Tomorrow in North Battleford - the Conga is winding down!

Well folks tomorrow we have a big fundraiser happening at the Legion - Branch 70 - in North Battleford - it's an all day affair being kicked off with a Pancake Breakfast and includes a show n shine, stunt rider etc.

Noth Battleford's Canadian Legion of Riders intends to win the Johnny Pag Motorcycle that is up for grabs!  They are inviting their entire community to come out, pay the $10 pledge which equals a vote, get a breakfast or a lunch in return and spend a great day being entertained and helping our veterans.

Then on Sunday at Black Jacks in Nisku Alberta is our final fundraiser.

Black Jacks is hosting a BBQ in support of STARS & the Conga and we will be accepting $10 pledges which as I said equal a vote!

I will be arriving at Black Jacks at approximately 3pm - so come on out and help us help our Veterans!

Once I get home to Grande Prairie we will tally all the votes up and one lucky riding club will win the 2013 Johnny Pag Ventura to raffle off, auction off or give away to a vet who needs a bike!

Who will it be?

I will announce the winning Military Clubs name after I get home and have had a few days to regroup and get the paperwork done!

Hope to see a ton of people out this weekend - the weather looks stellar so there is no reason not to come out.

Until next time,

Belt Drive Betty
Editor and Rider

2 Million bikers denied a parade permit by Washington DC city hall

Here is the article: http://www.militianews.com/2-million-bikers-denied-permit-to-ride-through-dc-going-anyway/

Now you'd think the city would want to have the procession move quickly through town.  

I wonder why they chose this route as a city council? The article doesn't really say. 

I wonder if we will see a day where we could get Canadian Bikers out in full force?

There are some 650,000 of us in Canada, but a large gathering is 2,000 - 8,000 bikes here. The magic number here should be around 100,000. 

I wonder what one thing could cause Canadian Riders to want to show unity and soldarity in serious numbers.  There are, estimated last stats I have, 11.5 million riders in the US.  

What's that tell you...strength in numbers. No public squabbles, no libelous or heated comments - only thoughtful consise questions and answers with behaviour that is polite, courteous and yet underlined with steely determination.  

                                                                                        

We have no truly united voice in this country - but how and who and what about the time, money and commitment it would take to unite this way...do Canadians have the fortitude? 

The desire? I seriously would love to know, because it is time.      

I am almost done my cross Canada jounery and have seen first hand, heard first hand a number of the issues that affect all riders and how at times we are our own worst emeny.   

                                                                             

We need to find common ground and a common message to send to our governments, our communities and our police forces what the needs, goals and dreams for this community are.  

We need to come up with a working strategy for education and communicating with our community, the auto driver community, the police forces, our physical communities and their leadership - to learn from them, to work with them to build better relationships. We need to have our voices heard over insurance issues, road conditions, policing issues both within our own community and dealing with police services.  

We the riders of Canada need to unite.                                                                                           

Somehow, we have to grow and evolve through communication and networking or our way of life, one that we hold dear, sacred - will be legislated into becoming a really rich man's lifestyle while the rest of us who truly, passionatley love this way of life, will not be able to afford to excersise it unless we move south of the border where there are still some freedoms and a united voice working to have our issues heard and addressed.

But hey, that's just my two bits worth - what say you?

THIS JUST IN: A Trooper hits a bike injuring both rider and passenger - he NEVER SLOWED DOWN -  http://www.wdtn.com/news/local/greene-county/2-news-obtains-video-of-trooper-crash

Until next time, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty,

Editor & Rider

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Huge thanks due...

Yesterday, while riding with members of the Club Moto Saguenay (of which I am now an honorary member), I noticed that my bike, which was leaking oil from the stator plug - I had noticed the leak a few days before and had been monitoring it - was getting worse.

The noise that I thought was coming from bad shifter bushings was getting louder too.
With the help of Rejean and Francine, they located a local rider who had some tools for a Harley.
He came and looked at my bike and it was decided to take me to Carl Tremblay's shop in
Dolbeau-Mitassini.

Rejean on the left and Francine on the right

When we got there, Carl put my bike on a lift and took the primary case off and pulled the rotar - and it's shot as is the plug for the stator.  Parts were located at Jonquière Harley to the tune of some $550 plus taxes. Rejean's wife went and picked them up and Rejean promised to deliver them to Carl's bike shop this morning!

Carl on the left talking to Rejean on the right about the parts needed

In spite of the hardship that is going to cause financially on this trip - the bike has to be repaired now or I will be in worse shape in the not too distant future.

Carl only charges $45 per hour which is a huge relief!

I can't thank Rejean, Francine and the unknown rider who helped me out enough. They are true brothers and sisters of the family wind and in spite of the language barrier they all dug in to help me find the best solution and then took me and my gear to my hotel.  I thank Rejean who rides a Goldwing for packing my arse!!!!

The bike should be ready this morning and I have to say a huge thank you....these guys and gals helped me and stayed with me late into the night and then rode home in the dark.

I am so grateful!

I love this community and how we all stick together in tough times. This kind of support and help would probably not happen had I been in a car!

