Bike Starting Blues

Wanted A Battery. Dead or Alive?

I have been riding this bike for several years now and I have only one complaint, well two actually but that's for another time.

My complaint is the battery, which never seems to last me more than two seasons.

By the spring of the third year she's toast and I am left with the crumbs.

This year my mechanic told me to buy a Battery Tender.

I told him I had tried battery chargers before but had nearly burned down the shop.

He advised me that these little beauties are made specifically for ATV's, Motorcycles and similar machines.

Just hook them up and leave them on all winter. Now that sounds like a maintenance program even I can stick with.

How much will this little devil set me back? I was pleasantly surprised when I slid a fifty over the counter and he handed me back some change.

With my current back condition I couldn't see myself down on the floor trying to install this puppy so I called up a riding buddy to come rescue me.

Les had installed one the year earlier on his own bike and said it would take him a mere 15 minutes. He would have been on time if I had known just where in my garage I had laid my tools.

From the time we peeled back my bike's dust cover, until we plugged the new device into the outlet was about 30 minutes.

Actually the installation piece is just a small electrical wire. One end splits into two wires, one red the other black these slip onto the two battery terminals.

The other end comes out form under the seat and has a special plug in connector. You plug the actual Tender into the electrical outlet (110v) and the other end into the wire which comes from under the seat. Presto you are charging your battery slow and gentle like.

How good is this gadget? Couldn't tell you yet from personal experience but from friends like Les the reports are very good to fantastic.

Bonus, I am told the connector that comes from your battery and pops out form under your seat is designed to plug in a heated vest.

One thing I love about motorcycles is as soon as you buy one toy it leads to purchasing another toy, and the giving just keeps rolling along. That's the fun when you love Riding Iron.

Ride South Central B.C. Canada

September is my favorite month for riding. There are few motor-homes still out clogging the highways.

Family Station Wagons are mostly parked in driveways back home as the kids head to school.

Weather is usually warm and dry.

There is still enough daylight at this time of year in southern Canada to offer a long day of riding, and still have enough time after the bike is parked to enjoy a leisurely dinner, a few beer, and some good fellowship.

This past September (09) five of us decided to take a five day run through some of the most spectacular riding roads to be found anywhere in the N.W. corner of North America. We were four bikes and one of my companions had his daughter with him riding two up.

The height of this adventure begins at a small resort nestled on the eastern side of the Canadian Rockies just west of the town of Rocky Mountain House Alberta.

We stayed overnight at the David Thompson Resort an isolated but a favorite summer spot providing full facilities for campers and RVs. They also have modest but good motel rooms, a pretty decent restaurant, a gas bar, convenience store and a gift shop.


We arrived Friday 9/11. This is very late in their season, they board this resort up for the winter by the 15th of September every year.

Saturday morning we started with a hearty breakfast before making our individual decisions to wear or not to wear long underwear and or to put on an extra sweater before heading out.

When you first swing your leg over your bike up here in the mountains the air is so crisp and clean it fills your lungs with the promise that this will be one the best riding day of your life.

In this regard the massive natural monoliths of the Canadian Rockies never disappoint.

The smooth pavement winds it's way around the Goliath mountains and in the morning you are constantly passing through a transition from sunlight to shade and back into the warmth of the sun. It took about 90 minutes before the sun was high enough to consistently shine on us as we rode through the valley.

We swung south at the Saskatchewan River Crossing and traversed the southern part of Canada's world famous Icefield Parkway. The view along this historic route is breath taking and we pulled over to take our first full rest stop at a beautiful mountain lodge.

We sat at the picnic bench and sipped a cold drink as we sat taking in the warmth of the morning sun. The place was so beautiful the guys took a stroll down to the waters edge and took a few pictures of the lake and the lacier which feeds it.



From here we continued south on the parkway to where it joins the Trans Canada Highway. We turned right heading for Revelstoke B.C. Highway #1 is like an interstate hwy, busy with fast paced traffic and lots of trucks.

Although I avoid this route as much as possible in this case it is the only realistic way to get to where we needed to be.

Revelstoke is a modern active railroad mountain community. Stylish in it's architecture, offering full services, along with many interesting historic sites and museums. It has some excellent accommodations and tastefully decorated places to dine. This place offers a great night life for the younger crowd of summer hikers and winter skiers. It is a great place to spend a few days but on this occasion we were just passing through.

