McGowan Falls

The last glacial period some 10,000 years ago (I'm guessing) has flattened Southern Ontario and most of the riding you find around here is just that - flat. But, the scenery is still beautiful - rolling farmland, copses of trees in fall color, quaint farm towns, and interesting geological formations are all yours to discover here in Ontario. Even if what's rolling beneath your tires isn't interesting the scenery is pleasant.

Yesterday, I took a ride up north. I've been wanting to do the .Grey County Waterfall Tour since I read about it last year in the paper. The closest waterfall, McGowan - is about three hours away from my house. I haven't managed to get a full day to get up there and do all of the waterfalls. Yesterday, I managed to get to the first one.

The directions are clear and stated this first one was in a Conservation Area. Ontario has some really nice Conservations Areas that are just pockets of nature set aside for low impact use like hiking and birding. When I looked at the map and found this one was located in the heart of Durham, I had my doubts. I found my way to the falls and yes they are pretty - it's just not a conservation area that I'd had imagined. Just ignore the neighborhood across the street and you'll get the idea.

The falls are pretty and nice to photograph. I'll come back this way again when I have more time and try and visit the other waterfalls on the tour.

Many Things

Friends
My riding buddy Trevor has gotten back into motorcycling with a 30-year old Suzuki GS425E that he's done some cafe' racer touches to. It's a nice little bike that keeps up quite well. I'll have to post some pictures soon.

My friend Sharon has reported a mishap on her latest trip to South Carolina in Fredericksburg, Maryland. I don't know all of the details but I wish her the best and the strength she needs to get through this. I'm totally bummed - I was living vicariously through Sharon as she was out on the roads enjoying another motorcycle adventure while I'm stuck at home pounding out code in a brown cube.

Motorcycle Gear

I picked up a really nice paddock stand for the rear of my bike. The Versys has an undermounted exhaust making the traditional motorcycle lifts useless. The only safe way to lift the Versys is through these paddock or wheel stands. My dealer said they had a nice one available for $100 dollars and with the spools the cost was about $134.00. The spools are the knobs that the stand locks into - to lift the bike. I'm very pleased with this stand - it has four large rubber wheels and thick tubes. Lifting the bike is not as daunting as it seems - line up the forks on the stand with the spools. Use your body to lean the bike upright and press in the right side fork. Then use your foot to press down and up she goes. The bike is very stable on the stand and I can actually move the bike around the garage on the stand. Motorcycle Stands - a good investment for maintenance and storage.

The weather is getting cold out - I'm ordering heated gear this year. I enjoy riding as late into the season as I can but I'm not going to freeze this year. I'll post a review when the gear arrives.

Happy Moto-ing.

Guitar Pro 5

I've added a link and banner to Guitar Pro 5 at the bottom of this page. I've used it to practice new songs. Sometimes when I look at a sheet of music - I don't know the feel or how it's supposed to go. Yes, I can find the recording and get the gist of it - but sometimes I still need a little bit of help. Guitar Pro 5 allows you to program in the music and hear it played back. You can add accompaniment - Guitar Pro 5 has quite a few instruments you can choose from. Currently, I'm learning how to play 'When I'm 64' by the Beatles in finger style. This has to be the most difficult song I've learned so far. The triplet-feel eight notes creating a swing affect was hard to master and the complex finger arrangements for the left hand are tough. Using Guitar Pro 5 I've been able to slow the music down so I can play it carefully and extremely slowly to master each pattern and note. I find this a useful tool in learning to play guitar and new songs.

Setup your Guitar

When I bought my Seagull Performer CW Folk and even my Traveller Pro-Series - there is a warning in the owner's manual to not touch the truss rod unless you are professional luthier. Barely knowing what I was doing with the guitar I decided to leave it alone and just play the instruments as they came from the factory. The Traveller has always had a light action with a narrow neck and is easy to play for a beginner. The Seagull on the hand had beautiful tone but was harder to play with the wider neck and the higher action.

