Tax Refund?

Motology

This past weekend I had the pleasure of spending two afternoons with the crew from Motology, who graciously put on a free clinic for riders wishing to tune up their skills before the riding season gets seriously underway. Although I was there to offer my own knowledge to those who wanted to learn more about information, there were chances to get the bike on the training course and try and few moves of my own. I consider myself fairly experienced and a decent rider, but know full and well that, even at 60 years of age, there's still a lot to learn and skills can be improved. In my former career as a crane operator, company policy required us to take refresher training and driver improvement courses, to keep up with changes in the industry and combat one of the worst enemies of experienced personnel, complacency.

Complacency creeps in to many facets of a person's life. People take for granted their spouses, their jobs and, in regard to this discussion, their abilities on a motorcycle. The same attitude with a too many motorcyclists is the "I've been riding for years don't need lessons" mentality that can often result in a lackadaisical approach to riding and we know how that can end up.
After rolling my bike around the lot I can certainly say that there's a bit of room for improvement. My thinking is along the lines of  "if better' is possible, is 'good' good enough?" With the poor skills of so many drivers on the roads these days, and a few motorcyclists too, who doesn't want to have every available tool possible to help them have a safe and enjoyable ride? Thank you Motology for giving me, and so many others, the opportunity to brush up on a few things and improve the skill set. And, it was great hanging out and talking about so much stuff, including bikes and rides.

Motology School

l-r, Rebecca, James, Chris and Elle are 4 of the 6 excellent instructors who share their knowledge and skills

Motology runs their courses by the WestJet Building by the airport

Would you expect to not find at least one school bike with a scrape somewhere, or a signal light cracked from a drop! haha

The crew at Motology gave the free 'tune up' rides in trade for a donation to The Magic Of Christmas

Elle shared her skills on the adventure bikes, including some side saddle through the circles.

It was chilly and wet so the heater in the trailer was a nice bit of relief

BlueCircle shared the two days with the great crew at Motology

Rebecca bundled up and threw on the wetskins before her ride

Just add rider!

Baby On Board

Here's a future rider! My 2 month old grandson practicing the necessary arm positioning for throttle and clutch ! With me and his other grandfather having a motorcycle, he might very well develop a love of riding but, of course, we'll need to get him a mini-bike on which to learn?

Vroom Vroom

Some Strangeness Courtesy Of Google Maps

Here's a few images found on Google Maps that should make you laugh, shudder, or both! It's obvious that some people were aware of the Google car recording street views in their area and waited for it to show up, judging by some of the creative poses in some of these shots. And, there are some bizarre and twisted photos when freeze frames are taken from a continuously moving camera, creating some odd looking creatures. Then there's the ordinary day to day stuff that is still just bizarre in it's own right.

Nice crop top...NOT

Real or not?

Perhaps a set up but, who knows for sure?

Just odd

Plausible situation but unusual to say the least.

Did I say bizarre creatures earlier?

As you'll see in other photos, horse heads seem popular

Another 'neigh'bour! haha

H2O and You

here's another water related post, because you are water and water is you.

Our bodies are 60% water.

The average human consumes about 3 litres of water per day.

North America is the largest consumer of water per capita in the world

You can survive approximately 3 to 5 days without water

A dehydrated body has more difficulty absorbing and digesting food than a properly hydrated body.

80% of your brain tissue is water, about the same as a living tree

By the time you feel thirsty you have already lost 1% of your body's water.

Drinking lots of water can prevent heart disease and cancer by helping to flush toxins from your body, and can also help lubricate joints and prevent arthritis.

Good hydration also prevents cavities and tooth decay by helping produce saliva, which keeps your mouth  and teeth clean

The supply of water on earth has not changed since it was formed, meaning you could actually be drinking the same water as dinosaurs once consumed.

Water is known as the universal solvent because it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid

Water Water Everywhere....

...and not a drop to drink!

All my recent posts about 'flooding' and 'water escape', and the subsequent clean up process, got me thinking about other aspects in our lives related to water. Here are some amazing facts about the supply of water in the world!

