Boxed Lunch

Another sea can based design, this one used for a mobile dining area. Pretty slick, considering you can close it all up for transport, or on-site security reasons, and yet get the full function of a diner or kitchen space when opened. And, with this design, you get options for opening it up completely to add patio space during warm weather, or keeping it compact during the Winter.

The "Lunch Box"

Open sesame

"Summer time, and the livin' is easy"

Not sure how the all glass feature would work in a Calgary -30 deg C Winter day

Sea Can

Check out this cool little 'mobile home', a self contained, movable abode made from an old shipping container. One of many such sea can designs to be featured in my next few posts, with this one being used in Norway.  Designed by 70°N arkitektur and built by Senja Elementer AS,  the 388 square-foot (36 m2) home in Tromsø, Norway is an experimental abode for people on the move.  It has two movable parts and provides the basics, with a living areas a garden terrace, a kitchenette, and a bathroom . And, of course, it's ready to be lifted on to a trailer to be moved to the next destination.

Lakeside

Delivery day

The basics only, with bathroom and bedroom here

The dinette and living room

On site with XBO

Scona

On a recent road trip up north I dropped in to visit the good people at Scona Cycle, got a tour of the shop and had a great chat with Joseph, who looks after sales for the Zacsko family. Not only do they own the business but, like the rest of the staff, the family all ride, some for pleasure, some for competition. Rudi Zacsko Sr. has been in the business for many years and ranks right up there with Alberta's motorcycle community founders such as Walt Healy, Bob Kane, and Glen Turple.

Scona Cycle, has been in existence since 1968, selling Honda bikes and service ever since, and have a dedicated staff that have been with the company for many, many years. A true motorcycling family, which shows the minute you walk in the door. And with all they do in the motorcycle community, you can be sure we'll have many more posts about Scona.

Scona is a Honda dealer but has many old bikes, including this BSA

Mrs. Zacsko, back in the day. Who wouldn't want to marry a lovely lady like this who also rides motorcycles?

Joseph was pleased to give me a tour of the shop, including Rudi's office and all the maps of his extensive motorcycle rides. Joseph is an accomplished rider himself, so watch for more details about him in future posts.

From back in the day...part of Scona's many vintage bikes.

An original, first edition ATV from 1970

Another part of the vintage bike collection, including the mini-bikes 

Scona is also involved in ice racing

We'll be eagerly following Scona riders as they challenge the Baja this Winter

CFB Edmonton

Blue Circle is proudly sponsoring an event being held at CFB Edmonton in August. I was up to the Garrison to discuss some details and present a couple of $100.00 gift certificates to Cpl. Sylvain Legrand, who is organizing the Edmonton portion of the cross-Canada military motorcycle ride. Both Argyll Motorsports and Heritage Harley Davidson will be there as well, with booths set up and bikes for demo rides. Blue Circle also recognizes their involvement by providing the gift certificates which are redeemable in their shops. 

Heading South

I was on the road this past couple of days, exploring the south and south east part of our beautiful province. All of Alberta is sunny and hot right now, but even more so in this part. Other than wearing chaps for bug deflection, it was too hot for a full on leather jacket. I was seriously thinking of picking up some lighter weight, ventilated kevlar gear, that's for sure. Who could complain about the heat though, since we get so much chilly and wet riding here! Still, there's always a bit of an issue as it seems no amount of SPF100 will ever keep my large proboscis from getting sunburned/windburned! haha!
One thing about riding in the prairie part of out province is that there's plenty of flat and straight road, which does allow you a bit of time to look around and focus on your surroundings. With some of these being side roads, it wasn't uncommon to be riding for long stretches without seeing other vehicles, unless they were in a cloud of dust on some gravel road off in the distance.  Of course, you still need to be attentive, and several times I had to avoid water fowl sitting or waddling down the road, including a mother duck and a dozen ducklings who were sunning themselves by a roadside slough. Also, when you see some brown heads with big ears sticking up out of the tops of golden crop growing in the fields, you know the deer have the potential to bound out at any given moment, so best be attentive.
Quick fact: Southern Alberta is the second largest producer of pulse crops in Canada, with peas, beans and corn being the major produce. Check out the 'Bean Capitol' of Bow Island, where we happen to have our Burger Ride Stop at Peter's Restaurant.

Canola everywhere 

Some grain bins to give perspective on the size of these fields

This campground near Mossleigh has 'caboose cabins' for rent

The old family car is now a flower bed

Stopped in to see the Peterson family who run Crowsnest Trail Harley Davidson

More canola...more grain bins

I was on the Red Coat Trail

Prairie riding does have a few twists and hills

Irrigation canals are the key for the farming industry and supplies the water for these huge 'sprinklers'

I saw 5 different types of ducks and 3 other types of water fowl when I stopped at this marsh.

Lucid Kustom

I stopped in to Lucid Kustoms to see what goes on in their shop. I met owner, Kevin, at Two Wheel Sunday and got an appreciation for his sense of motorcycles and the community. One of the things I like about Lucid is that they work on all sorts of bikes and do some pretty cool things with every type. Check out some of the photos on their webpage and Facebook.

Lucid Kustom is a busy little shop, and expanding into another shop area

Paperwork must be done and it's not all about getting to work on a bike

One of Lucid's custom choppers

Currently on the table

Some of the bikes are 'works in progress'

Solifague Design

Mikhail Smolyanov is a Russian born designer who has been dreaming up and 'building' bikes and cars in his Moscow studio for several years now. Yes, concept bikes put together on PhotoShop, but apparently several are commissioned by fabricators for builds, so we'll see how that pans out. Pretty cool looking vehicles none the less. Somewhat like rolling sculptures and it would be interesting to see if they would actually be practical in the riding sense.

Pretty slick looking rig

This rat rod dubbed the 'Hit Rod'

This is actually a trike

Steam Punk style

Old school for sure

Would it be rideable?

Another sleek concept

Water Rescue

I was out on my bike a while back and saw some activity going on atop the foot bridge that crosses the Bow River into Edworthy Park. It looked like some sort of high drama emergency but in reality it was the Calgary Fire Department practicing their water rescue techniques, rappeling off the bridge deck and lowering themselves to the river below. With the number of rafters that come down the Bow each Summer, and the number that manage to get caught up on the bridge abutments, you can see why they need to get this technique down pat. And, if you've ever taken a swim in the Bow, you'll know why they need to wear those dry suits! That's mighty chilly water!

This is where the firefighters gear up

In the water

Swimming for shore

Over the edge

Practice makes perfect

All that gear has to get back on top of the bridge

They toss out a hand line to assist the man in the water

These guys made it to shore