Comraderie

THERE are a lot of definitions for the words; Comrade, camaraderie, comradeship...

When I first heard the word decades ago, I thought of the Soviet Union and communism, and indeed the word does apply.  Comrade Khrushchev, comrade Trotsky, comrade General!

North east BC near Chetwynd

It also means friendship, close relations with those of similar interests or pursuits,and allies.

Over the decades I've traveled by motorcycle, I have met many such "comrades" both men and women.  They didn't all have to be riders no sirree Bob... some were just very interested in the way we traveled and some would have liked to emulate us.

I have mentioned several times that the public in general looks upon us as rebels, freedom riders, organ donors, somewhat out there... and to some extent we are.  While running Motorcycle Training courses I would remark to students that motorcycling is not for everyone.  It needs skill either inherent or learned, it requires a very defensive yet somewhat aggressive posture, a certain bit of foolhardiness or bravery, take your pick, and a ten gallon hat (helmet) of common sense.

Part of my former fleet at Silver Springs

Take for example a case in 1974.  I was nineteen, riding my BMW to the west coast to visit a couple of friends I'd met in Fort Mac.  It was late June, the ride down highway 63 was actually pretty good, and with over a hundred miles of gravel that could turn into soupy muck in no time, pleasant that day.  Of course, there were few motorcycles of any type in that era actually traveling.  This was pre Gold Wing days (yes its true, there was long distance travel prior to GL 1000's and we for the most part, camped.  I carried a 3 person tent, complete with poles, a bulky sleeping bag and a ground sheet and air mattress.

Yup. its a lonnng ass way!

80/80

My first stop over on the road was at a campground just south of Jasper town-site.  It hadn't been warm but I did have a full face helmet (unusual at the time) thick gloves and a decent riding suit.  I'd pulled off the highway and camped very close to the road, no more than 100 yards.  Overnight it snowed!  Lots of snow, about a foot.  The first indication beyond the shivering was the roof of my tent had collapsed to virtually nose height, prone that is!

Enjoying some late day sun after a long ride from Long Beach to Baja

I looked outside and the camp road was completely covered with the white stuff, but fortunately highway 93 was clear but wet. After clearing the snow off the tent and bike I packed up and (still) shivering started a reluctant R 60.  It was often necessary to both kick the engine and use the electric starter at the same time, it testament to BMW Bosch electrics of the day.  I stopped at Columbia Icefields for breakfast and coffee, lots of coffee I might add, and marveled at the glacier which extended in those days, very near to the access road.  Two guys on Norton's with open face helmets, no goggles, gloves or gear, who were making the loop Edmonton/Jasper/Banff/Calgary and home seemed impervious to the near zero temperatures.

Yamaha power compared to Donkey power, somewhere in Albania

I had a very unpleasant ride in cold, windy and wet conditions that forced many off the road early.  Arriving at Beaver Creek campground in the BC Rockies, I found no empty spots.  Fortunately for me on my third go round hoping a tent site would miraculously open up (no such luck) a guy in a Winnebago Scout, Chief, Brave or something, invited me to use the tent site.  I gratefully accepted.  I could not get the Primus gasoline mini stove to flow fuel into the burner, my hands were as cold as icicles, and my site mate invited me in to heat my water over his cook stove.  This poured over that 1st gen freeze dried food was like wet sawdust in my gizzard!  I have related their hospitality before, an American couple from Florida driving this massive RV and towing a similarly massive air stream like aluminum trailer behind.  We talked about our modes of travel and how dissimilar they were,  prior to me forcing myself outside into my sleeping bag, while they slept on a 'real' bed with a 'real' heater to keep the chill away.

Firestorm in the Rockies

I met them several times on the way to the coast, mostly at gas stops, at one of which he showed me into his trailer, where a BRG* XKE Jag V 12 was parked.  I was so envious!

I don't know if he ever took up motorcycling, after all, I was a youngster at 19 and he was an old guy probably in his mid thirties...!

Somehow, because we were both road users and of his genuine interest in bikes, we had become, comrades.

Having fun on the Trunk road.

These days, giving a road salute could possibly tire out your left arm, there are so many comrades on wheels, it still is an amazing fraternity.

