From: ed@grackle.UWaterloo.ca (Ed Walker)
Subject: Pulled Over / Sunday Ride
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 14:46:08 GMT

Yesterday almost started in the wrong way.  I hopped on my 87 RZ350 and went  
over to Wayne's house (he has an 86 RZ).  The two of us made plans for cruising  
the day away through Southern Ontario (probably the first _nice_ day we have  
had). We had spent the day before cruising the twin city of K/W.
We were headed through downtown Kitchener when we pulled on to Charles St., a  
five lane one way.  Wayne (knowing where we were going, and being more  
experienced than I) led the way and pulled out into the left lane.  Knowing  
that I have only been riding my RZ for three weeks, Wayne (up till now) had  
been going easy so I could keep up.  This time he jumped on it...  
Eating exhaust (the wonders of riding a 2 stroke) I tugged back the throttle so  
that I could catch up before Wayne disappeared into the early morning sun.   
Wayne rocketed to the right one lane, I rocketed to the right one lane.  Wayne  
rocketed into the center lane, I.... did a shoulder check... sh*t! a car beside  
me.. no problem.  A down shift and a throttle pull and I went from 70 to about  
120 in (what seemed like) a nanosecond (I luv my RZ).  Zoom, I went into the  
center lane.
Charles then turns into a two lane, ours being the leftmost.  Wayne stopped at  
a red light (good, now I can catch up!) and I pulled up beside him.  Flipping  
up my visor, I turned to Wayne and noticed he looked a little uncomfortable.
"LOOTOYORGT" he yelled muffled through his helmet.
"WHAT?!?" I yelled back?
"LOOKTOYOURRIGHT!" he yelled again.
I turned my head in the requested direction only to see mr. policeman sitting  
beside me in his patrol car waiting for my attention.
"Pull over into that parking lot up ahead" he said.
Oh sh*t.  Only had my beginners a month and I was going to get nailed. _Slowly_  
I accelerated from the light.  Blinka, blinka, my (now remembered) turn signal  
went.  I pulled into the parking lot.
Remembering all the ramblings (albeit useful ones) on rec.moto I pulled off my  
helmet, sat it on the tank, and got out my license/ownership/insurance.  I  
figured I would let Wayne do the talking (him being o' wise experienced one).
When I turned around and looked, the cop was sitting in the car, and Wayne was  
ranting something about "I had to do those lane changes as a defensive maneuver  
so that I could get into the lane without hitting the median" or the like, with  
his helmet (and underneath it his facemask) still on.
"Just hold on", the cop said, "and take off that helmet"
While Wayne bumbled with the strap the cop smiled.,
"Nice day eh?... well, I wouldn't want to have to go to court to try and say  
which one of you I have on the radar doing 70; the way you were both flying  
around back there" (pbbbbhhhh I was goin at least 85 ;) ) "So I am not going to  
ticket you, just lemme see your insurance, etc."
Phew!
"No problem SIR!" I said as I handed over all my stuff.  
"Hmmm, going pretty good for a new driver eh?" he said with a smile looking at  
my beginners.
While I tried to think of a good reply (mind still trying to get over my luck  
(never so lucky in a cage)). The cop looked at Wayne and said:
"Where is your license plate?"
Wayne had smucked his bike pretty good last november (oh wise experienced one  
eh?) and had the plate stuck in the front under the fairing as he hadn't yet  
had time to fabricate a new bracket (In 6 months? ya right, I think he likes  
how the bike looks without it).  
"Just a sec" Wayne said as he had finally finished removing his helmet and  
mask, and he grabbed the plate...
The cop was just about to open his mouth...
"And here is the validation sticker for it" Wayne grinned as he pulled it out  
of his leathers pocket.
"Thought we had a problem for a sec" the cop winked as he handed Wayne all of  
his junk back.
"Well boys, it sure is a great day for riding, have a good day" and with that  
he curtly nodded and cruised away with a grin on his face (Wayne claims he was  
laughing at the dumbfounded look on my face).
I couldn't believe it! the line about the radar may have been true but he still  
could have nailed us for at least the lane changes without signaling.
[[See... not all cops fall into the 'cops are pigs' category.]]
It is a good thing that it took us a few minutes to get our gear on so that the  
cop was well gone as we pulled back out onto Charles St..  
As we accelerated along in the left lane and rounded the corner we were  
confronted with _oncoming_ traffic! Charles St had turned into a bi-direction  
traffic.  Hopping sideways over the now YELLOW line Wayne gave me a big thumbs  
up as we proceeded to laugh ourselves silly for about the next 2 miles. 
We spent the rest of the day out in the country and passed through many  
wonderful little towns (not a cop in site).  A great day of riding (271 Km's in  
total, my longest day yet!).

Jeez everyone keeps asking about my stupid perma-grin at work today ? *8)


Ed.

P.S. ooooh my aching back :), a 6 foot person is not recommended to go 571KM in  
two days on an RZ350 (unless you love it, in which case my backs not _that_ bad  
;-) )

My opinions, spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc,. have no reflection on my  
employer, or any english teacher I may have ever had.

                                                     
|Edward Thomas Walker     |              '87 Yamaha RZ350T                
|ed@grackle.uwaterloo.ca  |       |-\   --/   --|   |--   |-|   -|-                                    
|Waterloo, Ont. Canada    |       |-/    /    --|   |-|   | |    |                   
|**DOOWUTCHYALIKE!** -H.H.|       | \   /--   --|   --|   |-|    |        
                   Disclaimer: "Opinions?!?... who me?.... "