70% of the world is covered in water but only 2.5% is potable (safe for human consumption).

Can't drink that water

Of that 2.5% supply of potable water, only 1% of it is accessible, with the remaining portion frozen in icefields and glaciers, saturated in the soil, or held in deep aquifers that are difficult to reach.

It would be hard to drink this water 

One in ten people, approximately 663 million, lack access to safe water.

Imagine this is your drinking water

Women and children spend approximately 125 million hours every day, collecting water.

Woman and children do the bulk of water collection

Every 90 seconds a child dies from some form of water related disease.

Guinea Worm is a parasite ingested through contaminated water

Global warming doesn't just create floods and overland water escape but also affects many countries with droughts, with that severe condition affecting parts of Africa, South America, Australasia/Oceania, and North America.

Recorded by satellite over time, this lake in Bolivia is disappearing

 According the World Economic Forum, held in January 2015, the water crises is the number one global risk, based on impact to society.

Water Escape Damage and Mitigation: Second Edition

Everyone uses the word 'flooding' loosely, whether to describe a situation where your bathtub overflows or a pipe bursts in your home, or to describe a river overflowing its banks or a tsunami hitting a coastal town. 

Some of the more recent posts here were discussing the difference between 'flooding' and 'overland water escape' when it came to how the insurance world looks at these things and the idea was to provide a bit of education to my readers.

I am careful with my words when talking about flooding and water escape since my job is in the insurance industry and their terminology is very specific when describing these occurrences.

But, the bottom line is that when water gets wild and goes where it's not supposed to there is typically a big mess, a lot of damage and the potential for more problems to occur after the water recedes or is pumped away.

One of those posts dealt with several ways to be pro-active and prevent water escape from occurring in your home, which is always the best approach, the "ounce of prevention" philosophy so to speak.
However, accidents do happen and water can make such a mess it's scary. It was already discussed how quickly water can spread and infiltrate your home, always finding its way to the lower floors and damaging so much stuff along the way.

So, what to do if you come home to such an occurrence in your home?

What to do now?

Of course, first thing is to kill the water supply, be it in your own home turning off the supply line to the offending appliance or shutting down the house supply at the stop and waste (the valve that is located on the water service line where it enters your home) Look at the photo below to get an idea of what that valve will look like and learn it's location, as well as ensure it is functional.

An example of a main water supply shut off valve, a.k.a. stop and waste valve

If water in the basement means it is not possible to turn of the stop and waste valve, your municipal water services provider can shut off the supply line to the house by turning the curb stop off in the street or boulevard, something which requires a special tool to perform.

Again, look at the photo below to see what the access cover for this type of valve looks like and learn it's location in your yard. Sometimes these valve covers get knocked off or are removed because people don't know what it is and find it a nuisance when cutting the grass, or they get buried during landscaping.

Typical cover for a curb stop valve

Generally, after this is done the first thing most people consider doing is calling their insurance company or broker, which isn't a bad thing because our immediate advice would be to get a restoration company in to your home as soon as possible!

Unfortunately, most often these type of water escape incidents are discovered at the end of a work day and getting a hold of your insurance people may not be possible until the following day, so knowledge about what to do and when is most helpful.

BlueCircle likes to say " knowledge is the best insurance!"

Again, we previously discussed in earlier posts about how time sensitive matters are when it comes to water damage, and the potential for mold growth. Professional services provided in the first 24 hours, by a company such as Puro Clean, means there's a very good chance that you'll be able to get the water extracted and the drying process initiated, which is the key to mold prevention.

This is the kind of gear you need to extract water and start the evaporation and drying process

Does your home insurance cover water damage? It's definitely something to look into. If you have any further questions about water damage, flooding and what's actually covered under your policy, contact a broker today!

Why We Ride!

Saw this on the 'Why We Ride' facebook page and still marvel at just how they do it!

How about this insane looking hill climb

Mountain Men ( and Women!)

