BUGS!!!!!

And I don't mean Bunny!!!

You can tell winter is (nearly) over when the cute little furry creatures begin the annual cycle of color change. Even in the heart of Calgary, I often see bunnies hopping about like miniature Kangaroos without the built in Gucci bags attached.

It's been nearly three weeks since Einstein's passing, my how time flies.

(see Willy in foreground and Bugs in background!)

I've been prepping my bikes and little blue two seater in much anticipation of an early spring, which for anyone that is familiar with Calgary weather, will certainly get a wry chuckle from.

Having lived much of my life either in the lee of the Atlantic or the Rockies... one just doesn't know. Hell, there could be snow here in June!!!

A country drive with the Blazer, Easter Monday, south thru the AB foothills, brought a horde of deer sightings. One herd alone counted at least 24 individuals. All told, we spotted over 30 deer, a couple of 'wabbits' and two (count em) 2 muskrat.

Okay... there's only one in the photo, the second demanded more money up front for a pic.

Being a Monday, the Lancaster Air Museum in Nanton was closed for the day, however I have a good shot of a Harvard (otherwise known as a Texan in the USA) an advanced trainer used by the Commonwealth Air Training program during WW2. Alberta is dotted with grown over fields that once trained thousands of pilots, navigators, and assorted aircrew, to be shipped over to England during the war.

This pedestal mounted example is found in Claresholme.

Eventually we looped across to hiway 22, a very pretty little two laner frequented by Motorcyclists, summer time RV users and back country enthusiasts. (22 is the gateway to the southern half of the Forestry Trunk Rd.) After a brief stopover at Chain Lakes Provincial Pk, (where we spotted those verrrry cute muskrats) a look see at the World's Largest Glacial Erratic ( huge boulders brought south during previous ice ages from the Northern Rockies) south of Okotoks and a late evening dinner at Edo, our Easter Weekend was completed.

In the ensuing days, I've had a chance to take my MGB for a couple of short runs, been out on my HyoSung Sense SD50, slid around on my XT 600 a little and yesterday got "bugged" riding the T-Bird west of Calgary...

Can't hardly wait for more.

On another sad note, one of many this past few weeks... my former sister-in law from PEI and her husband, were heading home from Charlottetown one evening 2 weeks ago. Travelling straight thru an intersection on a green light, a van driven by an 18 yr old young man, coming from the opposite direction, turned left into their path.

Paul was killed instantly and Karen flown to Halifax in critical condition, where she remains today.

Needless to say, as many of us motorcyclists already know, this is the 'classic' motorcycle/vehicle collision... car turns left across your path. We had a saying during my motorcycle training courses all those years. Having the legal right of way, doesn't nessesarily guarantee our safety.

I had met Paul last year, when he and Karen rode their Harley decker across this fabulous country to attend the HOG rally here. He was a long time HD enthusiast and I was so happy they had the time to stay at Holly's little condo and spend an afternoon visiting at my home. That week, they took home the trophy for riding the farthest distance to the rally.

My sympathy and condolences go out to the entire family, which for many years, was also my family and not just in the normal sense. Regardless of what brand we ride, or what our tastes are... we are all of the motorcycle family!

IN THEIR MEMORY!