Years ago I forecast that our love / hate relationship with our telco would be resolved as Island Tel would revise it’s presence to a couple of suits in Halifax and a few (few as possible) installers situated in PEI.
This week the Island is buzzing that Bell (note the trucks are being re-painted to remove Aliant) will be leaving PEI and relocating their office in Newfoundland. The same rumours are reported to be swirling around Toronto.
If the rumour is true, did Rory Beck and the Honourable Robert Ghiz know about this when they granted Bell-Aliant the untendered roll-out of medium-speed Internet and granted Bell-Aliant the untendered contract for Government communication services?
If they did know, what does this tell us? If they did not know (and most thinking people realized it was inevitable) what does this tell us?
How is it that the media did not make a fuss when Dr. Homburg summoned the Charlottetown pseudo- aristocracy to a reception and announced the creation of the Homburg International Institute of Real Estate? I mean, really, this should be head line news.
International students from around the world will arrive to study at the Hom’borg’ institute (in the new office tower), live in the Hom’borg’ hotel while here, use the Hom’borg’ tunnel to get to entertainment at the Hom’borg’ theatre and do their shopping at the Hom’borg’ mall.
Is this news or what?
Having just returned from the Moncton Motorcycle show, I have been pondering the beginnings of this sickness.
It all started in 1957 when this was sitting at the end of a driveway and was for sale:
This gem was retailed by The Montgomery Ward chain and was known as a Pony Cycle. It was made by Hawk Tool and Engineering in Clarkson, Michigan. It boasted two horsepower. It was my first two wheel vehicle and started the journey.
The Pony was followed by a real motor bike – a1960 Harley Davidson Topper.
This is the only motor scooter that H-D ever produced in their 105+ year history. Approximately 3,000 of these scooters were built during the model run from 1960 through 1965, and less than 100 are currently believed to remain worldwide. It was a robust little beast with an automatic transmission and survived my many KM of dirt road riding.
Two years later, came the 1962 Harley Davidson Super 10:
The Model 165 and the Hummer were both replaced by the Super-10 in 1960. The Super-10 used a 165 cc version of the “B-model” engine previously used in 125 cc form in the Hummer. It was a nice looking bike, but slow and unreliable. To this day, when I look at that picture I think that is the way a H-D should look. Wonderful classic lines.
1963 Harley Davidson Pacer:
The Pacer was the replacement for the Super-10. It used the newly-enlarged 175 cc B-model engine.
In 1963, one year into production, the frame of the Pacer was heavily redesigned. The new frame incorporated rear suspension through an “L"-shaped swingarm that actuated a spring mounted horizontally under the engine. The seat and rear fender were supported on a subframe bolted to the main frame.
It was the first motorcycle that I rode (legally) on the road. Unhappily it had a short life. A pick-up truck turned left in front of me and I T-boned the truck. The bike was totalled and I broke an unimportant bone. Happily, the insurance company was quick to settle and threw in an extra $1K to keep me (or my dad) happy.
The insurance proceeds were used to buy my first ‘holy crap that is fast’ motorcycle. 1964 Harley Davidson XLCH.
Air cooled, four stroke, 45° V-Twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder. 116mph top speed. 214kg. Drum brakes. 4 speed. 60bhp @ 6800rpm.
I could go on and on about this wonderful machine. Amazingly fast. There was nothing in the county that had two wheels or four that could beat me in a 0-100 MPH race. Each saddle bag could hold 6 beer and a bag of ice. It was a pig to start and on more than one occasion I was bounced over the handle bars when the kick starter kicked back. When cool weather arrived, it was often necessary to tow the damn thing down the road with a car to get it going. It was vintage H-D and I loved it.
I still dream about this bike. Amazing machine for the time and mine had a “P” racing cam installed. It was a bike that was as close to perfect for the time as it gets. Alas, at 60 MPH a turn was overshot, a jump was hit and the bike went a few times end-for-end. I kept it another year, but restoration was beyond my skills. It was sold to a friend who spent a couple of years bringing it back. I wish I still had it.
Fast forward to 1981. The intervening years were spent with a new family, new responsibilities etc etc and friends who would give me a fix by allowing me to ride their motorcycles. In 1981 came the Yamaha Seca XJ 750 RJ. My first sport touring bike and a nice one. I bought it from a young CA who was entering his responsible period of life.
In every way this was superior to anything I had owned before. Fast (enough) comfortable and reliable. In 1989 I passed the bike to my son who rode it for a few years. It was subsequently sold to one of the local H-D mechanics who still rides the bike to this day. A good one. I always grin at the thought of a H-D master mechanic riding my old Seca.
In 1989 I had returned to the US and my boss bought me a 1989 BMW R100 RT (really)
It was the beginning of my love affair with BMW motorcycles that continues to this day. For me, the BMW sport touring R bikes are the absolute best motorcycle available. There are many who do not agree with my opinion. This bike was sold when I returned to Canada in 1992.
On my return, a good friend told me of a 1983 BMW R100 RT that was for sale in Moncton and I made it mine.
Once again- for me – a perfect motorcycle.
Then a diversion. My business partner and I took a notion and bought Crazy Ivan. A 2003 Russian Ural Northern Cruiser.
These sidecar motorcycles redefine fun and we still own this one.
In fact these machines are so much fun, I added “Oleg’ to the stable. 2005 Ural Patrol:
Probably the only mistake I have made in trading machines was my decision to trade the ‘83 BMW for a Harley Davidson Electra Glide Sport. No question it was a beautiful bike but it was not long before I knew I had made a mistake. H-D is not for me. It had been many years since I had owned a H-D and it was (briefly) good to be back riding one. The cruiser bike suit many people and I ‘get’ the H-D thing. It is not for me.
The good thing about H-D (at the time) is that one that is well cared for is easy to sell. I sold mine to the first person that came to look at it and returned to BMW. An unheard of end-of-year discount was offered in December 07 and I snapped up the last one in Canada.
For me, and with a strong in my opinion, the BMW R1200RT is the best all-around sport touring motorcycle. Happily I still have this bike.
Having lost interest in the Ural sidecar, I was fortunate to be able to ‘scratch and itch’ that had been bothering me for years. A Ducati! It is hard to describe the pure fun that this motorcycle provides. Oleg was traded in on a 2007 Ducati Multistrada
Lupo radiante is tucked up close to the BMW in the garage. This bike is the most high-performance machine I have owned and handles better than anything I have ridden. Now if people would stop asking me if my son knows I am riding his bike. It is machine that is more often seen ridden by younger riders. Bah!
Tucked away in a safe place is the rust-o-ration project that will happen at some point. I had hoped to get started this Winter, but 35 years of neglect requires a state-of-mind that did not occur.
So at this point I am owned by a BMW, A Ducati, a very old H-D and I co-own a Ural with my business partner. As I started this, I just returned from the Moncton show and it is always nice to be driving back reflecting on the fact that you are really happy with what you have.
One of my friends poses the question, “what is the perfect number of motorcycles” – he answers his own question, “the next one”. Of course, he is correct. I keep thinking that there might be a motorcycle that would turn me into a one motorcycle garage. This might just be it:
The 2010 Ducati Multistrada has not arrived in Canada yet. It is expected in April. Oh dear.
Then again:
<sigh> I am such a bike slut.
I recently read:
The past exists only in our memory.
The future exists only in our plans.
Those two lines have been rattling around my head for a week. That would suggest to me that reality exists only now. However now only exists for a fleeting point in time and immediately becomes the past and influences the the future. Is it possible there is no now and therefore no reality?
I have a feeling there is some profound epiphany here, but I just can’t grasp it.
