Monday: Just when you thought it was all behind you!

Where to start?

Well…. Slept well last night… Did a lot of dreaming… By coincidence, Jackie, the Big Biker Babe I met that day made a cameo appearance in one of my dreams…. So I’ll let you choose the next line:

1-      “Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase: Dream Big!”…. or

2-      “It’s Good to Have Big Dreams!”

I also thought about something I forgot to tell you about yesterday’s ride. Passing through Seattle… I learned ‘the green’s the greenest green… in Seattle.’

‘Saw a beautiful child, growing up, free and wild!... Full of hopes and full of schemes!.. Full of laughter, full of tears!... Full of dreams to last the years!.... In …Se….A….TTle!’  [I know some of you will get that. ^_^]

This morning, for those of you who have read The Celestine Prophecy… You know that Gate-Keepers come in and out of our life to guide us to a better place, not unlike Mr Loud and Nosy last week who urged me on to Moose Jaw and the biker at a gas station who said to take the 405 as a quick bypass around Seattle’s busy core… In both cases, I benefited from their advice.

Today, I was the gatekeeper for a man at the hotel breakfast table next to me from Missouri who was headed to the Grand Canyon. I strongly advised him to go to the West end of the canyon to see the Indian Glass Floor walk out… not unlike the glass floor at the CN Tower only much higher up and over the canyon…

I know he, too, will appreciate my advice as a gatekeeper.

The weather was unseasonably cold this morning… got warmer as the day went on… Not much of interest was happening…. Until I met Steve at the gas station in Yreka California.

Steve, it seems, had no pressing engagements scheduled for the day and possessed a seemingly uncontrollable need to speak to someone…. In this case…. ME!

Meet Steve….. Or as he likes to be referred to as ‘Miner’ Steve!

                                Miner Steve is showing you a rock with Yreka Gold in it!

Given my height and the fact that I looked down on ol-Stevo…. I think he’d have no trouble being ‘Minor’ Steve as well!

M-Steve saw me taking pics of the gold miner statues in the town roundabout… “Did ya see the real gold in the pan of that prospector?” he asked with enthusiasm..

No I said…looking at my watch to see how far behind I was in my travel…

“Hold out your hand!” he said.….. Reluctantly I did in spite of all the childhood trauma I remember from the game, “Open You’re your mouth and Close your Eyes….!”

He puts a couple stones in my hand and says, “Know what that is?... It’s real gold!”

M-Steve didn’t stop there… He continued to add more [gold?] to my palm collection until I had a pocket full… I’d no doubt have to pay for in gas money to trek along my journey.

M-Steve took me to the rock collection to regale me on the existential differences between Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic peculiarities of the captivating rock family!...

We laughed at those who said they were miners … But Weren’t MINERS!... Ha Ha Ha…

In an attempt to give M-Steve a breather I asked, “How long you been mining?” [Miner-Speak]

7 Years he said… full time!

“How much gold have you found?”

200lbs a month… which equates to 80lbs of gold.

Impressive!... I mused… doing a quick mental calculation in my head [Gold at $1400 per ounce X 16 Ozs to the pound X 80 X 12 X 7 years] to then comparing that to M-Steve’s available real estate between his bicuspids to surmise there was something amiss in his riveting story.

With the new knowledge that if I boil the rocks M-Steve had so generously given me in borax for one or four-teen hours, I’d yield enough gold – the likes of which could only be seen if I was fortunate enough to use the Hubble Telescope as a microscope – I bid M-Steve a fond ado!

30 minutes down the road, the temp dropped 20 degrees, the sky darkened and the friggin rain,  soaked me to the bone…. Sorry DD… The beast isn’t shiny again!

So I checked into a hotel 1 hour north of Sacramento… Will be at my sister’s tomorrow by noon.

Hope you enjoyed today’s entry… Keep in touch!

MB11

I met the BIGGEST Biker-Babe in the World Today… Thank GOD she was nice!

David and Kat escorted me to the BC Victoria ferry today and I bade both of them a fond farewell and boarded the boat.

Thanks again you guys… I had a wonderful time with you and your hospitality was exceptional! Much appreciated.

