The Next Big Thing

Or more correctly, the next big trip.  I've been working on the planning for this one for over a year.  We were originally planning to head out on this one this year but Fate, Life and Karma made alterate arrangements for 2009.  Works for me anyway as it gives me more time to plan and research.

A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. - Lao Tzu

Planning a trip seems to fly in the face of these words doesn't it?  But I argue that the whole intention of a roadtrip is proof that it's the journey not the destination and reiterate from an earlier post that I would hate to have been close to something spectacular and miss it because I didn't know it was there.  There's also the little matter of heading down a road, not knowing how far the next amenities are and either ending up stranded or frustrated and exhausted .  So I will happily plan away, plus it helps the time pass and I can roadtrip vicariously through the internet...

Our 2010 State Tour as the route stands now:

It seems to be perpetually under revisement but that's the fun of it!  I'll break down the individual ride days in upcoming posts.

The Consequence of Island Life

I live on an island. I love living on an island. But as most of us learned at a young age, islands are surrounded by water. This means that every great adventure that takes place 'off the rock' starts and ends with a boat ride.

On Vancouver Island we have three main options when it's time for a mainland roadtrip:

Black Ball Ferry

Route: Victoria, BC - Port Angeles, WA

Cost for Motorcycle and Rider: $32CAN

Crossing Time: 90 min

I have yet to experience the Black Ball Ferry but I will soon. A great option if you want to head straight down the Washington coastline and avoid the I5 area. Ferry leaves from downtown Victoria.

BC Ferries

Route: Nanaimo, BC - West Vancouver or Tsawwassen, BC and Victoria, BC - Tsawwassen, BC

Cost for Motorcycle and Rider: $36CAN

Crossing Time: 1hr 40min - 2hr

The most familiar option for regular travellers and BC residents. On-board travel conditions vary depending on the the time of day and which ship you end up sailing on - definately try to aim for one of the large, new ships if you can. Scenery is nice and on occasion dolphins and whales can be spotted on route.

Washington State Ferries

Route: Sidney, BC - Anacortes, WA

Cost for Motorcycle and Rider: $29CAN

Crossing Time: 2-3hr

A token presence of most amenities. Slim food choices and not cooked fresh - but something to take note of: galley has tendency to run out of food before voyage is over. This choice has the longest crossing time but offers up some of the best views as it passes between multiple small islands. Some of the wildlife to be viewed includes deer, eagles and seals. This is also the cheapest fare.

When wine makes you think of riding...

Now this is isn't going to turn into a post on drinking and riding because a) we know it's wrong and b) it's extremely difficult to do while being the prime operator of the motorcycle.  (Who knows what the folks on the backseat are doing...)

On a recent trip into a local beer and wine store, right at the front till was an unique idea that just begs to be packed into a motorcycle saddlebag.  It's a wonderful invention from Hardy's wines that encompasses a single serve bottle of wine and a wine glass in a compact, recycleable package.

...The unique Shuttle breaks new ground in the convenient delivery of beverage packaging. It features a single-serve 250ml acrylic wine bottle securely sealed by its own acrylic wine glass. The bottle is opened by an easy twist-top action, which also releases the glass in which the wine can be poured. The entire package and glass is recyclable. There is no other package like it; it’s the first wine bottle-glass combination to be introduced anywhere in the world!

The Shuttle was initially developed in Australia for Cirque du Soleil's 2006 season, as its design also enables customers to be served more quickly and efficiently. The package was so popular with show attendees that wine sales at those events jumped 160%! Easy to transport and ideal for consumption on the go, Hardys soon expanded Shuttle distribution to sporting events and other venues where glass is not permitted for safety reasons. The convenient and eco-friendly package remained so popular that Hardys decided to launch the revolutionary Shuttle internationally.

Last fall, Canadians in Ontario were issued a very small shipment to test acceptance of the new single-serving bottles. The enthusiasm was great, and now Hardys is proud to launch Shuttle across Canada. The Shuttle packages come in two wines: Hardys Stamp of Australia Chardonnay Semillon 2007 and Hardys Stamp of Australia Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. POSTED: Friday, June 19, 2009   The Cafe Guide ...