Going H.O.G. Wild: Owner of tsunami Harley is found!

[CubSmurf]

Tsunami-swept Harley in container found in Canada - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/tsunami-swept-harley-container-found-canada-073840965.html)

TOKYO (AP) — It must have been a wild ride. Japanese media say a Harley-Davidson motorcycle lost in last year's tsunami has washed up on a Canadian island about 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles) away.
The rusted bike was found in a large white container where its owner, Ikuo Yokoyama, had kept it. He was located through the license plate number, Fuji TV reported Wednesday.
"This is unmistakably mine. It's miraculous," Yokoyama told Nippon TV when shown photos of the motorcycle.
Yokoyama lost three members of his family in the March 11, 2011, tsunami, and is now living in temporary housing in Miyagi prefecture (state).
[Related: Tsunami soccer ball found in Alaska]
The motorcycle is among the first items lost in the tsunami to reach the west coast of North America. In March, an Alaska man found a football and later a volleyball from Japan; their owners were located last week using names that had been inscribed on the balls.
Canadian Peter Mark, who found the bike and its container, told Fuji that he "couldn't believe that something like that would make it across the Pacific." The report said he found it April 18 on Graham Island, off the coast of British Columbia.
The motorcyle was caked with "a lot of corrosion, a lot of rust," said Mark.
When he saw the Japanese license plate, Mark wondered if it might have drifted from Japan after the tsunami, and contacted a local TV station.
The Fuji report said the motorcycle would be shipped back to Japan, and that the shop that sold it to Yokoyama would help with paperwork and storage.
Debris from the tsunami initially gathered in the ocean off Japan's northeastern coast and has since spread out across the Pacific. In February, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said currents would carry much of the debris to the coasts of Alaska, Canada, Washington and Oregon between March 2013 and 2014, though they correctly predicted that some of it could arrive this year.
Last month, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter fired on and sank a fishing boat in the Gulf of Alaska that had drifted from Japan after the disaster. Authorities had deemed the ship a hazard to shipping and to the coastline.

[Yerf Dog]

:cool1:

[onedef92]

Love the headline, love the happy ending, too! :seasix:

[CubSmurf]

Love the headline, love the happy ending, too! :seasix:

Thanks onedef! Trying to live up to your lofty standards!:yesnod::datawiz:

[Stangkiller]

WTF are they shipping it back? Seems like a huge expense to ship trash.

[CubSmurf]

WTF are they shipping it back? Seems like a huge expense to ship trash.

really?? getting back ONE personal item after a major tragedy would be such a HUGE morale boost. I'd certainly want it back if it were mine. He lost THREE family members, and is living in temporary housing. ANY ray of sunshine is a welcome respite, I'd imagine.

unbelievable

[Jobaka]

It's just the beginning.


http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/images/gnomegraphic.jpg

[Stangkiller]

really?? getting back ONE personal item after a major tragedy would be such a HUGE morale boost. I'd certainly want it back if it were mine. He lost THREE family members, and is living in temporary housing. ANY ray of sunshine is a welcome respite, I'd imagine.

unbelievable

How is that unbelievable? The bike is useless & unrestoreable, plus I'd be willing to bet insurance has already paid it off, which would create an issue regarding ownership.

On top of that shipping & logistics would be a PITA. Although now that I think about it, I realize most of those huge cargo ships return to China/Japan mostly empty.

[BuckyThreadkiller]

How is that unbelievable? The bike is useless & unrestoreable, plus I'd be willing to bet insurance has already paid it off, which would create an issue regarding ownership.

On top of that shipping & logistics would be a PITA. Although now that I think about it, I realize most of those huge cargo ships return to China/Japan mostly empty.

In a perfect world, some PR flack in Milwaukee would be gearing up the Harley Davidson folks for a full on gratis restoration and return the bike to the guy as good as new.

[CubSmurf]

How is that unbelievable? The bike is useless & unrestoreable, plus I'd be willing to bet insurance has already paid it off, which would create an issue regarding ownership.

On top of that shipping & logistics would be a PITA. Although now that I think about it, I realize most of those huge cargo ships return to China/Japan mostly empty.

The bike is useless in YOUR eyes. Doesn't appear to be useless in the eyes of the owner. It's a feel-good story.

[Bucwheat]

I'll bet HD does restore the bike for him,that would be free publicity.

[Bingo Fuel]

Very cool that he's getting it back.

On a side note, fishing floats, plastic bottles, etc. have already been washing
up on the coast here in WA.
We're being told to expect thousands of tons of debris.
Problem is, there's no cleanup plan in place.
The beaches will be a mess for a long time.

[Stangkiller]

Very cool that he's getting it back.

On a side note, fishing floats, plastic bottles, etc. have already been washing
up on the coast here in WA.
We're being told to expect thousands of tons of debris.
Problem is, there's no cleanup plan in place.
The beaches will be a mess for a long time.

Japan does plan to pay for the clean up no?

[Joecooool]

In a perfect world, some PR flack in Milwaukee would be gearing up the Harley Davidson folks for a full on gratis restoration and return the bike to the guy as good as new.

They offered that but apparently he wants the bike back in its present condition.

[Burro (He/Haw)]

How is that unbelievable? The bike is useless & unrestoreable, plus I'd be willing to bet insurance has already paid it off, which would create an issue regarding ownership.

On top of that shipping & logistics would be a PITA. Although now that I think about it, I realize most of those huge cargo ships return to China/Japan mostly empty.
:rolleyes:

[Bingo Fuel]

Japan does plan to pay for the clean up no?

Not from what I've heard so far. At this point it's strictly volunteer effort.
One of the state senators is going to try to get Federal funding to help.
Legally no one has responsibility.

[Stangkiller]

Not from what I've heard so far. At this point it's strictly volunteer effort.
One of the state senators is going to try to get Federal funding to help.
Legally no one has responsibility.

How is the clean up not entirely on Japans dime?

[Bingo Fuel]

How is the clean up not entirely on Japans dime?

:island14:

I can only guess that it was "an act of God" or natural disaster that
caused it so there's no legal liability.
Also, due to the epic proportions of the disaster, loss of life -
no one here is going to go after them for $$ - thinking that they have
enough problems to deal with.

[CubSmurf]

How is the clean up not entirely on Japans dime?

Are you just stirring the pot today or always so callous? It was a natural disaster. If a tornado hits your home, sends one of your vehicles flying killing 2 people are you held at fault? Hell no.

[Stangkiller]

:island14:

I can only guess that it was "an act of God" or natural disaster that
caused it so there's no legal liability.
Also, due to the epic proportions of the disaster, loss of life -
no one here is going to go after them for $$ - thinking that they have
enough problems to deal with.

I can only think if the tides were turned and that happened to the US everybody would be in line to fine us or expect us to clean up for the horrible ecological damage created by the US.

[Stangkiller]

Are you just stirring the pot today or always so callous? It was a natural disaster. If a tornado hits your home, sends one of your vehicles flying killing 2 people are you held at fault? Hell no.

Our states budgets are already tight. Paying millions to clean up this mess, when it could/should have been addressed while out at sea shouldn't fall on our States, or worse our US citizens.

[Bingo Fuel]

I can only think if the tides were turned and that happened to the US everybody would be in line to fine us or expect us to clean up for the horrible ecological damage created by the US.

Agreed. :cert:
Pun excused. :D

[snide]

Love the headline, love the happy ending, too! :seasix:

Who doesn't love a happy ending!

[Rotorhead]

I'll bet HD does westore the bike for him, dat would be fwee pubricity.
Fixterupferya.
My wife is asian. I can get away with this. :seasix: