Canadian Motorcycling in Vancouver

Dave, Tom and I had been waiting for motorcycling weather. It had been pretty mild for most of the fall and the summer was really what we like to think of as American motorcycling weather. In Vancouver we motorcycle year round but haven’t been really excited about motorcycling till an Arctic wind dumped inches of snow on all of Vancouver.
This forces the whimpy cyclists off the road.  They have their hanks mare power wheels and special little snowflake lanes thanks to the mayor. But with the snow and snow ploughs they were no where to be seen.
Tom had come in from Chilliwack in my Ford F350 diesel 4x4 truck so he had first hand knowledge about the road conditions. Lots of folk were in the ditch.  Snow in Vancouver usually separates the northern and eastern drivers from those who have only driven in Vancouver where snow and ice conditions are cause for panic.  That said it definitely was Canadian motorcycling weather.
Dave rides his Harley year round. I usually put the Harley to bed in the comfort of Trev Dealy’s motorcycle storage room where all the big boys tell tales all winter long when the mechanics go home.  This year I’d not got it to Trev Deely. I’ve ridden my Honda Enduro year round but Dave figured he’d help me get my Harley started up before bringing his round.  Tom was more than willing to ride my motorcycle if I wasn’t going to.
Well, we had a couple of battery chargers going, and finally the Big Dog got her turned over. It really was cold.  So Dave headed back and got his motorcycle going but Thank God someone distracted him.  I was scared shitless he was going to come back and damned if out of pride I wasn’t going to have to ride along.
Tom and I with Gilbert got inside out of the cold and enjoyed hot venison stew and drinks instead..  

Spanish Trail Outfitters, Tucson, Arizona

Horse back riding in the desert is a must.  Spanish Trail Outfitters in Tucson are a delightful place for a very fine trail ride. The horses are well kept, safe and well mannered. The organizers are truly professional. The equestrian was beautiful and entertaining as the cowboy. "I"m not a cowgirl,"she said. "I don't have anything to do with cows".  "So my elderly aunt, when I told her this, said, then you're an "equine lady".  "Yes, aunt, I'm an equine lady, "I said, "preferring that to cowgirl. In contrast, Roger, is a cowboy who has done his years of outback riding and carousing and was glad to share this on the trail when I told him about my grandfather the rancher, my uncle the cowboy and my cousin who raised appaloosas.
I've been around horses alot of my life but moved from riding horses as a young man to riding Harleys as an old man. My friend, Dr. John Christensen, rode motorcycles all over the aussie back country as a young man before becoming an accomplished equestrian who did those days long overland round up  rides Canada is famous for.  Dad grew up riding horses but speaks most of his driving a logging wagon with 6 Clydesdales pulling.  My brother rode motorcycles as a young man and now kayaks and bicycles.  His butt is less sore as a result.
I did an hour and a half ride with the Spanish Trail Outfitter, $40 of incredible scenery, and great exercise, My horse, Fidget, wanted to stop and chomp on any tree as opposed to focussing on following the horses ahead. It gave me a lot of arm work pulling her head out of the bushes. The 'equine lady" followed behind on one of the most beautiful mules i've ever laid my eyes on. "They're the best for mountain trails because their eyes are placed more lateral and they can see their back foot  placement better than an horse can."
Along the trails,  there were rabbits, quail, chipmunks, and one harmless snake that certainly was a show stopper.  We didn't see any Apache or Navajo but I would later buy the silver inlaid jewelry the Navajo are famous for.  When the first family with school age children left I stayed around for the sunset ride.  A couple of really cute teen age girls rode along on that one looking like they'd been poured into the saddle the way they sat so tall taking the uphill and downhill climbs like regular pros.  Roger commented on that between our discussion of black bears, grizzlies and bald eagles versus Mexican eagles.  It was gorgeous riding among those tall Sonora Dessert cacti watching the blaze orange of setting sun .  Alot more serene than my harley. It was a great ride and I'm sure I felt every muscle in my body when I climbed out of the saddle. I'll have to get up to Mount Currie and out riding with First Nations retired World Rodeo Champion Wayne Andrews when I get back. It's such a grand experience trusting a horse and enjoying the ride.  Spanish Trail Outfitters are good people. They treat their horses well as a result the horses treat rusty cowboys like me just as well.  

Sturges North 2011 & Dr. Hook

I rode the Honda 230 to Sturges North. I really wanted a sticker that said "my other bike is a Harley Electraglide".  I think it was the smallest bike in the line up. I put it near a Honda Goldwing in hope someone thought it was a baby that had tagged along. There were alot of big Harleys, some touring BMW's, and big Kawasakis and Yamahas.  It was a big biker event.  I traded my online ticket in for a bracelet but they couldn't give me Laura's.  It almost proved a problem because at night they were closing up at 10 pm when she came along for the concert.  In the morning I'd bought the t shirts. "You're our first Sturges t shirt sale at the grounds", the biker babe told me as I got xlarge for me and medium for Laura.  Having found the place and figured my way around for coming back in the dark I headed into town.  Salmon Arm was filling up with bikes.  They even had a shuttle bus going to the all day stripper Outlaw Saloon. Shuttle buses ran to the parking lots and down town venues, a great solution to avoid drinking and driving on motorcyles. I stopped for coffee and a breakfast bagel when the skies opened. Then I sneaked back to Pierre's Point Campground to have the mandatory afternoon snooze in preparation for an 11 pm to 1 am concert.  Bands were playing all day but Laura wanted to see Dr. Hook.  There was a huge thunderstorm in the afternoon with hail even then thankfully the rain let up and skies cleared just before we headed out at 10 pm.  We took the Ford 350 Harley Davidson Diesel truck given the iffyness of the skies.  But the rain had ended.  At the fairgrounds people were sitting on the lawn or had brought folding chairs. I laid out the poncho then got Laura and I some coffee and grain fed beef jerky.  Azzkkrr Custom Bikes had the best exhibits. Then Ray Sawyer came on. The crowd exploded. Dr. Hook was a blast.  Laura's favourite was "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" and "Staying the Night Together."  The moon was magnificent over the fairground. I loved when Ray Sawyer screamed "We love you William and Kate!" Then he rode right into "Cover of the Rolling Stone" to a roar of applause.  The bikers went wild.  What a great opening headliner concert.  We love you Dr. Hook!