tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19646192437937827682024-03-05T18:13:50.237-04:00The Riverpirate BlogThe life and times of a rum drinking, camera carrying, motorcycle riding, high seas sailing, man of medicine.Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-90135574479365519562016-10-31T12:52:00.000-03:002016-10-31T12:52:22.847-03:00Moving onFor all of you who have followed along, my journeys have been far and wide and unfortunately my blogging has been as well. Last post Dec 2015. WTF?<br />
<br /><br />
My website <a href="http://www.paulharnishphotography.com/">www.paulharnishphotography.com</a> is up and running now, as is my new blog paulharnishphotography.blogspot.com.<br />
<br /><br />
I'll leave this up rather than move everything over, so whoever wants to can look back and see how far things have come since those early days when times were just starting to get better.<br />
<br /><br />
Thank you for all the views.<br />
Be safe, be well, and come on over and check out the new place.<br />
<br /><br />
PaulPaul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-45556711054057763892015-12-01T05:16:00.000-04:002015-12-01T05:16:27.370-04:00December already? WTF?<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">As
November comes close to an end and I look back at the year that has passed, all
I can think is “Holy shit, what a year!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">I started
the work year with my ship docked in Singapore, a beautiful city I hope to
visit again when I have more time and free daylight hours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">From
Singapore we sailed to Mumbai and began a large project off of India. (For
anyone familiar with the blog or the Riverpirate Times Newsletter, it was five
long weeks without internet).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">I spent
fifteen days in May on my Harley, and rode from Halifax to Gatlinburg and back,
via the Nascar All Star Race in Charlotte. I sampled nine flavours of moonshine
at a distillery in G’burg, I rode the Tail of the Dragon and the Devil’s whip,
and I took the Blue Ridge Parkway home. Almost 4000 miles. Knock one more off
my bike it list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">In July I
was transferred to the Western Trident for a job off Newfoundland, and have remained
with the ship, becoming part of the permanent crew. My old vessel has been
temporarily cold stacked due to the downturn of the oil industry and the low
cost per barrel of oil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Since
joining the Trident we have transited from Scotland to Norway and spent six
weeks in the Norwegian Sea, and as I write this we are currently sailing from
Cape Verde off the West coast of Africa to Cape Town. Three days ago we crossed
the equator, another first for me, and another off my bucket list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">From Cape
Town will sail around the Cape of Good Hope to the port of Durban, and then to
Maputo Mozambique where our next job will start in late Dec or early Jan., and
at a glance, that’s been my year. Almost. There was also Arizona.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Arizona,
or more specifically the Arizona EMS Odyssey Conference in Phoenix marked a
turning point for me in my ongoing recovery and management of emergency
services stress related illness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Earlier
this year I was invited to speak at the EMS Odyssey conference about my
experiences with emergency services stress, CIS, and PTSD and spent several
days in 100 + degree Arizona heat in June.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">It was by
far my most shining moment as an educator and public speaker primarily due to
nervousness, and despite multiple “dry runs” and two preparatory presentations
delivered the month previously, the presentation did not have that same
smoothness of transition as was typical in the professional life I had formerly
known, and lacked in the level of quality I had wanted it would have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">That said
it was an amazing experience, one I’ll cherish forever, and with the conclusion
of the presentation I closed that chapter of my life and let my grief over the
loss of my EMS career finally go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Mostly
when I let myself think about all I had done and what I could have done I find
myself still angry, even though it’s been almost eight years, but a little fire
in the belly keeps the spirit alive and if you’re going to have hate inside
you, it might as well be directed at an Insurance giant and their subsidiaries
than at an individual. In my case, I fucking despise Medavie Blue Cross and its
subsidiary Emergency Medical Care Inc. Sadly, the majority of my peers who
previously worked for, and some who currently work for the Evil Empire echo my
sentiments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">All told,
2015 has been a banner year for me, perhaps my most beneficial yet as I stride
forward in good health and away from the traumas and demons that accompany from
my life in EMS. That might sound a little over the top, which has never really been
my style, but the triggers that stimulate recall of events best left
un-remembered remain just below the surface, ready to rear their ugly heads
when memory or conversation stimulates their release. Therein lies the primary
reason I walked away from all things career related in 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">If you’ve
read any of my newsletters or blog entries you are already aware of the
important role photography has played in my return to better health and my
ongoing recovery, and on that note I can very easily tell when my Harley time
and my camera time has been minimal, especially when home and work stress
starts to pile up, manifesting itself as a visceral and almost palpable level
of unsettledness and mild anxiety. A little camera time to take the edge off,
the resolution of the affecting stressors when possible, and the return to my
normal is often accomplished. In times of increased unsettledness my camera is
my go to, especially when Harley time is not an option. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">It didn’t
really hit home how automatic my response to increased stress had become until
the day I was preparing for my first “After the sirens” presentation. I had
gathered my thoughts early in the morning, ran through the list of things I
needed, troubleshot all the foreseeable complications I could, and ran through
the slides on more time. When there was no more prep to do I found myself pacing
from room to room looking for things to occupy my hands and my mind, and as I
did I found my anxiety level rising steadily. Before I even realized what I was
doing my camera was in my hand and I was outside taking some shots of my bike.
Within a few minutes I had calmed perceptibly and it was only shortly after
that the proverbial light bulb of realization came on that grabbing the camera
was an automatic response. With realization comes knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">My goals
for the remainder of the year and for 2016 are to be a better photographer and
spend more time in camera mode, and make the final transition to becoming a
health and safety practitioner whose primary role is injury and incident prevention.
I am one step closer to achieving that goal with the recent completion of my
Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety from UNB.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Next year
I’ll start my OHS Diploma program and I’ll finish it when time and money
permit. The path I’ll take from here to there will be a long one, however I’m
only a young guy yet, as I won’t hit the big Five O until August </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So here I
go, onward and upwards towards even better health and an even greater level of
inner peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">When I get
home in a little less than three weeks it will be Christmas holiday time and I’m
looking forward to spending those five weeks with my family, and getting RB the
beasts and me moved into the farm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">I hope
whoever is reading this is well and in either aware and in touch with their
personal and mental health needs, or actively working towards achieving those
needs; needs which surpass all others by a landslide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Be well
and take care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-81153999304313024112015-10-19T12:21:00.001-03:002015-10-19T12:21:10.086-03:00May trip - Leg three The Tail of the Dragon<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I left
Gatlinburg heading South on 441 and another section of the Foothills Parkway
towards Cherokee NC and within about 5 minutes the sun turned to rain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The
morning was spent in the rain, in the sun, in the rain, in the sun, in the
shade of the Smokey Mountains where the temps were at least 15 degrees cooler
than the open areas, and then back into the sun. And that was just the first
hour or so of the day to Cherokee NC. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">From
Cherokee I rode US 74 to its intersection with Rte 129, then headed North
through Robbinsville and then past the Cheoah Dam, landing at Deal’s Gap just
after noon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Deal’s
Gap Motorcycle resort exists at the southern end of the Tail of the Dragon, an 11
mile section of US 129 filled with 318 curves, and is a starting point or
ending point for all who dare to try to tame “The Dragon”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Complete
with a takeout store, motel rooms, a general store and merchandise mecca filled
with stickers, T shirts, mugs, and an assortment of Dragon paraphernalia, and
the Tree of shame, Deal’s Gap resort is a must before tackling the Dragon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">My
orange T-shirt is definitely High Vis for those rare days I ride without a
jacket and Max’s windshield now sports my Deal’s Gap Dragon with the Canadian
flag just above the headlamp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">You will also find Killboy photographers along the Dragon who capture images of you during your ride that you can download for a reasonable price to commemorate your ride on The Tail of the Dragon.The image below is A Killboy image of me and max.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGZoiO_hnCwcawx00MHtrGLkWwJZVWAibSsCsRauvknDL7XHkDhMm68tcm0G2Q5pGxtjZXhMgCNrode70TVLPORl9r1tq4bnsauQ8jUmDPnL4-7Qfsx6D8xoUEB-p8G8ZI1jgo8bqrys/s1600/925256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGZoiO_hnCwcawx00MHtrGLkWwJZVWAibSsCsRauvknDL7XHkDhMm68tcm0G2Q5pGxtjZXhMgCNrode70TVLPORl9r1tq4bnsauQ8jUmDPnL4-7Qfsx6D8xoUEB-p8G8ZI1jgo8bqrys/s400/925256.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">If
you’ve never ridden the Tail of the Dragon, it’s a ton of fun providing you
don’t overdrive your abilities. Some of the curves are mostly straightforward,
some are at the bottom or top of a rise, and there are more than several
hairpins. What makes the Dragon unique in my experience is the fact there are
no side roads and no driveways, just trees, gravel, pavement, and other riders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The
torque and dynamics of the Sportster made the ride a blast, gearing down for
the corners then coming onto the throttle at the apex of the turn, shifting up
into third and occasionally fourth, only to release the throttle and gear down
for the next turn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">You
spend a lot of time down shifting and braking, leaning and accelerating and I
can see why the guys and gals on crotch rockets enjoy posting their fast trips
on Youtube. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">As a
paramedic I have seen what happens when a biker loses traction, and have
treated road rash more than twice, so while I had a ton of fun taming the
Dragon, I made sure to respect this unfamiliar stretch of blacktop and so that
some of Max didn’t wind up on the Tree of Shame, or worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Chilhowee
to Pigeon Forge<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The
Dragon just kind of ends without fanfare and the curves straighten out as Rte
129 takes you West towards Chilhowee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I left
129 and the Dragon behind and headed North on another section of the Foothills
Parkway through Happy Valley, and while I had no set destination in mind other
than Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge is where I ended up after transiting through
Townsend and Wears Valley.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The Parkway
ride was clear and sunny and the roads wide and winding compared to my 11 miles
on the Dragon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I
stopped at Smokey Mountain Harley Davidson in Pigeon Forge to browse and take a
couple of pictures, and picked up a long sleeved shirt and a couple of poker
chips as I usually do, then headed back to Gatlinburg hungry, thirsty, a little
bit tired and a little bit sad it was over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I
dropped my clothes off at the laundromat, trekked down to Howard’s and had a
drink and ordered supper, headed back to put my clothes in the dryer 45 minutes
later, then went back to Howard’s and ate my ribs. After supper was done I went
and got my laundry then back to the hotel to pack for the start of the ride
home the next day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">When I
got off Max at the hotel that evening Max’s speedometer showed I had travelled
1985 miles since I left home. They were 1985 fantastic miles. Despite the rain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-57525741828943979932015-10-19T09:54:00.000-03:002015-10-20T16:18:48.309-03:00May trip - Leg Two to mile 1985 Charlotte to Gatlinburg<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">After
packing up the bike I headed over to Stewart Haas Racing in Kannapolis, about a
ten minute drive from the hotel. Holy fucking cool.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I’ve
been a Tony Stewart fan since his rookie year in 1999, the same year my driver
at the time Ernie Ervan announced his retirement. Getting to see the shop and
store was very cool to say the least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The ride
from Kannapolis to Maggie Valley NC was mostly uneventful until I made it to
the foothills of the Smokey Mountains. Then the rain started. Again. This time,
with lightening. I had four days of good weather prior so I guess I was due. Back
