Chapter 13

Don has done a superb write up on the holistic esoteric ( are these the right words ? ) side of the trip.  Contemplative and reflective stuff. A new millennium guy, 21st century, in touch with his feelings, sentimental, emotional, .... a Venus.  (but knowing Don, maybe he's just trying for a nomination to be in the running for a Literary Guild award thing )  Maybe a future blog could be a nostalgia thing: " Booze Broads & Rods ", the sixties..
Oh   -  Don ain't old enough...

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Wow, ...........the trip has been completed.  But now that interest is waning, readership is dropping, subscribers are abandoning, ratings are falling off ,and fans are reaching for the  remote, ............................................................... the old dogs  finally have their computer act together.

Version 3.1 of the blog has been miraculously updated to Windows 7. Hale has done a masterful job of resurrecting the missing photos, imbedding links that connect, and including vids. that work.

Redemption !  Except sort of feels a bit like RIM. The sun has already set. Past it's best before date. No chance of going viral......

Speaking of RIM, the BB 10 is due out in 2013. Investors have voiced their opinion via a crashing share price, but I recall something similar with APPLE some years ago ?

As my bike is in transit shipping to Kelowna, as opposed to Victoria, the possibility of continuing with the blog exists.. a big comeback is pending.  So just when you thought it was over..............

That's right....A SEQUEL !!!

How exciting is that ?

(the Dogs welcome any and all comments, positive or otherwise.  In other words, we're looking for some feedback, some praise, some atta boys ......for somebody who cares .............)  

Chapter 12

Lookin' Back ...

It's now been a couple of weeks of rest and relaxation and now some time for reflection.

People have asked do I feel a sense of accomplishment?  A little, but our little odyssey across the country was more about the camaraderie and being able to drink in the sights and smells of this great country we live in ... and all I want to do now is more travelling ... next year ... East Coast! 

I was very fortunate in 2003 to take 5 weeks holidays from my duties at "the Bank" and camp with my family across Western Canada and then return back to Ontario through the United States.  It was during this trip that we spent a week camping at Rathtrevor Provincial Park on Vancouver Island with the BIL (Brother-in-Law) and his LOL "life partner" Kim and my nephew and niece ... Geoff and Lauren. 

This was my first real "taste" of Western Canada and also the first (despite being married into my wife's family for 15 years at the time) opportunity to get to know my BIL and his family.

I know this is a bit of a digression, but it was 2003 which marked the 100th anniversary of Harley Davidson and JFK just so happened to have purchased a 100th anniversary Heritage Softtail.   It wasn't until about 5 or 6 years later that I first rode this bike, but the seed was planted that I wanted to get a motorcycle ... hearing of JFK's and Kim's adventures really made me feel I was missing out on something significant and I have a bit of a rule that if you want to do it and can afford it and it isn't going to hurt anyone ... to quote Nike ... "just do it".

To be able to complete this trip which JFK and I planned over of a bottle of scotch in Sooke in the fall of 2009 is truly rewarding and it was unfortunate that we could not complete it in 2010 and although I would have felt a little bit like the "4th wheel" last year, I would have loved to have heard the stories that Kerry, John and JFK would have shared about their 1973 adventure.   Likely the most entertaining part would be listening to three differing versions of the same event ... perhaps I would have adjudicated the discussion and passed judgement on the best or most likely story and I could have documented it for posterity sake.

Back to the most recent adventure ... I could not believe how tiring it is to do 600 kms a day on a bike!  Day in and day out!   LOL, we always had late starts which not surprisingly lead to rather late stops.   Bottom line is this is one big assed country ... it's quite shocking travelling eastwards from Van that at Winnipeg you still haven't hit the longitudinal centre of Canada!

We were very much amateurs with our blog / travel diary but enjoyed trying to piece things together each evening.  Regrettably our energy levels in the evenings did very little to assist whatever creative output we could muster.  Now that it's over, I think we have finally mastered the technology.  Albeit I tried to do all of this on an iPad vs a comp which posed numerous challenges.

So, in summary, here's what stands out:

- it was an awesome trip!

