Coming Out of the Closet!

January 1, 2018

Happy New Year!!
A new year represents new beginnings and resolutions and one of mine this year is to come out of the closet!!
It's time to confess that at 68 years of age I have become a "GAMER"!!!!

I have had a passion for racing all my life!

When I was a kid my Aunt & Uncle used to take me to the Stock Car Races.  I was a card carrying member of the Ted Hogan Fan Club in 1960 (still have the card somewhere)!

I have always wanted to race cars, but never had the funds or mechanical ability.  The passion continued through my early adult life (I even got engaged at Moss corner at Mosport.......thinking that was romantic :)
I even started a Go Kart League when I was in my fifties.
The passion really returned a few years ago when I was introduced to Ohsweken Speedway and Sprint Car racing!  We have had a great time following and supporting Dylan Westbrook, one of the hottest Sprint Car drivers in North America and only 19 years old.



This past spring I heard about iRacing, an online Racing Simulation that absolutely blew my mind.  The realism is amazing.

Dale Earnhardt and many other top drivers use it to learn new tracks and to improve their skills.  The Toronto Star recently had an article on how big eSports is getting

https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2017/12/30/as-virtual-sports-grow-real-sports-want-in-on-the-action.html

The original goal was to start slow and do  it at minimal cost.  My racing rig/cockpit has grown significantly over the last 9 months, thanks mainly to Kijiji!  I sold a bunch of fishing equipment I was never going to use (electric downrigger, trolling mast) and an over the stove microwave.  That funded a $10 steering wheel & pedals from London, a $100 40" TV from a person moving out their dorm at Brock and a $200 gaming PC from Hamilton.



This provided the proof of concept that justified moving forward.  A major score on a used rig from Mississauga that included the chassis, racing seat and $500 steering wheel and pedals fast tracked me to a serious racing rig.



The rig grew and Triple monitors were added in the late fall along with 2 iPads and an old iPhone for telemetry information.

My eSports career is now in full swing as I pursue new licenses (Rookie, D,C,B,A, Pro) in Dirt, paved and road racing.


Tracks are laser mapped and dead accurate.  I can even see the spot at Mosport where I got engaged.
I've joined a league (Worn Out Racers, must be over 40) with guys from all over the world that are just out for a good time.   The live conversations while competing can be hilarious.
All our family members have had a ton of laughs even down to 8 year old Sam.  He can hardly touch the pedals and the force feedback on the steering wheel push his whole body around.



Check to this video!

I usually run with number "747" which represents #7-Ted Hogan, my first racing hero and #47x-Dylan Westbrook, the latest driver that has inspired me.  There have been many disciplines for an old guy, including learning Gimp ( a free version of Photoshop) in order to build (paint) my own cars.





The bottom line is that I'm a crap driver, but having a riot!
Maybe I'll see you on the track!
Happy New Year!!

Celebrate Canada 150 Bike Ride

If you're looking for the continuation of our adventure you need to go to this link:
Celebrate Canada 150 Bike Ride

Day 14 - One Day to GO!!!!

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

I love Victoria Harbour!!  I did not want to leave without visiting this magnificent place.

Victoria Harbour Airport

 I Love these Tugs!

 The B.C. Parliament buildings.

 Lynn picked up some special chocolates!

Check out this awesome video.  The Sea Otter went right into the back of the restaurant to be fed.

The folks where Caroline works gave her a nice going away get together.

Lynn and I were fortunate to get together for lunch with Bette-Jo and Bill Phelan and do a lot of catching up.  BJ retires on June 2.  Welcome to the club BJ!

Can you spot Lynn?

She bought us "Official" hats for the Ride!

One last gourmet dinner (pizza!) featuring Pink Shit!😛

Tomorrow I will be switching to the Official Blog for the Celebrate Canada 150 Bike Ride.  Click on the link below to join us in this amazing adventure as Ritchie rides 5000 km from Victoria to Ottawa to celebrate the beauty and people of Canada and to raise awareness for PTSD.

Celebrate Canada 150 Bike Ride

If you click on the link above, enter your email in the box on the right (on PC version) and you will be sent updates automatically.

Ride On!!🚴......................

Day 13 - Organizational Day

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

We spent today getting organized for the big day.  Lots of running around.

Flynn Printing next door to Ritchie were kind enough to let us park our rig while we're here.

The excitement is starting to build.  We just found out that in addition to Ritchie's Riding group (Triple Shot), we'll be escorted by the Police and Fire Department.  Cool.

Day 12 - The CC150BR Support Team Has Arrived!!

Monday, May 15, 2017

Got up early this morning and first stop was Lube-A-Lot.  The RV was due for an oil change.  We have driven just over 5000 km the last 10 days!