Before we left, however, Kat had to do a little electrical work on David’s trike.

                                                                        You Go Girl!

On the ferry were many bikers of all descriptions and one anomaly… “The BIGGEST Biker-Babe in the World!”

In her bare feet, I’ll bet she was 6’6!... In her boots and helmet she clocked in at about 7’12!... If she fell down… She’d be out of town!!! Ya know what I mean?

Her upper legs were greater in circumference than my hips!... She was the size of a small military HumV.

Suffice to say… she casts a mighty shadow Or' the village my friends!

I got to talking to her… She was quite pleasant… I told her about my travels and how I had to spend 4 days in the Peg waiting for a part from Toronto… I naively said,… “Winnipeg!... Who could live there?”

She asked where I took my bike… I said Harley W/P… and I said the service Mgr was very helpful…

“You mean Ryan?”… she said.

Yes! I replied… getting a little nervous… How do you know Ryan?

I used to be the service Mgr there before Ryan!

….so you used to live in the Peg?... I said rather obsequiously…

Yes! She said…

I said, “Dope!” … and then as if by instinct,  dropped to the fetal position... thanks to my self defense training on “What to do when confronted by an angry Grizzly!” course.

Turns out she had a sense of humor… and no need to crush a peanut-biker…

Here is Jackie…

                                                                    A lovely person

She is the service Mgr in a Victoria Harley dealership… For the rest of the voyage, we bonded in our common interest of bikes and stories about Ryan’s conquests.

As we departed from the ferry… I followed her for miles as it became  clearly evident to me that following her meant no bugs could ever hit my windshield…. Thanks Jackie!

Later I found myself at the USA boarder… speaking to yet, another rectum!

Where ya from?… rectum-boy asked.

Toronto!

Where ya headed?

Hayward Cali to visit my sister and father.

Yer sister live there?

[Duh!]  Yes!

Where’s yer father living at?

In Toronto... and this is where it gets good!

The rectum… now thinking he has me in some conundrum of Boarder-Speak… says…

If yer dad lives in Toronto… why are you driving to Cali to see him? As he raised an eyebrow like he Caught-Me!

At this point, a million witty repartee’s rifle through my sarcastic mind… Which one do you like?

1-      Hey Columbo!... No mystery here!... or

2-      Hey crap-for-brains!... My dad is just visiting!.. or

3-      Hey Don Parddle!... Love playing the 20 questions game … Would love to stay for the lightening round… but want to try and make it to Cali in THIS LIFETIME!

And so on…

But I know that saying things like that usually ends up badly… like for instance in the obligatory ‘Rectal Exam!’

I definitely don’t want to do that!.... again! (>_<)

So I just said, My dad visits my sister for 2 months every spring. ^_^

That wasn’t enough for Sherlock!

What do you do for a living?

I politely replied, I am a speaker and an author…

This bugged him for some reason!

What do you speak about?

At which point my brain went off again!

a)      How to win friends and influence people… A class you might think about signing up for puddin-head!

b)      Whatever the F__k I want to talk about!

c)       Things you obviously know nothing about… Social Skills!... or.. the one I like best…

d)      Vaginas!

The sad part is… all of these responses are met with the same outcome… A Cavity Search from a former Turkish Prison Wrestler with fingers – the width of which – are rivaled only by the girth of a Mexican Hoagie! …

No thanks!... Homi-don’t-play-that!... anymore! (>_<)

So I said…. Sales and Motivation… *_*

The rest of the day was somewhat uneventful… Lots of riding in mostly sunshine… That’s good!

I am now in Salem Oregon… Don’t know yet how far that is from San Fran but hope to be there by this time tomorrow….San Fran that is… I’m already here…

Life is good!... Keep in touch…

Ttfn

MB11



Great Day in Victoria!

Got up early  David took me to Ted's to look at my light - low beam - that was not working... Doug not only put a new one on but also installed the new Gremlin bell David and Kat gave me:

Doug also told me his nickname is Psycho!... What that means... I don't know...

David began to detail my bike:

When he had finished... it was Gleamin!

Great Job David!... Thanks!


