You have to take advantage of the weather when it is good at this time of year. I keep both of my bikes insured year round, the scoot gets most of the attention during the winter months though. But when Mother Nature provides an opportunity to ride the motorcycle on November 10th, heck, I’m all in!
I held off until later in the afternoon since the Sea to Sky doesn’t get sun until fairly late in the day at this time of year, and since it’s been cold and wet lately, I knew the road would be pretty damp. I was hoping it might have a bit of a chance to dry out somewhat. The closer I got to Squamish the more suspicious that sky was looking – low, steel grey – so I opted out of stopping for a coffee and just pulled a circle when I hit town and headed back down.
On the way up I only passed three other riders, but on the way back down there were a few more heading up for a late afternoon rip. When I stopped in at Porteau to get some feeling back in my toes I ended up in a few conversations. First with some Russian military guys who were trying to take several pictures with each of them rotating into it – I offered to take one with all of them. Funny thing was that I’d seen these same guys in full uniform on Burrard street the day before. Then two fellows from California stopped to chat me up about the bike, Whistler, Canada in general, and told me that they thought “everyone is so nice”. Yup, that’s us! Finally, as I was getting ready to leave, an older fellow on an FRJ 1300 stopped for a cigarette and stopped to chat with me.
And see, that’s the weird thing about this motorcycle thing. I’m actually somewhat reluctantly social, and I figured that this was perfect for me. Stuff a helmet on your head and no one talks to you. But take it off….and all bets are off. Historically I would barely speak two words to a stranger, even if they tried to strike up a conversation. And slowly but surely the social aspect is being dragged out of me and I actually talk to strangers now 😉 Kirk thinks it’s particularly funny.
A challenging career with the opportunity to contribute to socioeconomic and environmental aspects of life in BC, the opportunity to teach at academic, professional, and public levels, it took me 5 or 6 years of struggling to get that job finally, but the drive paid off. I have the opportunity to put all those years of my education to good use. I have a boat to ply the waters of the Pacific, four ski hills within easy reach, one of the best short stretches of motorcycle happy highway that starts just moments from my doorstep. I have good friends, and a loving guy who shares my excitement for all these things and more. Man, I love this Pacific Northwest life of mine, and I’m not ashamed to admit it! Does it get any better? Well, there is that sailboat that is coming in the next few years once we build the seniority in the Yacht Club to vie for the spot we need, so I guess it does get better. It’s great to be satisfied with what you have, but you have to always have something driving you forward too.
The sun makes me so happy, can you tell?
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