Canadian Buffoon's Hi Low Vacation - South Central Musings

Yay for Vegas! I love it there! Can't wait to go in five weeks!!! We're staying downtown at Four Queens. Should I try the $20 trick for an upgraded room? If I don't get one will you send me the $20 I lose when they keep it?
That's the Heart Attack Grill DH wants to go to. We won't be eating for free though.
Want to go to the toy store too. We have one like it in Cleveland. There's always something interesting.
Oscar's was on CSI several times as where they would go after work. So I made a reservation there for our anniversary (the ninth on Sept. 20. It's on the second floor and rounded with all windows so gets a good view of Fremont Street. I'm more than likely getting filet mignon, butterflied, I like my food to be cooked.

Are you starting a new TR now for DL?
 
Finally have some time to catch-up, just in time for the Vegas wrap-up.

Well, hi there! Where ya been?

Sounds like you had a nice little getaway together.

::yes::

Fremont street was a one and done visit for me.

I'm really glad we did it...
But I don't feel a need to go back.


Our trips to Vegas have changed over the years. We pretty much stay away from the strip now - unless there is a particular show we want to see.

I like the strip, so much to look at.
But I can see how it's not everyone's
cup of casino chips.


Can't wait to read about anything you care to write about next.

Possibly... in a few hours good enough for ya?
 
Yay for Vegas! I love it there!

:goodvibes

Can't wait to go in five weeks!!!

Won't be long!
Here before you know it!


We're staying downtown at Four Queens. Should I try the $20 trick for an upgraded room? If I don't get one will you send me the $20 I lose when they keep it?

Yes you should try it.
And if it doesn't work....

Send me a bill.
And a SASE.

And $40 for shipping and handling.


That's the Heart Attack Grill DH wants to go to. We won't be eating for free though.

I should think not!! :eek:

Want to go to the toy store too. We have one like it in Cleveland. There's always something interesting.

It was an interesting little store.
I might pop in again.

Kinda regretting not getting.... something.


Oscar's was on CSI several times as where they would go after work. So I made a reservation there for our anniversary (the ninth on Sept. 20. It's on the second floor and rounded with all windows so gets a good view of Fremont Street. I'm more than likely getting filet mignon, butterflied, I like my food to be cooked.

Oh! I totally forgot about that!
Used to watch CSI all the time.

Huh.


Are you starting a new TR now for DL?

Soon!
First going to do an IRL update.
Probably be posted later tonight.
 


Nothing exciting - working way too much.

I hear that!

Actually, I've been working
a lot less overtime.

And it's been nice!


Then again,
I'm working
24 out of the next 32 hours... so...


Sure - take your time. You should be enjoying the non-snowy weather in Canada now. We will be having fun in DL in a bit - I'll look for your update tomorrow. Is that rubbing it in?

Yes it is.

Very much so.


You're going to be in DL tomorrow!!!!

Colour me envious!

Update coming right up.
 
South Central Musings.

As many of you know,
I am hoping to possibly,
maybe, perhaps...
do a long bike trip
(as in motorcycle)
in a year or two.

Step one was... getting a bike.
Except I didn't want a touring bike.
You know...
One suited for long bike trips?

:rolleyes1


The reason being,
while I want to do the trip,
the bulk of my riding is local.

The next step(s)
is to see if it's even feasible,
given the equipment
(and aging body) at hand.

The first thing was to see
how comfortable I was
on the bike for a short
highway jaunt.

A couple of weeks ago,
I hopped on the bike
and rode it to
Steinbach.
About a 45 minute drive, one way.
(southeast of the city on the map, below)

The first thing I found was:

I needed a windshield.


I like my bike without, though.
But... hanging on with a 65mph
wind hitting you gets tiring fairly quickly.
I didn't have a problem with the
trip there and back...
but there's no way I'd try that
for longer distances.

And if I was going to restrict myself
to an hour and a half driving per day...

Well, I wouldn't be getting too far,
now would I?


So I ordered a detachable windscreen.
I can put it on for highway touring
and remove it for city cruising.

Yes!


After a few false starts.
("We have the windshield in stock!"
Yay! <takes it home>...
<phone rings>
"It's the wrong one!")
I got my windshield and installed it.

Time to take it on the road.


But where to?

Thursday the forecast looks good.
Sunny. Warm.

So off I went.


Care to come along
on a quick trip around
South Central Manitoba?


The route I took is plotted
out on the map below.

map_zps5lpfbupd.jpg


Google lists the travel time as just over 3 hours,
but it was closer to 5 hours, with stops.