on with the rain gear and the full face helmet, and off I went to Maggie Valley.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The
Wheels through Time museum was unlike anything I have ever experienced and not
what I expected at all when Mike at Colonial HD gave me the heads up about the
place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">When you
hear the word museum you get an image of polished surfaces, bright lights, and
well, shiny stuff. Not so much in Maggie valley.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">A lot of
what is on display has been donated from people who have found things buried,
covered, and hidden in basements, storage spaces and barns, the latter of which
led to the creation of the TV show “What’s in the barn”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">In spite
the darkness (often a photographer’s foe) the ambiance of the place was
warming, and rust, debris, and seemingly haphazard manner in which stuff was
placed, the museum takes on an aura of its own, almost like a massive sculpture
that is spread over thousands of square feet and two stories. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">A lot of
the images I captured turned out less optimal than I would have preferred due
to lighting, space, object location, and lens options, but after sitting and editing
them I realize they are a true representation of the Wheels through Time
experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">If you’re
planning a trip anywhere remotely close to Maggie Valley, take the time to go
to the Wheels through Time museum. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">After an
hour or so at the museum I fueled up and headed out for the last segment of the
day, through the foothills of the Smokey Mountains to Maryville TN. Five
minutes after heading out the rain and thunder started; this time I was smart
enough to keep the rain gear on. And I mis-navigated once more, ending up in
Wilton Springs, not anywhere I had planned to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The Foothills
Parkway<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">After refueling
and reviewing my location on a wall map at the gas station and having a chat
with an old guy also on a fuel stop (who pointed out I’m not the only person
who ends up here asking for directions because signage is poor) re-planned my
route and headed for Gatlinburg.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The ride
from Wilton Springs to Gatlinburg took me onto one of the finished sections of
the Foothills Parkway, a really scenic drive with a canopy of tree branches
overhead, and smooth twisting blacktop surrounded by forest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Over the
course of next three days I would ride other sections of the Foothills Parkway
and if they ever finish it from one end to the other, it will be another to do
ride for bikers coming to the area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Gatlinburg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rte 321 W
junctions with Rte 441 S at the Eastern boundaries of Gatlinburg and after
riding from one end of town to the other, I stopped at a garage to ask if there
was a Motel 6 or Super 8 nearby. The hillbilly behind the register must have
thought I was speaking in Korean because he just looked at his friend with a
Huh? kind of look, so I repeated my question in a reformatted and much simpler manner
and asked for the nearest cheap motel. Pretty much the same response except
this time with what sounded like “I unt no”, so I thanked them for their kind
hospitality and for being so helpful, turned Max around and drove 100 feet to
the Days Inn and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">checked
in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Days Inn
Gatlinburg isn’t much different than many Days Inns I’ve been in, and it served
its purpose well as a base of operations for the next couple of days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Riding
makes me hungry. And thirsty. Thankfully, Gatlinburg has everything a biker
needs in as many flavours as your little heart desires, so after quenching my
thirst while unloading Max and hanging my gear up to dry I headed on foot to
see what there was to see in Gatlinburg and find myself a decent gluten free
meal. And I found it at Howard’s steakhouse, but only after I stumbled across
Sugarlands Distillery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Sugarlands
Distillery</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">When I
made the plan for the trip I had hoped to find myself at a Moonshine distillery
so I could legally sample some shine. I didn’t however think I would find it on
the main street in the middle of downtown Gatlinburg and across the road from Ripley’s
Believe it or Not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Bordered
on one side by the entrance to Gatlinburg’s most booming industry – paid parking
lots and the Skylift on the other, Sugarlands is a moonshine distillery clothing
and merchandise store in combination with hourly entertainment in the form of an
hourly moonshine tasting event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">So when
the young man standing behind the octagon bar asked who in the crowd wanted to
sample some moonshine I volunteered, and over the next 45 minutes or so, he
proceeded to tell the crowd about each one of the NINE different types of
moonshine Sugarlands had to offer, and proceeded to pour each of us a 1/3 shot
of each that we all tossed back as a group after his story of its medicinal
benefits and uses in recipes from all meals including breakfast pancakes and as
a bacon marinade to an after dessert aperitif. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">It was a
ton of fun and highly entertaining, however it is apparent from the feeling of
my head the next day, Moonshine gives me a headache. One that lasts all damn
day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Howard’s
Steaks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">During
my three nights in Galtlinburg I ate all three suppers at Howard’s Steaks. The
ribs were fantastic, the rum was delicious, and the tales from the staff about
life in Tennessee, the major heroin and meth problems of the region, employees
who just walk out before their shift is over, and others who come back to give
a hand in the aftermath despite having plans made the Howard’s experience worth
repeating. The steaks are great and the ribs are fantastic. The prices were
reasonable unlike some of the other menus I read along the street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I slept
well that night knowing the next day I’d be slaying the Dragon, weather permitting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-72911683309466153962015-10-19T05:08:00.005-03:002015-10-20T16:56:01.476-03:00May trip leg One - Halifax to Charlotte NCIn May this year I did a fifteen day road trip from Halifax NS to Gatlinburg TN and back, over 3950 miles on a Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster. Here is Leg one of the journey.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Yes, a Sportster. Her name is Max.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">She has a detachable windshield and backrest, crash bar with
highway pegs, a set of stacking backrest bags, leather saddlebags, a touring
