The Spirit of 76

For the past fifteen years, with the exception of the Covid years I have done at least one motorcycle trip either across Canada or the Northern Tier of the United States. For me, this year, things have changed in a really negative way. I have done many trips to the western states and enjoyed my time there. I never felt unsafe, and for the most part, the people I met were friendly and engaging. I have never really met any objectionable people in my travels. However, in the past eight months that has all changed with threats to our national sovereignty, economic threats in the form of high tariffs on Canadian products, with the intent to destroy our country economically, and the detention and deportation of Canadians who may have evidence of disparaging comments about 'Dear Leader' with the consequence of deportation and a lifetime ban on travel to the US. It no longer feels safe to even attempt to cross the border. As someone who has almost always admired the United States, I find this to be a very distressing development and I no longer fell welcome there.

So, for the foreseeable future I will not be crossing the border because of the threat of a lifetime ban on entry, and because I refuse to economically support a nation that is attempting to destroy Canada's economy. Consequently, my future travel will be restricted to my country. There is much to see and enjoy in Canada, and I intend to take advantage of it. 

I had my 76th birthday last week and Father Time is chasing me and gaining. Seven hundred to nine hundred kilometre days are no longer the joy that they used to be. I still have the joy of riding.

This is a solo trip through southern BC with a short visit with friends that I have known for more that fifty years.

As is my habit, the night before a bike trip is one without much sleep. There are always things that go through my mind, so I was up before five o'clock. The sun was beginning to rise so it was worth a moment just to appreciate this early morning beauty. 

Sunrise over the Salish Sea this morning.

Ultimately though, everything was packed and loaded and I was on the road before 7:00 a.m. The ride to the Duke Point ferry terminal was relatively easy and I was in the terminal ready for the 10:15 sailing.

Bike all shiny, clean & waiting for the ferry

There were several bikes in the parking area and I had a chat with two guys who were returning from a 'social gathering' in Sooke. They were returning to the Okanagan. One of the guys called his office this morning and told them that he had a family emergency and didn't know when he would be back. They were riding in style though, with coffee cup holders that has coffee in them and that were being liberally refreshed from a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream from a small pack. Travelling in style.

Met this fine gentleman at the Duke Point ferry this morning.

Sculpture at the ferry

The motorcycles were off the ferry first so we avoided the typical ferry traffic jam in the highway. The ride to Highway 1 went quickly, but that was soon to pass. At1:30 in the afternoon traffic was solid and for kilometres speed varied from 2-40 kph. In hot weather with full leathers on, it is not comfortable. I stopped for gas and a break in Chilliwack. The final fifty kilometres to Hope, BC went quickly. After having some difficulty finding the hotel, I was able to park and relax.

Dinner could have been a problem but when I walked out the front door I saw the Mountain View Brewing Co. building across the street. A burger and a beer later I was back in my air conditioned room. 

Mountain View Brewing Company

A fine Northwest IPA

As an aside, things have changed since Covid. It used to be that when you felt like stopping for the evening, you could just pull into a small motel and get a room without too much difficulty. There was no need to book a room in advance. During Covid many of those individually owned motels have gone out of business, and it is necessary to reserve a room in advance. For an old guy like me, who isn't into sleeping on the ground, a ride now centres on where you have to be the next evening. It has removed a great deal of the spontaneity that is one of the joys of riding. Now every motel is on a site like Trivago, Expedia, or Kayak and the like. And especially this year, when a great percentage of Canadian travellers are staying in Canada, the competition for rooms is fierce. However, it is just one facet of our 'brave new world'.

This trip I have decided to keep my riding days shorter, in the range of 400 kilomeres or so. Today I covered 346 kilometres and a ferry ride. Tomorrow should be around 450. If I can keep ahead to the rain, this should be a good ride.

As an aside, things have changed since Covid. It used to be that when you felt like stopping for the evening, you could just pull into a small motel and get a room without too much difficulty. There was no need to book a room in advance. During Covid many of those individually owned motels have gone out of business, and it is necessary to reserve a room in advance. For an old guy like me, who isn't into sleeping on the ground, a ride now centres on where you have to be the next evening. It has removed a great deal of the spontaneity that is one of the joys of riding. Now every motel is on a site like Trivago, Expedia, or Kayak and the like. And especially this year, when a great percentage of Canadian travellers are staying in Canada, the competition for rooms is fierce. However, it is just one facet of our 'brave new world'