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!
- 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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