And Now For Something Completely Different.....

[H2RICK]

Here's the skinny from the Classic Bike Ride Inaugural Edition of Sept.  12/13/14.
No, it wasn't a Bandit ride but there WAS a Water Buffalo to represent the Big S!!! 
I rode my KZ650C2 and was the sole Kawi rep on the ride. There WERE a bunch of Honda 750 single cammers of various ages and types.
Strangely enough, the only major problem we had was a rotted fuse on one of the Hondas. This was quickly fixed....in the lot of the HD dealer in Kalispell, MT, of all places!!! And they even had the fuse we needed in stock!!!
My 650 ran along like a top without a hiccup and got 60 MPIG while doing so.  What's not to like about that ??!!??
The weather was absolutely spectacular and we could have even camped if we were more adventurous....but you just can't take any chances on the high plains in the fall....right??
We saw a lot of great country and most of the roads were new to me so that was nice. We covered almost 1000 miles in the 3 days of riding so the pace was just about right for the old pounders we were riding. Furthest point reached was Wallace, ID which is an 1880s silver mining town. Quite an interesting place, however the HD poker run that was using the town as a base spoiled it somewhat for me.
A guy has to expect a few wrinkles in any ride, though.....right??
There WERE some guys who didn't have anything classic so they came along on their modern rides....but we classic riders forgave 'em.....kinda.

Enjoy the pics.

http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i234/H2RICK/Classic%20Ride%202008/

[Red01]

 

[Dragbike]

Hey Rick, I like your style of Motorcycles! I loved my H2 in the 70's (got the scars to prove it) and love the pictures you posted. Hey it's all good right? I really like viewing pictures of fun rides from anyone, any bike, having good time. I really liked those 750 Honda's, I think they bilt about a billon of them right?
Thanx for the pictures
Brent
 

[Dragbike]

OH,
Ps,
What is the "The Famous Burmis Tree" all about? this is one I have not heard of.
Thanx
Brent
 

[H2RICK]

Thanks for the comments, guys.
The Burmis Tree is some kind of pine tree, IIRC, that lives to be hundreds of years old. Burmis is the area that the tree is in, IIRC.
There are pines like this in the American southwest where they are native....but how this one got to southern Alberta 300-400 years ago...and how it managed to survive all that time....is totally unknown. There is an interpretive sign by the tree telling the story, or as much as is known, and I'll have to take a pic of the sign the next time I ride into that area. Sorry I haven't got more info than that, Brent.

[pmackie]

Great shots Rick!!

Nice to see all those "old" 70's bikes. Certainly brings back memories of my old Mach III 500, (not that I really want to ride it ). Your KZ650 brings back some memories as well, as both by brothers had one. One red, one blue.

Almost makes me want to rebuild a vintage bike...

[Sven]

The Burmis Tree is some kind of pine tree, IIRC, that lives to be hundreds of years old.

It looks like the Bristlecone Pines in the Rockies and Sierra Nevadas, often cited as being the oldest living things.  However, its story is a little different.  Here's what Wikipedia has on your Burmis tree:

The Burmis Tree is a limber pine located in south western Alberta along the Crowsnest Highway and east of municipality of Crowsnest Pass. The tree died in the late 1970s after losing its needles. Its age was estimated to be between 200 and 300 years old. In 1998, it was toppled by wind, however members of local community refused to leave it lying. Efforts were made to fix the tree back up using rods and brackets. In 2004, vandals cut one of the tree's main branches.

[H2RICK]

Thanks for clearing that up, Sven. I knew it was old and now we all know how old it is/was. What the heck is a "limber pine" ??? I'm sure it has some latin name but I wonder where they are native to ??
Anyway, it's a local landmark and I must have passed by it dozens of times over the years and this is the only time I've stopped there.....
and all due to a balky Honda 750, of all things !!! You should have seen the front of my bike and my riding jacket, both coated with the oil that the Honda was throwing out the cam cover breather hose !!! Can you say "Exxon Valdes" ???