- how diverse this country really is ... topography, climate zones, cultures

- how unpopulated the country is ... it's simply amazing that a country the size of Canada has a much lower population than the combined populations of Mumbai (Bombay) and Delhi in India

- how I really hate large cities

- how expensive it is to stay at travel motels along the way ... on average $120+ a night!  Where did the $50 Super 8 / Comfort Inn go? ... and why did that $100 hotel have a worm on my pillow ... sorry, but I'm used to chocolates ... what can I say?

- how bikers are a fraternity

- how being on a bike can turn some people who you know are likely introverted by nature into very sociable individuals.  There is this "comfort" for them to talk bikes to fellow bikers

- bikes are magnets for many who have always dreamt about doing what we were fortunate enough to be able to do

- the "chin wag" and how it dramatically adds to the travel time.   Conversations can start up anytime and anywhere

- how I don't want to be a "I used to ..." or "I wanted to" guy.   Many chin wags often opened with these 3 words and I know this is unfair but I don't want to be one of those guys ... I want to be the guy doing it.   I realize that not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to afford to do a trip like this, but I also realize that I know many people who can afford to chase their dreams but work is the most important thing in their life ... :(

DH

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Chapter 11

......for those viewers with inquiring minds.........check out:  "olddogsonhogs" on youtube. By Don Hale. The one with the railroad tracks.

Impressive. Academy award stuff.....

 Here'a a link ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MjQ49ekslU&feature=g-upl

Chapter 10

Here's a real disturbing vid. Hale was on the road for 8 days before revealing this. He knew, intuitively, that if this item made an appearance sooner, the ridicule and derision would be relentless and totally ruthless.. This is much more shocking then when he revealed  -  after the trip was over mind you  -  that he packed 10 T-shirts..  This admission was only made after a clothesline count occurred at the "POOL"....
Who is this guy ? Who does this ?
What does this mean  ?

One version of our trip across 4 provinces is "Timmies to Timmies". Kinda surprising as The Donald is a Starbucks sipper. I know he isn't converted to the blue-collar line, but he did imbibe on a regular basis .
Here's proof.....

Chapter 9

..been a few days, with many tech issues...

1) I had a draft of chapter 9 saved  -  it was ready to go except for pics/vids. - suddenly - it's gone !
2) where did chapter 7 go ?
3) what happened to our Princeton blog ?
4) how did all the pics disappear ??  Apparently they now reside on flickr.
5) trying to upload vids has proven to be beyond the capabilities of  some of us....can't teach on old dog new tricks......

These are weighty issues, with questions that at this point cannot be answered....

Ontario has so many PoPo. Saw more PoPo in 1 day in Ont. then in 6 days crossing the Parries. Of course, the key word here is saw. Hale was rewarded by a reminder in the mail from Medicine Hat's Finest that he didn't see their photo radar van .......................I must have been close ahead or behind, but in either case was law abiding...

Spent a week at the Hale's cottage, enjoying superb hosting ( it's called imposing - in the case of relatives, one's goal is to impose as much as possible according to The Daughter.) Did much eating, boating with Capt. Hale - the skipper, relaxing, and enjoying cottage life on The Pool. Nice family gathering with both sibs and b.i.l.s.  The other b.i.l. (Peter) arrived with his copy-cat SOC. (silly orange car) . Copy cat because I also have an SOC -( '07 'vette). Thought I was back home for a moment....

Reddi Fox at the cottage ... cameo appearance ...

Blue Heron in the weeds

Blue Heron in flight ... was about two seconds too slow on this one ....

On Severn River

Big Chute Marine Railway connecting Gloucester Pool with the Severn River ... google it!

Drove to down Oakville and was in awe of all the old brick farm houses, barns, and hardwood trees. It might be 'Beautiful B.C.',  but Ont. is every bit as beautiful. Passed through Creemore, who's motto is: "Creemore - one hundred years behind the times".    Now that's my kind of town - and motto. I could, am, living that.......................

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Ok, after 7 days on the road trying to get the vid. camera working, I had no choice but to resort to reading the manual. So, on the 8th day, success, and finally have some footage................(profound footage at that) It's taken 4 days to be able to upload ( had to employ a teen)  -  and  it would be prudent, considering, to either post, or provide a link, in a separate chapter - stay tuned.................

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 For some reason, which eludes at the moment, especially in view of the weather, the decision was made in Toronto to ship the bike back to BC, and Westjet home....................

I guess you could say that the old dog put his tail between his legs, and dog-legged it  for home..................