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Hi My name is Michelle (aka: The Grasshopper) Welcome to Grasshopper's Ride, the adventures of a mild mannered, middle-aged bookkeeper on a motorcycle. Highlighting the beautiful Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. ------------------------------------------- Let's start with an Intro! With my bike down for repairs, I have a bit of extra time on my hands. So I have prepared a trailer for my YouTube Channel, Grasshopper's Ride. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWHkOm8ZDUQ8XzdHkbM9ng?view_as=subscriber Have a watch, it's silly, funky and just good fun on two wheels. Have a great week everyone! I'll post other videos here for your viewing pleasure. Unless everyone starts throwing rocks at me, then I'll quietly retreat back into the forest again.....lol

Went for a short ride around on Friday to a few of my favourite scenic spots. The December day was cool but dry and a lovely one for a ride. Off Bagheera and I went, first along a fun side road to Sargeant Bay Provincial Park. The view here is always very nice. I enjoyed the view and Bagheera made a new friend! Then along some coastal highway to Trout Lake, a small & quiet lake, but it is a special spot for me. I made a short video of my ride as well....

It sure was nice to get out for a ride today, had been over a week since I was out last. Unfortunately, it was a working day, so it was only a short ride into town for some required evening beverages! It was sunny, but a bit chilly, just about 5 degrees I believe. There was still snow around from earlier in the week, but the roads were clear. Headed into the big town of Sechelt, or also known as ch'atlich in the local native language. We recently had all our road signs changed to show both languages, kind of cool! The big trucks don't normally turn here, so I was just keeping an eye on the big guy! The ride home was really nice, the roads were empty and the lake was looking marvellous! A short, but a very much needed ride in the sun for the Grasshopper!

A Winter's Chill is in the Air Now that December is here, so is the chill in the air. While I was out and about the other day, I stopped by a local pier to enjoy the view and take in a bit of sun, as it can become rare to see this time of year. The moment I stepped out into the open I felt the crisp coastal air on my face and remembered, it certainly was December now. Along with the cool air there was a coolness to the colours around me. The water seems to take on a deep dark blue when it gets cold, making it look even deeper and colder. The sky matched the water with a certain cool blue you see only when it is cold. Even the old tree that had come ashore after a recent storm looked cool in the blue light. I managed to find some fall flowers that looked like they might be enjoying their last few days of sun. They were not the prettiest of flowers and most likely were looked over for the bigger picture scenery, but I certainly appreciated the small bits of yellow amongst the blue. Later on in the day, the sun drew me to the water again. There is something about how the sun dances across the water that can hold my attention like a cozy camp fire or rolling waves. The sun was low in the sky and warm on my face. A welcome dose of vitamin D for sure. The day was now getting on and I started back home to get warm by the fire. Before leaving I took a minute to sit at this local picnic spot and imagined all the energy that would fill this place on a warm summer day. But today, a cool day in early December, it was just me, a few quiet picnic tables and the sun, all watching the waves roll in.

The mid August day was cooler, as the hot summer days seemed to have passed. A light rain the evening before had made the gravel roads a bit less dusty and the forest brightened up with a fresh green. My Himalayan was running just right, a happy single just thumping away. With all that and some quiet roads through the forest, you have a wonderful August excursion. A short stop at the lake doesn't hurt either, to make the ride there that much sweeter.

I have become lazy of late and have been leaving my DLSR (camera) at home and just taking my iPhone with me on hikes. Then this past year we have had a bunch of owls move into the hood. Great Horned Owls at that. I have tried to get a good shot with my phone, but it just isn't cutting it. The shots are blurry and just not what I was wanting. I needed to get the big camera out!!!!! But I also thought, a new lens has been in order, now might be the best time. So off I went on my Honda to seek out some fine Nikon glass! It was a cloudy day, so a bit cooler and with some lovely clouds over the water. I was in luck, the only local store that sells such things had just what I was looking for. Now to get out there and find my owl. I have become rather good at finding them in the forest, you have to be very quiet and know where to look, they like to sit in the middle branches and watch you walking by. I was very excited when I found one. They are getting comfortable with me so this one sat still nicely for my photo. I got a much better photo with my new lens, making for a very happy Grasshopper. It could be better, but the fun is in working on getting that perfect shot!