Revelstoke is also the starting point for one of the most sensational bike runs in the mid west section of North America. Hwy 23 runs south of Revelstoke along the west side of Arrow Lake 50 km to Shelter Bay. The road is like a smooth roller coaster as it winds and undulates gently through towering pine groves. An occasional peek through the trees gives you a sneak preview of the beautiful scenery which awaits.


At Shelter Bay you catch the Ferry across the lake to Galena Bay for another 50km run into Nakusp. This is a spectacular ride with windy roads, and vista views of clear deep blue waters of Upper Arrow Lake.


No trip is perfect and there is always a little unexpected excitement to be had, ours came as we rode down into the town of Nakusp. Just as we descended into the community the first motel came into view and I noticed the No Vacancy sign was on.


I thought that was rather strange. Sure I would expect a no vacancy sign in the height of the summer, but this was September, the off season. Ahh... they probably just forgot to turn it off. We worked our way towards the downtown and the hotel I always stay at. As we passed the second motel I saw another no vacancy sign, and I felt a cold draft on the nap of my neck.


We parked at the Leeland Hotel on the water front . My back was pretty sore form the ride so I stayed on my bike while my buddies went inside to check on availiability of rooms. The guys spent more than an hour on the phone searching for a room. Nothing, I mean nothing, not in Nakusp nor any other town within 150 km. The closest they found was 2 rooms in Castlegar. The truth is I wasn't up to making another 150 km and I was also very worried about any of us being on the road after dark. Nakusp and roads south are notoriously stupid for deer.



I wish to say the manager/owner of the Leeland Hotel was such a great help in trying to find a room for us. She called everyone in town she could think of to help us out, but to no avail.


My Buddies came out to the parking lot to give me the bad news. Just then a young woman approached us as we were preparing to pull out.
At the bequest of the manager of the hotel she informed us that she and her husband were building an apartment in their basement. It wasn't quite finished, but perhaps we could get by for the one night.

We followed her up the mountain to her home and couldn't believe our luck. Rebeca & William Jewell (250 265-8043) are building a small resort especially suited for bikers. Will is a carpenter and the place was beautiful. They hope to rent the apartment out by the week for those of us who wish to stay and explore the area for a few days, which I promise you is a great idea.

They have worked really hard on the place which will be ready for the 2010 season. They have prepared a lovely manicured area for tents and small trailers. Will took an old school bus and converted it into a posh motorhome. Three of us took the motorhome and let Daryl and his daughter have the apartment.


For me this was the best night of the trip, sitting around the fire pit, having some dinner and a few drinks. This place backs onto the golf course, and there is a horse riding stable is just down the road. Definitely the place I will stay on my next trip to Nakusp, though I will book ahead no matter what time of year it is.

The next day we rode to New Denver where we stopped for a hearty breakfast at an outdoor cafe. The ride form there over to Kaslo is is 47 km of sensational switchbacks, not a straight stretch of road to be seen.

I am sure the scenery is great but you really have to keep focused on the road so although it is a great ride the best views come later.

The drive to Balfour is a little more relaxing and you are rewarded with breath taking views of Kootney Lake

The ferry ride over to Kootney Bay gives you a nice hour rest, an opportunity to stretch your legs, take some photos or just relax.



After you get off the ferry it is a short ride up the hill and over to Crawford Bay. This is a small community with one gas station and one motel.

Despite it's diminutive size this is a great place if you like arts and crafts. I always take time to explore the several shops and pick up a few quality gifts for those I had too leave behind.

I found a hand woven make up bag for my daughter and a pair of glass blown, hand made ear-rings for my wife. The rest of the guys also dropped some good coin before we left.

All the way south to Creston the ride is sensational, gentle, scenic, the kind of experience that makes you promise to return, no matter how many times you have already had the pleasure.

I always enjoy staying in Creston but on this trip our respective work schedules really insisted we push on to Cranbrook. We turned left onto Hwy #3, one of my favorite roads.


Traffic on this highway is a little heavier then the previous days route down along the lakes, but even so it is an easy going and a pleasant ride. This is a historic route with lore about gold panning and lost gold mines. The valley is for the most part wide, offering panoramic views of the mountains all the way to the Alberta border.

