|
The reason
|
There's a HOG Rally in Prince George, British Columbia and we're goin'. Ourselves, never been to
Prince George, but we have Nancy coming with us. Raised in those parts, she still has family there
and rides up once a month during the summer. And she's a fine rider to boot.
Gladys, Nancy and myself leave Edmonton early to make the trip in one day. We make a short stop
in Jasper. The temperature is blazing hot and my ass is already sweating (bad thing for a long
ride). Nancy, on the other hand, just loves the heat. Don't know how she can stand it - not removing
any riding gear while we stand around under the hot sun.
Once fueled up, off we go again. Nancy's made this run so many times, she doesn't like to
waste time.
Gladys on her XL1200C
|
Nancy on her Springer
|
|
|
|
Pause for the cause
|
After the rally, Gladys and I intend to carry on; riding through other parts of
British Columbia, so we've packed camping gear on the Road Glide (as you can see in the photo
below).
The gear also happens to make a nice back rest. It even makes a nice, second seating position -
as I semi-stand on the bike to let the sweat blow off my nether regions ("Ahhhh!"). Man, I hate
hot weather.
Hey Gladys! Wake up! We gotta go!
|
About 5 miles out of Prince George we are met by Nancy's brothers, Mick and Dave, as well as
Dave's lovely wife, Wendy. Once introductions are made, Dave and Mick inform us their mother has already
booked a motel room for us and they are going to lead us through the city to it. Fantastic -
since the temperatures have really risen now. Being stuck in city traffic, trying to find
a room while not knowing our way around would have been brutal. Did I mention I hate hot weather?
Dave and his wife, Wendy (somehow, we never got a picture of Mick)
|
Before leaving us at our motel, Mick, Dave and Nancy warned us to get a bit of rest. In a few hours, they
will be returning, to show us the town's night spots like only locals can do.
Evening comes around and here comes Dave, Mick, Wendy and Nancy for a night on the town. And what a night
it was. We were introduced to so many people, I couldn't keep track anymore. Some were guys we knew from
2004 when the Prince George chapter came to our city for a rally.
Mick and Dave seem well-connected, which translates into no waiting in lineups, anywhere we go. And,
when it comes to the bikes, they're being watched for us. We're inside a Country and Western bar and Mick brings the
D.J. over to find out what I want to hear. Cool... Next song up: "Thunderstruck"
by AC/DC.
The only hint of trouble came when Gladys (naively) humoured a knarly, old biker who had a few too many,
agreeing to dance with him. When she didn't want to dance anymore and he got persistent, some intervention
was needed. For the rest of the evening the joke was about maybe giving her back to him!
Arriving at the rally registration
|
Website readers Hilda and Paul with Gladys
|
The next day at the rally was fun and things were well organized. While milling around, a couple who I'd
never seen before walked over and said, "Hi Don! Where's Gladys?" They then introduced themselves as
Paul and Hilda; explaining they recognized us from our ride reports on this website. Well, with powers of
recognition like that, we gotta have their picture (above) included on this page!
On the last day of the rally, all the chapters gathered and made a police-escorted tour through the city
(shown below). Lots of bikes, lots of spectators and no mishaps. Nicely pulled off.
The rally parade through Prince George
|
The day after the rally was over, Gladys and I decided to head down to Mara Lake, near Sycamous. That's where my
folks have a small trailer lot with a shed we can use for a few days. Getting there from Prince George took us through some parts of
B.C. we couldn't recall ever having rode through yet.
Our time at Mara Lake was spent like we usually do when there - making day trips through the surrounding areas.
|
|
|
A day trip to Eagle Rock
|
|
|
|
A trip through the Merrit region
|
Picking berries along the way...
|
On one of the last days at Mara we called up Terry (who we met in Grinrod the year prior
and stayed in touch with). She expressed interest in coming along for a day ride on the
back of my bike, so we picked her up to ride the loop through the Monasheens, Needles, Faquir
and Revelstoke.
My day-passenger Terry
|
On one of the ferry crossings that day
|
Bikes to the front
|
Gladys, fighting off hornets
|
There's a small restaurant that used to serve excellent, home-made pie on the Monasheen Range road, so we
pulled over for that. Once we got to the door we discovered the place had shut down. The reason
(see sign in the photo below) was a bit humorous.
