Report Card #1

Alright, I've been in Chatham now for 2 days. Chatham is where my sister Lise and husband Mike live and where I'm making a "base camp" between Sarnia and Chatham. I'm at that point in the ride where you know things are not going to be reversed. You're past the point of no return. There's no going back. And besides, with this blog thing, the alpha male in me won't let me stop so it's on to the next leg.
I'm as unsure about how the rest of this will unfold as anyone reading this is, but if it continues the way it has, I can guarantee a winning season. And just to prove it, I want to take a moment and quickly check how things have gone so far:

* Food: EXCELLENT.
I've had steak, steak, steak, salmon, shrimp, pork tenderloin, steak, steak, and oh yes, steak. It would appear the key ingredient for this menu is not overstaying your welcome (with this statement, I've likely set myself up nicely for macaroni & tomatoes, tube steak, etc...)

* Facilities: EXCELLENT.
I'm not going to risk anything here.

*Roads: GOOD.
Surprisingly few construction hold ups and conditions. Speed kills, and no one is dying on these Ontario roads

* Bike: GOOD.
Steady as she goes, with one minor issue concerning stopping. And based on one of the blog comments, I should've neglected the issue and continued onward using the Fred Flintstone technique for stopping. I don't think so.

* Cost: EXCELLENT
(see first 2 bullets)

* Weather: EXCELLENT.
Started late because of rain but things have been stellar since then.

* Company: OVERWHELMING.
Best part of this road trip so far.

* Converting Non-Believers: AVERAGE.
To date, only worked on the one couple but I believe his next bike will be an HD

* Team Recruitment: BELOW AVERAGE.
Haven't come across any of those biker babes you tend to see spread across the mags. Sorry Gerry, may have to take another ride through Timmins and visit "the Center".

So, based on Report #1, I can say things are progressing very nicely. With luck and mother nature's help, next term's report will be equally excellent.

Today is July 1 so Happy Canada Day to you all. I'll be spending it with Lise, Mike with Kaz treating us to supper and Friday, I'll be heading to Windsor to see Deb & Vito.

Gail & Al: Sarnia Times

I arrived in Chatham late Monday afternoon in a typically hot and humid s-w Ontario summer day. Tornado watches had been in effect the day before but no such vicious phenomena was on the agenda today.

Candace and I spent 5 years in this area of Canada ('80-'85). During that time, we lived in Sarnia and Candace worked at St. Joseph's Hospital where she quite naturally made many friends. One of these friends was Gail who is pictured above with her husband Al and with whom Candace shared many laughs on workplace situations and events. Gail by the way, is still on the hospital staff, assessing patients, and tutoring newbie staff. She'd be willing to help out the hospital management if they were willing to listen but...

Al hasn't changed and remains a very friendly man. In fact, he's always had a lot of friends. And, I can tell you assuredly the fact that Al was the local Beer Store manager had nothing to do with that. These are good people.

Candace enjoyed her profession and working with with individuals like Gail was quite simply icing on the cake. It was my pleasure to stop by yesterday and reminisce with both Gail and Al.

The Crossing: A Ferry Tale

As mentioned in the last post, I boarded the Chi-Cheemaun ferry Monday morning which left South Baymouth for Tobermory exactly on time (09:10 hrs) and took me across the Lake Huron/ Georgian Bay "straight" if this is what I can call it. The envelopping fog was thick as soup so I missed the island views and such, but I got to hear the fog horn, every 2 minutes. Met some Quebecers who were on a bike ride in the area which gave me the opportunity to sharpen my skills in my native tongue. He rode a Yamaha Road Star but kept telling me if he had to do it over, well, the Glide is where he'd be sitting. "Rest easy my son, all is forgiven" I told him.

We landed around 11:00 hrs and I was on my way. I enjoyed their company and bade them farewell as we left the ship. Of course, I made sure he heard the Glide as I pulled away. I could see him in my mirror shaking his head. The fog lifted on the Bruce Peninsula and as they had loaded the bikes up front, I was able to make great time on a fairly quiet road (hwy 6 if I remember correctly).

Helene & Mark

After that lampooning of the city of Timmins, I need to eat crow somewhat because of the great company I enjoyed while I stayed there. I had not met Helene before but I quickly felt like we had known each other for a long time. Over the course of a couple of days, I was able to spend some quality time with Helene and Mark, sharing family photos and talking about what the future might hold. Like kitchen renos. As Mark continues to mumble (to himself particularly): a happy wife is a happy life...

During my visit, I was able to meet Mark's daughter Melissa, her husband Michael and new baby girl as well as his son, Brent, his wife Jenny and their 2 girls. Great folks all the way around.

You know, I've known Mark since I was 5 years old. In fact, Mark went to grade school with Candace so he knew her well before I did. This type of history typically means a certain level of familiarity with each others skills and wants, but life has a way of continually surprising us. During my visit, I had the opportunity to taste some of Chef Mark's delicacies, like pork tenderloin in a red wine sauce. Yes, you are reading this correctly. From what I witnessed though, you need to get him in the kitchen early... if you know what I mean. Otherwise, you get plan "B": pork tenderloin without a red wine sauce.

