Month: October 2007

The Touring Machine

 

This is my 1990 Yamaha Fj, by far the largest and most powerful motorcycle I have owned in my over 30 year history of owning motorcycles.

My bike: 1990 Yamaha FJ 1200

 Many thanks to my mechanic, Simon, who has just finished rebuilding the clutch. There were some pesky problems, but Simon knows these bikes very well and is an invaluable resource.

Since this picture was taken, I have replaced the front tire and cleaned up a few minor problems. The major problem has been the hydraulic  clutch, but now it seems to be functioning perfectly.

My insurance for riding expires on November 1, 2007 so it is time for me to take a few last test rides and put the bike in storage for the winter. If I kept it insured I would be out riding in all weather and I don’t think I should give myself that temptation.

I had some great rides this summer – one to Seattle and one to Powell River. The return trip from Seattle took one full tank of gas, cost= $15.00US for over 200 km.

This bike inspires confidence and a feeling of poetry in motion. It can be risky riding alone because I cannot pick it up if it falls, so I try not to fall. I have a lot of experience riding safely and this is a very smooth and great handling machine. The only time I feel the weight is when I am stopped, then I have had a few problems.

I look forward to the tour and will be putting up links to other motorcycle resources and sites of interest.  I will be trying to find sponsors and other people who are interested in seeing the internet travel at 150 kmph!

 

 

 

Live More Lightly Tour 08

The Live More Lightly Tour 2008

Victoria  and her trusty Yamaha FJ 1200 motorcycle tour with the least possible impact on the environment.

mumfj-may07.jpg

As she travels through the Canadian countryside she broadcasts the beauty and variety of her motorcycle tour by streaming audio and video directly on to the internet. She will continue her internet broadcast when performing, and during other interesting social and cultural occurrences. Some material will be recorded and archived so it will be available for visitors to the site when streaming is off-line. A blog of her journey will be constantly updated at rest stops. Communication with venues, media and performance collaborators will be maintained through live internet and satellite cellular telephone.

It is anticipated that the footage will be high quality and suitable for television broadcast as well as internet streaming.

A documentary will be produced from the footage recorded on this tour.

There is musical equipment everywhere in North America, so Victoria plans to arrange for suitable guitars, amplifiers and other equipment to be obtained from the area she is performing in. [She will carry a computer equipped with music production software.] These items have already been transported to this location, so it is the goal is to create the least possible environmental impact to move them to the venue. Victoria works in many traditional forms that are familiar to Canadian musicians so it seems more environmentally friendly to work with members of the community rather than import other musicians. This plan is a continuance of her work using the concept of “found” musicians that was most completely realized with “Play the Moment Composer’s Collective” in 2000 and 2001.

Victoria is also capable of solo performance: leading workshop/performances in electronic music, songwriting or choral performance of her original song “Live More Lightly” (arranged by Eric Hominick). She is also available as a solo performer as an electronic and multi-media artist or singer/songwriter.

The itinerary will be established by plotting out a timeline of travel from Vancouver to eastern Canada and researching festivals, events and venues that are within a comfortable riding distance of approximately 200km per day travel. There are a large amount of summer festivals, events and year-round venues in Canada and participation in this project would be affordable for smaller venues and community gatherings that usually cannot engage an artist organizing a national tour. Key venues will be approached to inquire if they are interested in participating in this project. The time of departure will be arranged to create the largest probability of presenter intersection while maintaining commitments to key venues.