Well, this has been only the second year in the 16 that I've owned my Valkyrie that I've taken it off the road for the Winter. The last two Winters have actually been "real" Winters here in SW BC ... a definite shift in weather from the norm, and along with our big move further from the coast and higher up in elevation last year there just wasn't any chance to get out for a ride over this period. So, the only "action" the old girl has seen the past 4 months is yours truly pulling her apart, cleaning, tightening, replacing, and caressing her gently every now and then as I pass by her in the garage (please tell me others do this as well
) ... and of course, a once weekly push into the driveway to fire up to get/keep her juices flowing.
Other than that, she's had to settle being comforted by the Mrs's 26 year old Miata snuggled up in garage...
My big accomplishment over this period was pulling the alternator for the first time (under the watchful eye of fellow Valhalla brother Gordonv). After reading up on it all these years and hearing horror stories, I was a little worried about getting it back in properly but lo and behold...my first attempt went quite well actually. It was in pretty decent shape, but we changed the brushes and gave it a good cleaning.
Hard to believe that this was only 3 short weeks ago...the homestead was fully engulfed in our apparently, "new" Winter norm
Things can change quickly here though, and with warmer temperatures and 2 weeks of solid downpours of our more "normal" Winter precipitation, the white stuff has disappeared and the roads are washed clean of remaining salt and sand. This weekend's forecast is for glorious sunshine and temps up to 17 C (mid 60's F), so finally...it's RIDING SEASON again
Four months is the longest I've gone not riding in more years than I can remember, so it sure felt good to wake up the neighbors today
and wind my way down the mountain to the open road.
The road down from Mt Woodside, towards Harrison Valley.
Like I said, all that white stuff can melt away quickly, remaining only up in the high mountains where it belongs ...leaving clean roads and lots of Green
A peaceful Harrison River...just by those log booms is one of my go to fishing spots... Winter and Spring cutthroat trout on the fly
This shot is actually at the same time looking the other way downriver into that glorious, glorious sun. In the Spring the river will be right up to the trees
With the roads pretty much clear of sand, I decided to make a run up along side Harrison Lake towards Green Point, a favorite beach, swimming, BBQ spot of the Mrs and I on Summer evenings. Every New Years Day at noon, an annual Polar Bear swim is held at Green Point where hardy soles wash away the cobwebs from the evening prior (and maybe the prior year as well
). While I am not adverse to swimming in cool water, I have yet been hardy enough to participate...despite my bravado the night before telling all who will listen that I will...
Majestic Harrison Lake...looking cool and calm. This is a large lake...over 37 miles long, 5 and a half miles wide, and up to 1000 ft deep. Surrounded by countless logging roads, smaller lakes and streams, it's an ideal paradise for boating, back country camping, hunting, ATV-ing, etc.
Green Point, which is about half way down the lake where the paved road ends.
All in all, a great first run of the year...I think the old Valk was just as pleased as I was to fire up and hit the road again. And a big bonus is that with all of the work that I did on the bike the past four months, tackling some of the things myself for the very first time...NOTHING FELL OFF along the way and I arrived home all intact
Must give thanks to DDT for his continuing tales and photos from the open road, keeping myself and I'm sure many others with the Winter Blues from complete withdrawl. Sure feels good to be able to post another ride report
