Yukon, only had perhaps three hundred
miles of riding experience, TOTAL! I was astounded!! He had made it solo
from Seattle, navigated the ferry and highway systems to here, rode at a
hard pace to Renfrew and back with a "sour" bike, and hadn't said a word!!
That is the true essence of what an xs11 rider is!! Awesome Johnny!!
Tomorrow is the ride to Mt. Washington. More to come.
We left for the mt. Washinton ride with about 11 riders. Is was an easy
run up the Parkway to Courtenay, where we had b-fast, gassed up and Dennis
Mc led the way out of town to the Mt. Washinton road. The road to the
chair lift base is a beautiful piece of twisties. We parked the bikes
and took a chair lift ride up to the summit, where the view was the most
incredible vista that I have ever seen in my twenty plus years on the
Island!! Deano was having a greta time getting the Whisky Jacks to fly up
to his hand and feed. We stayed at the 5200ft level for about thirty
minutes, then headed down to the parking lot.
Earlier as we were debating whether or not to go, a cyclonic wind came out
of nowhere and picked up tables and umbrellas and hats and everything else
and lifted it approx 100 feet into the air, then dropped it. It was pretty
amazing! We got on the bikes and rode down to the bottom with Dennis in lead,
and out to the Parkway back to home. Dennis kept a good lead at approx 120kmh,
and we all stayed together. We pulled off into Qualicum to get gas, and had
to pass through the new section of road with all the flowers and nice lawns,
remarked upon by quite a few. After gassing up we headed back to the
Parkway and kept a good pack at speed all the way to home. When we got
to my house, Del and Denny Zander were there. They had arrived about two PM
and decided to have a nap. I started the BBQ up and we ate and drank
hartily. I told everyone that we would have to be on the road at 6 AM the
next day for the ride to Tofino and Long Beach.
Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, BC. I have inserted photos}
{if any attendees have photos they think are appropriate
for inclusion, either post them here yourself, or send them
to me to edit into this report}
{my comments all in curly brackets}
Ken Talbot and his wife Sheila, arrived on Tuesday at about noon, and
checked their stuff into the house and were off to see "relys" in Duncan,
just down the road. They came back about three and we all went to the
beach for a swim and then had a nice roast beef dinner here at home. Early
to bed and up at 7;00 for our ride around the great circle route. B-fast
at Lake Cowichan and then a nice lazy four hour ride through the hills and
lakes of the surrounding area from lakes to ocean and then home.
{Ken and Sheila are really leaving here, not arriving, but hey}
{Horst, Sid, Ken, Tom, Sheila}
I had left a note for anyone who might have come while we were out.
Dennis McL had arrived from Courtenay while we were away and had
patiently waited until about 10 minutes before we got home , before
he left. He returned about an hour later, and we helped him set up
his tent, and then Mike Hart, and Deano arrived from USA.
Johnny Yukon was not with them since he had only got 15 miles from
home with his load on and had the worst case of "Tank slap" and had
to turn back. Eric P. had been turned back at canadian customs, why
we don't know, and Have not seen or heard from him. Mike, Ken, Sheila,
Dennis, and I went to a beautiful local English pub in the country side
and had dinner and a nice ride back through the countryside after
Courtenay and Phil had met us at the pub.
{I think it was this one}
The number of xs11s in my mirrors is growing daily and it is a great
sight. We all came back to the house for some liquids and chat, and
Tom Varga and Johnny Yukon were there on the lawn waiting for us
having a beer. Johnny had gone to a repair shop in Seattle and in
the space of half an hour they had tightened his steering head bearings
and adjusted his rearshocks to what they needed to be and he was away,
total cost to him FIVE BUCKS!
Tom had tried every door on my house except the basement and therefore
could not reach the beer fridge and had to buy some. Doug Heinen,
who was conspicuous by his absence, phoned to say he would be in
Victoria by 10:00 Thurs (tomorrow), so after much chatter and beer,
we deciided we would have a late start, b-fast in Duncan after Phil
and Court got here, and slide down to Victoria to meet him and then
head out to Pt Renfrew along the West side of Van Is.There were great
tales and talk and finally everybody turned in around midnight.
{Sid Expounds late at night, that's Andy 'under his wing'}
With Doug , Mike, Johnny, Ken, Sheila, Dennis, Tom, Deano, Court,
Phil, and myself, the xs11s will be a highway "presence", and a pack.
