For Winnipeg and the surrounding area!

My sincere condolences to all who've lost someone to these tragic accidents!

Years ago I would have been one of those riding in shorts, muscle shirt and no helmet...... but that was 20 some years ago when I was invincible...... Funny how the years gone by make you more cautious.

...and yet another...oil slick downtown brings down a rider.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/br...headaches-downtown-St-Boniface-161909705.html

The PiffleMaster and I are heading out to Newfoundland on Thursday the 19th...and I am in the north next week until the evening of the 18th, so I can't see myself attending anything local after Sunday the 15th. My PifflePartner may well have other plans afoot as we speak, but that remains to be seen.

As we will pass through both Thunder Bay AND Sault STe. Marie en route, I am guessing we may make a quick stop at the MadHouse to say hello to Feliz, and most certainly we are hoping to camp out at Dan and Gretta's at the end of our 2nd day of riding. The NoFAR Rally is where we met DR Cool, so I know that his passing will certainly be honored as we go through that part of the country.

For myself, I certainly anticipate a reflective ride en route to riding the Cabot Trail on this trip, which will happen sometime during the Cape Breton BikeFest 2012 - Thunder in the Highlands (August 3-6). Whilst on the trail, however, I will most definitely be hypervigilant, I am sure.

There have been far to many incidents of late, and I have to say, although I am not yet fully ATGATT, I am well on my way to full body armour...Piffle has handed down a set of knee pads to , and that will have to suffice for now. All new, and more complete, riding gear will be on the list for next spring's purchases...

I was reading on the Northern thread, in the section devoted to Dr. Cool's passing, that FINNDIAN had a close call with a moose in the last couple of days...He said that while he was bracing for the impact the moose suddenly leapt forward as if it had a boot in the butt -and attributes that to Dr. Cool...Glad to hear that Gord made it through unscathed...

Ten years ago today I lost a nephew in a motorcycle accident. What is it about this time of the year?

If you are coming through when I am home let me know, and we will accomdate you overnight. (EDIT) Piffly has the cell number, and facetime contact.

DRCool has also been on my mind.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
In fact I was going to ride to the funeral (It's on Thursday, 1 PM), but realized this morning that I don't have enough time, as I can't get away until tomorrow.
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Up until the 18th, I'm in for a regional ride and gathering . After that, Lee and I will be thinking of him as we ride the Cabot Trail later this month. We'll also be stopping in to see WaterLilly and Les in Stony Creek on the way out.
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Current concerns have convinced me to take the RT on this ride and do the Trans Lab in the fall with the KLR.<o></o>
Cheers, Brian

AutoPac will try to charge the rider for the accident as he/she failed to ride according to the conditions of the road.

You sure have that right. In the mid nineties a friend went down as he got caught in a situation where a sewer backed up a grate and pushed sewer slime on the road just as he got to it washing his front wheel out from under him. They deemed it his fault even though a off duty police officer provided a witness report that it was not avoidable. He sued the city and autopac. The city paid and autopac still said he was at fault. Dropped the case against autopac due to legal costs. Time to rid this province of the socialist government and end the unfair monopoly.

Well said Jim. I can't understand for the life of me why the top brass at MPI haven't been fired or at the very least tuned up. I'm not saying get rid of MPI, but open it up to the competition. I think I pay more to insure my daughters 50cc scooter than my buddy in Edmonton pays for his 1100cc naked GSX-R streetfighter. There is something so wrong with this... particularly considering life in any major city on the prairies is pretty similar. SGI is government insurance... yet way cheaper than Manitoba - what gives!?

I was talking to Jim at Triumph/Indian Fargo and down there he has several bikes insured for well under a grand. NOT to the same level of coverage that we have, but that is his choice to make.

On a similar note, I'm unclear on the concept of why we still buy 3rd party liability coverage to the tune of millions of dollars when under No Fault autopac has its butchers list of what gets paid out for specific sorts of injury. I hadn't thought about this until the news item came out of the pitiful level of compensation awarded to the estate of the stylist who was killed earlier this year by that rogue Jeep.

I'm probably being ignorant and comparing apples to gudgeon pins here, but I'd like to know who and under what circumstances does someone have access to these millions of dollars worth of coverage that I've been buying since forever.

One that has everyone who moves out of this province writing a letter to their MP, news papers, and city hall, giving the reasons they couldn't afford to stay in this province any more.

In 25 words or less, can somebody explain to me why you 'tobans get such a great deal on your auto insurance, and get SO fucked on your bike insurance?
While you're at it.....who teaches some of the MORONS in Manitoba how to drive cages? Seriously. If a cage has Manitoba plates, I avoid it like the friggen plague! The shit they pull here in Kenora is absolutely criminal! Makes me think you guys should pay more for autos and get a break on bikes?
Red lights? They are just as red in Ontario! But the Manitoba cages never stop if there's nobody in front of them.
There are NO passing lanes in the City of Kenora.....they are LEFT TURN lanes. That's WHY they paint the big fucking white left turn arrows on them.......
Some days I wish I was a LEO. I could nail almost every 'toban cage with something! Fucking BOZOS!!!
End of RANT
Lyle

Lyle, you should not keep your feelings bottled up like that. Tell us how you really feel. After driving through Kenora last week (why did i do that?) I do see what you mean but it is not just the 'tobans. It is a small town with city traffic in the summer.

But yes why good auto rates and krappy bike rates? (although I understand that auto rates are good until you have convictions or accident claims then they go up ....right?)

Anybody feel like a Saturday night steak in Ely MN., sometime in July or Aug? Feeling the need for meat!
Lyle

As a Manitoban driver, I would have to agree with this. It's like a zoo out there which is why I like being on my bike - almost 360 degree view, I can see them comin'.

I would like to join you for the ride out to Ely. Looks like a good place to tour around, plus the steak

I could be talked into it...have you looked into room availability for weekends?
Fortune Bay Casino has an oldies concert on July 28th. Tommy James, Paul Revere and Herman's Hermits. (Geriatric Medical Team will be on standby)
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Agust 11.....

So there may be a shortage of accomodations on those days.

I have most of August off. I think I'd like to check this place out. :dg

Werrl.. I'm looking for a trip to do this summer, so if there is a group going I might well join in. What sort of route is it? Good roads?

We were driving around Kenora today and I can assure you there are just as many moron Ontario driver's as Manitoba.
Manitoba does not have the corner on the market!