The Garage Project

Even before we purchased our new house, I've envisioned having a fully insulated and finished garage, if only to make it a little warmer for storing motorcycles. After getting a quote from our builder, it became apparent that I'd have to do it myself as the builder's quote was $6,500.

I started on it early as on the first Saturday after taking possession of the house, with help from my friend Remi, the garage was fully insulated and about 80% drywalled. All of that was done in a matter of about 10 hours and the cost of materials of less than a tenth of the builder's price.

11/30/2010 - Moving day: unfinished garage

Our motorcycles were still spending the winter of 2010/11 in my parents' garage since it might have been difficult to ride them 35 miles in December. That is why I was in no rush to finish the job. In fact, I waited nearly eight months.

3/20/2011 - Fully insulated and mostly drywalled

I finally started on finishing the job after getting back from the Freedom Rally in Sudbury which happens every August long weekend. Over the next 7-8 weeks, with little help from Heather, the garage was completed which included drywalling, mudding, sanding, and painting (two coats of primer and two coats of paint). Although there was a little tedious work, which made the project move at a snail's pace, I very much looked forward to getting it done.

9/23/2011 - Anybody want to guess what is being painted here?

9/24/2011 - Walls and ceiling painted, stairs stained

9/24/2011 - The other half of our double garage

Grand River Raceway

In addition to rides, the Waterloo Wings also organize a variety of off-season functions for members to gather.  One of those was today's trip to Grand River Raceway in Elora.  The night included a buffet plus a full card of horse racing.  I've never been to horse racing so I took every advantage of this opportunity.  Heather and I made small bets on a few early races and even saw some returns.  One of the races was named after our group and some of us got a chance to have a photo taken with the winner.

After eating some of the club members began leaving while the rest of us went to the slots to use up our vouchers.  Trying to be smart, I used my two vouchers to only spin once and left with money in my pocket.  Adding the cost of food and horse racing bets, I managed to break even.  Not a bad night.

St. George Apple Fest

St. George hosts an annual Apple Fest and this year was the first time we were able to attend it.  We wanted to bring some kids along as well but we were only able to get Jolene to join us.  With her in tow we focused mostly on kids activities such as pony rides, Jolene`s favourite, balloons, etc.  Hopefully it`s an experience that she enjoyed and will remember for at least some time.

Time to rest

Driving the fire truck

Pony ride

Boomer and Shannon`s wedding

Our friends Ryan and Shannon, whom we met only a couple of years ago at their home in Swanton, OH, were getting married today.  Well, sort of.  They will be getting married a couple months later in Hawaii but today gave them a chance to have a ceremony accompanied by their family and friends.

We drove the Elantra as we wanted this trip to be as short and quick as possible.  Our plan was to come home the same day but we brought a tent just in case.  The border crossing in Port Huron proved to be more difficult than others as the border guard took a very close interest in our trip to the United States.

The ceremony was held at Shannon`s parents` place just outside of Kalida, OH.  We got there just before 3pm as did many other fellow members of VROC.  The whole evening had a Hawaiian theme with a relaxed dress code.  The ceremony was short but sweet but also interrupted by a quick rainfall.

Site of the ceremony

Flower girl

Flower girl

Heather and I stayed for a couple of hours but once crowds started dispersing, we did too.  After saying goodbye to the newlyweds and other VROCers we were on the road by 6pm and shortly after encountered a vicious rain storm.  It rained for a while and we made it home safely.  But, as some people say, rain on a wedding day can only bring good luck.

Wedding cake

The ceremony

Labour Day Weekend in Wiarton - Departure

It was yet another gloomy morning in Wiarton.  It got somewhat worse even before we left as a slight mis-communication left Heather and I riding alone a few minutes behind the Waterloo Wings.

It didn`t get better as some 30 minutes into the ride it started to rain.  We stopped for a couple of minutes to put our rainsuits on but Heather didn`t feel like doing it since she was already in a sour mood.  The communication between the two of us is definitely something we need to continue working on.

We found the group at Redwood Restaurant just outside of Clifford.  That stop gave us a chance to warm up and get in better spirits before the final stretch to Woodstock.

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WATER TOWERS

Labour Day Weekend in Wiarton - Day 3

Unlike yesterday, today was a wet morning.  It rained throughout most of the night and only started letting up as we were waking up.

Under overcast skies we went on another ride today but without Heather, Sandy and Lynne who chose to stay back at the campground.  Today Al took us to some of the waterfalls that are sprinkled throughout Bruce and Grey counties.  But before we got to the first waterfall we made a quick stop at the Kemble Women`s Institute Overlook.

Kemble Women`s Institute Overlook

After that we stopped at Inglis Falls where the admission fee was $3.  While most of the waterfalls don`t charge admission fees, they are all worth the price.  From Inglis Falls we rode to Kettles Restaurant where we had another excellent lunch.

Inglis Falls

The tour continued with a stop at Walter`s Falls located next to the Falls Inn and Spa which today was hosting a wedding.  It was there that we again saw a few raindrops.

Falls Inn and Spa

Thanks to Lynne we enjoyed a tasty supper of sloppy joes.


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Labour Day Weekend in Wiarton - Day 2

It was a sunny morning in Wiarton.  Heather and I took a stroll through the grounds stopping at the office as well as the statue of Wiarton Willie.  Today`s plan called for a leisurely ride through Bruce Peninsula.

Heather with Wiarton Willie

Following Al, the group rode mostly along the coast with a couple of scenic pit stops including Hope Bay Campground, Little Lake and a marina in Lion`s Head.

At Hope Bay Campground

For lunch we stopped at the Tamarac Island Resort Inn.  As we were eating, it started raining.  We all got into our rainsuits but it stopped raining as we left Tamarac Inn on our way back to the campground.

During lunch at Tamarac Island Resort Inn

The evening plan consisted of a trip to Tobermory where the group has dinner reservations on the Chi-Cheemaun.  Since it`d be a late night we all packed into two cars and left Wiarton around 6:30.

MS Chi-Cheemaun

We boarded the ferry at 8pm with service to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island.  While on the ferry, we enjoyed the dinner with dessert and an amazing heat lightning show.

Dinner time!

It was nearly 1 in the morning by the time we got back to Wiarton.


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Labour Day Weekend in Wiarton - Arrival

Since Cyclefest ceased to exist after the 2010 edition, there was now a void in our schedule that hadn't been there before.  But the Waterloo Wings still wanted to continue the tradition of camping but without all the work of organizing a rally.  Their plan this year was to spend the weekend in Wiarton.

However, it seems that once not in their own backyard, only the hardcore members of the Waterloo Wings made to Wiarton.  Those included Kevin & Maysey, Doug, Todd & Wendy, Peter & Lynne and Heather's parents, Jim & Sandy.  Al & Marion who live just north of Wiarton also took part and even hosted Friday's welcome BBQ.

Heather and I still worked on Friday but only for a portion of the day and we were rolling in the early afternoon.  Taking the back roads, we moved very well and arrived at the campsite around 5pm.  Once checked in and set up we rode for the BBQ to enjoy the company and made our way back to the campground under the cover of darkness.

The crowd at Friday's BBQ

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WATER TOWERS