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Calling out 2 Slow-Pokes

Well, I'm going to have to call out two drivers who were ridiculously slow this morning:

Little White Daihatsu. Somehow we managed to be let out into the vast line behind this car. He has a little bumper sign (not a sticker, airbrushed!) that says, "Undertakers love Overtakers". Somewhat appropriate, as you will see later :)
IF he was going 30kph, he was going 130...painful to be behind.
Another little irk - he had (obviously) a grand-daughter in the back seat...without a booster seat, seat belt, NOTHING. Kid just wandering around in the back seat, climbing into the front & back again. Incredible & dangerous!

Old White Mitsubishi. I thought the Daihatsu was slow...this guy made the Diahatsu almost come to a screeching halt!!! The old guy driving was probably 900 years old, with the Terminator over-classes going on & Mama in the sidepocket GIVING him a ear-full about something. Poor guy, he was really dark skinned, but he was squeezing the wheel so tightly I could see white knuckles! Top speed: maybe 20 kph!

Best part ... and I wish I had a camera on my phone, Diahatsu ALMOST tried to pass Mitsubishi thereby flaunting the dire warning on his bumper! Would have made a perfect picture.

STOLEN ... Again!

Well, I knew the euphoria of a (nearly) new Bike was going to wear off - just not THIS fast!

Last night sometime after 9:30, 'Midnight' was stolen from the front yard. Same exact spot, same M.O. during the rain, same lack of evidence of any kind. Since the original HD was taken, I had been using a 3/4" cable lock ... admittedly only through the front wheel & around the base of the bike. But it was certainly impossible to move without some gurt bolt-cutters! Mrs. Wookie rode 'Midnight' home yesterday, but alas forgot the cable lock.

But new developments THIS time:
- Spent the ridiculous $$$ to have Datatagging done; We'll see if it makes any difference at all.
- Confirmed with Colonial that said Datatags had been affixed & I was now ready for an upgraded policy; Was told not to bother until it was up for renewal (July) because they would charge me twice. BOTTOM LINE - still only 3rd Party coverage!!!

Seriously considering a Bus Pass...

Hamilton Parking for Wheelchair vehicles

After doing some digging, I have found that the City of Hamilton needs some help in the way of parking regulations (like we don't already know THAT!).

You know those 'Disabled Parking Permits' - which COH allocates to those who can prove that they have a debilitating condition? I am sure you've all seen them...hundreds of them, all hanging from rear view mirrors island-wide. They give the driver permission to use the 'Disabled Parking Bays' all over Hamilton (with only a few exceptions, those who pay for a dedicated one).

Nice thought & no doubt helpful. HOWEVER, these bays are also meant to be used by PC cars - the ones which are IN FACT Wheelchair vehicles, carrying a bona fide wheelchair-bound person!

So people can can park for the better part of a day in one of the [u]few[/u] spots that afford a wheelchair car the space to extract said Disabled person.

The 5h1t fight will now commence!

A Tale of 2 Rides

What a difference a day (and a little rain!) makes.

Yesterday, left at the appropriate time and headed along N. Shore with minimal traffic to deal with. So we gave 'Midnight' a little extra, making easy passes at speed...that is until several clowns decided that the space between me and the car in front was sufficient to squeeze into. One moron actually came so close, I could have pulled his newspaper out of his backpack & then gave me the look like, "Fackin Expat, know your place!"
But after clearing the unbelievably slow little blue car (with a rather...um...wholesome woman driver), the way was clear for a 10 min run from Flatts - pretty good time. No problems at all.

Today, with all the rain down our way, not another Bike in sight for most of the way. And after sizing up the squall that was slowly working east-to-west, we realized that if we rallied hard to Town, we would catch up with the heavier rain. Bad idea since coming along Shelly Bay Stretch, Town was completely hidden by rain!
Stayed in behind a couple cars doing reasonable speeds & still managed to make it in well before 8:00

Funny thing how that happens :)

Stolen - Chapter 3 (a.k.a FOUND!)

Well, it seems someone in Prospect actually reads this hairy blog :) - The Bunny of Note said as much over on BIAW.

The newly-named 'Silver Surfer' was located by Police a couple miles from the house, down on the Railway Trail in Bay...the one place I hadn't looked yet. Haven't been to see her yet, but the Sgt. who called claimed there were "...a few scratches, but on the whole intact..." That is good news one several fronts:
a) No $6 Grand for a new HD from Cycle Care. However, the way they are selling, it won't matter to them!
b) I can return the loaner. Poor little Axis is getting a little long in the tooth (not sure how my brother manages to fold his 6' 4" frame onto it either!?!?)
c) Now have some ammunition for 'encouraging' BELCO to fix the street light outside the house.

Oh ye of little faith...wait, that would be ME!

Stolen - Chapter 2

So I haven't gone ANYWHERE in dealing with Bda. Police. Nothing is currently being done by them. And I know this because when I call for a status report, no one seems to know who is handling my case. Alas there is little to report there - HOWEVER...

Since I was quite taken with the Sym HD 125, I contacted Cycle Care for a replacement. A good sign (for them) was that they were all out of stock, so I put down my deposit after being told "Next week, Thursday." The following Thursday came & went - no call from them, so the following Monday (ie. 2 weeks later) I called & asked for Status. "Another 2 weeks" I was told IF ... and I do appreciate this from them ... I would like 10% off. So I stuck with them.

Today, I am called by them to say TCD has rejected my reigstration because I "Do not hold a Valid Drivers Licence." W T F says I to myself. Come to find out that TCD/Ministry says that there has been a re-Classification of Licences & that there must be a specific reference to Motorcycle Class on the licence.
Cycle Care to their credit say, "Either go get an appointment & test -OR- register in someone else's name"

Pissed off no end people!!!