PTSD - the shame, fear, anger and misunderstandings and RIDING!

Airdrie Bikes & Bulls

PTSD is a dreadful dis-ease.

It can come on so hard, so strong, so fast that you simply can't function in any coherent way.

Sometimes you know what your triggers are and other times you get caught so off guard by a trigger that you didn't know existed that you feel foolish or worse.

The outbursts of a PTSD survivor can be almost as disturbing to witness and or deal with as the outburst from a person with Tourette Syndrome.

For the person inside of the PTSD episode, it can be scary, frightening, embarrassing, horrifying, mortifying - there are a lot of words you can put to how the person in the moment feels. As the whole thing blows up out of control, the person inside of the episode almost immediate begins berating themselves, at least that's been my experience.

I was diagnosed back in the late 90's and I gotta tell you that the supports for civilians suck.
The drugs put so much weight on you that your self esteem goes in the toilet, they mess with your innards and make them unhappy and unhealthy.

The drugs, they are the absolute worst part, next to a health care system that is over burdened. Continuity of care is challenging especially in the north where doctors from other countries who seek to immigrate to Canada are "requested" to work here for their first 5 years.

Motorcycle Ride to the Reynolds presented by Honda Canada

Many leave here for warmer climes and bigger cities with larger population bases for customers.

At least for veterans, there is some attempt at a cohesive support program, there is truly little for the civilian.

One of the hardest things to deal with from my perspective is the shame one feels when you get to a point that you can't control your tone of voice or the anguish or anger with which you speak.

Since May and the first anniversary of Fort Mac I have struggled hard with PTSD.
I am winning, but I have had a few occasions that I am not overly proud of.



Being around others who judge you, who can't deal with or accept you because of the PTSD can make life, interesting.

3rd CAV Rally 

Many people turn on you once they experience a PTSD episode with you, those who don't, those are the ones you hang on to.

It can be a very lonely way to live.

This is my way of reaching out the Military Minds Rolling Barrage as they complete their trip - across Canada to raise PTSD awareness...although I have not always gotten along with the way their organization uses dark humour publicly sometimes, I do appreciate the work that they do.

I salute all who work to help people understand the invisible would called PTSD.

That work benefits everyone with PTSD or those who love someone with it.



Now onto other more pleasant topics.

In the last few weeks I have not been on the computer much.

Hence why I have not updated this blog for a bit.

I have actually been out riding.

Pipes Education event at Harley-Davidson of Edmonton

I am finally coming out of the fog of adrenal fatigue and while I can now work 6 days a week again, I am still only able to work between 8-10 hours a day, sometimes I can manage 12.
When you are used to being a one person crew that worked 12-14 hours a day 7 days a week, it's rough. I miss those highly productive hours.
HOWEVER as I mentioned, I have been riding and enjoying every mile I have put on and there have been a few.

I went to the  Run to the Hills Memorial Rally, Airdrie Bikes & Bulls, spent some time with the Military Police in Dundurn Saskatchewan, and I attended the 3rd CAV Rally, I went to Drumheller for a day with a friend and I rode Lucky Highway 13 to create videos with.




I spent time in Wetaskiwin at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum for the Motorcycle Ride to the Reynolds presented by Honda Canada and got one heck of an education on motorcycle pipes from the gang over at Harley-Davidson of Edmonton.

Military Police, Moose Jaw

I promise I will bring you up to speed on all of those events and a whole lot more in the coming days and weeks.


Please folks, if you are lucky enough to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.  We have lost enough people in our community - please be safe and hyper vigilant.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

The Ride to the Reynolds and the 1000 Motorcycles that came out!

The Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin Alberta hosted their first Ride to the Reynolds and based on its success I am positive a second one will be planned for the future.

According to the people manning the gates, 1000 motorcycles came through!

Honda Canada was on hand with an amazing display of rare 1950's and 60's Honda motorcycles. Some were only released in Japan and others were only released in Canada. The privately owned display of 40 motorcycles was absolutely impressive.

Honda Canada also had demo rides of their new models which meant that you got a great feel for how far technology has come on their motorcycles.

The rides were booked solid and many were disappointed to find out there were no more seats available.  

Veer from Honda Canada said that next year they will have more bikes and more ride captains so that there would be less disappointment. 

Those who got to test the new rides out all came back with grins on their faces and the comments were more than positive.

The rides in the parking lot were almost as impressive as the rides inside the museum and the diversity of rides and riders was equally incredible!

Inside the museum, Stan Reynolds' collection of cars, motorcycles and machinery is stellar. 

The variety of them boggles the mind especially when you realize that this museum only represents 4% of this amazing man's collection. 

His foresight of the importance of these conveyances means that we all get the opportunity to see very rare and incredibly restored vehicles.

The restoration shop is visible to the public and you can gaze over the various vehicles as they are being worked on.

The Reynolds-Alberta Museum is a place that you can spend days, not just hours. I spent the whole day there and only got to see about 1/3 of the displays. I never got to go to the aviation building and only got to take in part of the White Glove Tour.

Although Cynthia Blackmore, the marketing manager of the Reynolds-Alberta Museum plans on another event in 2017, I encourage you not to wait until then to go take in this very impressive collection. 

The Honda Canada display will be there until October.

Reynolds-Alberta Museum
6426 40 Ave, Wetaskiwin, Alberta
Phone: (780) 312-2065
Toll-free in Alberta: 310-0000 and enter (780) 312-2065
http://www.history.alberta.ca/reynolds/default.aspx

If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you!

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

The long road back to good health & the Ride to The Reynolds

Hi all, It's been a long road back to feeling well since Fort Mac, but thanks to a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, I seem to be on the road to a full recovery.

I am so far behind on my writing and other work from being so sick, that I think I am first!
I have also only been on my motorcycle about 6 times this year.
I won't even crack 10,000 KMS this season when I normally ride 20-30,000.

It's been a hard season, physically and emotionally but the good news is, this weekend I get to ride and I am so looking forward to it.

I feel strong inside and my soul is so ready to reconnect with DOC!

This weekend I will be heading to Wetaskiwin and the Reynolds-Alberta Museum for the Ride to the Reynolds.

Honda Canada will be on hand with motorcycles from the 50's and 60's, some of them are supposed to be very rare! I am so looking forward to that. I love old motorcycles.

Honda Canada is also going to have their "Come Ride With Us" program there so that people can try out the new Honda's and learn about the new technology behind the brand. It should be a very interesting contrast!

Not only will there be special motorcycle only parking, but every rider and passenger gets in for free.

It's been a lot of years since I have gone to the Reynolds Alberta Museum and I am looking forward to the exhibits, the White Glove Tour and the Collection Storage Facility Behind the Scenes Tour.
I am looking forward to interviewing some of the riders and featuring these grand old dames (the motorcycles, not the riders) on our TV Show "Ride Like a Local".

Saturday August 20th is going to be a busy day, and I am so up for it.

Make sure you bring cash if you want to partake in the specials in the Cruisers Cafe or purchase a trinket in the gift shop because there is no ATM on site!

Wherever you might be riding to this weekend, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

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