20 minutes later we were on our way to the Boeing Tour.  All the 7x7 series are manufactured here including the new 787 Dreamliner.   They do not allow cellphones or cameras as they're worried that someone will drop them onto one of the 35,000 workers heads.  Felt lost not taking photos, so I took a picture of our ticket to show we were there!

As we were leaving I got to see this new Boeing due for China taking off on one of its first test flights.

We were originally going to drive to Port Angeles (5 hrs) and catch the first ferry in the morning to Victoria.  We realized that we were only 1 1/2 hours from Tsawwassen, BC so booked a spot on the 7:00 pm ferry.  Thanks to a very smooth crossing at the border we actually made the 5:00 pm ferry!

We had a bite to eat on the Ferry while I worked on the blog (wifi on board).  A short drive later and we pulled up to have Ritchie greet us.

We got our shirts and jackets that we've been waiting for.

This is all getting real now.

Day 11 - It Was a Rainy Day in Pizzaville...

Sunday, May 14, 2017

......and also Seattle!
We had planned a day in Seattle visiting the Space Needle and Fish Market.   Between the cold and miserable rain and the fact that we had been going pretty much non-stop for the last 10 days, we decided to take a day off, relax and get caught up.  We can visit Seattle the next time we return (hopefully).  Spent the day napping, catching up the blog, prepping for the Celebrate Canada Bike Ride, bingeing on Downton Abbey (thanks Judy) and just plain relaxing.
It feels good to be caught up.

Day 9 - More Travel

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Another travel day today.  We are only 5 hours from Seattle, our destination.  We got a surprise bonus today.  as we were driving along we saw a sign that said "Scenic Lookout".  Walked out to the lookout.........Well golllly, its part of the Columbia River Gorge!  We got to see it after all.  That's one badass river!

 Our travelling home.

We arrived at Pleasant Lake RV Park in good time.  Folks on RV.net recommended that we reserve this well in advance.  We're glad we did.

Its a relatively small park, but all the RVs surround their small lake which contains bass.  Private property, no season, no license required!

 Lynn making a cast.

We are here for two nights.  It will be good to settle in for a few days.  This RV thing is starting to grow on us.😏

Day 8 - Travel Day

Friday, May 12, 2017

Today is a travel day.  We originally  intended on going out the South Gate of Yellowstone, through Grand Teton National Park to Jackson Hole and then on to Twin Falls, Columbia River Gorge and Mt St. Helens.   All that changed with the Road closures in Yellowstone.   We missed them opening by a day!

Lots more "Big Sky"!   One of those things that's hard to fathom.

 The trains out here go on forever!

We made good time and spent the night in a Camp Walmart in Spokane Valley.  

To make up for the lack of pictures, I'm including a few short videos from Yellowstone for your viewing pleasure.  Just to note, the geysers are not speaking Mandarin.  That is the tourists 😁

Mud Pots

Painted Pots

Old Faithful

Day 7 - Yellowstone

Thursday, May 11, 2017

We left our campsite and proceeded towards Painter's Point on the East Rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  This has to be my favorite location in the park. 

We left the East Rim and headed to the West Rim for a different view of the Lower Falls and a better view of the canyon.  

Can you spot the Osprey Nest?  When my brother Bud and I were here a number of years ago, this was an active Osprey nest and we watched one of the parents leave from the nest, fly all the way down to the river and return with a fish for the chicks.  Fantastic!

We stopped at many different hot springs and geysers.  Too many to mention by name, but all unique in their own way.

Some bubbled, some burped, all were hot, some were scalding.  

At one location, I had spoken to a Chinese student (attending University in Chicago).  He approached me as we were ready to leave and asked if his Mother and Aunt (who were visiting from Chine) could see the inside of our RV?  They have nothing like this in China.

At one point I spotted a lone wolf (can you see it?).   By the time I left, there were 20-30 cars parked behind me!

Our last stop was at Old Faithful.  We joined the crowd and not much later, "thar she blows!"

We left Old Faithful and drove to the Madison Campground.   We had transferred there because it would be closer to Seattle with our revised agenda.  On our way to our campsite we passed a familiar looking RV.  It was the Ebersole Family!   We have seen them at the Minnesota Welcome Center, The Corn Palace, Mt Rushmore and now in our Campground.   The only reason we met in the first place was because I asked him if he knew anything about fridges.  The only reason they were there was because they reversed their trip because of weather (they are now going to Colorado Springs at the end of their journey).  Serendipity!!

Once we got settled, we joined them at their fire for a most enjoyable night.  We got to know them and their kids a lot better and shared some of our experiences.  This was our last possible rendezvous as we head West for Seattle tomorrow and they head South to Colorado Springs.  

We hope that our paths might cross again one day.