saddle with a detachable gel cushion, a backpack, and a pillow. </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Once she’s
all loaded Max is a formidable touring partner. She’s a little light for the
highway on windy days, but fun as hell the rest of the time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">As is
typical for all my road trips to the US, the first two days are spent getting
from home through New England, and also as is usual it rained like hell from
Fredericton to Calais which completely threw havoc into my travelling plans as
I had intended to ride another two hours to Bangor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">As everyone knows who has gone on a multi-day adventure on two wheels, not making it to your established destination can have an major effect on your trip and your plans for subsequent days, which in my case it meant not getting to places I had planned to be and getting stuck paying for accommodations you can’t get a refund for. Damn Expedia deals. Instead of plodding on to Bangor in the rain and nearing dusk I checked into the Calais Motor Inn and started my dismantling routine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">My camera
gear is strategically placed in the top section of the stacking bag set which
gives me easy access to it when I stop, and enabling me to take it off first
when I arrive wherever it is I land. The windshield comes off next, followed by
my backpack and pillow, then the bottom part of the stacking section which I
have learned to leave still attached to the backrest and take off as one unit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The
saddle bags mount under the seat, so all it takes is to remove the seat screw and
pull them out. It’s about a 20 minute process depending on the distance from my
room to the bike and the ability to use a luggage mover. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The
Calais Motor Inn is not a bad place and the bar has decent food, especially
their gluten free pizza which was a total surprise and well deserved treat
after riding in shit weather all day. And they have a decent enough dark rum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Day two
was spent in not much better weather, but the scenery was better along the
midcoast of Maine. Along the way I met and old guy in Kittery who proudly told me
of his 90,000 miles on his Goldwing, and how he has since traded it in for
a scooter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I've
said it before and I know I’ll say it again; a Harley will attract virtually
everyone from little kids to old men. And the stories the latter will tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I’m not
a fan of a GPS and consider it just one more distraction to process while
navigating so I go old school and plan ahead. Day three made me reconsider my
opinion temporarily because between construction detours, traffic, and
impending darkness I mis-navigated after a fuel stop and ended up off track,
spending the night in East Milford NJ and double paying for another motel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The
weather cleared overnight and Day 4 took me to Richmond Va., starting on I 95
as far as Wilmington and onto US 301. That route took me across the northern
third of Delaware and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and down the centre of
Maryland. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">US 301 crosses
the Potomoc River via the Harry W Nice Bridge, and the ride continued not to
disappoint, ending just after supper in the Red Roof Inn in Richmond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The redneck in me started to buzz the next morning as I headed out towards Charlotte, knowing that night was the Nascar truck race and All Star Race qualifying. The buzz was short lived and replaced by another when I saw the sign for Colonial Harley Davidson in Prince George, so I took the exit, asked for directions, and landed in the parking lot a little after 1000.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">As soon as I walked in the door I said “Holy Shit”: Colonial HD has by far the most loaded showroom I have ever seen, bar none. Somewhere around fifty bikes all lined up by class, Sportsters, Dynas, Softtails, Baggers, row after row, tire after tire; it was a lot to take in. My heart was going pitterpat in a good way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Colonial
HD is also home to some of the nicest folks I’ve ever met in HD land. I no
sooner had got my breath back when I was met by Mike, who after finding out
where I was from, what I was doing, and where I was heading pointed me in the
direction of the newly arrived limited edition Wounded Warrior T-shirt’s and
helmet stickers to support veterans living with PTSD. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The
t-shirt is by far the most comfortable of all my Harley T-shirts and the
sticker has its pride of place on my helmet <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">He also
told me about the Wheels through Time museum in Maggie Valley NC, told me what
it was about and we agreed, I needed to stop. More to come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">As
always I ask for permission to take a few shots and hand over my business card
and after getting the go ahead took a couple of dozen shots inside and out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">As I was
packing up my gear a guy walks up and introduces himself as Jim. Turns out he’s
the owner, and we start chatting about where I’m from (coincidentally not far
from where his wife grew up) and where I was headed, how long he’s owned the
dealership, and where he has yet to ride in North America. It’s a short list. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">If you
want to be treated like family, stop in at Colonial HD. It was one of the first
(and in my top ten) highlights of a very highlight filled trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The rest
of the day was spent cruising through the Va. Countryside, down Rte 15 to
Danville where I met Michelle on her 76 Electraglide (1200 panhead). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">She was
heading for an antique bike show and shine / swap meet and apparently drinking
beer from a can in a Koozie, which I didn’t realize until she came out of the
store with a box of cans of Busch beer, put them in her cooler box on the back
of the bike, and replaced the one that was in her Koozie with a fresh one,
placed it in her handlebar holder and rode off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The rest
of the trip was uneventful highway driving in mid-nineties heat and I pulled
into the Microtel Inn and Suites in Kannapolis late in the afternoon.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">After I unloaded
the bike I headed over to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Qualifying race
and the Nascar truck race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I spent
the most of the next day just lazing around and went to the All Star Race that
afternoon. </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">If you've ever experienced a Nascar race live, you know it's the experience you go for, not the race.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Little Big Town played a concert in the infield, Kid Rock heard I was in town and came to say Hi, there were rednecks galore, a ton of fun was had, and Denny Hamlin won the race</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Knowing