I've never really been too critical of what people ride.  I myself have owned several hundred bikes.  Race bikes, trials bikes, dual sport bikes, Adventure bikes, cafe racers, scooter and mini bikes... There have been Honda's, Harleys, Ducs, GSXR's, FZR's TZR;s TDR's and virtually everything in my garage at some point or other.  Yes, I know there are riders that believe their mount is the best, so be it... to me even with the differences of opinion, we are all brothers and sister of the throttle. 

We're all in fact,comrades.

*British Racing Green

Riding mate for a day!

Exploring the island

One is never far from water on PEI

AFTER weeks of planning/postponing, Mike and I were finally able to get out together yesterday for a short ride on our dual purpose bikes.  They print a small local paper and this has been a trying year getting riding since buying the Super Sherpa a couple of months ago.  You may recall from earlier posts that he had a V Star 650, but just didn't feel comfortable riding that bike on the road dealing with traffic and bozo's.

New Glasgow

My suggestions to sell that and buy something lighter, and more nimble come from seeing students/customers over the years that bought inappropriate machinery and ended up getting out of bikes altogether.

Told you!

                                                                               
Case in point, earlier in the week while finishing a lunch I was approached by a young woman (not in that manner) asking me about my helmet.  I found out she was riding a 150cc scooter but wanted to get something that was capable of longer highway trips, now that she felt able to cope with traffic.  I also have 2 models of 150cc scooters and the top speed of around 100kph/60mph is sufficient for Island riding where the maximum speed limit is 90 kph, but to leave the Island, you will immediately be faced with roads that can be posted 20kph higher.  Realistically my scooters are most comfortable at 80.

Her friends were urging her to ride something larger, perhaps a Sportster or similar?... As we chatted I mentioned to her that I had a friend riding a large displacement (650) scooter and he loved it.  Very practical, simple to operate (unlike a MC) and comfortable like a touring bike.

There is so much stuff available to us isn't there?

Never been here before!

A N Y W A Y... at the first stop sign, Mike mentions to me that he wishes to stay on pavement, while in my head I am thinking,; "hey we're finally out together on lightweight multi purpose motorcycles, we're going to do some sightseeing and that will include back roads which will also include clay roads."  After all, riding on the highway equates to more traffic and that is something he does not like.  The clay roads on the Island (no gravel here it is after all a large sandbar) can be hard as rock when dry and besides... the best ride Mr M had last season was riding my 225 on just such roads.

A perfect place for brookies Trevor, don't you think. 

We stuck to the northern portion of Queen's county, where there are numerous mixed terrain roads and hills.

Quiet clay country lane

Riding a small bore bike requires finesse, unlike a 1200 something or other.  You learn throttle control, braking and handling on small bikes that can later translate to larger machines.  If you are faced with an uphill, you have to pick the appropriate gear and in fact the timing can be critical.

Great food reasonable prices and good service!

On a large bore anything, you just open the throttle farther and the bike has enough torque to compensate.  I have always been a firm believer that one must master the techniques of riding to make riding enjoyable... and safe. I 'm no body building monster at five four and 150 pounds, so for me especially riding bikes that outweigh me several times and some of which I barely have a toenail on the ground with, it's imperative to refine the skills and as you do this and gain experience, you also gain confidence.

Mike had obligations so we parted company in Hunter River, he bee-lined it home and I went exploring, something I have always loved doing even as a kid.

One of many snowmobilers cabins in the woods.

I found roads I had not been on, others that weren't familiar until I came to that 'red barn' or crossroad I remembered from last year.  There are times I don't put a lot of mileage on but I do spend hours in the saddle.

Ahhh a fixer upper!

That's the point of riding isn't it after all?  To explore, learn new stuff, enjoy yourself and sometimes even push the envelope...

Exploring the back roads.

Fall is coming

YOU can sure tell, there is more dew on the grass, the thermometer mounted to my back window is sitting at 14C right now, daytime highs only nudge over twenty... and we have had regular rainfall lately.

Abundant corn fields on the Island this season

Not only that, but you can "feel" it changing.  During a long ride this week working on my Lighthouses of PEI story, Brenda mentioned at some point that is sure seemed like autumn.  It's a subtle shift, we do get 4 seasons here in Eastern Canada unlike Western Canada.  I can count on one hand the days the temperature went over 30 degrees.

