August 20th - Gastown Motorcycle Show n' Shine

This is an event that Adele and I are putting on for work. Last year the VPD estimated that we had 20,000 people through over the course of the day, so we are hoping that with a date in August (and hopefully some sunshine) it will be huge!

Hopefully some of you will be able to come check it out! This is also Sarah & Suds' anniversary.


On Sunday, August 20, 2006, the B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists, in conjunction with the Gastown Business Improvement Society and the Gastown Merchants will be closing down Water Street in Vancouver once again to put on the 2nd Annual Gastown Motorcycle Show n' Shine in the heart of Vancouver!

This exciting event is free to the public to attend.There will be a Bitchin' Gear fashion show featuring some of the BC Felions, a live band and there are tons of unique shops, restaurants and pubs in Gastown for spectators to enjoy.

And, of course, there will be hundreds of bikes in every make and model lined up along the cobble stone streets and everyone's favorite manufacturers displaying the best of their best.

This will be an exciting celebration of motorcycling that you do not want to miss!


Please contact the B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists at (604) 580-0111 or 1-877-580-0111 for more information or visit our website at www.bccom-bc.com.


Special thanks to Efford Photography and Greg Descantes for the photos.

Stanley Cup Dreams Dashed!

On Monday we went over to Jason's place to watch the Stanley Cup final.

Check out the sweet game watching stance!



He is an awesome cook and made us up this yummy steak dinner!


Here's Jason drawing a picture of the Carolina goalie and lighting it on fire. We figured that since they were down 2-0 we should resort to voodoo magic....like any fan of Canadian hockey would!!

It worked and they scored, so we tried it again, but sadly to no avail

Check out this poor sad face! When is Canada going to bring home another cup???


The view from Jason's place is really nice, as you can see!



Strangely enough, as we left his place we found these panties laying in the hallway. Some poor girl probably wore yesterdays pants and didn't feel it shimmy down her pantleg.......not that that's ever happened to me or anything.

Trip to Pemberton

Last weekend Darren and I went up to Pemberton to visit Taralyn & Jason.

On the way up we stopped at Porteau Cove to take some pics cause it's so pretty there.


Here's Jason's restaurant in Whistler village, Pita Etc. The food is really yummy, so if you are ever there you should check it out!! It is under the Earl's, just around the corner from Starbucks.



This is the view of Mount Currie from their balcony. They have such a cool place!!


Taralyn hypnotizing Jason's rabbit, Sabrina.


We went to the Pemberton Hotel, or the Pem Ho as Taralyn & Jason call it to watch the Oilers kick some Carolina ass! Along with about 3 other people. The town was hoppin!

Skilled drivers parked outside the pub....the side of the truck says Off Road Hooker.




After a few beers all stories being told involve a lot of hand gestures.



On the way home we stopped at a couple of scenic spots to play tourists and snap a couple of quick shots.



This is Shannon Falls. Every time we drove by there when I was young, which was fairly often because my aunt & uncle live in Squamish, my Dad would always ask, "Did it hurt?" Not as much as that joke!


There was a big Bikers for Burns ride for the firefighters burn camp on it's way up to Whistler as we were passing through Squamish. As you can see I am a skilled photographer when it comes to taking photos through a dirty windshield.

Support Local Talent

I just received an email from my friend Helen Haig-Brown and one of her films is being shown at the IMAGeNation 8th Annual Aboriginal Film & Video Festival on June 25, 2006 between 2:30-4:30pm at the Vancouver International Film Centre (1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver). For more info check out:
www.imag-nation.com/2006festival/index.html

Here is the description of her film:
Su Naa (My Big Brother) – 11:27 min
Producer/Director: Helen Haig-Brown – Tsilhqot’in
Distributor: Vtape, Canada 2005
A sister tries to resolve her guilt in order to recover the happiness of the last night shared with her brother before he is killed in a tragic accident. The audience is taken through this journey of resolve on an emotional landscape of grief.

Her brother William was a very special part of our lives and I really want to go see this. Unfortunately I am working that day, but I am going to try really hard to get off early. If I can, does anyone else want to go?

Drink the Water???

Adele, Bill and I were on our way back from a BCCOM meeting in Kelowna on Tuesday morning and once I again I found myself compelled to take pictures in a bathroom stall near the Coquihalla (I'm sick and I need help!)

We stopped at the brake check just past the toll booth for a bathroom break and Adele opens the first stall expecting a toilet, but instead finds this little low rider tap. I don't believe there was even a drain in the floor. It was truly odd. An Okanagan attempt at a bidet perhaps?? Not sure.

I can't figure out if they're just really strange up there or maybe screwing with tourists heads is the only joy in life they get.

Back from The Gas City

Got back late on Sunday from Medicine Hat - home of the worlds largest teepee.

Adele and I started Friday morning off with the breakfast of champions....eggs benny and a pitcher of Mojitos. If you're ever looking for a place to serve you at 9am, go to the airport.....or AA.

We could have used another when we arrived in Calgary and transfered planes onto an 18 seater. This picture was taken before we took off. The next hour was spent white knuckling it and praying not to die on the roller coaster ride from hell. On the bright side, I got an aisle seat and a window seat all in one!

You know you're in a quality airport when a cat lives there!

Upon arriving we checked into the Motel 6, which was pretty decent aside from the bedspreads that looked like a really bad acid trip. Other than that, the races went off really well and it was a great weekend.

Don't Drink the Water!

Adele and I were on our way back from our BCCOM meeting in Kamloops a couple of weeks ago and had to stop for a bathroom break. Just when you think you've seen it all, you walk into the washroom at the Coquihalla toll booth and see this sign in the bathroom stall.

I'm so glad it was there because I was seriously thinking that Cinnamon must be onto something and maybe toilet water was the new Evian, but my hopes were dashed!

The funny thing is that there was no sign right beside the taps when you first walk in where most people would logically look for a warning like that. I definitely got some strange looks taking photographs in a bathroom stall, but I couldn't resist.

Off to the Hat

Tomorrow morning I am off to Medicine Hat for work at the CMDRA's season opener. Medicine Hat......isn't that the weirdest name for a city? I wonder why they chose that. What was wrong with Medicine Shoe? That must have already been taken....or wait, maybe that one was too silly!!

I could be in Paris with Sarah & Whitney, but no instead I am stuck heading to the middle of nowhere to work 12 hours a day on my weekend.....I'm not bitter at all I swear!

Fortunately this will be the last race that I have to attend for a while. We are training some new volunteers this year, so this summer I will actually get to have a life. It's going to be great!! As much as I whine, I do have to admit that I am going to miss it, but it is a long over due break!