Now most people who "know" Manitoba
think of it as relatively flat farmland.
And, well...

pano_zpsxiehsnxd.jpg


Yeah. A lot of it is.
But that's just one part of it.

But, unfortunately for you,
that's the part I drove through!


I headed out with high hopes...
and stopped about 20 minutes later.
I was getting an indication that
my left turn signal was burned out.

Better check.

Great. Left rear signal out.
Not a good thing to have
when you're on a bike.

Usually, you want to have a big
sign on you when you're riding a bike.
"LOOK HERE! BIKE! SEE ME???"

Visibility is key to not dying.
And not having a turn signal...
Well...

Not good.

Just have to be extra careful
until I could get a new bulb.


My first (non emergency)
stop was the tiny
(and I mean tiny!)
town of Brunkild.
I like that the sign says
"Still Growing Strong"

To me it sounds like
"Not Quite Dead Yet!"

P1040040_zpskczmdtdi.jpg


I thought about stopping in the town itself,
but I blinked and missed it.

You can see a grain elevator
in the distance in the above photo.
That's about it.

Those elevators dot the prairie.
The come in varying shapes
and degree of modernity.

I pulled over and took this snap
of another elevator
a short while later.

P1040041_zpss9xqylri.jpg


My first real stop, however,
came about an hour later.
In the town of Carman.

P1040046_zps8j0jyhxn.jpg


A cousin of mine had mentioned
that I should stop here:

P1040042_zpsj8vsmfk5.jpg


So I did!
I ordered a burger, rings
and a chocolate shake.

Notice on the above sign
where it says "thick shakes"?

P1040045_zpsksuvspzv.jpg


"Thick" doesn't begin to describe it.
If you've ever had a Frosty
at Wendy's, you'll understand.

They gave me a straw...
but I used it mostly like a spoon.

Yum!

The burger was fine,
and the rings were okay.

I wouldn't drive down here
just to eat there,
but I would stop in again
if I was driving through.


Tummy happy, I continued on
to the southwest-most point
of my route.

P1040048_zpsgebal59a.jpg


Morden. Home of the
Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre.

The statue above, is a replica of "Bruce".
The largest mosasaur on public display in the world.
It was discovered a short (10 minutes) distance away.

Hmmm... maybe I should pay Bruce a visit?
But before I do that,
maybe I'll take a quick look around
and see what the town's like.

P1040050_zpshevl04ef.jpg


P1040051_zpsjlto2r7c.jpg


P1040052_zpspzjoec9k.jpg


Nice little town!
I liked it.

But another reason I liked it is:

P1040053_zpsye3wffcs.jpg


There are only two Harley dealerships
in Manitoba.
One in Winnipeg,
and this one in Morden.

And... even though the population
of Morden is about a tenth that
of Winnipeg,
(8,000 vs 700,000)
It's Harley dealership is much nicer.

P1040054_zps1hig5hlu.jpg


I really liked the décor here quite a bit.
It may be the nicest dealership I've visited.

And I've been to quite a few.


The only problem though...
Is it is less well stocked.


They didn't have the bulb
I needed to replace my burned out one.
But they did have a substitute
that would at least keep me safe
until I could get back home.


After checking out the store,
I zipped over to a nearby McDonalds
for a quick drink.
Then headed up a side street
to the Museum.

No pictures of the exterior...
It's extremely low key.
Actually, the Museum is located
in the basement of the Community Centre.

It's not very big, but I found it fun and interesting.


I took these next few shots
to illustrate something that I find
really interesting.
The prairie where I grew up
and currently live,
was once part of a vast inland sea.
Which can be seen on this overlay
of North America.

P1040055_zpsml3tggrf.jpg


And where now you find bison, rabbits and foxes,
you used to find these:

P1040058_zpsck9co0az.jpg


P1040059_zps485as6dv.jpg


I wandered around, not really focusing
on anything specific,
and made my way to another room
where Bruce and his younger "sister"
Suzy were housed.

This is Bruce.

P1040063_zpsakdsshzj.jpg


I'm gonna go out on a limb
and say he looks a little on the
thin side.
Then again, he is 80 million years old.

Roughly 70 percent of the 43 feet of bones
you see were recovered over two years
just a few miles west of here.

A slightly smaller one (30 feet)
is located right alongside.

P1040064_zpswva5u23p.jpg


There were a few other fossils located in the museum
but these two were the stars.

I'm glad I popped in.


I decided to head back
home via an alternate route.

Variety.
Spice of life people.