Once again, I had to let go of a perfectly good handrail and get on the road. This morning I headed out of Timmins and thanks to Brian's (Kap) suggestion, I went westward at Sudbury rather than south on Hwy 69. Two reasons for the good fortune: bad weather along the eastern coast of Georgian Bay, and heading west led me to Manitoulin Island and the South Baymouth to Tobermory ferry. That will be the start of Monday's ride and if the weather cooperates, its end in Chatham.

Timmins, and Never the Twain Shall Meet

I've always hated Timmins. They would clean our clocks back when I played hockey. You know this kind of place, big town, big names, lots of history and inevitably we would get beat up. So I've always considered Timmins like Pittsburgh is to Cleveland. Hated Timmins.

Now we all know this is Shania's place, and well she is a woman, so I thought I'd give Timmins another opportunity. I kept hearing about the "Shania Twain Center"and I thought quite logically if I had any chance to meet Shania, that's where it was likely going to happen. To my demise she wasn't there. However, I was able to locate her center using the cut-out that you see above. In fact, what I'm pointing at is what I calculated to be Shania's geographic center, her belly button. One of the nicest geographic centers around, at least from my experience. As attactive as it is, even I must admit that it pales in comparison to her South Pole which unfortunately was cut out of the picture. Amateurs.

I still hate Timmins, but I must say, I'm now more inclined to like her citizens.

Kapuskasing, Ontario

I slowed up as I was arriving in Kap from a westerly direction. It was somewhat surreal as I hadn't really been here since 1989. I pulled into the cemetary and people already there got into 2 parked vehicles and left rather abruptly. What's with that. Relax, this is a cemetary, not the OK Corral! Anyhow, this cemetary is where my parents are both interred. Couldn't find 'em. Had to call my brother long distance on a cell in the cemetary to find my mother and father. That has to be a first in my family.

Next was the obligatory cruise over to my house ("... that didn't take long") and the Circle, Kap's business center. Didn't do the complete 360 around the circle. Wanted to save something for the next day you know, so I took the 270 deg option and merged out on to my hosts home, Helene et Brian. Grandmom, Doug, brothers, sisters, nephews, in-laws were all there... by the pool... in Kap... under sunny skies... in 28 deg C weather... in Kap. None of the scenarios I dreamed up for my return home included this one. None. I would've been happy with just "no snow".

Went for a long walk Tuesday to check out sights including the museum, the park, the civic center, the high school, our old church (which was unlocked so I went in), my house again and the downtown area. Never saw one person I knew. I think they've all aged and I still have that mental picture of them 20+ years ago. Maybe that's it. Hey, but they should've recognized me! I still look the same...

We were treated to some hors d'oeuvres followed by stuffed atlantic salmon for supper... in Kap ... under sunny skies... in 29 deg C weather... by the pool. I may never leave. Helene and Brian are very generous hosts and I couldn't have landed in a better place.

Thursday was relaxed as my hosts were both working - time to hit the keys and get some blogging done. Doug and I visited as well and got supper somewhat organized for our fabulous hostess. My stay in Kap wound down with an evening of visiting my nephew Tosh and his lovely wife Danielle along with their daughter, Elizabeth, truly a little doll. Back at Brian's, we finished the evening playing some billiards and some guitar. Tickets for the show go on sale in 2014.

I'm leaving today for Timmins after having a thoroughly wonderful time here. I couldn't have ordered it any better and if Helene & Brian read this: THANK YOU! I'm on my way to Timmins to see Helene & Mark - yes, there's more than one Helene in N.Ont. On the way, I intend to stop in Moonbeam to see the largest assembly of my mom's family. That's the good news; unfortunately, they're pretty much all in (you guessed it) the cemetary. No worries, I've charged up the cell, just in case. And, just for bragging rights, we have a street named after our family in Moonbeam, the St-Aubin street as well as a bay at nearby Remi Lake, Ouellette Bay. I"ll let you figure that out. I suppose I should mention Moonbeam has a population of 217.

Charting a Course

Many don't actually know the route I'm taking on this journey, at least at a high level. That was intentional of course. You know, less time for you to lock up when you hear me arrive. However, the receptions have been so great I've given this some more thought. I want to give you a rough outline and that way, there's a better chance of making our respective schedules mesh. So, from here in Kapuskasing, this is my best shot at the sequence of destinations:
Timmins, Sarnia, Chatham, Windsor, London/Appin, Dundas, Kingston, St-Mathieu, Gaspesie, Charlottetown, Halifax, Fredericton, Trois-Riviere, Ottawa, North Bay, USA. My arrival back in Red Deer should be around late August.

This a plan and we all know plans usually are deviated from. That's my CYA statement.