STJ10 update: WARBURG

Sometimes I get tired of sitting around and just feel like going for a ride. Tonight was one of those times, despite the clouds and the rain and the wind, I just took off.

Wet roads all the way and ridiculous cross winds on the way home all set against a creepy gray backdrop that just felt ominous as fuck. I loved every second of it.

My worst enemy is officially those gusts of wind that push the base of your bike far in one direction (in my case tonight, to to the right) and make it feel like it's just going to topple over onto its left side.

It's like god himself is counter-steering for you. Into a ditch.

Or you know, physics.

Fuckin' physics.

Normally I'd ride around a bit in whatever place, but with the gray menace looming and growing in strength, I looped back on the main road and down the side road over wet and terrible gravel to snap this picture and then pretty much high tailed it back. So long, Warburg.

3 down!

Adventure!

So a few days ago I mounted the GPS back on and actually went for a ride with it. I was using it mainly because I was curious about how large the Speedometer error is on my bike. I've wondered that for some time.

Turns out when my speedo reads 100, I'm doing something like 92, and when it reads 112, I'm going 100, which is incredibly annoying, but just confirms my suspicions.

Even more annoying is that many sources claim motorcycle manufacturers (and some automobile) do this on purpose. Of course it varies between make and model, but I think such a practice is retarded. Don't bother arguing to me the "pros" of such a thing. I get it, I just don't agree.

Of course, there's also the argument about how accurate a GPS speedometer is, but most would have me believe it's pretty damn accurate in most situations.

Anyway, I love that little thing and all its features.

I also came to the conclusion that I probably won't get time off to go on any real lengthy trip (or have people to come with me) this summer, so I've made a deal with myself that I am going to try and ride to and visit as many towns/places in Alberta as I can.

I call it:

SMALL TOWN JOURNEYS 2010: the tale of a man and the lil' GS500 that could.

No set destinations or plans, really, I'm just gonna go wherever, whenever I can. Maybe take the odd overnight trip somewhere, but for the most part, just ride somewhere and ride back the same day.

I'll probably update this blog/facebook with photos and stats as I go about it. Whether you care or not.

In fact HERE WE GO, as you can see, I've started out close:

I really like Alberta Beach for some reason. I guess the view of the lake when you round that corner is just really nice to see.

Anyone from around here knows this place. Mostly it's made fun of for being so in the middle of nowhere. I think it was the first time I actually entered the place and looked around though. It's small but somehow busy as shit. Probably because, as the sign will tell you it's the HUB OF THE HIGHWAYS ™

TWO DOWN.

God bless the Irish.

Nintendo Wins.

So it's E3 time, and I just watched the Nintendo Press conference where all kinds of fucking magical shit just happened.

If you have a few minutes to kill, watch all these videos. Time to load this page with so many videos that it fucks up completely.

ZLegend of Zelda: Skyward Sword


Donkey Kong Country returns


Kirby!


Also announced the 3DS and a fucking KID ICARUS game to go with it.

Yay, analog pad!

I was not really interested in the 3DS before, but seeing it now and with a Kid Icarus game, I will absolutely be getting one. It's a shame they can't accurately convey the 3D effect, but that's just a bonus to me. It really is a more powerful DS and that's the main thing.

Zelda looks incredible. Cel shaded, but with a more realistic art style than the Wind Waker is totally the way to go.

Donkey Kong Country gave me fucking goosebumps, which sounds crazy, but I have such good memories of the SNES games that I'll be getting that game on Day one.

Stylistically, Kirby looks fucking amazing and it's good to see that guy back in a real game, but why doesn't he use any of his sucking powers in the trailer!?

Woo!

T&T

Well, I promised Trevor (or was it Tracy?) that I'd write a review of their wedding on my blog, but I actually don't have the energy to type such a thing or be funny doing it.

Everyone who reads this probably knows how I feel about marriage, so I won't get into that.

The point is I took a long ass trip to a place I never really wanted to go because one of my best friends asked me to and I was glad to be there for him and be part of it.

I love Trevor and Tracy and I am happy they did what they wanted to do. Truly.

Enough said.

I'll just say the AFTER PARTY (which Trevor calls it) was very laid back and nice, which is exactly how they should be. Just drinking and eating and talking and laughing with a smallish number of folks. So good on you guys for that.

Tracy's parents are incredibly nice to have helped out with such a thing and for letting me and I don't even know how many other people spend the weekend there.

Behind the scenes picture you won't see anywhere else!

Also, I am officially a little worn out at being "uncle Dan" and surrounded by children. There are a few stories I could share about this, but I am too lazy.

Short version: kids seem to like me (or at least like bugging me) despite me having a general dislike for them and that makes things REAL awesome for me.

Congratulations guys, and as I said to Trevor, go be married and leave me out of it for a bit! thanks!

PS. Fuck Vancouver!