Reflections from European Trip

After leaving Portofino our plan was to meander along the coast and stay at a reasonable place in Monaco or Nice. It was a lovely drive along the Golfo di Genova until we came to the city traffic of Genova (Genoa) and I decided to take the city route through it.

Monaco

This set us back a bit and by the time we made it to Monaco and had a look around, we decided that high living and gambling were not for us. So it was off to Nice maybe 20 km down the scenic road. Half way there the sun was making it's exit and we rounded a corner and saw the hotel/restaurant, Panoramique perched on the side of the mountain overlooking the Ligurian Sea. Well this was fine as we could dine and sleep all in one, not to mention the great views.

The place was run by a one handed (lost his hand in a motorcycle accident) fifty something man and his younger wife. She did the kitchen work while he managed the bookings and the restaurant serving. He was very much a salesman for his place and we struck a deal for dinner and a room as the sun was setting over the water. Our room had a deck overlooking the coast line a thousand feet below and we savored the view with beer and wine until time for bed.

It was the middle of night when I was awoken by Clare screaming "Get out! Get out!"
"It's ok, Honey ... bad dream. Go back to sleep.", I mumbled. "No, there was someone in our room." she insisted. Daniel who was in the twin bed next to us was up like a shot and ran out to the deck. "Hey, what's my shaving kit doing out on the deck?" he yelled. By then I had come to and the lights were blazing. Apparently my better half couldn't sleep well and had a feeling about this place. After piecing together what had happened we guessed that the cat burglar had crept past my sleeping body next to the door, all the way to the opposite wall where the blue light from a device charger had attracted him and snatched the kit. Seeing nothing of value in it he was returning for seconds, when Clare spied him. Of course by the time I was up and about he was long gone into the bushes.
Lucky for us the thief passed over all the real valuables in the dark and nothing was taken.
When we related this to the owner in the morning, all he could say was, "Tu es tres stupide!". We shan't be returning!

I had a good portrait session last week with Sam Sullivan. We exchange our stories on West Coast life. From skiing to D/T Eastside to visions of recent Vancouver!

Children's Hospital Charity Ride ~ June 12, 2012

Finally edited the Charity Ride we went on before my European bike tour. (Click on link for video.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLQNKgqyHIc&list=HL1348014697&feature=mh_lolz

Europe on a Harley FLHX Streetglide

Portofino

Austrian / Czech border

Near Hannover, Germany

Wenceslas Square, Czech.

Tyrol, Austria

German Autobahn

Germany

Overlooking Krimml, Austria

Path up the side of Kitzbuhel, D.Hill

The Scene of Many CDN D.Hill Victory Parties

Hard Working Austrian Frau

                                                                       HOLLAND TO THE ALPS AND BACK ON AN EAGLERIDER HARLEY: ©robertkwong.com,Photojournalist. It was with much anticipated excitement that in the middle of summer 2012 I picked up my bike from the Eaglerider shop in Haaksbergen, Netherlands. Jan and Bram were most helpful in introducing me to the bike I would be using for the trip, a Harley FLHX Streetglide equipped with saddlebags and a luggage rack for extra gear. I regreted not taking the GPS option in hindsight but in my mind I had a romantic notion of just winging it down any road I chose along the way. There are many, many roads! My rough itinerary was: Holland - Germany (Hannover) - Czech Republic (Prague) - Austria (Kitzbuhel) - Switzerland (Basel) - France (Nancy) - Belgium (Brussels) - Holland. As had been said many times before, there is nothing like experiencing new lands and cultures from the saddle of a motorcycle. The subtleties of crossing from one country to another are greatly enhanced when one is breathing, feeling, smelling and seeing (and eating!) one's way across the country side. A cold beer and some local delicacies in out of the way Gasthofs or Pensions while reflecting on the day's riding was the great reward each day. You meet some great people when riding a motorcycle. Yes, a Harley in Europe is a great conversation starter! I retired at night watching the 2012 London Olympic TV highlights, each night in a different language! As I could write a much longer piece (and will) about the trip I will mention just a few points that come to mind. The autobahn / road networks in Europe are great and GPS is recommended. I preferred to go the twisty way most of the time but if you want to get somewhere quickly, a super highway is just a few kilometres away and they are fast AND well maintained. I have an affinity for the mountains so I had to travel to the Alps and experience the bike travel there. The twisting roads there are a joy! Above the village of Krimml, Austria there are scenes of jaw dropping beauty with scenes of rivers dropping hundreds of meters and verdant fields of neatly cultivated farms on steep mountain sides. I talked to a woman tending to her neat traditional Gasthof and as she smiled at me I remarked to her how hard it must be to work the land. "It's what we do!", she replied. I was pleased to see plentiful motorcyclists astride all makes and types of bikes and trikes, one with a Norwegian family of four with a trailer attached! The cobblestones of Prague and other older parts of Europe can be sketchy when wet and not at top of mind. Riding on two wheels in the busy, hectic larger cities such as Rome, Paris and London is also jaw dropping but of another sort, and that's for a later story! Robert Kwong, Photojournalist, North Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Photo Enhancing

Whistler Mountain Super G w/ Daniel K

The first day of a 4 day race series was great weather ... then it started snowing heavily for the next 3. That's Whistler!
(Click the title bar for full on POV video)