And, really.
Who wouldn't want to
stop in a town called:

P1040070_zpstww1dbbq.jpg


No. Not making it up.
The town really is called Plum Coulee.

Don't see too many plums, though...

P1040072_zpskof5uzam.jpg


Plum Coulee
(I just like saying that)
was another
"blink-and-you-miss-it" town.
I didn't stop.

What did stop me
was construction.
I pulled up to a line of vehicles
stopped on the road.

P1040074_zpssmfqjbhq.jpg


A friendly girl holding a stop/slow sign
was walking along, telling everyone
that stopped. "It'll be 5-10 minutes."

P1040073_zpsr0w1m4i0.jpg


I took the opportunity to
get off my bike and stand for a bit.

About, oh....
5-10 minutes later,
the line started to move.

I passed the slow movers
and was soon on my way again.


I passed a windmill farm,
and wanted to take some photos,
but couldn't stop.
Well, I could....
But I didn't feel like
having to re-pass
all the traffic that I'd just
put behind me.

I soon reached highway 75
and turned north,
passing through the town
of Morris.

P1040078_zpsog8kppnu.jpg


As the sign says,
Home of the Manitoba Stampede.

Bull riding, bronc-busting and steer wrestling!

And I've never been.

We keep saying
"This year, we'll go!"

And it never happens.

Maybe next year.

P1040079_zpslwuneivk.jpg


I drove through the town,
and about half an hour later,
I was back in the 'Peg.
A quick zip up and over
to Winnipeg Harley Davidson
where I picked up a bulb and a spare.

Note to self.
On your big trip...

Bring a spare.

And that, folks,
is a quick tour of South Central Manitoba.


pool%20run_zpskywjnzxn.gif




So.... just out of curiosity.
How long did you spend watching that?
 
Last edited:


Nice little jaunt for you. So do you think you'll be able to do a longer trip? Where would you go?

I've seen that video before so not very long this time.
 
Actually, I've been working
a lot less overtime.

And it's been nice!

Glad to hear you are not working as much.

There was a period of time where I was working long days, everyday of the week - longest stretch was 26 days in a row. I finally forced myself to stop as it was not healthy. I was amazed at how much it was impacting my life - as in, I had no life. Now, it is tough when I try and pull 12 days in a row. I don't get paid for OT - so it's just work (I never said I was the sharpest tool in the shed). This upcoming week should be the last week of crazy hours through the end of the year.

Then again,
I'm working
24 out of the next 32 hours... so...

:eek::faint:

You're going to be in DL tomorrow!!!!

Actually, we went for a few hours last night. Had a blast. We got to ride on Big Thunder Mountain during the fireworks - love that.

Except I didn't want a touring bike.
You know...
One suited for long bike trips?

You know what you want and that is fantastic.

I needed a windshield.

I like my bike without, though.

A necessity on a long trip.

I understand why - it is a purdy looking bike without.

And if I was going to restrict myself
to an hour and a half driving per day...

Well, I wouldn't be getting too far,
now would I?

No - but think of all the folks you could meet along the way.

So I ordered a detachable windscreen.
I can put it on for highway touring
and remove it for city cruising.

Look at that - problem solved.

The route I took is plotted
out on the map below.

You live at the Harley Davidson dealership? :rotfl2:

Now most people who "know" Manitoba
think of it as relatively flat farmland.

huh....learn something new everyday.

Usually, you want to have a big
sign on you when you're riding a bike.
"LOOK HERE! BIKE! SEE ME???"

Absolutely. I am still baffled by the guy on a bike who insisted on riding in my blind spot checking out my car.

A cousin of mine had mentioned
that I should stop here:

Are the girls checking out the bike or the motorcycle dude taking a pic of the bike?

A slightly smaller one (30 feet)
is located right alongside.

Those things look scary - another reason to not go in the water. Pools/spas/man-made water parks are the extent of my recreational water activities.
 
I like that the sign says
"Still Growing Strong"

To me it sounds like
"Not Quite Dead Yet!"
They should change their slogan... I like yours better :rotfl:

I thought about stopping in the town itself,
but I blinked and missed it.
We have plenty of those towns down here in upstate New York, too :thumbsup2

Bull riding, bronc-busting and steer wrestling!

And I've never been.
With an enticement like that, what is stopping you?! :confused3

Loved the tour you took us on. :goodvibes Also loved your strategically placed bike in your photos - she's quite the beauty! ::yes::
 
Glad to hear you are not working as much.

Welll.......

Not counting this weekend.