No doubt this has been a short season if you are a gardener or motorcyclist.

I booked my ticket to Phoenix last week.  Prior to moving I would often drive down from Calgary and stay for a couple of weeks or months.  Given the distance involved now , I keep my visits to the fall months and stay for a couple of months.  Not sure about moving forward though, the cost of added health insurance may be the determining factor.  This is my last year for cheap rates...

Story coming soon...

I enjoy riding here, especially using my dual purpose bikes, but there is something unique and special about riding in the US southwest.  I've loved that desert like topography since first traveling there in the late sixties.  For some reason only my soul understands, there is a magnetic draw that pushes some inner buttons for me. 

Playa Los Cocos/the simple life.

Back in the days I would spend a couple of months camped on a Baja beach with tent trailer, trail bike and kayak, I knew that I was enjoying some of the very best times of my life.  A simple breakfast, a morning paddle on crystal clear sub tropical water, dolphins or sergeant fish as my buddies, I'd ride in the afternoon in the mountains or along some ancient local beach road.  I'd find Petra-glyphs of fish, crabs, whales, sunrises and sunsets. Every few days a trip into Mulege for supplies or a street vendor taco lunch or maybe Loreto for a change of scenery.

When my pocket books were exhausted I'd visit Santispac or Berthe's and exchange them for others.  I'd hang out with my beach neighbors, the three amigo's would drop a freshly caught trigger or two for evening meals, I'd have visitors in the form of female company from Canada on occasion. 

Besides the regular winter beach crowd, there would always be transients from California, Oregon, Washington, even a family from Alaska one year.  They would stay for a night or a week and move on to their final distinations.

Palm oasis in Baja

Next year I think I will gear up and do one more complete trip from my home in Phx.  Load up the milk crate, some camping gear and take a few weeks from my Arizona time and do the Baja once again, who knows, I may not get another opportunity, like a major league pitcher, life has a way of throwing curve balls at you when you least expect it.

For now, I will concentrate on the remaining season, do a few more rides, finish a few more stories, prep the lawn and garden equipment, put away the summer accessories and get the blade installed on the Big Bear... last year the snows came early and heavy, I won't get caught flat-footed this year.

My Arizona wheels

D2D conclusion

Sunrise on Cape Enrage, very calm... today.

Cape Enrage was at the end of a short detour road, twisting and rising and falling like the Dow Jones.

I almost missed the narrow, steel mesh entrance gate, I was having so much fun.  One thing I learned racing YSR 50's on go cart tracks, was that F U N was not measured purely in length or speed or even knee dragging... it was a matter of smiles per mile.The sun had come out at our first photo stop, there was a lot more spm amongst the the group now.  note to self:  D2Der's are a happy lot.

Not a Hell's Angel wannabe in sight!

What could be more Atlantic Canada than crossing a causeway on a salt marsh on a dinky toy motorcycle, climbing up a similarly dinky toy road and bursting out on a rocky promontory overlooking a shimmering Bay of Fundy with a lighthouse sitting atop the granite precipice!

I counted 21 bikes, obviously all starters had made it thus far.

Zac... right where he belongs.

Camera's holstered, we left in a mix of groups, not a Hell's Angel wannabe among us (Well there was a Honda Rebel with "highway pegs" a couple of smokers, most notably Zac's (3L per 100 km) DR 350 ("check the fuel please and fill the oil") and we were on our way under cloudy skies with some patches of blue peeking through at times.

Nobody down, nothing here to see, just a flat tire to fix...

A gas stop at a small multi purpose store in Alma where I confirmed my lofty 90 mpg consumption rate, a pass through Fundy National Park and more dinky toy back back roads.  I didn't know highways came and went in 800 numbers, but there were lots this day.  820. 825. 865 etc.  These were roads where even a
the aforementioned YSR 50 could have lived!  Or maybe better DT 50 (need the suspension, it was pretty rough)

Okay. now these are cool.  It's like a Rocky Mountain snow shed without the mountain, or the snow!