It was absolutely beautiful on Sunday past and a perfect day to head out to the Kananaskis area ( we call it K Country), in the Rocky Mountains. Actually, it's the Kananaskis Range, which is part of the Rocky Mountains but no matter, it's beautiful out there and so easily accessed from Calgary. We started at barrier Lake and hiked up to what is called Prairie View, with a view to the south west of Barrier Lake, and one to the east which looks back down the valley and out onto the prairies.
We held off getting there too early and even still, there was still a bit of snow and ice on the trails, as it had been chilly overnight and some precipitation had fallen in the form of snow. Nothing too treacherous of course, as we were packing along a 2 month old baby and had to be careful, not just with him but also his Mama, who's working her way back into shape.Slow and steady wins the race :)
K country is a part of my big backyard and I'm always amazed and humbled whenever visiting the mountains. It puts things into perspective and makes one realise just how small we really are in the big wide world. And, no matter where my global travels take me, just about everyone I meet says the Rocky Mountains are their own dream destination, which makes me appreciate the fact that I can go there any time and enjoy a fantastic outing with my family and friends. Truly amazing!

Barrier Lake, at the trailhead to Prairie View

I love the weathered wood and stone on the shoreline

Uphill for 5 km 

It's a long, steady climb and you get this beautiful view for your efforts.

This is not soother theft, just my son toting my grandson on the hike and making some adjustments! haha

Me with part of my beautiful family that I love so much, enjoying a great day in the Kananaskis Range of the Rockies

Paul, The Psychic!

Hopefully you read and enjoyed my post on April 4th, which was titled 'Led Zeppelin Returns'. It really had nothing to do with the band and was merely tied to the post because of the eponymous first album's cover art, depicting the fiery crash of the Hindenburg. The post was actually discussing the return of the zeppelin and how these airships are going to become part of a more eco-friendly, dependable cargo carrier that can access remote areas on a year round basis.
What does that have to do with me being a psychic you ask? Merely that a week later, Led Zeppelin is in the news, which struck me as a funny after referencing them earlier. Yesterday I was listening to CBC radio while getting ready for work (okay, I was actually lolling about in bed trying to wake up) and was quite interested in the news snippet about a law suit against Led Zeppelin for copyright infringement. Another band, Spirit, wrote a song called 'Taurus' about 3 years prior to 'Stairway To Heaven' and the familiarity is very hard to ignore, hence the accusation of said copyright infringement.
I have to admit that the opening guitar riff of the Zeppelin song does sound a lot like the one in 'Taurus' and considering that Led Zeppelin did tour with and open for Spirit in their early years, it is entirely possible that Jimmy Page may have heard the song and borrowed the descending guitar piece, intentionally or not.
I have seen a lot of great bands play live in my many years but never saw Led Zeppelin, even though I did see Spirit perform in Detroit, circa 1972. The opening act for them at that time, by the way, was none other than recently formed and now extremely well known Z.Z.Top.

My favourite Spirit album "The Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus"

Preventive Measures

When it comes to preventing water escape in your home, there are a few things you can do to help.

-regularly inspect the service lines to your toilet, sink and tub, plus all your appliances, including washing machines, dishwashers, fridges with ice makers, and water softeners.

This toilet tank water service line is pretty easy to check

-it's recommended that washing machine hoses be replaced every 5 years or less. Perhaps doing it every Leap Year is a good way to remember, or write the date for the hose to be changed on a piece of masking tape and stick it on the hose to remind yourself.

Do you this washing machine water service hose is a ticking time bomb?

-if possible,install a shut off valve to the washing machine supply line so that when the machine is not in use, the valve can be closed. It may be an inconvenience but remember that washing machine hoses are the biggest culprit with water escape in the home and that a 5/8' line can spew 48 litres per minute if completely compromised. You can also get an electronic monitor which shuts off the supply line and gives an audible alarm to indicate an issue.

This little gadget detects abnormal water flow and shuts off the service line automatically.

-use braided lines for water service lines, as the braiding does act as a backup to the rubber line inside. This help prevent catastrophic failures from occurring but allows a slow leak which can at least give you advance warning that the line has been compromised.