what I know now I’d have rented a car because I ended up having to sit in
traffic and ride for over an hour in the dark, which I hate doing even when I
know where I’m at.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">When I
finally made it back I ordered a gluten free pizza from Domino’s, which served
as a great late night snack and a decent breakfast as well. After I picked the olives off.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQeBELTFb_wqfPEUTnaEcOFEThIe8JnzYewSNl1KOIDb05IYFEaSxoOzlfBtkbDclCTfAWrMtbuEKjcNKUVLkRZvj5f_93rkgjBAYjNVQJj2tEor9t5E3bYU5MnN2cngbhzxNt7HEuk0/s1600/20150515_232215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQeBELTFb_wqfPEUTnaEcOFEThIe8JnzYewSNl1KOIDb05IYFEaSxoOzlfBtkbDclCTfAWrMtbuEKjcNKUVLkRZvj5f_93rkgjBAYjNVQJj2tEor9t5E3bYU5MnN2cngbhzxNt7HEuk0/s320/20150515_232215.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Sunday
was a rest day and I basically just hung around the hotel chatting with people
who were there for the race, drank some rum, and watched a little TV. Leg two of
my trip would start in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-13878232971677182432015-10-19T04:46:00.000-03:002015-10-19T04:46:57.896-03:00Dirt roads and stinky gear - March 2015<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">OK, I realize it's almost Nov and I'm blogging about what happened in March but some things take time to get it right. And I procrastinate. I will do better this year. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">March
marked a turning point for me when my 17 yr old son played his last minor
hockey game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">There
was fake smoke and a photographer taking pictures as they skated through the
fog. Each player who was playing their final game was presented with a
certificate, and the National anthem played. It was a fitting end to the boys’
journey into young adulthood and to my career as a hockey dad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">At
the conclusion of the game the boys were presented with their medals, their
jerseys were turned in, and the gear was thrown into the back of the truck for
the last time. He and his mother left together and I headed out of the parking
lot in somewhat of my own fog, not wanting to believe it was really over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">On
the ride home I found myself wondering what happened to those two little stinky
boys that rode shotgun with my over endless miles to and from the rink for more
years than I can remember, and like many in my situation, wondering where the hell
the time had gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Since
my sons first strapped blades on their feet fourteen or fifteen years ago, they
were both hooked on the sport. Not fanatics mind you, just two kids who loved
to play hockey. Any time, any place, with or without skates, with a puck a ball
or a wad of rolled up tape, on ice, grass, dirt, concrete, or pavement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">My
hockey dad days were likely not that much different than those of many hockey
dads; early mornings, a travel mug of Tim Horton’s tea, an hour drive to the
rink, laces being tied, and then cheering from the stands and beaming with
pride regardless of the outcome of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Then
came the hour drive back home complete with foul smelling gear and kids in need
of a shower, the miles filled with the endless chatter of them retelling their
version of the events of the game. On Sundays after the game the boys went back
home to their Mom’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">But
from the time I picked them up from school on Friday afternoon until they went
home we were three Kings, free to do whatever we wanted within reason, and we
did it in fine form.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Most
Fridays we’d cut off the highway and stop at Nannie and Grampie’s house for a
visit, after which we’d head for one of the two old dirt roads that run cross
country and led to that little piece of heaven that was our home for seven
wonderful years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The
boys both knew once we hit the gravel it would be their turn to drive, and each
waited somewhat patiently for his turn to be the wheelman. In good weather and
bad, they each drove us from pavement end to pavement start and as the distance
between legs and pedals shortened, they eventually took control of more than just
the wheel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">In
the years since they started playing hockey the boys graduated from Timbits to
Atom, then to Peewee and Bantam, and it was then that my oldest son took to the
water while the other continued on ice. In the process they’ve made it through
Elementary school and Jr. High and they are both now in their last years of
High School. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">As
for me, this next birthday will be the last of the ones that start with a four
and the dirt road of life continues on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Their
mother and I split up when they were too young to remember us being together,
and for a long while when she and I worked completely on opposite rotations she
would have them on her days off and I would have them on mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">As
our work schedules changed so did our sharing of the boys, and I made the
transition to from almost half time dad to weekend dad, then later to being an
every other weekend dad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Until
I started working offshore in 2009 I could count on one hand the number of the
boy’s games I had missed, even when they played in different divisions, which
happened every other year and was an absolute pain in the ass; a pain I
wouldn’t trade for anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">In
the years since being seduced into the offshore world I have been physically
away for over half of almost every year since, and as my sons continue to become
more and more independent young men, our time together becomes less and less frequent.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">This
past year or so was the toughest for me in a long while, with an offshore
travel schedule even more unforgiving than usual, but what was toughest for me
was that I missed the vast majority of my son’s hockey games this season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">So
here I sit off of Mumbai India, half a world away from everything important to
me and wondering how I will make the next transition I can’t help but look back
at it all and smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Our
times together covered thousands of miles of blacktop on four wheels and on two
with them on the back of my bike, and hundreds of miles of dirt roads and
potholes that were often dusty and muddy, and sometimes snow covered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Through
them all we only had two mishaps; once when Grampie had to come rescue us from
the alders (my fault not theirs) and once that involved a partridge that made
the ultimate error in judgment by choosing to stay put and expecting us to
yield the right of way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Fact:
The rules of the road for partridges are not the same as for pedestrians.