We zig Zacked in our rag tag group like pilot whales searching for a beach to beach ourselves (but in a good way) crossing over various arms of the St John river system via multiple car ferry's and fabled covered bridges.  To be honest my normally reliable inner Baja gyro was so befuddled by the twists and turns, we could very well have been crossing the same ferry and covered bridge time after time from opposite directions without me knowing it!

Very busy place.

A lunch stop at a very busy Kredl's market in Hampton allowed some visiting amongst the eclectic group that included Karl from New England riding his XT 350, Ed on his CBX 250, several riders on the ubiquitous KLR 650, right up to Swiss national Chris' Africa Twin on his way home after covering nearly 50,000 km in the America's and a BMW 800 GS looking like it was on the first leg of an African tour!

Pretty isn't it

At the end of a very long day, I and my little faithful Yamaha 223cc Serow had covered 625 km.

Lots of these

Dinner at Irving Big Stop, farewells and emails exchanged and the final leg to the Scenic Motel on Homestead road, much the same as I'd left 14 hours previously, cold damp and in the dark, but if you could measure this Dawn to Dusk on a small bore single... I'd give it a 11.7 per mile.  Geez, even a Russian judge would have likely rated it an 8.9 and they hardly ever smile!

1975

Man, where has the time gone? 

It's hard to believe that 39 years ago, I was sitting atop my then new (1973) BMW 600/5 bike, riding across this huge continent.  Europeans travel all over there's, but of course Canada is so much more immense.  It's like Euro twice!

I was 20 years of age, had been riding for 7 years already then, a seasoned pro so to speak, a motorcycle Chief Instructor for two...

What an adventure it was too.  Hardly saw another rider on the highway, a few Electra Glides, the odd Gold Wing or CB 750 maybe with Vetter gear, moe often with strapped on duffel bags.  I don't think I saw another Beemer at all, they were pretty scarce then.  Alberta Cycle, the only dealer in Edmonton at the time sold about a dozen a year!  That's 1 a month on average!!

Quite the bike it was too, cost me around 3200 dollars at a time when a Honda 360 could be had for 1100 bucks and Denny Andrews was selling Kawasaki 900's for 2100... and they were giving away a FREE trip to some exotic destination to boot!  

Four gears handicapped acceleration and cruising speed, third was too short, the bike shaking badly by the time the speedometer hit 60mph and shifting the slow and heavy fly-wheeled transmission into 4th often slowed the bike down.  I had a top speed of around 80-85. I remember a Beetle passing me on route 20 along the St Lawrence, and he was barely going faster than I was.  I should have waited until 1974 when they introduced the 900 twin boxer and all the models got 5 speed boxes.

The kick start (BMW recommended you use the starter button at the same time as kicking the engine) was mounted on the left side of the bike and kicked downward, away from the engine.  Several years after the XC trip, while touring two up in heavy weather, the bike refused to start.  No amount of pushing or kicking could make her go and we ended up in the only motel room left in Blue River, where the proprietor took pity on us and offered the room, even though it was not in use due to bad plumbing.  We didn't care, we were soaked thru our 'rain gear' and dead tired.

Do I go with modern...

The next day it had dried out enough that the bike would start but then for the rest of the ride back to Fort Mac, I would turn up the idle adjustments on the carburetors and leave it running whenever we stopped.

Getting gas it was running, changing clothes it was running and I remember watching it from a restaurant window, having to go out every 5 minutes because of course, with a longitudinal crank... and a fast idle, the bike would slowly crab across the parking lot sideways perched on its center stand!!

I always disliked using the side stand.  Beemer side-stands would spring up if any weight was taken off the foot, with the result, a crash onto the crash-bars!  Seems funny to me now, but I can tell you I've had some miserable weather trips on bikes but that was definitely one of the blue ribbon worst!

... or retro?

Anyway... I am hoping that my planned XC ride in reverse next year will be much better.

D2D 2014

Dawn

                                                to

Dusk

I first found out about this very cool quarter liter or under long distance endurance ride several years ago while still living in Alberta, from long time pal, Hance.

Early morning at Toys!

Having known each other for decades back to my PEI Freedom Cycle days, Hance knew how much I liked back road small displacement riding.  In fact he and his nephew James showed up one year in my hood and we spent a day cruising around the foothills on my three XT's.



