Rana's Ride: The Spring Tease Continues (more pics!)

It was even warmer today, so snuck out again to give neglected Rana a turn.

Rana is my Ninja 500 which I got on the road (officially) last season. Rana, I was told, means, poetically, "beautiful to behold". I have vulgarized it to "Easy on the Eyes".

Anyway, she was whining that the Virago was getting all the fun these days, so I had to give in to her. A hardship, let me tell you...

Rana is a hoot and a half to ride, but since I don't have as many hours in the saddle and she is more of a thoroughbred than the Virago, she demands more attention while riding. There is a period of adjustment when switching between bikes.

Anyway, we bombed around Hamilton "Mountain", Ancaster and Burlington, Ontario at lunchtime, then out to the countryside, Flamborough this evening.

The weather forecast is calling for ~15 cm (6 in) snow tonight... well at least I got some fun in. I was wondering if I was going to beat the snow home or get caught this evening (I won).

For the map fetishists: Took Queen St south and up the "mountain", followed Scenic Drive (nice twisty road right on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment) west to Mohawk Rd, jump onto Lincoln Alexander Pkwy for 150 metres or so. Onto Rosseau into Ancaster, then right down to Wilson St into Hamilton,ON. Left on Osler Dr into Dundas, ON, right onto King St, left on (Old)York Rd, right on Snake Rd (south) follow down to Plains Rd Burlington. Left on Plains Rd West to Royal Botannical Gardens. Retrace route along Plains Rd West which turns into York Rd and back into the city.

This evg, took Hwy 403 East to Hwy 6 North, exit old York Rd again, east until Snake Rd, left (north) on Snake Rd. Follow up to Main St Waterdown, ON, left on Hwy 5 (Dundas St), right (north) on Hamilton Rd (a.k.a Centre Rd) to Concession 7 (Flamborough, ON), turn right to Milborough Line. Left on Milborough, curves onto Conc 8. Right on Greenspring Rd, follow to Progreston Rd, turn right. Follow Progreston to Carlisle Rd (Conc 9) turn right to Milborough Line. Left on Milborough Line (north) to Campbellville Rd (Conc 13

• for those of you keeping score). Left on Campbellville Rd (west) to Centre Rd, turn left (south). South on Centre Rd, through Carlisle, ON (Conc 9 - a.k.a. Carlisle Rd) to Flamborough Centre, ON (Conc 6). Hint: Cheap gas and nice people at the UPI station there. West on Conc 6 to Hwy 6 (traffic lights
• safer for turning) Left on Hwy 6 south to HWY 403 back to Hamilton. Whew!

And now, the pics!

Where I will be these evening - hitting the ice to play some pick-up hockey. (For those of you "from away", "pick-up hockey" is just a bunch of people playing a friendly recreational game, no refs, no hitting. Everyone chips in some money to pay for the ice time at the rink.) Pick-up hockey starts in the fall around when it's time to put the bikes away, and finishes in the spring, in time for the new riding season. Although some people hit the golf courses. Imagine! Instead of riding! What is the world coming to? (shakles head)

Cheers!