Feathers flew; the partridge did not. Well, not of his own accord. The three of
us still laugh like hell when we think of that day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">It’s
true you can’t turn back the hands of time, but even if I could I doubt I
would, for fear of things not ending up exactly as they are today, especially if
it might mean potentially missing even one of the memories I have from my
career as a hockey dad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">But
I’d give anything do it all over again exactly the same way we did it then,
making dust and memories down the dirt roads of the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-44779086723754034102015-10-08T10:44:00.001-03:002015-10-08T10:44:05.395-03:00Change is goodFor anyone returning to the site, you'll notice the absence of photography pages.<br />
I've decided to make a few changes, one of them being the separation of blog and photographs, the latter of which can be seen on www.paulharnishphotography.com.<br />
<br />
I'll also be changing the way I blog as well, so instead of the old Riverpirate Times newsletters saved in PDF format and posted on Scribd, I'll be putting my adventures up here as I go.<br />
<br />
Hope you like the changes.<br />
<br />
Ride safe, ride lots, and take tons of nice pictures.<br />
<br />
PaulPaul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-2763759435273597192015-06-21T21:02:00.000-03:002015-06-21T21:02:05.419-03:00Home from ArizonaLife has finally caught up with me again.<br />
I am home from Arizona and the AEMS Odyssey conference and am humbled and privileged to have had the opportunity to speak to such a wonderful group of uniformed responders and health care practitioners. For more information go to <a href="http://www.responderstress.blogspot.com/">www.responderstress.blogspot.com</a>.<br />
<br />
During my Arizona odyssey I got to experience the valley of the sun and all of it's glorious 111 degree F (43 C) heat. Dry heat my ass. <br />
I met some nice folks in Arizona, some bikers, some who wish they were bikers, some reformed criminals, some photography buffs, some aspiring photography buffs, and some people who reinforced that there is still good in the world.<br />
I also got to go to two Harley dealerships, Chester's in Mesa and Superstition HD in Apache Junction. If you get to the Phoenix area take the trip out to Apache Junction and check out Superstition HD. The owners of Mother Road Harley Davidson in Kingman Az recently bought Superstition when the previous owners retired, and while I don't know what the place was like before, it's absolutely fantastic now. The folks are super nice, the place is immaculate and well laid out, and the selection is second to none. I've been in HD dealerships around the world, and Superstition definitely is in the top three. <br />
Once I'm back on the ship and have time to go through my images I'll put some shots up from the Arizona trip and from the trip to Tn. Till then, I have a son who's graduating, a baby Blue Great Dane to chase after, my youngest son has recently moved in with us while I'm home from the ship, a Sporty to ride, renovations to do, and then I have to get back into the mindset of leaving home for work after a luxurious eight weeks off.<br />
To my Dad and all of you Dad's out there, Happy Father's Day. Be safe, ride hard and often, and take care of those you love.<br />
Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-63229175973643348372015-06-08T23:00:00.000-03:002015-06-08T23:19:01.704-03:00June 8 2015<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">At the risk of
being inappropriate, holy fuck what a great trip! That said, it's my blog, no
one is paying or sponsoring me, I don't have to worry about going to the
principal's office for bad behaviour, so fuck it. I HAD A GREAT TIME!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">According to my
odometer, Max and I rode 3762.5 miles (6055 kilometers) in fifteen days. We started in Cole Harbour, made it as far South as North Carolina and Tennessee, survived Memorial Day weekend traffic hell and made it home safely.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">My
first (and only) official stop was in Fredericton for the "After the
sirens" presentation. For those who are new to the Riverpirate Photography
blog site, I have been a paramedic for over 26 years, nineteen of which were
spent in EMS. </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">"After the sirens" is the story of my rise and fall in
EMS, the effect stress had on my health and my unplanned departure, and my
eventual and ongoing recovery from an illness that almost cost me my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Unfortunately,
interest in the presentation ground to an abrupt halt at the Twitter / email level, and after
the dismal attendance in Cole Harbour and Fredericton I said "Fuck it" and
cancelled the remaining presentations I had tentatively scheduled throughout New Englandand the Southeast US. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I did not however cancel my trip since riding and photography are my two main forms of stress relief and I already had paid for accommodations and race tickets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">On Wed the 10th I'm heading for Phoenix, and because time is short I don't have much time to write.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">What I
can say is this;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I
met and talked with dozens of bikers and took hundreds of bike
shots</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I experienced
the Nascar All Star race weekend festivities at Charlotte Motor Speedway</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I drank
rum in six states</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I tried
nine different types of moonshine in a distillery in Gatlinburg Tennessee</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Moonshine
gives me a headache</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I rode
the foothills of the Smokey Mountains</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I tamed
the Dragon (US 129 Tail of the Dragon - 318 curves in 11 miles)</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I got a
Tail of the Dragon shirt and a Dragon decal with a Cdn flag</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I rode
the Blue Ridge Parkway from TN to Va</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I got
three new Harley T shirts (and poker chips) </span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I had a
great trip</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Since my return
home the weather hasn't been all that great for riding, which is not all that
big a deal for a change because I'm just now getting feeling back in my ass. For those who
don't know, Max is a 2005 1200 Sportster Custom. Not most people's first choice
for a touring bike, and on more than one occasion I've heard the now nearly famous words "You drove from NS to here on a Sportster!?". Yep, I certainly did. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Yesterday RB,
Margaret (our Great Dane) and I went downtown to the show and shine put on in
part by the Darksiders, one of our local MC's. A lot of nice rides, two and
four wheeled, and a bunch of nice folks. And in response to the comment I heard
muttered behind my back more than once yesterday, "No, I'm not a fucking cop".<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Once I
get back from Arizona next week after delivering the "After
the sirens" presentation at the Arizona EMS Odyssey conference I'll put
some of the best shots of my trip, and the show and shine up here on my blog, and
