Be humble

8 days on the road, 3500 KM traveled and I am ready to leave again.  There are times when some things just need to be done.  With the loss of my best friend it was time to do what always makes me free – find the road on a motorcycle.  I had read about Hector the Wonder Dog and I was absolutely sure that a visit to Hector was just what I needed.  It was!  I contacted Gummiente, Hector’s person, and asked if we could come and meet TWD.  A welcome was extended and the decision was made. 

Hector is described by Gummiente as follows:

Hector is an Australian Cattle Dog who first came into my life when he was a frisky 4 month old pup. First born in a litter of 9 from pure bred parents, he has led a challenging and interesting life. One of the conditions the breeder made me agree to was to keep his name; I was a little hesitant at first but after a few months of living with him decided that it suited him well. If you ever meet him some day, you’ll understand!

In retrospect, I suppose I should have renamed him “Lucky” due to all the misfortunes that have come his way. Shortly after I got him, his right rear leg was broken in a nasty fall and he had to get a metal plate and screws permanently implanted into the bones. Around the 8 month mark he developed a cataract in his right eye; shortly after that he got one in his left. His vision began to fail and by the time he was 1 1/2yrs old he was completely blind. Over the years he developed glaucoma and eventually his eyes swelled and caused constant pain to the point that we had to get them removed. As if that wasn’t enough, he was diagnosed with epilepsy and is now prone to occasional seizures which will eventually increase in frequency and severity as he gets older. At the 7 year mark he was found to have arthritis… how much more does my poor dog have to endure?

Despite all the medical troubles, however, he has led a very happy and active life. People still can’t believe he’s blind when they first meet him; he has adapted amazingly well to his condition and wows his admirers by chasing a ball (with a special jingle bell inside so he can track it by hearing) and playing Frisbee, along with going for walkies and riding about in his sidecar. I like to think he is the poster dog for pets with disabilities.

..and so it began.  With good friends Tom and Dave, we headed out for the first leg of the journey which took us to rural Quebec.  The first day was a dream.  From PEI to Northern New Brunswick to Quebec.  A beautiful day and my old BMW sang like a happy Bavarian full of beer and sausage.  I love my Ural, but this this 23 year old BMW with 162,000 KM on the clock is an amazing machine.  We made a good trio – the BMW R100RT, a Harley Dyna-glide and a Yamaha Road Star.  Day 2 and we planned to arrive in Gananoque, home of Hector and Gummiente.  We headed South of Montreal to avoid Montreal traffic, and crossed the river at Valleyfield.  It still took us 3 hours to get around and then we got on the 401 to the 1000 Island Parkway.  ARGH!  The 401 sucks, and if we had our time back we would avoid it.  We also got lost in Valleyfield, but found an English speaker who got us turned around and on the right road.

An old friend heard that I was headed his way and offered his brand new travel trailer for a few days.  Wow – what a treat.  A nice RV park, a fridge full of beer and a BBQ was waiting.  Perfect!  We relaxed over supper and beer and were pleased to hear the rumble of a Harley as Gummiente arrived to welcome us to his part of the world.  1350 KM and we would soon me meeting Hector.  We arranged to meet in the morning for coffee and Hector would be there. 

The 1000 Islands area is beautiful.  It is hard to take it all in and I am already looking forward to going back for a longer visit.

We decided to meet at Tim’s for coffee and Hector would be riding in Mike’s (Gummiente) sidecar.  The day arrived and it was worth the drive.  Hector is one very special dog.  In this image, Hector is looking for a tim bit, and he was not disappointed.  It is  hard to accept this dog has no eyes.  He can smell a donut across the parking lot and greets strangers with enthusiasm and warmth.  His person has the same characteristics (less the donut thing).  Mike offered to take us for a long winding ride through rural Ontario and it was an incredible day.  Cam joined us on his Patrol and we spent the morning riding and smiling.  It could not have been any better.  I was not aware of it at the time, but Gummiente, head cheese, CEO and President of CURD was to bestow the title of Atlantic Vice President of CURD on my, but first I must pass muster with the great She Bitch Llama of CURD. 