Last weekend we decided to take the Himalayans for a ride to a local lake we enjoy. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a nice ride through the forest with a short stop at the lake and then home. That was the plan, Plan A we will call it! The riding was really dusty. After the heat wave we had the back roads were extra dry and loose, a bit tricky to ride on, but still fun. We made it to the lake and it was a splendid day. The bikes were running great. Not too hot yet, still early in the day and no one was around. The lake looked so nice and it was really warm. After a nice break we decided to head home. Got all ready, turned the key, dash lights on.....hit the go button and POOFF!! DEAD, nothing....NO GO So the jackets and helmets came off and we proceeded to try and find the problem. We did all the usual stuff, checked all we could check and still found nothing. Bagheera was dead. The day was getting on and we needed to get home for our dog, so Plan B started. Let's try to tow the bike home. Well that didn't last long, the other Himalayan just didn't have enough power for the loose gravel hills we had to go up. I had never towed a bike with another bike, so it was a good learning experience at least. .....so onto Plan C One person goes home and brings back the 4Runner and we try and stuff Bagheera into the back somehow. Sure, no problem, only 450lbs to lift up and stuff in..... So my partner went home and I waited with Bagheera, removing as many extra parts as I could, to help with the stuffing into the 4Runner. After some time, my knight in a dusty 4Runner appeared to save the day. It was then that I had a feeling that my Gazoo (the 4Runner) would never be the same after that day. But he did look good in rescue mode. Ok, now to make this work. Sure it will fit! We removed the gas from Bagheera and got into a spot where we didn't have to lift too far. We got out our awesome MAXTRAX MKII Recovery Boards, which I have been wanting to use and proceeded to lift and push.... It was hard because we needed the handle bars to lift the bike, but he wouldn't fit in with them on........we also needed to lift him up and over the rear area, how the hell will this work?.......I was getting hot and grumpy by this point. Then the motorcycle spirits came to our aid. After a few people passing, who were nice and all, but would not be useful in these circumstances, we had just the right guy come by. He was an old long hair, with a big old pickup and two dogs. After shaking his head at our idea and smiling to himself, he was happy to help. Eventually the three of us managed to stuff Bagheera into the 4Runner. Damaging who knows what, but at that point I didn't care. Of course we could not close the rear hatch and with the dusty roads, we all looked like we had been caught in a sandstorm when we got home. Everyone was hot, dusty and tired now. The 4Runner was a total mess, layers of dust, dents in things, the rear bumper for one. The floor over the back seats had some holes in them as well. Which is all good, I have been wanting to rip the back seats out for awhile now. Then build in some storage for camping and 4x4 travels. Who needs back seats....lol Bagheera had a few scratches from the drive and his shifter was totally bent in, but I should have replaced it the first time it bent after a fall..... At this time Bagheera's electrical gremlins have yet to be found. I have a few ideas, but nothing conclusive. All part of the adventure with Bagheera, the cursed Himalayan......

Went for a great ride yesterday on Charlotte, my Honda. Took one of my favourite routes around a bunch of lakes with lots of twisty corners. It was on of those days where every corner feels just right and you feel one with the bike. That might be a bit to philosophical for some.....but that's the way I roll..... This trip was for a few reasons, one, to take a nice ride and enjoy a break at the lake in the sun, but also to scope out boat launch sites. There might be a watercraft in my future, besides with all these lakes in my backyard it would be a shame not to enjoy them. Grasshopper's don't swim so well, but they do float.

I had a bunch of things I wanted to test out today. I had repositioned the handle bars on the Honda, along with some new tank grips and a new tank bag to try out. I also set my 360 camera in a new spot and mounted a camera on my partners bike to capture the view from behind. It was raining when we set out, but a warm spring morning with the smell of fresh pollen in the air. Always nicer to pass the logging truck on the highway, compared to the tight forest roads. But they still freak me out..... Went through a little road work. Always a smile for the workers! Then the afternoon was so nice I had to take Bagheera out, to make sure his new battery worked of course. What a day, hey, maybe there is time for another ride.....

Ride Log April 10, 2021 Mount Elphinstone Provincial Park is located on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada. There are a few gravel roads that travel through the park and offer the locals a great place to adventure into the backcountry and play the day away. We ride there a lot during the summer and fall, but thought we would ride up there this Spring and see where the snow line was at. The tires on our bikes are not meant for snow in any way, so we go as far as we can. After some slip sliding around, we decided to turn around at 666 meters (more like our tires said, GO HOME SILLY ?) . We will try again soon, as it is one of our favourite roads! ? Fun ride and great experience, I even managed to keep the rubber side down. A slipping and a sliding.... The forest did look beautiful with the fresh snow. ?