Just into Alberta is the Crowsnest Pass and the famous town of Frank where an avalanche buried the entire town under huge boulders. All died save one small baby which was found miraculously perched atop a huge boulder in the centre of the slide.


When you pass out of the mountains onto the foothills you will be greeted by large windmills and the pleasant community of Pincher Creek. I recommend you allow yourself three to five days to make this journey, anything less and you are selling yourself short. Of all the routes you can take in this part of the world, the Revelstoke to Creston run is made for those of us who love







Riding Iron.

Thieves Love Tourists

I am not the most savvy traveler but over the years I have been marched to the front gate under armed guard in Spain and threatened with a hand gun during a drive by in California.

Last year in Canada I had a high speed street racer pull a knife and slash my tire. Of course I did get pretty far into his face after he nearly ran down a mother pushing a baby stroller through a crosswalk, he blew through at 60 mph in a 30 zone. No doubt the punk deserved the tongue lashing I gave him, still shouting down a drug dealer in a lousy neighbourhood probably wasn't the smartest thing I could have done.

Cons, flim flam artists, pick pockets, slash and grab thieves, the world is full of them. Most of the time they hang out at the local tourists hot spots and wait for you to show up.

So when you go on holidays the question is not are you a target, of course you're a target the question is how do you make the bulls eye on your back so small small they can't hit it?

Travel Documents

Before you head out on the trip of a life time, there are a few things you should do. Photocopy all your credit cards and travel documents including information about health & travel insurance. Leave these copies with a trusted friend who can be easily reached by phone in an emergency. If you are robbed at gun point and left striped naked in the Arizona dessert it will be a big help.

Insurance

If you are purchasing health & travel insurance ask the agent what it doesn't cover. Some health insurance coverage plans have a small clause that says "you are not covered if you have been drinking or are intoxicated".

Come on now you're going on vacation, most people like to cut loose a little, this is an unreasonable limitation on the policy, pass it by and purchase from a different carrier.

Credit Cards

"All you need to travel the world is a credit card and a drip dry shirt."

Visa among other credit card companies offer a special traveler's card. Pre-paid so that your limit is under your control. You can take a couple of them each with a different pin number.

When one is used up switch to the other. If the card is stolen you still have the other one. Even if you are forced at knife point to give them a pin number your loss is limited.

If someone decides to rob me I want them to go away, and no one likes to go away empty handed. If they get too mad they just might like to extract a little retribution from me the hard way. For this reason I always have a little cash on me in local currency, I make sure the bills are in small denomination so the stack looks like it a lot.

Kiss your wallet goodbye.

I keep the cash and a low limit card along with, a couple of phony business cards (with false address) and pictures of someone else's kids in what I call my throw away wallet. This wallet I carry in my front pants pocket. I pull it out to buy coffee, a bite of lunch small stuff while I am on the move. If someone is watching me they will identify this wallet as where I keep my money. Never carry your wallet in a back pocket.

If I get robbed I give the throw away wallet to them without a problem, and the looking scared part comes naturally.

My real wallet with my real money, credit cards and valuable personal items is a hideaway travelers wallet, except my passport. The kind of hideaway wallet I prefer passes through my belt then is tucked down my trousers.

You can buy one that has it's own waist belt which goes under your pants, they also have a wallet that straps to your leg. There are many too chose form. I like mine because if you slip in a wash room it is easy to get at. In the privacy of a stall I can quickly take out what I need and transfer it to my pocket wallet, besides at my age I usually need to use the washroom anyway.

If you are staying in a better hotel, they may offer to lock up your passport in their safe. This is a good idea, when the option is available. In some countries it is the only way a foreigner can book into a good hotel.

My passport is always keep in a water proof zip lock bag in a special zippered inside pocket of my riding jacket. In hot weather I will keep it in a similar pocket of my light riding vest. Point is, unbless it is locked in the hotel safe it is always with me and I never keep it with the other wallets which are the ones the thieves are after.

Weapons

Do not carry weapons. You are just inviting serious injury or death to yourself. This is not a game for amateurs, leave such things alone. By the way it is illegal to transport Pepper Spray across the US/Canada Border. Like I said leave offensive weapons behind. If you are that concerned about your safety then take a basic self defense course, or attend travelers advisory seminar.

