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.

Why I am riding across Canada in support of our Veterans

Most civilians do not understand the New Veteran's Charter created by the Liberal Government and defended relentlessly by the Harper government.

It is all about money - it is all about saving the Government money - but we the people ARE the government and if enough raise our voices in a united way, we can force our government to do the right and honorable thing - pay our veterans a pension.

As it stands right now if a verteran has served at least 10 years they get a buy out based on 20% of their best 5 years of pay. If they serve less than that, their source deductions are returned to them - and that's pretty much it.

When they are discharged for medical reasons - be it PTSD or physical injury - they are not getting the supports they need beyond prothstetics or drug therapy. If the drugs don't work for them - too bad.

I want you to read this - PLEASE: http://veteranwatch.blogspot.ca/2013/07/how-government-views-veterans-it-isnt.html


If that doesn't make your stomach churn - I am not sure what will...

I have another day of hard riding to get to my next fundraiser in Midland ON at the Tim Horton's at 5:30 pm tonight - hope to see some of you out there to support our veterans...

TTYS

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Pay for use Insurance - what it means and why SGI is thinking of using it

I read with some concern about SGI pairing up with Baseline Telematics.

Here is the link to the article

There are claims that this system makes for better drivers and they hope it will be the same for riders.

The paying of people to take these units for a test drive concerns me.  I think that if they are going to monitor when and where you ride, and how you you ride - brake, speed etc., then they should also mount video cameras to record WHY those situations may be occurring.

According to the article: "Baseline Telematics is creating the first pilot program in the world to offer a Pay-As-You-Drive and Pay-How-You-Drive insurance coverage to motorcyclists in Western Canada. SGI would be the first in the world to use telematics for motorcycles.

Often called Usage-Based Insurance or UBI, Baseline Telematics has already a unique solution it offers Canadian insurers so they can use telematics devices in vehicles to record driving information, such as speed, braking, mileage and driving location in order to determine the risk of a claim associated with a vehicle. Baseline Telematics has already assisted several "early adopter" insurers take advantage of the benefits of the quickly evolving telematics based insurance trend.  The Baseline Telematics' technology provides a turn-key insurance telematics solution and the fastest implementation available in the market."

Please read the WHOLE article - do not take my word/interpretation of what I read as any kind of gospel.  Visit the web site refrenced in the article and read the section called THE FINE PRINT.

I am concerned when I see the word mandatory mentioned in any way - making this system manditory for any rider concerns me.

What I want to know is what is your take on this topic?

PLEASE - PLEASE - PLEASE read and share this information with everyone who rides as this has the potential to be the next war for equality that we need to address as a community!

In other news, Ray Sasseveille of Sturgis North fame has a concern on his hands.

Daniel Raymond Sasseville was given seven months in jail for sexual assault. He was ordered to provide a DNA sample and was placed on probation for three years.  Here is the link to the news article - his is the last one one the page: http://www.canada.com/Court+News/8630663/story.html

Here is an Update on the Daniel Raymond Sasseville information: http://www.yourlibrary.ca/community/richmondreview/archive/RR20010426/morenews.html

I am in Yellowknife NT today - tonight I will be riding with members of our military both serving and veteran - and with members of the general riding public - we civilians - I hear we are going for pie and coffee in a unique place!

I leave you with a few photos from last night's ride night in Yellowknife...

If you can join us tonight - registration begins at 5:30pm - kickstands up at 7PM - meet at the Co-op parking lot....

Bob Irwin

Robin Weber 

Swerve

George

Buddy AKA Graham

If you are lucky enough to be riding, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

Bizarre weather all across Canada and Tragedy in QC.

Today is Day 22 of my Bikers United Conga and so far it's went very well.  Sure there's been a few challenges along the way but I'm having a wonderful time meeting up with old friends and making new, taking in breath-taking scenery, each day a new adventure.  

That said, I'm troubled by the news coverage I watch at night before I hit the hay.  My heart goes out to all those who are suffering this summer from the bizarre weather, those folks in Calgary, High River and other flood ravaged areas, now including Toronto!  The sudden hail-storms in Airdrie and Cochrane.  The 19 brave firefighters that lost their lives in Arizona.  My thoughts and prayers go out to to the victims and their families of the town of Lac-Megantic.  Their recent train disaster, such a terrible tragedy, the scope of which is still unfolding. 

Thoughts from the Road - 

Belt Drive Betty

Motorcycle Tour of Ireland with Celtic Rider!

Getting very excited about my upcoming motorcycle tour of Ireland with the good folks at Celtic Rider Motorcycle Rentals and Tours!  Have a look at my stunning itinerary: