2006 October

Planning a second GPS Buildup

For the last road trip to Cape Breton, I purchased a Magellan colour GPS from Wal-Mart for $300. From the unit’s packaging I could not tell if Maps were included. As it turns out it, amps are not included (it does come with a very basic map, showing only the 102 and other major roadways).

I suspect they don’t make it clear to the end user the various options they have for buying maps because most buyers would then realize that to make the GPS fully functional they need to spend another $150.00.

In a post back in 2004 titled GPS Buildup I showed a custom mount and serial GPS connection for a Casio E-115 Pocket PC. My next GPS Buildup (for my motorcycle will use this same E-115 (or if I am lucky an E-125) and a serial cable/power rather than the docking station. The GPS will be housed under the seat (dry) with the antenna running forward and mounted just under the front windscreen.

Since the Casio Pocket PC is not at all weather resistant I plan on using a rugged clear plastic bag to hold the unit.

I suspect that I will also be able to use the E-115 to play mp3s at the same time as providing real time GPS moving map, but I may need the extra processor power in the E-125.

Getting used to working long hours

I am a bit surprised that as a result of working 13+ hours every day this entire week, I now used to working this long.

It now almost seems natural to settle down and continue working at 4:30 when everyone else is leaving. With any luck I will try to use this newfound power of habit for good in the next few months, with exercise and house chores.

Something I intend to try when I get a free moment…

After last weekends Cabot Trail motorcycle run, I’ve decided to start looking into heated clothing for fall/spring motorcycle runs.

I’ve quoted a website below with instructions on how to make your own electrically heated clothing.

Cabot Trail by Motorcycle, in October

Evan did a wonderful thing and invited a lot of people to have a get away weekend in Cape Breton. Lots of fun, lots of people, and lots of good times. To compound the fun Danny and I rode our motorcycles up to the event.

With the weather being as it was (read miserable), Danny and I decided to bike up early Saturday morning rather than Friday night when most other folks were driving up. I felt guilty for asking Brittany to come and then not being able to drive her up so she and two of her friends drove up in a Rental Friday night.

When Danny and I got there a lot of people were still sleeping and generally recovering from Friday nights events. Saturday morning was a pretty strait forward ride along the Trans Canada and then onto the old number 4 in south eastern Cape Breton.

Paintball, fireworks, drinks, games and mini bikes were the order of Saturday.

Sunday Danny and headed around the Cabot trail and then home. We ended up riding a total of 1190 Kms on Saturday and Sunday. But getting to ride the Cabot Trail is really unbelievable, especially since we were pretty much the only people doing the loop.

It rained for the bulk of our Sunday riding, which was of paticular concern for me as I have never ridden a motorcycle in the rain before.

I am now really looking forward to doing some touring of Nova Scotia with Brittany. I’ve lived here in Nova Scotia most of my life, and have seen most of the scenery at least once, but I’m still blown away when on the bike traveling through the coastal regions of Nova Scotia.

A wonderful gift!

Brittany created a video and e-mailed it to me today from Barrie (Ontario). I think it is a wondeful gift. Click (more…) below to view the film.

The Subway Diet

I have officially started the Subway Diet, for a number of reasons:

I live above Subway (seriously, directly above it)
I enjoy Subway
Brittany is out of town (ad but true)
I weigh more then ever
I don’t like buying new pants.

My Subway diet consists of getting a breakfast sandwich and a 6 inch club for lunch with only hot sauce as a topping. I am on day 2 now, we’ll see how it goes. How can I go wrong when Subway is owed by “Doctor’s Associates Inc.”?

Thanksgiving Weekend

First of all, I hope everyone had a good thanksgiving weekend.

Two things of note:

Sunday shopping is finally here in Nova Scotia, it took the courts to clear up the issue that the politicians (and rural Nova Scotian’s) couldn’t figure out.
I rode my first full sport bike today; Mike and I swapped bikes for the ride home from Peggy’s Cove (his bike is a 2001 HOnda CBR 600 F4i). I was amazed at how stable and solid his bike felt (and it has been banged up a bit).

This weekend I would have liked to have gone to my Mother’s for thanksgiving supper (sorry Mom), but there are always a million other things that get in the way. Car repairs, computer work, motorcycles, overtime work work, the list just goes on and on. This week Brittany is away so I have a bit more time available, but even so, just not enough time in life.

In other news, a turkey dinner is still my first chioce for my last meal. The fact that I have it only once a year, and always with family makes it my number one choice (with lemon meringue pie for desert of course).

Motorcycle

Not a whole lot of activity on this site, but I have started to document a bit of my new motorcycle, a Kawasaki ZR-7S.

I put a few pages of content (you should see them in the menu at the top-right hand corner of the site) on the bike and related accessories. I will also try to keep track of the roads and loops taken during group rides.

Archive for October 2006