I get to sleep in my own bed tonight after 32,770 Kms or 20,362 miles.

I was supposed to arrive home yesterday, but I left Edmonton later in the afternoon and hit some wild weather that was brewing around Sangudo.  By the time I hit the Isogun hill by Fox Creek AB., it was full blown torrential rain, with really hard wind.  It took me 3 hours to ride what normally takes 1.5 hours.

I made it as far as Valleyview and decided it was time to call it a day.
I had had two semis, just past Little Smoky that had almost knocked me off the road they passed me so close.  I was doing about 60KPH with the four ways on, I simply couldn't see where I was going the rain was coming down so hard, and I am not 100% either driver knew I was there.  There was no safe place to pull over and so I had to keep going until I could get to Valleyview.

Once there I got something warm to eat and a room at the Raven Inn, everyone else was full. I can see why this place is a last resort motel. It's unkempt and dingy, but the bedding was clean, it was dry and there was coffee. $65 plus tax for this place was $35 too much, but like I said, it was shelter.

I hung all my clothes up, cranked the heat to get my boots to dry and hit the hay after a few hours of writing.

I got up and headed out at about 9:45 am, the sky was ugly, it was windy, but it was not raining.
As I got closer to Grande Prairie, the skies turned blue and while it was still cold and windy, it felt good to be doing so in the sunshine.

I pulled in the driveway and began unpacking my bike. The poor girl needs a bath!
Man hubby's lawn is sure looking good and so are my flower beds.

I hauled my gear into the house and began putting things away and getting all my gear ready to be washed. I hugged my kitty's who both seemed pretty surprised but happy to see me.

I walked into the bedroom to put some stuff away and got a shock.
Hubby had renovated the bedroom, and it it GORGEOUS! I knew he was doing that, but never expected what I saw. The man should have been an interior decorator instead of a mechanic - he has impeccable taste.

A new bed frame, dressers and night table and all of the bedding and curtains to match along with new art...I am blown away!

I went into the kitchen and was surprised to see a new stove and then when I went to haul my laundry downstairs I got another shock...a new washer and dryer.

He must have won the lottery or else his line of credit took a shit kicking...
Wow, what a great thing to come home to.  I felt like I had been missed and I still haven't seen him yet!

Now comes the job of getting caught up on all of my writing for tourism and video editing for Eastlink TV.  Bookkeeping, follow up calls....ugh, back to a different kind of work where I am stuck infront of a computer instead of the handlebars - but all of that is going to have to wait until TOMORROW!
For the balance of today I am taking a hot bath, having a nap and getting ready for when hubby comes home from work. I can't wait to see the old boy, I have missed him something fierce.
Tonight we take our daughter out for her birthday - which was yesterday.

Tomorrow my day starts with meetings and editing...so until then,
If you are lucky enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor and Rider

Congratulations to the Canadian Legion of Riders in North Battleford

It is with great pleasure that I announce that the winner of the 2013 Johnny Pag Ventura Motorcycle is The Canadian Legion of Riders.

Because they understood the challenge best out of all the groups I worked with, they hosted an event and invited their community out to help them win the bike and gave me the opportunity to speak to over 200 people about the issues our veterans are facing.

Medric Cousineau's walk will conclude on the 19th of this month - he has been walking with his service dog Thai to raise funds to buy other vets a service dog....

I am so proud to be supporting his efforts and those of VETS and the Military Police Relay Ride for Blind Children.

My trip will end today when I arrive home to Grande Prairie later today, it's been an honour and a pleasure to ride with so many, to speak to thousands, to promote my sponsors and our community.

I am tired and beat up but feel blessed to have been able to affect some change, to impact lives in real time.

I have so many people to thank, many product reviews and articles chronicling my journey to complete.
I will over the course of the next few weeks finish the work that this Conga generated but I want to take this time to thank everyone who helped make this Conga such a huge a success.

There were disappointments, the weather caused a few events to be a wash, there were a few events that were not promoted well - it is the first time I have ever attempted something like this and I have learned much.  The next time I undertake something like this I know what I need to do better, and trust me there will be a next time and it will be MUCH MUCH better because of the things I have learned.

While I have faced a few disappointments there were so very many uplifting and incredible moments - so many amazing people who made this trip a success and I can't wait to share those stories with you.

I arrive home late this afternoon and will begin the work of catching up in earnest tomorrow.

Please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and remember, if you enjoy your freedoms, please take 5 minutes out of your busy life to thank a veteran and write your MP and MLA to ensure the plight of our veterans and RCMP and the loss of their pensions and the reduction in their benefits becomes an election issue.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor and Rider

canadian bikers | canadian riders

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