Category Archives: motorcycles

It’s good to be home but at the same time I was itching to get the bike on the road. It’s been too long and there’s just something not right about an idle bike. I loaded up for an over-nighter on Thursday and headed to my daughter’s place near Stirling. It was a beautiful day for a drive and I just took my time on back roads until I neared Kingston. A bathroom post I had read in my travels was: Life is too short for heavy traffic. True. It’s also too short for freeways, but they are a necessary evil at times. I popped onto the 401 at Joyceville and off again at Belleville. It was hot with the sun radiating up from the pavement mixed with exhaust from other vehicles. Yuck! But all made worthwhile by a little 3 km. road named River Valley Road, just south of Stirling.

The next morning I took my time loading up and to head back home. I rode all the way out to Hwy. #62 before I said to myself “Self, what are you doing? You aren’t in a hurry – why go back the same way?” And I turned north toward Madoc and home by way of the #7.  I stopped at Kaladar for fuel and took a picture of the old Kaladar Hotel. I remember when it used to be open and it’s sad to see all these old places close down. I stopped at the Junction for lunch and I was due as the sun was getting hot. This is a little place on the #7 at the intersection of Hwy #38 (Sharbot Lake), and what a neat place. It is full of 50′s and 60′s memorabilia, in particular Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. Lots of stuff to look at and good coffee. It was here I decided to head south then east on the Crow Lake Road and through Westport. Crow Lake Road is a nice quiet little twisty road and it felt good to be alone on the bike just leaning into the corners slow and easy, the sun shining in a clear blue sky. Turkey buzzards were soaring around overhead and every once in awhile their dark shadows would glide across the road in front of me. I’ve never cared much for these birds and the fact that they are carrion eaters and always cruising for a road-kill lunch gives me the willies. Once again I had no intention of providing dinner. Intersecting with the Bolinbroke Road I turned south and cruised along to Westport, a great touristy town although I was touristing… it was time to get home and out of the heat.