I will put together the Spring 2015 edition of the Riverpirate Times.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Till then.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bYq5WceKIKbmERjdJE3LiMtlZb5xSZ1cL2KFYFsrXmCvzHo29Oy3ZFXts9PXbZhpsyQChZFm7GjPnjHauUQO1MN_AzHaSGjrKef0DTNSLbecZTedVdubAWtrpoXJkJ4RC7E35erxBPs/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bYq5WceKIKbmERjdJE3LiMtlZb5xSZ1cL2KFYFsrXmCvzHo29Oy3ZFXts9PXbZhpsyQChZFm7GjPnjHauUQO1MN_AzHaSGjrKef0DTNSLbecZTedVdubAWtrpoXJkJ4RC7E35erxBPs/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-62080583070827856582015-04-08T22:37:00.000-03:002015-10-19T05:12:19.128-03:00April / May 2015The last few weeks have been hectic to say the least.<br />
<br />
Interest in the "After the sirens" presentation on emergency services and uniformed responder stress continues to grow, and several dates have been confirmed from Cole Harbour to Knoxville Tn.<br />
In response to constructive comments I have created a site dedicated solely to the "After the sirens" presentation, at <a href="http://www.responderstress.blogspot.com/">www.responderstress.blogspot.com</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I left Cole Hbr NS on May 11<sup>th</sup> for Fredericton, NB to deliver a presentation on my experienced with Emergency Services Stress.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">It was after the Fredericton presentation that
I realized the “After the sirens” presentation was not going to have the impact
I had hoped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">My goal
was to increase awareness and knowledge regarding stress related illness and
give hope and insight to other responders who might someday find themselves in
circumstances similar to mine a few years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">In attendance a</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">t the Hfx presentation the day before </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">were; my girlfriend, my mother, two of my aunts,
and one EMS colleague. So the score is Family 4, Responders 1. The Fredericton tally
was 2 paramedics and 1 no show.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Until
then I had been cautiously optimistic that while very few email confirmations
occurred there would be several more who would just show up for the
presentation. Not so much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">With
costs mounting and interest seemingly nonexistent I decided to cancel the
remaining presentations that had been tentatively scheduled for the month of
May down the US Eastern Seaboard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Arizona
in June however is still a go. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">So was the motorcycle component of the trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">More to come on that.</span></div>
Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-80040275345185302352015-01-27T08:29:00.003-04:002015-01-27T08:35:31.117-04:00Happy New Year! It’s road trip planning time<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
did three bad things this past year; I worked way too much, and I rode way too
little, and I spent way too little time behind the lens. That said, I did do a
few things well; I made great progress on my house renovation, I picked up some
new camera gear, and I spent some quality time with my family.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now
that my Sporty is in the basement (2005 1200 Custom) I am suffering from the “I
miss riding my Harley blues”. On the bright side it’s the end of January there
are only two more months to go before it’s reasonably decent weather for riding
back home. Anything above 10 degrees and dry = good riding weather to me.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, mostly because I have no bad habits
(that I want to change) and I’m not a big fan of bucket lists because most of
what is in the bucket stays in the bucket, unless of course you’re a person of means,
which I’m not. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
do however believe in what I like to call setting “next up” goals. Every year I
look at my work calendar and I make a plan for a road trip. Since I work away
five weeks at a time I have six decent breaks every year there is ample time
for me to get away at least once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This
year I’m setting several major goals. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Deliver a series of presentations on emergency services stress to groups of uniformed responders.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Find the right model, the right bike, and the right location for a commercial photography shoot.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Make a road trip to at least one major motorcycle event.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Make it to another Nascar race.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Raise money for charity.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My
other goals are much less lofty and include;</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tweet more</span></li>
<li><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Blog more</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ride more</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Shoot more</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Relax more</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If
everything goes as planned I will achieve most of my goals by the time my
birthday comes around in August. After that I’ll have to work on another set of
“next” goals.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-64494181917922383182014-12-13T03:57:00.001-04:002014-12-13T21:43:51.889-04:00Riverpirate Times Vol. 5, Winter 2014So now I'm an overachiever, publishing two posts in one day.<br />
I've update the events list for 2015.<br />
When I get back to land and after Christmas I'll upload some more shots.<br />
Until then here is the 2014 winter edition.<br />
Hope you enjoy<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/250018883/Riverpirate-Times-Vol-5-Winter2014">https://www.scribd.com/doc/250018883/Riverpirate-Times-Vol-5-Winter2014</a>Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-67960851413177202612014-12-13T02:09:00.001-04:002014-12-13T02:09:15.228-04:00Riverpirate Times Fall 2014Where does time go?<br />
I'll tell you where. Down too many roads in a car and a bus, through too many airport terminals to count, across time zones aplenty, and to continents far and wide.<br />
It also passes through untold nails through an airgun, hundreds of steps up ladders and scaffolding, a thousand meals, hundreds of sleeps, and one kiss at a time.<br />
Like most of you, my year flew past. My work on the ship took me far and near, our renovation project used most of my free days, and the remainder of the rest were spent in transit from home to farm, and from home to boat and back.<br />
I'm another year older and hopefully wiser. At the rate I'm going I'll be right smrt before you know it.<br />
I joined Pinterest this year, a milestone truth be told, however, I remain an elusive foe of Fakebook. As for LinkedIn, I continue to get endorsements from people I've never laid eyes on, never worked with, and who couldn't pick me out of a police lineup. Not that I've been IN a police lineup, but you get my drift.<br />
This fall I found a break in the action and started the Riverpirate Times Fall edition. Life and the wind-up satellite internet on board caused me to put it on hold again. <br />
At long last, here is; <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/250014470/Riverpirate-Times-Vol-4-Fall-2014">https://www.scribd.com/doc/250014470/Riverpirate-Times-Vol-4-Fall-2014</a><br />