A few extra precautions when traveling.

If you wear glasses and need them to drive, take an extra pair, packed so they won't break when you crash. There is nothing worse then waking up in the hospital and you can't see. Well I guess worse would be not waking up but let's not go there.

Carry a small flashlight, and a small first aid kit.

When ever you travel keep your important medicine in two locations. If you accidentally spill your bottle of heart medicine down the bathroom sink you will have to jump through alot of hoops to get enough to get you by before you get home. Remember if you are to cross the US/Canada border you must have the original prescription bottle for all medicines you are transporting.

How To Dress

Seems silly to say it, but the record shows clearly some people need to hear this advice. Leave the Rolex at home. Fancy and expensive jewelry and designer clothing is advertising to thieves. Put on a pair of riding jeans, an old shirt, faded jacket and blend into the nondescript culture of the middle class. Dress even less affluent in poorer countries. Special caution some jackects have an overall military look too them, avoid thesse no matter how beat up they look. Stay away from wearing army surplus. Authorative style clothing can evoke a response you don't want

Cameras

If you going to use anything more than a basic point and shoot camera, you may want to pay special attention to you camera gear. Slash and snatch thieves love to target purses and cameras. You can buy special straps lined with high tensile steel wires, but you still have to learn and practice carrying your gear in such a way as to lesson the thieves opportunity to strike. If you are a serious photographer then it is worth your while. For 99% of us a good point and shoot camera that has a short strap and can be hung comfortably around your neck and tucked into a shirt pockect is ideal.

If the photos are really important and you are on a big trip. Stop in at a photo kiosk and have your pictures printed to a disk. Store the disc or mail it home so that if your camera is stolen you do not loose all of your pictures.

Are You Really At Risk?

All in all personal safety should not be a serious consideration for any riding you do. I will tell you that you can travel worry free in about 90% of all of N. America, 75% of Europe, 85% of Australia and about 95% of New Zealand. Just keep your head up and look around you at the people, and the conditions of where you are, then apply a little common sense mixed with a little careful handling of your valuables and you should get through unscathed emotionally or financially.

Remember just because there are bad people out there it doesn't mean you have to wear a bulls-eye on your back. So take a few simple precautions then get out enjoy the fresh air, and the sunshine of a thousand different places,

Riding Iron.

Crossing Borders

Pulling in under the overhang porch of Canada Customs was a lot like stepping out of the shower. I was out of the rain but I was still soaking wet.

A young customs Officer stepped purposefully towards me. My guess is he was in his mid twenties. Six foot tall, walked with confidence and had a natural athletic build. The kind you get from living an active life style rather than spending hours in front of a mirror pumping iron.

He had an air of authority about him but from the corners of his mouth I detected just a slight smile which said; "Welcome to Canada" and I knew right then this crossing would be a good one.

I can't say every crossing has been smooth. I remember spending 6 hours in quarantine in Detroit, being detained for four hours in Seattle and my bags have been stripped and searched on a few occasions. Looking back over the years I must confess, I have had few problems crossing the 49th parallel.

I would certainly encourage anyone traveling by motorcycle who does not have a criminal record not to hesitate to cross the border in either direction.

The riding opportunities are truly spectacular all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean.

I wanted to write an easy to read article on what you could expect and do in preparation for crossing the Canada - USA border. I spent a good deal of time on line confident I should be able to quickly get the information I needed for this article, and to provide a couple of links to government websites providing you with a easy and authoritative source of information to refer too.

I was shocked to find the information highway regarding border crossing looks like it is under major construction and all I found was detour after detour. Governments on both sides of the border seem uninterested in making our life easy.

You will find an assortment of private websites offering advice and tips but they seem more interested in attracting you as a tourist then really providing clear easy information on crossing the border. I found one exception, www.necromantic.net/deadparrot/border01.html

Written mostly for American citizens crossing back and forth but well worth reading for Canadians.

Of course if you are patient and diligent you will eventually uncover the information you are looking for but the following guideline I give may save you the trouble. This information is based upon some research and personal experience. That being said please use my comments only as a guideline.

Make sure you double check with the proper government agency any special questions you have regarding crossing the border, including the limits and types of substances you can bring across with you.

Motorcycle.