But!... When we went to leave... My Oakley Sun Glasses were missing!.. Looked everywhere... Did not find them!... We left :-(

Went touring in the sun... Was a great ride:

Here I am at Mile 0 on the Trans Canada Highway..... With Helmet-Head-Hair   pressed against my head!

Here I am with Terry F at Trans Cda 0...I bike... he liked to walk... I understand....*_*.... What?... Too Soon?..lol

Later in the day we went back to David's to watch the hockey game... Ted from the bike shop phoned to say they found a set of glasses... Mine!.. We went back:

Honest Ted!.. Bikers are the salt of the earth!... Thanks Ted!

Then... we ordered pizza and watched the V-Cannucks win their second game... What a way to finish a great day... when the Toronto Maple Leafs no longer matter!

About to go to bed... Tired... Up early tomorrow to take the ferry back to Vancouver to head south to the USA...

Still much to do and discover.. Stay tuned my little adventurers... See ya tomorrow in another country!

TTFN
MB11

Day One in Victoria

I'm in Victoria!

Found out that I stole a free breakfast on the ferry this morning... I just walked into the lounge.. nobody stopped me... I saw people going up and filling their plates... Me Too!

Turns out you have to pay to get in.... Yum Yum.The view was good too at my table:

Got off the boat and met Dave and Kat on the road... Thet took me over to Andrew the Harley mechanic to have my gear-shift pedal re-installed.

Kat and Dave

Dave and Kat presented me with a Gremlin Bell:

It's designed to ward off the bad mo-jo / gremlins on the road that might otherwise ruin your trip... not unlike the the breakdown-trials I've experienced this trip.

Later we went for a nice cruise around the island and stopped for some great views:

Beautiful Country!

And of course I had to pose for the cause:

I'm the guy on the right... *_*

Today I saw so many deer.. one just hit by a car [poor thing] and one standing on someone's front lawn in the suburbs... I stopped in front of it on my bike and it just looked at me like: 'Wut Chu Talkin Bout Willis?"

I saw an amazingly beautiful bald eagle...

But now it's getting late.. and I'm bushed...

Talk to you tomorrow... Stay tuned!
MB11

Friday: I'm Gonna Rename my GPS MOSES!

Ok! So I’m finally on the BC Ferry ‘Celebration’…. But on the 10am depart… Not the 9am… BECAUSE!... Let’s go back….

Got up this morning in Coquitlam BC [Friday Jun 3^rd] and it had stopped raining… but still no sun… That’s ok.

Left the hotel in plenty of time to make it to the ferry.

Plugged the route into my gps and took off. … Well….

The traffic was horrendous!... At times I put the bike on the kickstand because I wasn’t moving.

Then…. My gps tells me to make a turn which I don’t remember seeing on the mapquest I pulled up in my hotel room… and then the agony began…. My gps must be retarded!

It took me in circles to the point of making me dizzy!  And after a while, I decided I’ll rename my gps Moses!... Why you ask?... Because it’s older than Moses and no matter what destination I put in, it always takes me out on a desert somewhere and then loses satellite communication!

When it gives you instructions like, “Go 3 streets…. Take a left at the Desert… and wander for a hundred years!”… I think it’s time to replace ‘OlMoe’ with a new one.

Another reason is, I hate the sound of the lady on the gps who – I’m sure – hates me as much and takes great delight in sending me the wrong way… This morning she said, “Take ramp left”…. Well, there were 2 ramps left… so I took the leftist… and I can’t say for sure… but I thought I heard her go, “Tee-Hee!”..

So now I’m late and the bike’s on fumes… need gas.

Pull into a station that sells only diesel!... But there is a fine East Indian guy there filling up and I say, “Hey Boss… Do you know the way to the BC Ferries?”

Ferries? He says.

Yes. I say.

You come from the ferries?. He asks in a thick Apu Nahasapeemapetilon dialect.

No!... I want to GO to the ferries.

You want ferries?

Yes, I say again… BC Ferries.

Oh!... You come from Ferries?

Boss! I say… Do you know the way to the BC Ferries?

Ferries? He says again.