My friend Steve in Rochester was having similar problems with tone, sustain and action on his guitar. I forget the brand name but I know it's made in Indonesia. He decided to fix the problem last spring and adjust the guitar on his own. I don't think he adjusted the truss rod but I know he cut the bridge down to bring the action closer to the fretboard. The effect was dramatic and the instrument became much easier to play, had better sustain and feel. Although, I loved the effect I wasn't about to butcher my brand new Seagull to get achieve the same results.

After four months of ownership with the Seagull, I decided to look into adjusting my guitar but I wanted to do something better than just 'guessing' the procedure. I did several Internet searches and several searches on Amazon. I came up with a website form Guild guitars that shows you how to properly adjust your guitar. Some of the other sources I found had esoteric instructions like 'look down the fingerboard and see if it bows in or out...and adjust the truss rod until it looks even'. For me, that doesn't work - I don't know what I'm doing so how am I to know if it 'looks' right. That's almost back to guessing.

The Guild web site describes a method that uses accurate measurements that anyone with basic mechanical skills could follow. The tools are simple; a feeler gauge that you can get from an auto parts store, a fine ruler marked to 1/64 or 1/32 - my feeler gauge had this, an electronic tuner, the truss rod adjusting tool that came with your guitar - both of my guitars came with a truss rod tool, a capo, and either a file or a sanding block.

Follow the instructions at the Guild web site as described. The truss rod tool is either an allen wrench (aka hex key) or a nut driver. If your guitar does not have one - you might be able to search your tool box for a suitable allen wrench or nut driver or as a last resort, your local music store. To adjust the bridge - you may need to lower the bridge and this means removing some material from the bottom of the bridge. I needed to remove 2/32" from my bridge. I first marked one side of the bridge before removing so I know which way it goes back in - this is important. Then I took the bridge out to my garage and used one of those portable workbenches that have a vice in the middle. I put the bridge upside down in the vice loosely and adjusted the part sticking out of the vice to the amount I need to removed. I checked both ends before tightening. Then I used my electric circular sander to remove the 2/32" sticking out of the vice by sanding down to the vice. Hope that makes sense.

I reassembled my guitar - checked the tuning and then measured the nut. The nut didn't need any adjustment. I was solid. I rechecked all measurements to verify that I did everything correctly. Spot On! My guitar now sounds absolutely 100% better and is easier to play. There's not much you can really goof up if you take your time and work with the instructions and your guitar. Don't force anything and if you really feel this is outside of your comfort zone then pay to have this done - it's worth it.

Guild Acoustic Guitar Setup Guide.

Peterborough Versys Ride

I joined a Versys Group ride today in Peterborough. We met up at the Country Style Donut Hut on 115 just outside Newcastle, Ontario at 9:00 am. Everyone was jonesing for a ride and beet the ride organizer to the spot. Jerry aka Mjr.Rage was the leader and organizer - he did a great job of keeping the group together. Even when I somehow got behind and realized everyone was ready to go and I wasn't. How embarassing.

Jerry lead us to Hwy 507 and let it flow. The brave rolled the throttle on hard and lead the group. I've always been a moderate rider - no wheelies, peg scraping or burnouts. But, I felt I was keeping up in the middle of the pack - and I know my speedo was telling me I was running between 120 and 140 kmh. I don't know what the other guys were running at.

Only one corner had me scared. I don't know what happened - I was running hot before I knew it and I know I was leaned over hard but it felt like I was going over edge of the pavement and the rear tire was grabbing for traction but not getting a hold of anything.

Other than that - I had a great time and enjoyed the camraderie of running with a group of professional riders. Everyone had at least a motorcycle jacket, gloves and a full face helmet on at a minimum and many had the pants and decent boots.



The group of bikes were made up of mostly Versys motorcycles but a Concours, a VMax and a B-King also made an appearance. It was good run - I had to split from the group in Haliburton and head back home. This is what motorcycling is for - to clear your head of the troubles that surround us and let us be one with ourselves for a few moments.