There was a period of time where I was working long days, everyday of the week - longest stretch was 26 days in a row. I finally forced myself to stop as it was not healthy. I was amazed at how much it was impacting my life - as in, I had no life. Now, it is tough when I try and pull 12 days in a row. I don't get paid for OT - so it's just work (I never said I was the sharpest tool in the shed). This upcoming week should be the last week of crazy hours through the end of the year.

I recall that you were working
well.... as insanely as I was.



I never said I was the sharpest tool in the shed.

Actually, we went for a few hours last night. Had a blast. We got to ride on Big Thunder Mountain during the fireworks - love that.

:faint: :worship:

I would love to do that!

Then again...
I would love to ride it at night...
And I do really love just watching
the fireworks from Main St...


You know what you want and that is fantastic.

::yes::

A necessity on a long trip.

Found that out!

I understand why - it is a purdy looking bike without.

Thanks! :)

No - but think of all the folks you could meet along the way.

And they'd all say:
"You only rode for an hour and a half???"


Look at that - problem solved.

::yes::

You live at the Harley Davidson dealership? :rotfl2:

:laughing:
Actually, I first put my home address in.

Whoops! Nope!

And anyways... sometimes it feels that way.


Absolutely. I am still baffled by the guy on a bike who insisted on riding in my blind spot checking out my car.

:sad2:
I'll do anything I can,
include risk a speeding ticket
to stay out of a blind spot.

I'd rather have to pay a fine
than be dead.


Are the girls checking out the bike or the motorcycle dude taking a pic of the bike?

I suspect they were wondering
what I was doing.

I parked right in front of everyone
to get that photo. :rolleyes:


Those things look scary - another reason to not go in the water. Pools/spas/man-made water parks are the extent of my recreational water activities.

Well, you can relax.
They're extinct now.
Nothing to worry about now!


p034f2tg.jpg
 
They should change their slogan... I like yours better :rotfl:

:laughing:

We have plenty of those towns down here in upstate New York, too :thumbsup2

Are you sure? How can you tell???

With an enticement like that, what is stopping you?! :confused3

I. Don't. Know!!!!

It's a case of
"We live here. We can go anytime."

So you never do.


Loved the tour you took us on. :goodvibes

Thanks!

Also loved your strategically placed bike in your photos - she's quite the beauty! ::yes::

Thanks again, Tracy! :)
 
I am hoping to possibly,
maybe, perhaps...
do a long bike trip
(as in motorcycle)
in a year or two.

Step one was... getting a bike.
Except I didn't want a touring bike.
You know...
One suited for long bike trips?
Because why would you want to be comfortable?

The reason being,
while I want to do the trip,
the bulk of my riding is local.
Ok, makes sense.

The next step(s)
is to see if it's even feasible,
given the equipment
(and aging body) at hand.
That's probably not a bad idea.

The first thing I found was:

I needed a windshield.
But I'm sure you ate your daily requirement of protein in the form of bugs.

Usually, you want to have a big
sign on you when you're riding a bike.
"LOOK HERE! BIKE! SEE ME???"

Visibility is key to not dying.
And not having a turn signal...
Well...
And this is my dilemma. I've often thought, you know, it would be nice to have a bike. I could ride it to work on like a gallon of gas a month. It would save money and I could enjoy the ride.

But then I see all the other idiots on the road... yeah, I don't know...

Those elevators dot the prairie.
The come in varying shapes
and degree of modernity.

I pulled over and took this snap
of another elevator
a short while later.

P1040041_zpss9xqylri.jpg
And that's one that is a little bit behind the on the modernity scale. Love seeing those old wood crib houses in the country. Very, very few and far between around here. Most are falling down or have been demolished by now.

And I've been to quite a few.
You don't say!

They didn't have the bulb
I needed to replace my burned out one.
Of course not. I mean why would they stock a part that nobody ever needs, right?

But they did have a substitute
that would at least keep me safe
until I could get back home.
Hmmm... so not the bulb but a substitute? Not OEM? Or a different size that you could just jam in there and get it to light up?

I'm gonna go out on a limb
and say he looks a little on the
thin side.
Then again, he is 80 million years old.
I'll be honest. I'm disappointed. But then again, I don't know much about mosasaurs. My only reference is the one in Jurassic World. Apparently that great white shark they fed to it was really just a gold fish because based on the frame of reference that movie gave it the mosasaur should have been about 200 feet long.

Stupid Hollywood... always lying to us.

latest


Note to self.
On your big trip...

Bring a spare.
Just remember... you're on a bike. You can't pack a spare everything!
 