Look  you Friggin Punjabi comedian!... Are trying to make ME CRAZY???!!!...... I said…………………………………. In my mind…………… that managed to come out, “Yes!.. Ferries”.

This witty repartee’ – believe it or not – went on for a couple more rounds until I had had enough and said, “Hey!.... Who’s on First?”

He said, “What?”

I said, No… What’s on Second!”…. Bawhahah!... Two can play at this game Sucker!.....

The truth is, I only said that last part in my mind for my own sanity and entertainment.

Sorry Boss… is what he said as I drove off looking for a gas station with gas and people who don’t talk in Dr Seuss! (>_<)

So I Finally make it to the ferry, which is where I am now in a café at the front of the ship with a beautiful view….btw… The sun is out!...Yaaa!

This marks a new point in my journey…. Meeting my old high school chum Dave and his wife Kat – both of which are bikers – and my other friend Dave I used to work with back in the early 80s at Pitney Bowes, London.

So this is my early addition… Hope you like it….

Later tonight I’ll update again… Stay tuned!

MB11

Rain... Rain... and more Rain!

This is what I see out my window this morning:

It rained like a pig all day in Vancouver!

Couldn't / Didn't want to ride my bike in the rain today... Got a call from my friend Katie who the Wu and I met this time last yaer on our Med cruise.... She offered to come and pick me up in the rain and take me to Harley to get a new pedal for my bike... We did that only to learn that the Harley dealership was now part of the Trev  Dealey Museum we visited in 2004 ...

It was great!... They had many beautiful bikes from the past..

Here's Katie posing:

Thanks Katie for driving me around in the rain today! Got my pedal replacement and finally purchased a heated liner I can hook up to my bike to keep me warm.... only to find out the weather is now changing tomorrow to more normal temps wherein I will no longer need the services of a heated liner! Next year?

Got some pics of Downtown Vancouver:

This guy has the same problem I had last week with the Trotskies!

These guys look like most of my teachers any time I answered a question in class!

Made it to Stanley Park this afternoon in the Rain... But it was a lovely place!

Very tired..Looking forward to tomorrow morning ... going on the ferry to meet my old high school chum Dave in Victoria...

Talk to ya soon!

MB11

Wednesday: The Coldest and the Longest!

Started my bike this morning in the underground at the Blackstone In Canmore at 7am... The car next to me had an after-market alarm system on it... One crack of my pipes and it went off!...I laughed as it was screaming away as I "left... The Building!"

I used to do that downtown where there were 3 of these alarms parked on the same street... I'd go by on my bike 2 or 3 times a week and every time their alarms would go off and the owners would run from the house...I'm a Baaad Boy! -_-

Today was by far the coldest day so far... 5 Layers were not enough this morning.. I froze!

As I entered Banff National Pk I saw 2 elks.. Thought they were statues first, until they moved... Still had fur on their spring antlers.

Later, I saw the biggest black bear I've ever seen..Grizzley size.... Then, at the side of the road - 5 feet from me as I drove by - a mother black bear and 3 cubs.... Then... 2 minutes later... even closer, another mother bear and 2 cubs... The mother looked me in the eye as I passed her on the bike.... I think she likes bikers!

Came around a corner and looked up... Not more than 50 feet from me... 10 white fluffy mountain goats... they like bikers too judging by the way they all gave me the eye.

Later I passed tiny ponys, little burrows, a few lamas and a dead badger..

I also saw two of the most tangeled and destroyed 18 wheelers that went off the road on the mountain highway... I;m sure there were no survivers..

When I got to Salmon Arm the sun came out and I peeled a layer....Hey... what's with a town called Salmon Arm... What does that mean?... Who comes up with these names?... Was there a guy who caught a salmon with an arm or was there a guy in town sporting a salmon for an arm?... How about Weasel Knee?.. I like that one.

12 hours later, I made it through the mountain rain and now I'm in Coquitlem BC.... Why?... Because there are 3 conventions and a NHL Playoff game in Vancouver... so 25 Kms is the closest room I could get.

Very exhausted... It's raining like a pig outside and I can't get the hockey game on tv...

Life is good?

ttfn
mb11