The Squamidian Report – Nov. 4 / 17
 
Issue #806

Hi All,

Several from my riding group and I did a run up to Squamish last Sunday for brunch. Sadly, we all knew this would be our last group ride of the season. Our unexpected window of rather incredibly nice weather was starting to close and many of us insure our bikes until the end of October because once November is here, well, that usually means the start of the rainy season. So to that I rode down to the Bay in order to lead the ride back up to Squamish. Originally, Whistler had been our ride destination but I did a test ride up that way the day before and found the road surface to be a tad on the slippery side up through the Canyon. The thing with clear nights this time of year is that the temp drops and black ice can form, especially inland as the highway climbs in elevation. On my suggestion, we scaled back our ride and headed for a restaurant in town here.

That ride was interesting and it was a good thing that all the riders that rode along were well seasoned and experienced. There was a very strange weather thing happening. The temp up in Whistler at KSU (kick stands up) time was barley above freezing. The temp in Squamish was +12 and the temp out at the coast was +4. There was a howling wind in the Squamish and upper Howe Sound area funneling out the valley that made standing upright difficult. Leaves and branches were blowing around and piloting a motorcycle was challenging. Interestingly, the turbulent air mass around Squamish only reached down the Sound to just south of Porteau Cove. On my way south the transition was like riding though a doorway. Almost abruptly I left the wild buffeting winds and mild air and entered the calm cold air mass that sat over the south end of the Sound and the Lower Mainland.

I explained the riding conditions to the group so they would be prepared for the changing conditions and we headed out. At about the same location I had passed between the two air masses, we rode back through in the opposite direction. It was like hitting a wall. We left the calm and cold and entered a world of buffeting. Being experienced riders, we departed from our usual staggered riding positions and set up a single file column where we could all ride the center of our lane. Normally bikers avoid the center as it can be slippery with dirt and oils etc but we needed as much elbow room as possible on both sides of us to deal with the unpredictable hammering from the wind blasts which could and did hit us from any and all directions as the rock faces acted like funnels, deflecting and directing the wind. It was challenging and fun. When stopped at traffic lights in Squamish we would need both feet firmly on the ground to hold the bikes up and steady. We reached our breakfast destination safely and perhaps a bit weary from fighting the riding conditions.

After our brunch we headed back south, riding though the windstorm until we again rode through the division between the air masses. Again, it was immediately calm and cold. We got back to the Bay and enjoyed sharing our impressions of the experience. I then headed for home which meant riding back up into the howling winds. It was actually easier this time as I wasn't leading and somewhat responsible for other riders and so didn't have to worry about them. Not that I did because as said, the ones who came on this ride are all very experienced and seasoned, good safe strong riders.

There was one weird thing, I thought I smelled some kind of petroleum odor when we were at the restaurant, and again parked down at the Bay. I could definitely smell it when I got home and pulled into my garage. On investigation, I found that the bottle of fuel stabilizer that I had in my saddle bag and somehow developed a pin-hole leak and half the stabilizer fluid was now sloshing around on the bottom of the saddle bag. The stabilizer fluid is there because this time of year, each ride could be the last and I therefore treat the fuel at each fill-up so the bike will be ready to be parked. The sweater and cleaning rags in there were soaked and reeking of petroleum. I cleaned up the mess and left the garage door open until nightfall to let the fumes air out. That created a mess of another kind because the still howling winds blew all sorts of leaves and dirt into the garage. Oh well, it was easily swept back out. Bottom line was we had a great last ride of the season that included enough adventure to make it somewhat memorable.

Oh, almost forgot, Sunday was also the gondola's last day before they close for a 3-week maintenance shutdown. The winds made it impossible for them to run the lift and so they were forced to be not open on their last open day. And because they are now closed for the next 3 weeks, I've got 3 weeks off, almost like a holiday. Hope I don't get into too much trouble trying to keep myself busy doing other stuff because with the riding season over, I don't have that to fall back on.

And yes, the bike is now put away and it was perfect timing. This unexpected week and a half of incredible weather at the end of October came to an end right at the beginning of November. As did my bike insurance. No point in waisting money having it insured during the winter. It would be different if we lived out in the Lower Mainland where there can be lots of rideable days during the winter but not up here. Once the roads get wintered on they will be slippery, if not from snow and ice, then from the sand and salt that will be spread. However, given how this season went, the riding was not too bad. Spring started out cold and wet because last winter just wouldn't go away, right into June. Then, our summer was so hot and dry and smoky that often it was simply no fun at all to be on the bike. Then came a rather nice fall and I managed to put some very enjoyable miles on the old girl. So basically, while certainly not the best season by a long shot, I did travel about 13,530 kilometers. Not bad. Not like the old days but not bad. It will be interesting to see what next year brings. As I get older, the Harley seems to be getting heavier. Perhaps she is putting on weight, thats my story anyway. At some point I may have to go to a smaller machine cause face it, this Harley is about as big and heavy as a bike can be because thats how touring bikes are so that they are comfortable out on the highway, mile after mile. Assumably my next one will be a cruiser style, a few hundred pounds lighter, more nimble but also not built as comfortable for those days or weeks on the road but face it, we haven't done those kind of road trips in several years now so who know. I like this current bike, she's now 9 years old and looks great. Anyway, thats it for this years riding season. Next one can't come soon enough.

One last word about the weather.... had the gondola been open this week they would have been closed for pretty well every day therein. The wind never stopped howling, big-time. Heck, on Thursday we had blizzard conditions here. The snow plough even did our street, not so much because of the amount of snow but because it is so hilly here they needed to salt the roads but there was too much snow to salt without ploughing as well. Anything that wasn't tied down was blown over or blown away. Quite interesting to watch through the window from the warmth and comfort of my living room. And thats it for now.
doug
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Have a good one..
the doug
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