Don't know Rules of Engagement. I hardly watch TV anymore.

Really?

With much conniving, sniveling,
and down-right brow-beating,
I was able to convince him
to have a little DISmeet.

Nice! DISMeets are fun!

(Burger with chili, shredded lettuce, diced onions,
sliced tomato, yellow mustard, dill-pickle spears
and mayo on a white bun... drool...)

That sounds delicious.... and fattening.

Am I going to be in trouble for
letting stuff happen in Vegas,
but not letting it stay in Vegas?

Depends on what it is!

We then went inside, made our way
past the lobby with its gorgeous
Dale Chihuly ceiling and stopped again
to view the breathtakingly gorgeous
Christmas display that they put on.

How could you NOT?! If you ever get to Seattle, make sure to visit the Chihuly Museum there near the Space Needle.

Eventually, we headed back to the hotel
to freshen up and snag our car.

Did your car freshen up nicely?

If you'd like to get a bird's eye view of the action.
You can take a zip-line down the full length
of the attraction.

I'd imagine that was a spendy ride.


Those don't look like mermaids to me....

She was a good sport.
Just shook her head sadly and said:
"Go ahead. Do what you have to do."

She should have found her own entertainment.

After fulfilling my teen age dream,
I had some business to take care of.

I can imagine you did. :rolleyes:

out of it, until it looked and tasted
like... well..... snot.

... which begs the question...

Just goes to show,
you can't judge a pea by its pod.

But! Can you judge a pod by its pea?

What I do recall is that I won one hand
and "pushed" (That's a tie) on the other.

Sweet! With just one hand,
I'd doubled all my winnings on this trip!

NICE!!

So... lucky at cards, unlucky at love I guess.

I think it might take more than a lap sitting to call it "love". Just a hunch.

It took about 30 minutes to play those hands.
And I didn't lose a single hand.

Not one.


I didn't win them all;
a few I pushed.

But I left the table $100 richer
than when I sat down.

So.... see VV

We hit the buffet one last time
to use up our resort credit.

You basically ate breakfasts for free then.

When we got back home,
I checked the emailed receipt
and sure enough, they hadn't
deducted the buffet from the credit
and had instead charged it to my credit card.

I find this strangely NOT surprising.

Ponzi, thank you for all the work you put into this lovely TR. You put a lot of effort into making it fun for all of us :) Looking forward to your next one!
 
Because why would you want to be comfortable?

You can be cool or you can be comfortable.
I'm mid-life-crisising right now. So it's gotta be cool.


Ok, makes sense.

It does?!?!?!?

That's probably not a bad idea.

I have one every six
or seven years.


But I'm sure you ate your daily requirement of protein in the form of bugs.

Nope!
Full face shield helmet.

I don't need my face scraped off
in the event of a crash.


And this is my dilemma. I've often thought, you know, it would be nice to have a bike. I could ride it to work on like a gallon of gas a month. It would save money and I could enjoy the ride.

But then I see all the other idiots on the road... yeah, I don't know...

Nope.
The thing is... yes, it takes less gas.
But the cost of the bike
combined with the insurance...

You'll almost certainly never
break even.

You get one because you want one.

And as far as the idiots...

Just don't be one.
(Comes with age.)



Oh... unless of course you get
a little scooter.
And then I'm not talking to you. :snooty:


And that's one that is a little bit behind the on the modernity scale. Love seeing those old wood crib houses in the country. Very, very few and far between around here. Most are falling down or have been demolished by now.

Yeah, I like the old ones.
Character.


You don't say!

I don't?
You're right!
I write it!


Of course not. I mean why would they stock a part that nobody ever needs, right?

Well...

Harleys come with yellow plastic covers
for the front turn signals and red
plastic covers for the rears.
The bulbs are yellow or clear.
That's stock.

But I switched out all four for
smoked lenses, requiring yellow
bulbs in front... but red bulbs
in the rear.
And that's the one they didn't have.

I wasn't super surprised they didn't.


I'll be honest. I'm disappointed. But then again, I don't know much about mosasaurs. My only reference is the one in Jurassic World. Apparently that great white shark they fed to it was really just a gold fish because based on the frame of reference that movie gave it the mosasaur should have been about 200 feet long.

Stupid Hollywood... always lying to us.

latest

Remember when the original came out
and the Raptors were way too big?

And then they discovered some
that were about that size?

So.... who knows?


Just remember... you're on a bike. You can't pack a spare everything!

Then what am I going to do with this
spare tire???

Oops! Nevermind.
That's just my gut.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Latest posts

Top