Monday, August 25, 2008

Aug 24/08 - Murphy's Law(s) ...

Sunday, Aug 24/2008 - Day 2

Awake and chatty at our usual get up time of 5:00. Rod showers while I catch up on writing.

Rod had promised young Jack a motorcycle ride. He makes it quite evident we are not to forget. Rod asks which bike he wants to ride and he chooses “Paladin”. Paladin is a name that was given to my motorcycle by its former owner in Tyler, Texas. Named from the old T.V. series “Have Gun Will Travel” it means somebody known for championing a cause. (Seems pretty appropriate for this bike with the great heart). Jack is pretty excited about this idea til Dad puts him up on the bike. Now… he’s not so sure he’s quite ready for this little adventure and looks a little panicky. Mom is out there with the camera but I’m sure feeling a little trepidation of trusting her precious little man to such a precarious situation. Rod promises he’ll go slowly and off they start. I’m thinking they’ll just have a little ride around the property but off they head down the road and over the tracks and soon I can’t hear the sound of the engine. Now even I’m feeling a little nervous. After all he is just 3½ and only wearing a bicycle helmet. Darren is trying to talk to me and I’m trying to listen but listening harder for the sound of the bike. ‘Please Rod, don’t bring him back broken’ I silently pray. Then thankfully I hear the steady sound of the engine and my heart re-starts.

Enjoying the pleasure of their company and not knowing when we’ll be seeing them again we reluctantly leave just before 11:00 – much later than we had planned. We still have a pretty good days ride to get to Calgary tonight and the traffic on the Trans Canada is extremely busy. The last of summer vacationers and RV’ers – gotta love ‘em. Whoever Murphy was made some pretty dumb laws – Murphy’s law #1 (and pet peeve) is that the drivers who c-r-a-w-l along on the crooked part of the road, put their foot in it and full throttle where there is a passing lane allowing perhaps one or two vehicles to pass them and then slow up again immediately when the road narrows to a single lane. And then there’s the transport trucks that think they’re going to pass and get out in the passing lane and lose power on the hill and no one gets past. Rod’s pet peeve is people pulling trailers or boats using mirrors that they can’t possibly see behind them with. Just before Golden, a truck pulling a big ski boat decided to pull out to pass while I was already passing him! Even had be bothered to check his mirror, which I’m relatively sure he did not, he wouldn’t have seen anything beyond his boat. I’m thankful that I ride under the assumption that I am invisible and try to anticipate that people will do the dumb ass things they do. There oughta be a law… oh that’s right there is and it belongs to Murphy. I rest my case.

We do however have a casualty to mark the day. The beautiful flag pole, of which I was inordinately proud, broke just east of Albert Canyon. It went unnoticed by me but as Rod was following he saw it go sailing past and went back to rescue it. I pulled out to pass some vehicles and realized Rod was not with me. ???? I pulled over to wait just before the first snow shed on the way through the Roger’s Pass. Why is it that when you are waiting for someone and don’t what’s happened that the time seems interminable? Must be another of Murphy’s dumb laws. Finally I turn the bike around and start back west trying to remember exactly where I saw him last. Shortly I see him riding east and have to ride several more kilometres before finding another spot to turn around in safely. The flag pole had broken clean at the weld which had appeared invisible and there were tire tracks on my brand new flag.

We fuel in Glacier at 1:30 and stop to share a chicken burger in Golden at the “Lost in the 50’s” diner. It was, as our friend Vicki would say – forgettable. We lose an hour to the Mountain Time zone.

Having been ‘out of the saddle’ for a couple of years I have very sore “cheeks” and my right hand is sore as my throttle lock ‘cruise control’ is not holding.

We decide to brave the potential wrath of the park rangers as we did not buy a park pass and pull into Banff for fuel. I am on reserve and don’t think I will make another 20 km into Canmore.

We are staying with Rod’s cousins in Calgary and looking forward to a good visit and catching up on family news.


I write this from the Chapters/Starbuck's in Calgary. Rod is at his cousin's putting new ballasts on her kitchen lights so I don't have his camera here to give you the pics. Will update with them later.

4 comments:

Mel Baly said...

Hi Sue and Rod

Glad to see you are enjoying your ride!!! Sure looks like fun. Too bad about Paladins tail being broken.
Rod needs to find a stronger crazy glue.
The weather has turned nasty down here, so I hope you out run any inclement weather throughout your trip.

Will be following the rest of your adventure with interest

You are writing a great blog!!!

Have a safe and fun ride

Mel

jasper said...

testing

jasper said...

Ok , LS and Rod,, got it figured out now.. thanks for the great chapters.. sorry about yur flag pole.. raining buckets here off and on .. so your garden will be just fine.. hope you are not seeing this much water hwere you ae ? we are gone for a few.. so will check your blog upon our return

KEEP THE RUBBER SIDE DOWN PLEASE !

love , jasper

jasper said...

testing again ,, from jasper..some problems in writing comments.