<br />
Hope you enjoy<br />
<br />Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-39469718238838636822014-01-15T03:19:00.000-04:002014-01-15T07:29:01.789-04:00Pocono Nascar Newletter FINALLYIn the months since my trip last August I've been working off of Newfoundland, Scotland, and Norway.<br />
I’ve crossed the Atlantic twice, sailed from Norway to Gibraltar, and I am currently working half way around the world off the west coast of Australia. <br />
Since beginning this newsletter of sorts, RB and I bought a farm about 45 minutes North of Halifax, and we added another slobbery beast to our family, a female Dane pup named Maggie. Three Great Danes. WTH are we thinking?<br />
Anyway I’ve been in reno hell ever since Sept., trying to get the house touchups finished so we can get it listed, and trying to get the farm ready to move into.<br />
Added together, these are the reasons my spare time is limited and why it has taken almost five months to document my trip and say thank you.<br />
The links below contain the three newsletters that make up Vol 1, Jan 2013 Newsletter. I hope to do more and do it better in 2014.<br />
<br />
<u><span style="color: #0066cc;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/199804672/Riverpirate-Times-Vol-1-Jan-2014-pdf">http://www.scribd.com/doc/199804672/Riverpirate-Times-Vol-1-Jan-2014-pdf</a></span></u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/199804784/Riverpirate-Times-Vol-2-Jan-2014-pdf">http://www.scribd.com/doc/199804784/Riverpirate-Times-Vol-2-Jan-2014-pdf</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/199804868/Riverpirate-Times-Vol-3-Jan-2014-pdf">http://www.scribd.com/doc/199804868/Riverpirate-Times-Vol-3-Jan-2014-pdf</a><br />
<br />
I will however add to the Pocono portfolio page in the fullness of time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">"When life throws you a curve, lean into it."</span></em></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-40215890957918228012013-08-07T14:36:00.003-03:002013-08-07T14:51:50.770-03:00Pocono Nascar 2013Hello all<br />
<br />
I am back from my adventure to Pocono International Raceway. My liver hurts.<br />
The ride back was even better than the ride down, and 100% dryer.<br />
Once I get settled and before I leave for work next week I will download my shots and upload a few of my favourites here. I will spend the next while creating the second edition of the Riverpirate Times Newsletter, to chronicle my trip and my adventures from Nova Scotia to Pennsylvania and back.<br />
It was a pleasure to meet all of you, and thank your for entertaining me and my camera foolishness.<br />
Stay tuned.....Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-87504898503381661712013-04-19T01:32:00.003-03:002013-04-19T01:32:36.473-03:00Thoughts for the riding seasonWell April is here and all around me I smell waterless cleaner, wax, chrome polish, and salt air. I feel the breeze in my face, I hear the rumble of bike pipes, and I see and feel passengers pulling themselves closer to those in charge of the handlebars (my favourite part by the way), and it is the combination of all of these that leads me to belive that motorcycle season is upon us. FINALLY.<br />
Last month I had the opportunity to spend a week in Florida with my partner and my two sons, and it was there I realized that Floridians have no idea how good they've got it.But really, who in their right mind wants to ride twelve months a year? I mean honestly, if it wasn't for the break we Northerners get from winter, would we really appreciate the joy we get from our rides? HELL YEAH we would!!!<br />
Anyway, our riding season has begun, and sadly, today I found myself reading about yet another motorcycle tragedy on NS highways, and I have to wonder why does it seem this year there are so many motor vehicle incidents of significance for a season that is just beginning? Why in mid April have I already read about several motorcycle crashes that have resulted in Lifeflight responses and fatalities?<br />
I started my Paramedic career in 1989 and in the years since I have been to more than a few motorcycle crashes; some worse than others, and I know there are myraid reasons why motorcycle riders find themselves the victim of a motorcycle crash, including speed, driver inattention, driver distraction, impairment from drugs or alcohol, wildlife, other road hazards, and any combination of the above.<br />
Most motorcycle riders are like me: before the first ride of the season they go over their machines from top to bottom and front to back. The fluids get changed, tire pressures are checked, attachments get tightened, dust gets removed, and chrome gets polished. Once all is good in the world, the first ride of the season becomes a reality; slowly at first and with tentative steps towards a full riding experience. The brakes get tested at low speed; attention is paid to subtle noises and changes in sound; and the rider is like a one eyed cat in a fish store throughout the ride.<br />
After that first ride the rider goes over the bike again to see what might have been missed, or to investigate the cause of an errant sound or vibration, or just to make certain all is good in the world. And all for one reason; to make it home safely after the next ride.<br />
I've had several successful rides in the past week, and will do my part to make certain all of my rides this season and for every season to come end in success. The following are my guidelines for a safe season;<br />
<br />
I will not drive without checking out my bike. <br />
I will not drive while impaired<br />
I will not drive distracted<br />
I will not drive at unsafe speeds<br />
I will not drive recklessly<br />
I will drive defensively <br />
I will be an advocate for safe and responsible motorcycle riding<br />
I will not be a statistic<br />
<br />
Do me a favour, and join me.<br />
<br />
Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-11425447455307877222013-01-01T22:10:00.001-04:002013-08-07T16:07:49.315-03:00Riverpirate Photography NewsletterThe Riverpirate Times<br />
<br />
The link below is for the first edition of the Riverpirate Times Newsletter. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/118621362"><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.scribd.com/doc/118621362</span></a><br />
<br />
The second edition is in production and will be ready soon! Stay tuned.<br />
<br />
I've also been told I need to become social media friendly. Damn. So do me a favour ad Like Riverpirate Photography on Facebook!<br />
<br />
Follow us on Twitter <span class="screen-name"><s><span style="color: #66b5d2;">@</span></s>RvrpiratePhoto.</span> <br />
<br />
PaulPaul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964619243793782768.post-32763676142206463292012-02-06T14:02:00.003-04:002015-01-28T07:27:19.678-04:00Riverpirate Motorcycle PhotographyI got into photography in 2008 while recuperating from an injury and complications, and I've been a biker longer than that. By chance I had the opportunity to take a few bike shots while travelling, and something clicked because I've been shooting bikes ever since.<br />
<br />
The name Riverpirate comes from my time living alongside a river in a little piece of heaven. The river was where we'd often gather for a cool beverage, and I could often be found in a lawn chair mid river (it was a shallow part) with a straw cowboy hat and a glass of rum. I was a landlocked pirate with no ship, no compass, and no wind for my sails.<br />
My first DSLR was a Sony Alpha, moved to the world of Canon with a 40 D, then a 60 D, and now I shoot with an EOS 7D. <br />
<br />
<br />Paul Harnishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445388893089638417noreply@blogger.com0