The gals saying, "Let this be a warning to all you men!"
|
|
|
|
Just to be sure that was really the reason, we decided to check for bodies anyhow...
|
Once back at Mara Lake, the rain set in for awhile; prompting us to figure out how to raise the gazebo.
We got 'er done... eventually.
|
|
|
The gazebo wasn't so much a rain shelter as it was a big filter...
|
With the rain over, the next stop would be "The Salmon-Arm Biker Stomp" rally, not far from Mara Lake (thanks Terry, for
reminding us!) As luck would have it, once we got our tent spot claimed and things set up, Callinda and Carol,
who we know from Edmonton, roll up and pitch camp right next to us.
The Stomp was an entertaining day or two. The headline band for the event was
Train Wreck - which just so
happens to be the same guys Gladys got to play for my 50th birthday celebration (2 years prior). Great
music and the bands didn't stop until nearly 5 in the morning.
Our vacation time nearing an end, we started heading back to Alberta. The weather is nice, although we hit the
occasional wet patch. We found a room in Golden and, after Gladys caught a little shut-eye, went out on the
town for awhile.
|
|
|
I had just bought a rain suit prior to this trip and, at times, was glad for it.
|
Next day, on the road again for the last leg of our trip. We passed through Jasper and then cut east through
the David Thompson region. At one point, Gladys screwed up the courage to try her hand at the Road Glide. She
did just fine. It's always good to gain a little experience with bikes different than your own.
That duffel bag is quite a bit wider than the bike and saddlebags.
|
|
Hopefully she didn't like it too much!
|
Back on our own bikes again, we complete the trip - passing through Rocky Mountain House on our way to
Edmonton.
Looking back on it, we realized how nice an excuse the Prince George rally was for visiting
that region of B.C. We couldn't have had a better riding partner than Nancy on the first leg and couldn't
have recieved better hospitality than was shown by Mick, Dave and Wendy. It was also great to refresh our
friendship with Terry and we're already planning to meet up with Callinda and Carol at the Toad Rock Rally,
next season.
Thanks for reading and, if you ever see us on the road, holler. You might be seeing your
mug in one of the ride reports too! Ride safe.
|
|
The reason
|
There's a HOG Rally in Prince George, British Columbia and we're goin'. Ourselves, never been to
Prince George, but we have Nancy coming with us. Raised in those parts, she still has family there
and rides up once a month during the summer. And she's a fine rider to boot.
Gladys, Nancy and myself leave Edmonton early to make the trip in one day. We make a short stop
in Jasper. The temperature is blazing hot and my ass is already sweating (bad thing for a long
ride). Nancy, on the other hand, just loves the heat. Don't know how she can stand it - not removing
any riding gear while we stand around under the hot sun.
Once fueled up, off we go again. Nancy's made this run so many times, she doesn't like to
waste time.
|
Gladys on her XL1200C
|
Nancy on her Springer
|
|
|
|
|
Pause for the cause
|
After the rally, Gladys and I intend to carry on; riding through other parts of
British Columbia, so we've packed camping gear on the Road Glide (as you can see in the photo
below).
The gear also happens to make a nice back rest. It even makes a nice, second seating position -
as I semi-stand on the bike to let the sweat blow off my nether regions ("Ahhhh!"). Man, I hate
hot weather.
|
Hey Gladys! Wake up! We gotta go!
|
About 5 miles out of Prince George we are met by Nancy's brothers, Mick and Dave, as well as
Dave's lovely wife, Wendy. Once introductions are made, Dave and Mick inform us their mother has already
booked a motel room for us and they are going to lead us through the city to it. Fantastic -
since the temperatures have really risen now. Being stuck in city traffic, trying to find
a room while not knowing our way around would have been brutal. Did I mention I hate hot weather?
|
Dave and his wife, Wendy (somehow, we never got a picture of Mick)
|
Before leaving us at our motel, Mick, Dave and Nancy warned us to get a bit of rest. In a few hours, they
will be returning, to show us the town's night spots like only locals can do.
Evening comes around and here comes Dave, Mick, Wendy and Nancy for a night on the town. And what a night
it was. We were introduced to so many people, I couldn't keep track anymore. Some were guys we knew from
2004 when the Prince George chapter came to our city for a rally.