Letting Go

We have three dogs. They are spoiled and live an easy life. Sadly, our middle dog - Turbo is not doing so well. His prognosis is not good and is at the vet being checked out with x-rays. I was so sad this morning - I picked him up and carried him to the car. I could tell he didn't want to be moved but he's such a well behaved dog he'll do anything to please you. At the vet - I walked him in and he didn't want to go. This is unlike Turbo - he's usually brave at the vet and knows the check up does him good and he'll return home for a treat and more love.

This time, he didn't want to go. The vet tech was trying to make him walk to the back. Instead, I picked him up and asked if I could put him in his crate. I placed him on the blanket and turned and walked away. I kept telling myself, 'He'll be fine'. The vet will find whatever is bothering him and he'll be home and happy again. Begging for us to play with him - he always likes to play.

I think Turbo knows whatever is wrong with him, it's not good. We've been holding him and stroking his fur. Rubbing his hears is his favorite and he's been getting plenty of that.

My partner wrote this about Turbo on his blog: I Love Turbo

Peace be with you my friend:
Turbo

Lake Erie Circle Tour

For the Labor Day weekend I decided I was going to pull off another motorcycle tour before the season comes to an end. My friend Sharon has done several spectacular Great Lakes Circle Tours and this gave me and idea to do this trip. I live just a few short kilometres from two of the a lakes. The trip was only 634 miles, an easy two day trip. It could be done in one but I'd really be pushing it. Also, I could swing down to Youngstown and meet up with another motorcycle buddy - Dave. We met on the Kawasaki Versys forum.

The weather was the best - about 78F/25C on average. Saturday morning started out cloudy and misty. The kind of magical low lying clouds that tend to part as you go through them. Nothing foggy that blocked my vision but just Misty clouds. These clouds also muffled the sound and it felt like just my bike and I were on the road. I thought it looked like I was going to get wet in a few places but nothing of the sort was to be had the whole weekend. The clouds eventually burned off by noon and I was left with blue skies for the rest of the weekend.

I left my house at 6:20 am. I only took the two side bags and left the top case at home. Being an over night trip I didn't need the whole compliment of bags. The border crossing at 6:30 am went smoothly. I think the border crossing had either a look of 'You lucky bastard' or 'May God have Mercy on Your Soul'. I'm not sure which - I didn't give a crap, just wanted to get out of there without a strip search. A stop for fuel and snacks at the local Sunoco was next and on the road by 7:00.

Lesson learned on the GPS. I've had it for almost 2 years - it's a Garmin 60CSx. I like it - it's not the best for a motorcycle but I've adapted. The problem I encountered is that the route I projected had more than 50 way points. I didn't realize this was a problem until I attempted to navigate the route and got a nasty error that said it could do 'follow road' navigation with more than 50 points. I was at the Sunoco dropping points off the list until I got it down to 50. The first part of the trip was the most important - getting through Buffalo and down to Youngstown was part I need the most, followed by back to the lake and through Cleveland.

My first stop was in Buffalo. I've been wanting to see 32 Wasson avenue. This was the location of the house in the movie Lackawana Blues. I found it easy enough and like most things, there wasn't much left there at all. The house has probably been gone for decades. The only thing left is an old store with the architecture correct for the period and a more modern housing project. Mostly vacant lots. I wasn't expecting much yet it was nice to reflect what once was here - vibrant neighborhoods filled with active people.



After a few pictures I rolled on to Hwy 5 and began my track around the lake. I went passed old industrial sites - some in operation and some abandoned. This area could be beautiful but there is so much abandoned human enterprises left scattered about that it would take a monumental effort to clean it all up. So, it remains to sit and rot. Eventually the industrial sites of Buffalo were left behind and I found myself going past old lake houses and long forgotten businesses. Some with rusty signs that you could hardly make out what went on there. One was for a motel and another was for some one's world famous stakeburger. These places must have been important at one time before the interstates came through.