We arrived and I presented my self to the Great She Bitch and she inspected me closely. Note the ears laid back and the gentle nuzzle.  It is well known, I love just about any animal and Llamas are no different.  Did you ever look into their eyes?  I did, and I saw something that worried me.  I was right to be worried as she chose that moment to anoint me with a gallon of Llama spit and green grass goo.Once we recovered our composure, I was  handed a rag to clean up - and we then voted the Llama into office as the Official CURD Party Animal.  Following the She Bitch approval, I was to be granted access to the CURD Seal.  (It is a real end seal for the Ural, which is puking oil on my back tire).

Cam left us at that point, and Mike led us on some of the nicest country roads I have been on in a long time.  I had a chance to spend some time with TWD too..

As we would our way along the lake, it was time for Hector to cool off a bit and have a swim.  It still amazes me that a dog with no eyes can fetch a stick in the water – but here is the proof.

Following Hector’s swim we continued our ride, ending at Mike and Angie’s, where we were hosted to a BBQ and good company.  Fellow CURD member Cam and his wife Wilma joined us for a wonderful evening.  As an ‘after dinner mint’, we took a ride to the future home of Gummy’s Garage – everyone needs a dream, and took a photo of CURD members and future CURD members. 

Like all good things, this leg of our journey had to end, and we wobbled back to the trailer to prepare for the next day.  From Tom, Dave and I – a huge thank you to Mike, Angie, Cam and Wilma for a wonderful welcome.  We felt very much at home and hope to have the chance to return the hospitality.  Hector – you da man!

The next morning we crossed the US border into upstate New York. The US Customs process was painless, if unfriendly, but what the heck – I am inviting the to Sunday dinner.   I grew up in the Adirondacks, and I was really looking forward to a ride through the Adirondack State Park.  The ride was incredible.  Beautiful mountains, roads that twist and turn, and the “I am home” feeling that the North Country always brings to me. 

Tom’s Harley was making some strange noises, and I remembered a trick that my friend Mur had showed me.  Take a dowel or stick etc and hold it against the motor with the other end close to your ear.  A few cool beers and we did our best to locate the sound.

Alas, we could not find the rattle, and decided that a solution was to just push the ear plugs in a little tighter.  Worked great.  Can’t hear the sound anymore.

In the process of looking for the rattle, we did decide on a suitable use for the bike;

I will leave it to others to write a caption.

We arrived in Glens Falls, NY where we have friends and at breakfast, I was astonished to find an old, er, friend, behind the cash register.  I had not seen Gerry in 15 years and oh dear, she be looking foin! ….and riding an orange Harley.  (sigh)..so many twists in the road.

One of my best friends is a guy named Bob.  He is just good for my soul.  I have known him for 50 years and we alway pick up where we left off.  Bob has created his own little Paradise in the woods of the Adirondacks.  Tom and I have come to think of it as ‘Bobby’s Pond.  It is a little corner of forest that brings a sense of calmness to anyone who goes there.

The crowd I grew up with played hard and fast.  Some (quite a few) have not made it this far.  Each has played a key role in shaping whatever this person is, that I have become.  We took the opportunity to toast each, as we sat beside Bobby’s pond.

We spent some time at the top of Prospect Mountain, which looks over Lake George.  A beautiful spot and a great ride though some nice twisting roads.

Again, it was time to leave, and we headed into Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine – arriving at the end of the day in Rumford Maine.  It was a beautiful ride through the mountains and not a cloud in the sky.  Each days ride seemed to be getting better. 

As we sat on the porch in Maine, having a wee dram, we noticed a rainbow.  The end of the rainbow was 30 feet from where we were sitting.  It is the first time I have actually seen the end of a rainbow and it reminded me to buy a lottery ticket.  I did not win, but it was a beautiful spot anyway.

The following morning we crossed Maine to the coast and headed North to the border.  St. John, New Brunswick was the destination for the night. Again, good friends to call on and good conversation and beer was the night.

The bikes ran flawlessly.  The only problem I had with the BMW, was I lost a nut on the centre stand, causing it to drag a bit in left turns.  Tom and a wee wire fixed that quickly.

A final run for home on the following day.  3,500 KM, good friends and good company.  In 8 days on the road, we had 3 hours of rain.  The rest was sunny and hot.  It does not get any better.

I am ready to go again right now.