and the Summer Heat drags on

Kingston Bike Night and a Rally for S&R

// April 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Chris Graham runs a bike night on Weds during riding season the cost. 1 can of vegetables for Martha’s table. The idea is to be non club affiliated and no politics. Sadly that doesn’t happen and the biggest group of charity riders “The Cav” is sadly represented. Now there are several veteran riding clubs in town, so imitation is the best form of flattery.

Tonight for I felt uncomfortable among old peers and promptly left for the rally downtown basically cause I don’t need the political bull that is starting to over take the local riding community. I did however purchase a shirt in support of the National Memorial Ride for Veterans. Complete photo galleries for bike night will be posted here

I took some photos of the S and R Rally tonight as well. Complete photos are here. It was my first rally I found it interesting to shoot but not well attended like the the bike night. It may be the weather.

Honda Riders Plus day in Kingston

// April 19th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

The gang over at Motosport Plus offered me a shot of trying out some of the new Honda small bikes so off I went. The instructors were all professional riders including one that did the Paris to Africa cross country race a few times. The idea was for new riders to get some free advice and experience whilst trying some of honda’s entry level bikes. The CBR 125, EL 230 and Rebel 250. So we went around and around in circles after a while I got bored and did the whole course going in and out of the pylons.

Fun day actually and Sean got some riding tips to boot. Don’t think I will run out and trade in the HD for a Honda but sometimes you need to ride something lessor to remind you how good you have it.

Pics for the ride are here.

A beautiful day for a Sad Occasion

// April 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // depression, photography

Today I made the trip to Trenton to honour Karine Blais as she returned home for the final time. The thing that really made the trip was the number of people that took the day off to attend the ramp ceremony in a working day. Many biker organisations attended and put aside their differences as well.

The first count was 74 bikes then more arrived putting the number over 100, Tim Hortons was there giving out free coffee and donuts. As well as various news agencies, a girls school class, members of the local reserve unit old guard and even some National Guardsmen from Buffalo.

I will post the rest of the pics later on here . So last night was a little rough but I have had worse.

I also visited Corbyville and did a shoot on the old buildings there and will be working on the pics later.

Lax’d and paid the price.

// April 14th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I took it pretty easy on the weekend and missed a couple of workouts and then when I got Polly at work I had an axiety attack the first one in a while. So I have to get back on track even with my back screaming I guess. I spent most of the afternoon cruising the back roads looking for insperation and stopped at the Ole 41 Drive In, for some pics.

The Napanee Drive In aka The 41 Drive was one of approximently 300 drive-ins which was operating in Canada during the peak of the drive in era 1958. Now in Canada there are less then 75 still in Operation.

As a kid growing up in the 70′s the drive-in experience was on of the only places one could party and watch cult classics like Zeppelin’s “The Song Remains the Same” , The Ramones “Rock and Roll High School” and the Rocky Horror Picture Show all in one night.

The Napanee Drive-In was a staple in the area for 40 years before closing in 1995 losing out to the Home Movie Market of Video Rentals.

Then off to Marysville just because I had never been and found a great biking route to do later on this spring with the boys. I then went back to Westport and did a shoot at the old Wesport Auto Lot. I hope on the weekend the boys will want to go diving cause I really need a dive.

Complete pics of the drive in here.
Enjoy

A ghost town and a 53 shovelhead

// April 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

So my buddy Paul and I spent the afternoon trying to relocate a Shovelhead HD I found this winter in a basement of an abandonment. We first stopped at the Perth rd United Church where Paul’s wife was volunteering at the annual maple syrup pancake fundraiser. After seen the line out the door and many waiting to get in we decided to look for the place.

After about 5 hours of searching we relocated the place, on the way we found several abandonments and stopped at the Ghost town of Petworth Ontario. Things are quiet in Petworth now, very quiet. Not like in the 1870s, when a group of vigilante farmers from nearby Verona, upset about their flooded fields and ruined crops, crept down late one night and blew up Petworth’s dam. Petworth started out as a lumber town in the 1840s. By the 1890s, it was one lively place, boasting a blacksmith shop, cheese factory, general store, school and two churches. Two hotels were kept busy, quenching the thirst of the many loggers, who arrived every spring. By 1905, it was a very different story. Sixty years of steady logging had pretty much depleted the surrounding woods and the new railway took a turn eastward bypassing the tiny village. Petworth never recovered. Petworth is not completely deserted. A few older residents remain, along with a handful of newer residents who enjoy the peace and tranquility of rural living. The stone walls of the old Stephenson and Lott sawmill are still standing, along with the blacksmith shop, a barn, several original houses and the one room schoolhouse, closed since the 1960s. Newer houses stand amidst the ruins and other original buildings, some of which are still in use as sheds, storage buildings and the like. For now, the residents of Petworth refuse to give up their former ghosts and visitors can still get a sense of a mid 19th Ontario century mill town, as it once was.

Complete photo’s from Petworth are here.

Cruising with the New GPS

// April 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // Urban Exlporation, photography

So today I hooked up the new garmin in Polly’s car and went crusing up and down the back roads north of Kingston till I was sure I was lost and hit the home key to play with the GPS. Worked like a charm and got back to a main road in a few kilometers.

The first thing I spotted when I turned the corner was this bus and next to the property was an abandoned farm house. So I stopped and started shooting pics, within five minutes a guy pulled up in a van and jumped out asking what I was doing . I told him taking pics and he started to calm down. Then he came over to talk to me about all the problems he was having with his grandparents home.

It seems that he has a prospector outbreak like the rest of the residences in the county. Up to sometime during the first world war or just after it, people purchasing land got everything, water, mineral and land rights. Then during the roaring 20′s from what I gather that changed and mineral & water rights were no longer part of the deal. Those with them were grandfathered and life went on. Then during the great depression as people fell into tax debts with our government they were offered a break in lieu of taxes as the government reclaimed mineral rights. During the second world war a company moved into the farm land and started mining lead, feldspar and something else right on the grandparents land.

The guy remembers as a kid in the 50′s playing with lead and stuff. When his grandparents passed on his uncle moved in and stayed for years. He felt the need to burn all his garbage and bottles where discarded behind the shed. Bottle collectors in the 80′s and 90′s constantly came to the farm looking for treasures.

In the late 80′s his uncle died and the home remained empty for winters and summers they used it as a guest house and hunting cabin in the fall. Sometime in the 90′s Hydro came along and informed them that the main wire running to the house was not up to snuff and turned off the hydro till it was repaired. Hydro actually were the ones that installed the original wire but due to a standards change were not on the hook for upgrades.

Since then he has had his uncles trucks stolen, and many prospectors staking out the property, he lets them do all the staking then removes them afterwards under the trespassing act. Recently after over 100 years of drinking the well water on the property, the township has condemned the water with just a little over the allowable lead content.

Full set of pictures here. Enjoy

Business down river and a side trip to Athens

// April 7th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Sean and I went to see Jeff in Rockport who wasn’t home btw, then headed to see Dan at Dive Tech to get Dan M a new computer. After catching up with the newest and greatest things in the community we headed home the very long way.

When we got to athens I was surprised to see Murals around town, Athens is very small and I came to find out that it was loaded with B and B’s so this was an addition to their tourist walk. I plan on return to finish a full photo shoot when bike weather is upon us.

This morning I made 2 and half hours on level 19 on the stair climber a personal best and hopefully more to come. The weather has to get better soon. BTW the remainder of the photos are here.

Resting in Peace

// April 5th, 2009 // No Comments » // Urban Exlporation, depression, photography, workout

Kingston has been an transportation hub since it’s inception. Despite the many bad hands the various forms of government has dealt Kingston it still survives. Railroad travel was a big thing and a major mode of transportation for many a Canadian. Then after the second world war people became mobile and the automobile became king of the road.

After the construction of the Queens Highway 401 many travelers took to the open road at the expense of the ladies of the rail. The Grand Trunk Railway had a small station in Ernestown, a very small hamlet now a part of the City of Kingston. It closed after the highway opened up but still remains standing like many other stations in the region. If one wants to explore it the back window was wide open as well, I think you may need a flashlight to look around though. Take only pictures and memories if you decide to visit.

The full set I took is located here. A comprehensive history of the the station is located here.

Today I actually completed 2 1/2 hours at level 19 on the stair master and was burnt out pretty good making me forget about my need for 12 pills in the am and 3 in the pm. The best thing is that spring is going to come Easter Weekend.

A full day of Riding, Photos and a workout

// April 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

new ride 2 apr

Originally uploaded by Tom Rutledge – UER’ing in Kingston area

So I worked out pretty hard this morning and had to quit early but stayed alive long enough to fork out some cash to the plumber. After PUC turned on the water I went riding after a long talk with an old army chum Dan at Motosport.

The first site was in Switzerville and then I tried to gain access to the Napanee Paper factory but they had welded the doors shut. Off to downtown to see if I could get in the the Napanee Marina which was easy. Upon exiting there was cops all over the place luckely it was for a drug bust across the road. Then off to home the long way marking a few more sites to scope.

After I ate, and with Polly being ill I went out for another ride. So 769 KM’s today and a couple of days of rain so I will be working on my pics.