I was not able to attend last years rally because of a timing conflict but was determined to do this years event.


Put on by the guys at CanadaMotoGuide, an online local MC magazine, it's basically an all day (and then some) scenic, off the beaten path, ride at your own rate adventure for bikes that are small in stature but big in fun.  This year, they have opened it to larger displacement bikes officially capped at 500cc but even larger bikes will not be turned away

A surprising mixture

of bikes, small to large, street to dual.

You've heard that bigger is better no doubt, well this is sorta big, as in big on distance.  It's also big on camaraderie and even bigger on FUN.  The only thing small about D2D is the size of your engine in reality.

Go to canadamotoguide.com online and check out their stuff.

I had a choice of my DT50, my 150 Velo scooter or my 225 Serow.  Sure sure, I could have taken my XT 600, the newly acquired V Strom or even my VX800 for that matter, but keeping with the intent of the ride, I chose the Serow.

Ed's CBX 250

We drove to Moncton in pouring rain (weather report all week was dry, hot and sunny) and of course I did not pack a rain suit, go figure.  A cheap but available motel at the west end of town had at least a clean and updated room and given the fact that the city was hosting a FIFA world championship women's soccer tournament for two weeks, we were glad to have found accommodation.

Anna and her Mom were planning some stuff for Saturday while I prepped my bike for the ride.

The alarm didn't get a chance to ring at 5 am, I was up by 4 30 getting dressed in my off road gear, in the pouring rain of course.  I rode to the starting point at Toys For Big Boys in pitch black darkness, and was surprised when I arrived that I was the only one there!  Not another soul or motorcycle in sight!  Could it have been cancelled?  I wouldn't think so, neither Rob and Zac don't seem like the wimpy types.

I needn't have worried as before long Larry Northrup and his crew were setting up coffee, juice, and sweet things for us D2D'ers.  Bikes began trickling (no pun intended) in and pretty soon there were 21 of us with the Konker 200 SM the smallest, me next up in line and at the top was a GS 800 Beemer from our Island in fact.  In between were an XT 350, a DR 350, several small sized street bike, a Rebel without a cause and an XR 650 that looked ready to tackle the Baja Mille!

After the obligatory rubbing shoulders and pep talk, we fired up and were on our way.

It was raining, barely dawn and gray with no inclination of smartening up for the day.  The weather report at the motel was NOT promising.

'Arris giving us the rules.

Not having a clue as to the route, I just followed the turtle group led by the Illustrious Zac on the Honda BIG Ruckus.  There were 9 of us in the slow bunch with two faster groups ahead. 

It became obvious once we actually got out of Dodge that this was NOT going to be a slow ride. We had over 600 km to cover in 12 hours and being tail end charlie, I would have to flog the little Serow to keep up.

I'd ridden the XT in Alberta and B.C.'s  Rockies, Arizona and Baja but never so far on a single day.


I was already thinking, Numb Bum...

Billy the Squid did just fine!

Remember,

Retro Velo, Modern girl.

when we were kids?

French River photo op.

I know that's a stretch for some of you :)  

We couldn't wait to be older, more grown up, mature.  I wore my Dad's shoes sometimes, pretended to smoke, drank ginger ale for beer.

Time sure flies these days doesn't it.  No more wishing we were older, hoping for next year, nope... these days, when I look back I think of how fast it has gone by.

Today is August 6th.

Stanley River as backdrop.

For most people interested in history, it's the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.  This date in 1945, Colonel Paul Tibbet's and his crew aboard the B 29 'Enola Gay' Superfortress that was named for his mother, dropped the weapon dubbed "Little Boy" on an unsuspecting Japanese city.

"She did!"

For our household, August 6th represents a different anniversary.  Yup... it's one year ago today, that Brenda and I were married here in our house on this little Island.  Under warm and humid temperatures but cloudy skies, we took a little scoot up the north shore to Carr's Oyster bar for a nice afternoon lunch.

"I did too."

I feel like a Mod on Brighton pier!  Well, maybe not.  Some days a Mod, others a Rocker.

 Hard to believe a year has passed by so quickly.

A trip down Memory Lane

Make the most of it gang,. 

 Although some women defy aging, "time waits for no man..."