I haven’t added up all the kilometres ridden to this point.  Yesterday and today have been two of the shortest of the still young journey and that was just fine.  It’s the September long weekend in one of the most beautiful places in Canada and I had plans on being with friends on Vancouver Island.  So did everyone else in Vancouver…

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Lying in a big comfortable bed in the home of friends, bike in the garage and their car on the street all while being treated like royalty made me think …soak this up Lenny.  There’s not much more of this in the coming days.  That thought in my head I tip toed downstairs to find Harley.

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Julie had long since gone to bed and Brian asked, “you want another one?”  The right answer, knowing that I had to spend an hour or so on the bike in the morning was obvious but I wasn’t seeing it.  ”Sure” I replied with enthusiasm as ice clinked into the two glass tumblers.  It was now the next morning and I thought to myself, when I’m done with the bike I should do some laundry and wash the little wool socks that are on my teeth.

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I had started the day later then expected but not without good reason.  The offer was there from my hosts to stay another night and I was really giving it some thought but in the end the road was calling.  I had planned to go to two places today and now I was sitting roadside trying to decide if I was going to ride to Tofino or Port Renfrew.   Continue Reading…

I put in some serious miles today.  Sixteen in total.  I drifted into Victoria, BC to see a few friends and take in the sights of Halifax’s sister city in the west and never left.  The sights and sounds were too much to pass up  and I roamed the waterfront and made a concerning discovery.  The leaves are falling and signalling me that it is time to head south soon.

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No alarm clock necessary when staying in Victoria’s inner harbour.  Shortly after 7AM the sound of the occasional gull drifting by is obscured by the roar of the seaplane’s engine as it skims the water for take off to the mainland.  I too have my sights set on Vancouver but not for business but rather a visit with yet more good friends and my mode of travel goes at a leisurely pace.

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It has been a great week at the homes of friends, enjoying the hospitality, good food and drink but I’m missing the feel of the road. I went out to the check on the bike at the end of the day and looked at it from the alley as she sat tucked away in the garage. She’s not a garage queen and looks her best at sunset, covered in dirt guarding the tent.
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Rolling up Hwy 1 towards Hope, BC I had a decision to make. The four lane highway over the Coquihalla Pass to Kamloops or the old #3 Hwy through Crowsnest Pass which would add hours to the trip to Calgary but lots of scenery and less traffic. As I approached the exit the bike leaned right and away from the main road and southeast towards the border.
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I had stopped in Castlegar, BC for coffee and spoke with a group eyeballing the bike at the restaurant and they asked about the trip. Dan looked at me curiously for a bit and asked, “you are from the east coast and you don’t have an east coast accent?” His friend piped in an asked, “what’s an east coast accent sound like?” The group waited for the reply and I scrambled for a bit thinking, pretend you’re in North Sydney. “Wat’s yur fadders name?” I replied.

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At the end of the day of riding I find myself tired but other then hold on and lean in I don’t do much but eat and talk with others (and myself).  It was now a sunny afternoon in Kananaskis country with my sister and her family and I was pulling myself up a rock face.  Sweat was pouring, I was breathing heavy and mumbling to myself, “try mixing in a salad or two Lenny.”

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