Club Moto Saguenay - I am more proud than ever to be an honorary member of your group - you are everything bikers are supposed to be!

I will keep you updated on how things work out!

Until then, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

The journey home begins

I left Newfoundland yesterday. It made me sad to leave the Rock - I loved my time in Newfoundland.

After the Johanna's Memorial Ride - Ride the Boot in the Burin penisula, my bike was loaded into the back of Tom Holletts truck fro the trip back to Port Aux Basque.  There would not be enough time for me to ride from Marystown to the ferry - at least not enough daylight hours....It felt stange seeing my bike in the back of a truck but in hindsight - I realize all things happen for a reason.  I got to spend some time with a fabulous man, take a break from the bike - which wasn't a bad thing and I didn't have to ride the western side of the island at night with all of the moose.

There was a muck up with my ferry and I ended up not having a cabin which made the 3 hours sleep I had gotten at the Port Aux Basque Hotel extra sweet. I want to thank Cathy Larmond for the amazing room and the jet tub - which I put to good use!

I will be writing about all of these things in an article later - I will have all the photos etc to go with it then...

Anyway - I made a decision to ride to Fredericton and then on to Riviere du Loupe and my next ferry instead of going via Bathurst - time is an enemy when things don't go right...

There are so many people that I have to thank for making my time on the Rock absolutely amazing and again I will get into that in a later article. I just wanted to update everyone... I am alive and kicking and looking forward to the next 7 -8 days in Quebec.

Until I can steal a few minutes to write again...
Ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

motorcycle newfoundland

Incredible support

My conga has been getting incredible support from people all throughout eastern Canada.

The CAV has been incredible, escorting me from place to place, ensuring I don't get lost and making sure I have event support. These people have been nothing short of amazing.

I can not thank them enough - it's been phenominal so far!

Brian Stuart from Toys for Big Boys in Moncton helped me fix my old girl - I had a check engine light coming on due to bad spark plugs and my air breather hose that had a crack in in - he put on steel lines and changed plugs and Black betty is running like a top!

Rod from Hammersmith Auto in Greenwood NS did my oil change and changed all of the fluids - what a great shop - again - thanks are highly needed for the service that was above and beyond.

I need to thank KAT Enterprizes - my Amsoil dealer in Red Deer AB for the Amsoil oil, filters and octane boost.  Having my oils shipped to the various destinations has proven to be a godsend and allows me to maintain my bike with the oils I want to use instead of what a local shop carries and the octane boost has saved me a ton of money and kept the octane level in my fuel consistent.  Let's face it, when you go to the pumps and you have one hose for three kinds of fuel - you are getting about 2 litres of regular whn you are buying and paying for premium - this way I can run and pay for regular but get the benefit of premium!  For $5 a bottle and each bottle does two tanks - well - it's a money saver too!

Bike Magic has proven itself to be just that - magic.  My bike is staying reasonably clean in spite of the roads I have taken her on and instead of it taking hours to clean her it takes minutes.   Thank you for supplying a great product to review Mike - Elbow Grease Ventures in Dawson Creek BC - I love the product!

Another product I have been torture testing is the Kriega Back Pack from Angelwings Distributors - I love this pack.  Although it is only water resistant, and I have only experienced 2 days of rain while riding, my bike with the pack on the top of the tour pack has experienced lots of rain at night and I am happy to report that I have hardly had damp clothes.  It's a tough product that seems to be standing up really well.

Then there are the HELD gloves and while they are not the warmest in super cold conditions, or the driest in driving rain - they have been a great addition to the gear I am wearing.  The built in wiper on the left index finger has been a god send and as I said - they are pretty decent in the cold and rain.
Well worth the $149 they cost!

The Olympia jacket I am wearing has also proven itself to be a gem.  Although I'd like the sleeves to be longer and the waist to be lower - the gear jacket does what it says it will do.  I like the fact that both inner liners zip out as it makes hot days pleasan just wearing the mesh shell with the armour.

On really hot days I have been wearing my Draggin Jeans Kevlar riding shirt - I LOVE THIS THING!  It's been wonderful to stay cool and feel protected at the same time.

Then there are my Draggin Jeans - In cold weather I have been using long johns underneath and that is all.  The jeans are warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot. I am wearing the Drayko Drifts which are stretch jeans - they are comfortable and look great on top of being fabulous protection - I am in love with them!

My Frogg Toggs Rain gear has not been needed a whole ton this trip and for that I am forever grateful to Mother Nature, but on the three times I have had to wear them, they have performed really well - I added a leather insert to the inside of both legs to prevent them from melting and I am happy to report that that has been the fix for melted gear!

My head gear from Design Wraps Brand - Rider's Wraps has been phenominal too - I love the new styles and the new fabric that Joan and her team are using.  The head wraps have been head turners with lots of people commenting on the maple leaf!

In all the products I have been torture testing have done exactly what the manufacturers have said they would do - so if you find yourself in the need of great products and services, check out everything I have listed - I am pretty sure you'll experience great results too! Did you know that AutoCraze provides one of largest selection of branded 4WD rims, tire packages, 4wd accessories and lift kits? Be sure to check them out, they're running big discounts at the moment.

Working with New Brunswick Tourism and Nova Scotia Tourism has been wonderful so far too. I have gotten to experience some wonderful attractions and meet some incredible people because of their support - it's been fabulous! I am looking forward to the same when I head for Newfoundland tomorrow.

So far I am just shy of 23,000 kilomtres into my journey and have raised somewhere in the neighborhood of $6,800 for our vets - Ali will have my totals for me soon as I send the daily totals in to her after every small community ride we do.

I love Canada - our country and it's people are utterly amazing - the scenery is so diverse and the people are fantastic.

I am getting ready to go and take in the waterfront in Halifax - spent last night out at Peggy's Cove with some of my brothers from the CAV - what a fabulous night - I can't wait to share some of the photos and stories with you in the Busted Knuckle Chronicles - our weekly newspaper.

I look forward to my time on the ROCK - hoping to meet more riders, share the story about what our vets are going through and to experience some of the hospitality I hear that Newfoundland is famous for!

Until I get a chance to write again - I remain your editor - Belt Drive Betty

Ride safe - like everyone around you is blind and can not see you...

belt drive betty | motorcycle tourism

Imagine...what if it was you?

I want you to imagine for a moment what it would be like to wake up one morning and realize the your once perfect child is a shattered version of him/herself.  Perhaps a limb is missing or their brain is traumatized.

Or perhaps it is your spouse, or parent.
Once active, lively, loving and engaging, now withdrawn, tempermental and moody - distant.

This is the reality for over 6,000 military families in Canada.  The families of our veterans - those who have been in harms way courtesy of our government, the boss of their loved one - are hurting, badly.

In 2005, the government of Canada introduced the New Veteran's Charter, that charter changed the way our veteran's are compensated when they are injured in the line of duty.  The changes are devestating and wrong minded in my humble opinion.

Since 1917, there has been a sacred covenant between soldiers and their government in this country - a covenant that our current government has broken.

The NVC has been assessed by phychiatrists, doctors and many others, read the "Shaping the Future - Military & Veteran Health Research" PDF. Chapters 15, 16, 17 & 18 are of extreme importance to understanding the changes. The entire document is important, but those two chapters in particular are important.

It's a dry document - written by people who appear to have a direct relationship with drug therapy, although they do look at the arts as a form of therapy.

It looks at the social causes for change in the way our veterans are supported and it looks at the attitudes of government regarding out veterans.

Begin Quote:
Extremes of perceptions of the military in a society can be illustrated by these contrasting views held by two prominent Kingston politicians, Sir John A. MacDonald (Canada’s first prime minister) and W.F. Nickle (Kingston’s Member of Parliament (1911-19), respectively:

…‘regulars’ are useful only for hunting, drinking and chasing women…they are soldiers because they are no good at anything else.9

…this war has clearly demonstrated …that the hero is to be found under practically every jacket…10
End Quote

It is clear that how the Prime Minister and government officials percieve our troops relates directly to their compensation for being put in harm's way by our government.

I personally do not recommend any young person join our military, at least not under this government - as the callous disregard for them and their families' welfare is evident in statements made by the governments lawyers regarding the Equitas Class Action Lawsuit - Please view the YouTube Video that I recorded of the Press Conference with Peter Stoffer - NDP Veteran's Affairs Critic on Parliment Hill 2 days ago:

Personally I feel that if we can not afford, financially, to look after those our government puts in harms way, then we should not be poking our nose in the affairs of other countries and should instead go back to a peace keeping role.

The fact is that in 60 years of Peace Keeping we lost fewer soldiers than in the 10 years of active combat during the Afghanistan conflict.

If we send them, we must mend them - as Medric Cousineau of Paws for Thoughts is fond of saying.

The RCMP are now being affected by the NVC which has replaced the Pension Act.

Our government included the RCMP in the 2013 budget and if you consider the ramifications to attracting quality people to the job, you will see that we will be sucking the bottom of the pond, very soon, as the compensation and supports for the families is brutal, never mind the serving member.

I am terrified of the quality of people we will attract into the RCMP as well.

Today Medric Cousineau began his long walk to sanity - he will arrive in Ottawa on the 19th of September - his goal is to raise the money for 50 dogs in 50 days for 50 veterans - his is one of three causes I am riding to support - so far I have raised just shy of $5,400.

It's a drop in the bucket - but it is an important drop, as we Canadians prove to our veterans that we will support their therapy and reintegration into civilian life where our government is failing them.

I hope you will go out and meet Medric along his journey or come out and meet me on mine - the cause - the reason is the same - supporting our veterans and thanking them for their service to our country by helping them to heal.  Dog therapy is not funded by our government - sadly, our government does not appear to value the lives of our veterans or their families - read - educate yourself and then please consider joining us along the way.

Here are the links:

Medric's Walk
www.pawsfurthought1.com

My Conga
www.beltdrivebetty.com/home/conga

The Document Shaping the Future for our Military & Veterans
PTSD Book Download

When a Child's Parent has PTSD
http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/blog/?p=857

Until the next time that I have time to write...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor &Rider

PS - Ride safe - like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.