I made it to Ashtabula by 11. I called Dave and let him know I was on the way and should be at his place by noon. Dave and I yacked about bikes and he showed me his place. An interesting place that he's lived in since he was a kid. He has three distinct and seperate garages. This guys got plenty of toys including a woodshop with lots of nice equipment and tractor (I'm mean tractor not lawn tractor) to boot. We shared a pizza with his wife Jo and son Devon. Our last event was to head over to Shade Tree motorsports. A place Dave likes to go to for the bike parts and the sale staff. It's about an hour away from his house and a very nice ride. Dave and I parted ways at Shadetree and I headed back to the lake. Dave made it home fine by himself. That was nice to spend time with a fellow enthusiast.



Worked my way back to the lake and continued my journey. I arrived in Luna Pier at around 8:00 pm and spent the night at the Motel 8. My dinner was at the local Gander Restaurant. Highly recommended - nice place, good food and kind staff. The Motel 8 was clean and serviceable. The next morning I was back on the road at around 9:00 am. My partner wanted me to visit The Henry Ford Museum to visit the gift shop. The gift shop didn't have what he was looking for and I motored on. I chose the Ambassador bridge to cross and that went smoothly as well. From Windsor I made my way to Hwy 18 and then to 3 and back home, arriving at about 5:30 pm.



The total journey was 1200 kilometers or about 730 miles. I was tired but enthralled with the journey. Now I'm eager to try out some of the other lakes like Sharon has.

Playing with Confidence

I feel my guitar lessons and my guitar playing is coming along. That's the magic of learning to play - you can tell that you are making progress. The process is not instant gratification but has enough pace where you can hear and feel the progress you are making. For example, I wanted to learn to play 'Let It Be' by the Beatles. I found a very good song book that would help me learn to play. It's Hal Leonard Fingerpicking Beatles - Revised and Expanded. The description and reviews on Amazon looked very good. Fingerpicking is the style that I focus on the most. This is getting off my point a bit...my point is that when I first got the book in my hands and looked at the music of 'Let It Be' - I was befuddled on how I was ever going to play that with confidence.

The book sat on my bookshelf for a little bit. Then my instructor, Ross gave me a sheet of music for Wildwood Flower in the fingerpicking style. I learned to play that and that gave me confidence to play fingpicking or fingerstyle guitar. I loved the way that song sounded and I worked at it and worked at it. I took me well over a month to learn to play that song with confidence.

Once I had Wildwood Flower going pretty good - I was feeling confident to try 'Let It Be' again. Playing the song was rough at first but now I had the general idea on how fingerstyle works and some of the tricks to play it. Yes, it's all about technique and efficiencies. And of course, practice, practice, practice. If doing things over and over again isn't your thing - then forget learning to play an instrument. You must have that dogmatic drive to do it over and over again and focus on the rough spots one measure at a time. It sounds arduous but if you love music and love playing then this is only a labor of love. The reward is to play that song fluidly, efficiently and beautifully.

I have 'Let It Be' going pretty good now. Not as well as my instructor can play it but good for an 11-month - 41 y.o. student can do it. This process has taught me many things about playing like when playing fingerstyle hold the chord shape - most of the notes in that measure match or are close to the notes of that chord shape. For example, Wildwood Flower (in the version I have) starts off with the chord shape of C. The first notes are E,F then G (played open) then strum the E (open) and C (first finger - first fret) You can see that E and F and C are the notes you hold in the basic C shape chord. Instead of bouncing your fingers all over the fret board trying to catch those notes - just hold the chord shape. After the C and E strum on the second beat on the second measure there is an A note. That is not part of the C shape chord - how do you get that? Easy, your second finger should be on the E note at second fret - third string and A is one string over on the second fret - just lift your middle finger and grab that A note without moving your other fingers. This is not only efficient but beautiful. Ross has been teaching me to hold my fingers down to let the notes ring for as long as I can until I need a finger for the next note - this is what is called polish.

If you are like me and learning to play - keep at it. Play even when you don't feel like it. Getting bored? Try something new or after a long session of playing scales or studies - breeze off with something fun. This is supposed to be fun - yes, there are times to do that nitty gritty grinding technique learning but then let it go and see how far you have come along and play an old favorite of yours. Incorporate what you learned into your playing.