Mick and Dave seem well-connected, which translates into no waiting in lineups, anywhere we go. And,
when it comes to the bikes, they're being watched for us. We're inside a Country and Western bar and Mick brings the
D.J. over to find out what I want to hear. Cool... Next song up: "Thunderstruck"
by AC/DC.
The only hint of trouble came when Gladys (naively) humoured a knarly, old biker who had a few too many,
agreeing to dance with him. When she didn't want to dance anymore and he got persistent, some intervention
was needed. For the rest of the evening the joke was about maybe giving her back to him!
|
Arriving at the rally registration
|
Website readers Hilda and Paul with Gladys
|
The next day at the rally was fun and things were well organized. While milling around, a couple who I'd
never seen before walked over and said, "Hi Don! Where's Gladys?" They then introduced themselves as
Paul and Hilda; explaining they recognized us from our ride reports on this website. Well, with powers of
recognition like that, we gotta have their picture (above) included on this page!
On the last day of the rally, all the chapters gathered and made a police-escorted tour through the city
(shown below). Lots of bikes, lots of spectators and no mishaps. Nicely pulled off.
|
The rally parade through Prince George
|
The day after the rally was over, Gladys and I decided to head down to Mara Lake, near Sycamous. That's where my
folks have a small trailer lot with a shed we can use for a few days. Getting there from Prince George took us through some parts of
B.C. we couldn't recall ever having rode through yet.
Our time at Mara Lake was spent like we usually do when there - making day trips through the surrounding areas.
|
|
|
|
A day trip to Eagle Rock
|
|
|
|
|
A trip through the Merrit region
|
|
Picking berries along the way...
|
On one of the last days at Mara we called up Terry (who we met in Grinrod the year prior
and stayed in touch with). She expressed interest in coming along for a day ride on the
back of my bike, so we picked her up to ride the loop through the Monasheens, Needles, Faquir
and Revelstoke.
|
My day-passenger Terry
|
On one of the ferry crossings that day
|
|
Bikes to the front
|
|
Gladys, fighting off hornets
|
There's a small restaurant that used to serve excellent, home-made pie on the Monasheen Range road, so we
pulled over for that. Once we got to the door we discovered the place had shut down. The reason
(see sign in the photo below) was a bit humorous.
|
The gals saying, "Let this be a warning to all you men!"
|
|
|
|
|
Just to be sure that was really the reason, we decided to check for bodies anyhow...
|
Once back at Mara Lake, the rain set in for awhile; prompting us to figure out how to raise the gazebo.
We got 'er done... eventually.
|
|
|
|
The gazebo wasn't so much a rain shelter as it was a big filter...
|
With the rain over, the next stop would be "The Salmon-Arm Biker Stomp" rally, not far from Mara Lake (thanks Terry, for
reminding us!) As luck would have it, once we got our tent spot claimed and things set up, Callinda and Carol,
who we know from Edmonton, roll up and pitch camp right next to us.
The Stomp was an entertaining day or two. The headline band for the event was
Train Wreck - which just so
happens to be the same guys Gladys got to play for my 50th birthday celebration (2 years prior). Great
music and the bands didn't stop until nearly 5 in the morning.
Our vacation time nearing an end, we started heading back to Alberta. The weather is nice, although we hit the
occasional wet patch. We found a room in Golden and, after Gladys caught a little shut-eye, went out on the
town for awhile.
|
|
|
|
I had just bought a rain suit prior to this trip and, at times, was glad for it.
|
Next day, on the road again for the last leg of our trip. We passed through Jasper and then cut east through
the David Thompson region. At one point, Gladys screwed up the courage to try her hand at the Road Glide. She
did just fine. It's always good to gain a little experience with bikes different than your own.
|
That duffel bag is quite a bit wider than the bike and saddlebags.
|
|
|
Hopefully she didn't like it too much!
|
Back on our own bikes again, we complete the trip - passing through Rocky Mountain House on our way to
Edmonton.
Looking back on it, we realized how nice an excuse the Prince George rally was for visiting
that region of B.C. We couldn't have had a better riding partner than Nancy on the first leg and couldn't
have recieved better hospitality than was shown by Mick, Dave and Wendy. It was also great to refresh our
friendship with Terry and we're already planning to meet up with Callinda and Carol at the Toad Rock Rally,
next season.
Thanks for reading and, if you ever see us on the road, holler. You might be seeing your
mug in one of the ride reports too! Ride safe.
|
|
|