Sabbath Road

I was up at 5AM and packed up my stuff.  It felt good to be heading home.  It had been a grand trip and there are not many motorcycle trips where you can say that in seven days you only had 2 hours of rain!!  We had luck!! I wandered downstairs and put the kettle onto boil - saw the fresh bread and could not resist!  Two slices with some jam on them sure hit the spot!  I read the departure note from Walter and could not find words at the moment to reply. I drank my coffee and watched the morning unfold in Walter's front yard - hoping to see a moose or two (there had been two in the yard the day before and I am told there were two there later on the morning we left!).  No moose sighting for me though!  As before, the only moose I saw in Newfoundland were on plates... I checked my email and caught up on the news and make a second cup of coffee.  Al wandered down, used the washroom and then went back up to bed - checking with me as ...

It was an early start to the day… on the road at 6AM is not unusual for us when we travel – but usually it is planned – today it wasn’t.  I was up at 4AM (Eastern) and wrote on the blog quietly – letting Al get his beauty sleep… when Al work up he looked at his watch, made coffee, got dressed and was packed all in the space of 30 minutes.  He was ready to go at 6:00 AM (Atlantic)…  trouble was it was only 5AM Easter… we left anyways!! The road out of Baie Comeau was a joy to ride.  Tight twisty road marred by some frost heaves – but all in all fun at any speed.  There were signs galore warning you of sharp curves… for about 50KM and then the curves kept coming but there were no more warning signs!! Manic 2 was the first hydroelectric dam that we came to.  I thought it was big.  I hadn’t seen Manic 5 yet!!  Just past Manic 2 I passed Al and went ahead so I could get a photo of him in action.  Let’s just say I had a little action of my own...

Sunday morning.  The day of departure.  Knowing it was to be my last day here I was up with the sun (again) and outside watching the sunrise.  The eastern sky did not disappoint. Every year I have visited Barb and Jerry's farm I have taken a picture over this fence, picture of the rising sun - something of a tradition for me I guess. I began packing up - gathering things that had exploded out of my bags when I arrived three days ago: cords and clothes, a book and camera and computer bits... soon all was where it was supposed to be... All the coffee that could be drunk had been drank and there was nothing left to do but say good-bye.  With hugs all around, I was on my way - south - with a heavy heart. Before I reached Beiseker I was lonely.  Missing my family.  Already missing my friends.  I sat on the side of the road and watched a crop dusting plane make a few runs over a field... gave a quiet word of thanksgiving for all who are a part of my ...

A hot Saturday.  It was hot a 9AM.  It was hot all day long!! Sunrise  5:20 AM After a leisurely western breakfast of steak, eggs and home fries, Jerry, Barb and I headed into Acme to do some work on the home that used to belong to Barb's grandmother.  They had put it up for sale and had recently received an offer on it.  There were some shingles that needed to be replaced and some flowers that Barb wanted to move.  The house is right across the street from the Manse that Anna and I lived in for  four years (and Justin for almost one). With Jerry on the roof I tried to escape across the street and visit with the new minister - to no avail - he wasn't home.  As a result I was forced back into a supervisor role - carrying shingles up and down the ladder.  Once we figured out how inter-locking shingles go on the hole was patched in no time!  Barb gathered up her flowers and we were soon back at the farm. Barb wanted to feed us lunc...

Today (Friday July 16th) was a down day.  I had planned to be here in Acme to utilize Jerry's well stocked shop and replace tires, brake pads and change the oil before I continued westward and then south. I called Redline Motorsports first thing in the morning.  They confirmed that the tires were in their possession and that they could install them today as opposed to Saturday as I had originally scheduled.  Jerry helped me get the bike up on a lift, got me some tools I had not brought and then helped me remove the two tires!  It went like a charm using the lift!  With the tires off, Jerry did a few chores for Barb as Barb wrote a list of things for us pick up in Calgary. With list in hand we headed into Calgary.  The folk at Redline Motorsports were so helpful.  In fifteen minutes the new tires were installed and I was ready to head out the door... then we struck up a conversation with Steve, one of the mechanics there.  He was pretty envio...

The day began at 5:30 AM with a coffee and a crumpet and a hug from Irene.  In short order I was on the road and quickly off the 401 zigging and zagging on some of the best roads Ontario has to offer.  Why people spend so much time on the 401 is beyond me!! Skirting around Guelph I dropped into Fergus and rode down the main drag.  Fergus was the site of the 35th General Coucil of the United Church of Canada in August of 1994.  I must admit that the Scottish in me was tickled by this sign.  What a pleasant town!  Yellow brick seems to have a charm all its own.  And if it had of been a little later in the day I am sure I would have had to stop at the pub!! More zigs and zags - no straight lines here = something like life I thought as I rode...  we seem to think that the most direct route from point "a" to point "b" is the best one... high school, university, job, family... and so on and so on... but life doesn't happen in linear fashion.  W...