Stayed tuned for further installments
Sid
On day two we had been informed by Doug H. that he would be on the early
ferry from PA, (which meant he had to leave home in Federal way @ 4;00AM,
INCREDIBLE AND SOLO). We all had a good b-fast and gassed up in Duncan. We
rode over the Malahat and when we got to the site where I told Doug to meet
us on the major Highway, I pulled ahead and took the pack lead over from
Capt. Hook. We made a turn around through the shopping centre, (read heads
swivel left!), and pulled up onto the shoulder of the highway with not too
much room to spare!! I don't think Sheila ever felt more nervous with her
bike at the rear of the pack and major traffic going past!!!
Incredibly, within 10 minutes Doug showed up, I was amazed at the connection!!
We all headed to Sooke and got gas and were able to hold the pack together
through the city traffic!!
After leaving Sooke, I thought we could go to the "unfinished castle",
but decided not to. The road up to Jordan River was eay and we stopped
to have a loo at the ocean and Washington's Olympic Penninsula beyond,
gorgeous! We had pulled into a rocky loose sand site and parked the bikes,
and when we left, Doug H. went up the bank to solid ground abd a three foot
drop off to the ocean, and used th downgrade to the road as a ramp, and got
through. I had to grab Johnny Yukon's grab rail and pull him out backwards
and then became stuck myself. While I was getting out I looked over to where
Tom V. was and he was lying on his side with the xs on top of him!! A guy
from an Rv was there and we were soon helping Tom up, no injuries or bike damage,
just ego, ;^)
{Tom's bike upright, but that's where it fell}
{Deano also had 'a moment' on this ride...}
The next section was the "test" of how fast or good you could ride,
with downhill tight corners and reverse twisties up. I almost "bought"
an older model GMC camper van that was having trouble making a corner,
and I was into corner too aggesively!!
The short bursts of acceleration on the short Straights were awesome and
that wonderful xs gearbox with it's ratios, really let the motor "sing"!!
We got to the end of the road at Pt Renfrew, and I commented to Denny Z.,
that I should get a decal and stick it to my right hand mirror, since he
was always there! We had a lunch and then went over to the Huge beach at
Sombrio bay and met a friend of mine who was camped there. The group was
awed by the scenery!! WE headed back for the road out, and mostly rode
"conservatively", but Johnny Yukon's beautiful xs special was crapping out.
We tried many fixes, but finally I did a fuel tank "blow job", and when he
cranked it, KAAAABBBBOOOOOM, came out of the tailpipe and all behind the
bike had soiled underware!! After a few more glitches, I put John's bike on
prime and we made it back to Sooke to gas up. The rest of the trip home
was uneventful until we got within twenty kms of home. At this point I
"sandbagged" Mike H's Suzuki Bandit, and Dean K and I raced away from the
traffic light never to look back, and both going into speed wobbles around
a highway curve at 110mph plus. Great fun!! We arrived home and Doug H.
was the maestro at the BBQ. Burgers, beer, and greatalk and hottubs were
the order of the rest of the night while I showed the group how to pick out
star constellations and "shooters" from the Perseid star shower. At this
point Mike H, informed me that Johnny Yukon, only had perhaps three hundred
miles of riding experience, TOTAL! I was astounded!! He had made it solo
from Seattle, navigated the ferry and highway systems to here, rode at a
hard pace to Renfrew and back with a "sour" bike, and hadn't said a word!!
That is the true essence of what an xs11 rider is!! Awesome Johnny!!
Tomorrow is the ride to Mt. Washington. More to come.
We left for the mt. Washinton ride with about 11 riders. Is was an easy
run up the Parkway to Courtenay, where we had b-fast, gassed up and Dennis
Mc led the way out of town to the Mt. Washinton road. The road to the
chair lift base is a beautiful piece of twisties. We parked the bikes
and took a chair lift ride up to the summit, where the view was the most
incredible vista that I have ever seen in my twenty plus years on the
Island!! Deano was having a greta time getting the Whisky Jacks to fly up
to his hand and feed. We stayed at the 5200ft level for about thirty
minutes, then headed down to the parking lot.
Earlier as we were debating whether or not to go, a cyclonic wind came out
of nowhere and picked up tables and umbrellas and hats and everything else
and lifted it approx 100 feet into the air, then dropped it. It was pretty
amazing! We got on the bikes and rode down to the bottom with Dennis in lead,
and out to the Parkway back to home. Dennis kept a good lead at approx 120kmh,
and we all stayed together. We pulled off into Qualicum to get gas, and had
to pass through the new section of road with all the flowers and nice lawns,
remarked upon by quite a few. After gassing up we headed back to the
Parkway and kept a good pack at speed all the way to home. When we got
to my house, Del and Denny Zander were there. They had arrived about two PM
and decided to have a nap. I started the BBQ up and we ate and drank
hartily. I told everyone that we would have to be on the road at 6 AM the
next day for the ride to Tofino and Long Beach.
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