Braided lines are better than rubber only lines.

-If you plan to be away on holidays, even for a few days, shut off your water service line where it enters the house. Should something happen, the water leak will be limited to just the water remaining in the lines.

Everyone in your home should be familiar with the location and understand the operation of this valve 

Preventive Measures

When it comes to preventing water escape in your home, there are a few things you can do to help.

• Regularly inspect the service lines to your toilet, sink and tub, plus all your appliances, including washing machines, dishwashers, fridges with ice makers, and water softeners.

This toilet tank water service line is pretty easy to check

• It's recommended that washing machine hoses be replaced every 5 years or less. Perhaps doing it every Leap Year is a good way to remember, or write the date for the hose to be changed on a piece of masking tape and stick it on the hose to remind yourself.

Do you this washing machine water service hose is a ticking time bomb?

• If possible, install a shut off valve to the washing machine supply line so that when the machine is not in use, the valve can be closed. It may be an inconvenience but remember that washing machine hoses are the biggest culprit when it comes to water escape in the home, and a 5/8' line can spew 48 litres per minute if completely compromised. You can also get an electronic monitor which shuts off the supply line and gives an audible alarm to indicate an issue.

This little gadget detects abnormal water flow and shuts off the service line automatically.

• Use braided lines for water service lines, as the braiding will act as a backup to the rubber line inside. You may still get a leak and know that something in the water line has been compromised, but at least the braiding will help prevent catastrophic failures from occurring.

Braided lines are better than rubber only lines.

• If you plan to be away on holidays, even for a few days, shut off your water service line where it enters the house. Should something happen, the water leak will be limited to just the water remaining in the lines.

Everyone in your home should be familiar with the location and understand the operation of this valve 

Water Escape Damage And Mitigation

Imagine that you head off to work one day and return 8 hours later to discover that one of your appliances had a service line rupture sometime during the day and water escaped into your home. 

Now, consider that a even the smallest of water lines, like the 1/4" ice maker line on your fridge, can spill over 4 litres of water per minute if completely split open. That means that even if the leak in your home occurred at noon, you could potentially have almost 1000 litres of water spilled in your house when you return.  That's a lot of water and a great way to ruin a relaxing evening, without a doubt.

The most common water service line break in a home is usually associated with the washing machine and, being a 5/8" service line, if that happened right after you left the house, over an 8 hour span you'd have 21,600 litres of water leaked. needless to say. That's enough water to turn your basement into an indoor pool. Yikes!

Small leaks can turn into large ones over time

And, if the water damage alone isn't enough to ruin your day, think about what happens to all that wet stuff, including your carpeting, furniture and walls, once you do get the water shut off. There's the water to be pumped out and all the damage to the carpet or hardwood floors, drywall, and all your possessions of course.

 And we all know that water flows downhill, so it will most certainly find its' way onto any of the floors below the leak, ending up in your basement and affecting your furnace, hot water tank and other appliances.

Water spreads quickly and even if it's not deep, can damage a lot of items, especially flooring and carpets

A broken washing machine service line could leak 64,00 litres of water in a 24 hour span and fill a home that has a 20' x 80' footprint with 16" of water 

Aside from the inconvenience of having no water in your home and a big mess to clean up, there are other issues with which you need to be concerned. 

We all know that anything wet or moist has the potential to feed the growth of mold and that one word alone should be enough to prompt you into action. In the case of mold growth, time is of the utmost importance and the longer you wait, the more serious the problems become, with a window of only 24 - 36 hrs being key.

Some serious action needs to occur within that period and, if mitigation starts immediately, you have a better chance of compounding the problems of water escape.

The stuff you can't see behind walls and ceilings

The mold you can see, in this case on the drywall

These guys have to wear protective suits and masks for a reason

Basically, if you can get the water extracted and drying within 24 hours, you've got a pretty good chance of being able to prevent mold growth from even starting, depending on temperature of course.
For ways to prevent water escape, as well as what to do in case this does happen to you, check out my next post for some helpful tips.