After my excitement in the forest on Saturday, I almost forgot about my Friday. Having the two bikes is like having two different personalities. I'll just add them to my collection....? We went for a nice ride on the Hondas up the coastal highway to a Heritage Centre in Egmont, which is at one end of the coast. The centre was closed, but it was still a great place to stop and enjoy the odd items around the place. ? Like this cool old Studebaker! ? The heavy logging equipment was a nice backdrop for the bikes. There was the local fire truck and of course a native totem, as this is the traditional territory of the shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation. ....and there was even a whale on wheels. It is a local symbol of the natives and most likely used in parades and such. It was a great ride and my fastest overall average speed on this stretch of road. It is all Charlotte's fault! I made up a short ride log video for your viewing enjoyment! ?

On Friday we took the CBs for a longer highway run. They both have over 700km on them now, so we thought it would be a good time. This way on the highway involves a lot of corners as it snakes along the Coast. It was cloudy so the highway was super quiet. We rode for about 45 minutes then stopped at a small park to enjoy the view. We tend to get a little carried away with our signs here. So what can I do???? lol There were some great paths and even a bathroom. There was also a nice little picnic area, but so strange, as someone dumped a big pile of sand in the bay trying to make a beach, very odd. The lake was calm and beautiful. A really nice spot to come as many people never seem to stop here. It was a really nice run on the bikes. Truly what they were made for, smooth and curvy highway riding. I realized I still have a lot to learn about Charlotte, but it was a great ride. ??

Had a great ride on Bagheera today. It was rainy, so the forest was extra fun, but muddy. ? The roads are starting to warm up from the cold so the top layer of dirt is like creamy sludge, very slippery, but fun. Went to Phare Lake to enjoy the quiet and the view, which is so nice on a misty day. There were five swans swimming at the one end. The camera I had didn't pick them up very well, but you can kind of see them. It's the first time I have seen so many together in this area. Really cool. This place also has it's amenities sorted, a nice organized camp site with beer bottles for return all stacked nicely and a toilet with a view all ready to go. Only in Canada I was very happy (from the ride, not the amenities, I squat, like a real woman...lol) and so were the Himalayans, but they were soooo dirty when we got home. All part of the fun! Great ride. ? A short video of the day!

Had a lovely long ride on Charlotte yesterday. I really needed to ride, so I decided to go for a coffee, at the farthest away coffee shop from home. ? Once the coffee was acquired we went on a walk around Gibsons. Had a view of the marina with a rather scary looking cloud overhead. This is where most people dock in the area and you can see in the distance some of the super fancy houses around here. Thought of you @Bruce with all those boats around. Around here if there is something to decorate they do. This retaining wall had some nice local native art to keep things colourful. But this staircase down to the water looked a bit steep for some old folks. After the coffee we headed to the Bay to enjoy the view for a few, but it was way too busy, so off we went. I was sad, we went through a super pretty area in Gibsons but my camera failed. The poor thing has been through hell with me, so no surprise. I did manage to capture a bit of the ride. I am going to put this bit into my new YouTube video introducing Charlotte, but here is a sneak peak! Enjoy and thanks for reading my ride report. ?

The sky was grey and cold but Charlotte needed her first fuel stop so off we went. Where I live all the signs are also in the local native language. Very difficult to pronounce. Here we are at our friendly local gas station. It is so friendly the locals grab a little kiss before fueling up. ? Now my turn, Charlotte is a thirsty girl. Now off to the bike shop for some chain lube. But first I really have to pee, it's the cold I swear. This is my serious I have to pee face, just in case you wanted to know. ? Well the stupid bike shop was closed....man, sometimes this place is so annoying, but hey look at that cool truck. Time to head home, but let's take the long way. ? Well that wasn't the most exciting ride report, but it was a fun ride, just too short and too cold. I recorded a little video, but my CB is so quiet you can hardly hear her. This is a road just near my house, one of my favorites.

As I sip my morning coffee I watch the light misty rain ? fall outside my window. Looks like a rainy ride today, I think to myself. A smile ?comes over my face, as I have realized that I love riding in the rain. Riding through the tall lush evergreens of the Pacific Northwest rainforest of British Columbia, is simply magical in the rain. A light mist forms and floats through the trees, the green seems to wrap around you and the smell is so very fresh. It's all good, until.......DUN DUN DUUUUN!!! The Big Red Gate ??......oh well, need to turn around and do it all over again...?