You get a little goofy after a month alone...

I can’t believe that I have been on the road for about a month. I am currently in Edmonton Alberta. Today I reached a milestone in my motorcycle riding career. Up until now my longest ride had been 7,200 miles which I did back in 2002. Today I have gone beyond that and I am loving every click of the odometer as I continue down this road of enlightenment and discovery. Tonight I find myself reflecting back over the highs and lows that I have experienced during this initial sector of my fund raising adventure. Some of more vivid memories and impressions include the following:

1. The People - No doubt my biggest surprise has been the incredible people I have met along the way. Although I have never seemed to have a problem meeting people, I have been blown away by the number of people wanting to engage me in conversation about what I am doing, the Cruising for the Cure cause, and asking question about Titan Sports Media (my sponsor). Even more amazing is the fact that some people approach me and hand me, a total stranger, money to help find a cure for breast cancer. With only one exception, these people have not appeared to be wealthy. They are just nice, down to earth, caring folks with a heart the size of a watermelon. These acts of kindness are so refreshing in a world that seems to be filled more and more with negativity and cynicism. I must say that I am much more optimistic today than I was just a month ago about the kind of world our children and their children will experience during the coming years. These contributions have ranged from $1 to $100 and I find myself in total awe of the $1 contributors just as much as I do the ones who donate $100. I think there is a lesson here for us all in these jesters of wanting to help others!

One funny story is about a contributor (who will remain nameless). The guy was a total classic. I was in Fort St. John yesterday in BC. I was riding around town looking for a hotel, the visitor’s bureau, and trying to find a gas station. I noticed during this hour long ride through town that I saw a guy on various streets about 4 or 5 different times driving his hot red Mustang. Sometimes he would be going in the opposite direction as me, sometimes, perpendicular to me, and sometimes in my same direction. He was about 35 years years old and looking at my Captain America every chance he could get. Next thing I know he comes into the gas station that I am in. He pulls up right next to me and asks me what I am riding for and then I tell him. Without hesitation, he hands me $2.50 Canadian and says he would have given me a $20 if he had it on him. He went on to explain that he is an oil field worker and was born and raised in the area. What happened next almost knocked my socks off. No doubt I am looking a little scruffy at the end of the day after riding hard for 8 hours and being on the road for a month. He looks at me as he opens his glove box and pulls out a sandwich bag packed full of pot. I mean it looked like a Thanksgiving turkey crammed full of stuffing! He next offers me some by saying, “It will take the edge off after a long ride”. I just started laughing out loud and quickly said “no thanks”. I felt I could easily be staring on either Candid Camera or COPS and neither one had any great appeal to me. He was really a nice guy and I am sure he would have made a “special contribution” had my answer been different, but no way for this biker dude! Shortly thereafter, he peals out of the gas station with a smile on his face.

2. Weather – Today I finally had my first really warm day. High pressure is now building and I should have hot summer kind of days for the next 4 or 5 days anyway. It was in the low 90’s (31 or 32 Celsius) and should stay that way for the next few days. With the exception of Alaska where it was partly clear on some days, the weather up until now has been very cold, rainy, and pretty miserable. June is supposed to be the best month up in the northern BC, the Yukon, and in Alaska. Keep in mind, you take cold weather, then throw in a 70 to 75 mile per hour motorcycle ride for 8-11 hours and it does not take a genius to figure you that often you can be freezing your tail off. So, no doubt you are asking what have I been wearing each day for the better part of the last three plus weeks? Long underwear, jeans, and chaps below the waist and then above the waist the typical day would include long underwear, three short sleeve tee shirts, two long sleeve tee shirts, a long sleeve turtle neck, a canvas long sleeve shirt, an electric vest turned on high, my heavy leather jacket, and rain gear. No wonder I look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy in most all the photos.

People who know me know that I love hot weather and am longing for the days of 100 to 110 degrees that I hope to hit in the lower 48. The only issue with that will be where to store all the cloths that I have been wearing to keep warm. The space where I would ordinarily store these items is now taken up by the spare helmet and video camera that I purchased along the way.

3. The Scenery - Although I have ridden to British Columbia on my bike in the past, the beauty of BC, the Yukon, Alaska, and now Alberta has far exceeded all of my expectations. Not just the scenic mountains, rivers, and steams, but the farmland is nothing short of breathtaking. Even with very difficult weather in some locations, these places have been worth making the effort to visit. The variety of terrain, the wild life, and the great locals have been something that I will never forget.

4. Travelling Alone – It forces one to be more outgoing than one would usually be. I know some of you are saying, “How is that possible with Dave?” I have found myself often engaged in “Seinfeld” kind of conversations with total strangers. It has been a total kick getting to know the locals as well as the bikers and motor home folks. Most people are really interesting and fun to talk to assuming you only give them half a chance.

5. Cost of Fuel - Everyone is complaining about the cost of petrol. Most merchants are expecting fewer visitors this year than over past several years due to the current cost of fuel. The exception is that they feel that motorcycle traffic is definitely on the increase. I am seeing a ton of “Motorcycle Friendly” signs out in front of hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. I can’t tell you the number of people who have said to me while I am paying for my gas, “I wish my fill up was that cheap”. By the way, so far I am getting about 51 miles to the gallon. Gas prices have been running about US$4.25 to $4.75 per gallon and my fill ups are now costing me just north of $20.

6. My Harley – Although I have always been a long distance rider, this trip has caused me to begin to rethink my equipment. I am going to give serious consideration to moving to a new road touring bike for my next major trip. Riding a modern version of a Captain America chopper is fun, but it is obviously not built for the incredibly harsh riding conditions of parts of BC, the Yukon Territory, and Alaska. The thin front tire makes riding in sand, DG, deep water, over pot holes and in hail that much more difficult versus a bike with special suspension and a wide front tire. I smell a new bike coming on as soon as this trip is wrapped up... assuming this one makes it to the finish line!

7. Family – I can’t tell you enough how much fun it was seeing my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and all their kids, etc. in Anchorage. A real treat. Also, I am really looking forward to heading on into Saskatoon in Saskatchewan later this week. Why am I going to Saskatoon you ask? Because I like the name of the town!

A real bonus comes a week from yesterday when I pick up Doreen at the airport in Bozeman Montana. As mentioned, we are renting a great house on the Gallatin River (where they filmed the Brad Pitt movie called A River Runs Through It) and we are having our kids (Brendon and Kelly) come up with their significant others. In addition, no doubt we will spend a lot of quality time with my cool cousin Sharon and her great husband (Jon) along with their family during the following two weeks. Can’t wait!

My friends, that’s about it from here at this point. The trip has been a total blast so far. You sure meet some characters when travelling alone on a motorcycle, but that is no doubt what some of them, if not all of them, are saying about me!

I hope you all have a super week and for those of you living in Canada enjoy your Canada Day on the 1st of July and for those in America, enjoy your 4th of July.

Until next time, I will try to keep the rubber down and the paint up (a motorcycle saying). Ride on my friends, ride on!

Smiley