Make sure you have all documents pertaining to registration and ownership and that all address match up with your drivers licence. Border Officers do not usually ask to see these documents but if they do they must be squeaky clean. They will enter your licence plate into their data bank while you wait at the border.

Custom Officers are always on the look out for stolen vehicles, and bikes people plan to cross border sell. If any flags appear in their data bank they will check further.

If you are driving another persons bike make sure you have a written document signed by the owner stating that you have permission to drive the bike, permission to take it across the border and approval has been granted by the insurance company for you operation of the bike.

Identification.

If you are form the USA you have a few options such as a passport, nexus card or and enhanced drivers licence. If you are Canadian citizen you basically have the same options although availability of the latter two is more difficult in Canada. Truth is this whole thing about Western Hemisphere Transport Documents is somewhat of a mess.

My advice is get a Passport and leave it at that. Make sure you apply several months in advance for your passport because of the hoops you have to go through take awhile.

Transporting Goods

Check for exact details but as a general guideline this should work.

You can have 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 2 Kilos of tobacco. I suggest you make sure you have 1/2 or less of that amount and you will have no problems and trigger no bells in the mind of the officer.

Liquor.
I make it a point not to transport liquor across the border, although generally you are allowed a litre of the stuff for your personal pleasure.

Goods in General
Other goods vary in both type and quantity depending upon the direction you are headed and your citizenship. Here is a good general guideline.

If you are out of the country under 48 hours don't bring anything back. If you are across the border for more than 2 days but less than a week (seven days), don't bring back more than $200 worth of goods. If you are away more than seven days restrict your purchases to less than $400.

To calculate time away do not count the day you entered the country but do include in your count the day you are leaving. For example if you entered on a Wednesday and exited on a Wednesday you would have been away for seven days not eight.

Crossing Strategy

When you get to the border it is all about time. The more of their time you waste the less welcomed you are likely to feel.

If you shopped while you were across the border keep your recites organized and purchases so you can produce them easily upon request.

Keep answers short to the point but friendly and polite. Custom Officials are really strong on polite. A hint of sarcasm may cost you your trip. Crossing the border is a privilege not a right. Border Officers have the absolute authority to prevent you from entering their country.

Would you let a belligerent sarcastic jerk into your home? That's why the Americans call it Homeland Security.

One other really important tip, don't lie. I know it sounds obvious but it isn't. I once had a young officer who was very smooth but he deliberately tried to trap me into lying.

I come from a small town and he started by saying he used to play Junior Hockey and has a good friend who lives in my home town. He mentioned his friends name and the name of his wife and described how everyone knows him because he is the hockey hero of the town. He insisted I must know them. Nope sorry I don't. This went on for well over five minutes.

He was very smooth like a professional actor and it was very tempting to say something like; "Now that you mention it I think I do know them."

Wham Bham that would have been the ruin of that trip.

Food

If you have bought an apple or banana for the road don't show up at the border crossing with it. Absolutely do not have any kind of vegetable with you. In the tourist shops you can often get a package of seeds to take home to your favorite gardener, forget it, no seeds. In fact if you have been riding cross country and have weeds caught up in the undercarriage of your bike you may be required to return to the nearest town and wash your bike before being allowed to cross. No I am not kidding.

Medicine and Drugs.
Despite what you may have heard about Canada, it is illegal to enter with marijuana or any other illicit drug. If you have prescription medicines you must have the original bottle in which the pharmacy dispensed the meds. If you keep one of those weekly pill reminder containers that's fine so long as you have the original container and a couple of pills in the container to prove which pills belong to that container.

My Personal Routine.

I never carry liquor, and I seldom purchase anything when traveling. If I do buy somethings I keep all recites handy stapled to a piece of paper itemized and totaled for quick reference. I place all the the goods in one bag on the top of my saddle bag for quick access.

My theory is the less I have to declare the less likely they are to want to go through my stuff and delay me. On the other hand it is just a theory and doesn't always work.

I carry my passport in a see through zip lock bag in my jacket. I never keep it with my wallet of other papers.

I answer all question with fairly short answers but make sure that even if I am freezing wet, I remain friendly, positive and never complain.

For the past twenty years may strategy has for the vast majority of my crossings resulted in a hassle free trip. For the few times I have been inconvenienced at customs it has been a small price to pay for the many trips I have had across the border Riding Iron.