Thursday Random Shots

Van, Cherlie T and Phin

Tina and Gale (Curb)

Sandy, Lost Bob and Rainman

Huffy & Elaine

Lots of people

CB, Wrong Turn, KT and Mikey

Wrong Turn's Chunk pose

Pappy, Charlie T and Wompus

Fox and Stonewall

Kudzu & Stonewall

Bob Kane

Mary & Stewey and Renata & Flip

Bub Z, Badger and Lucky Al

Lost Bob and Ol' Phart Joe

SEVROC Thursday

We were up at 6:00 AM as usual. I found that the Netbook battery was flat because the power cord wasn't plugged in correctly. Got it plugged in better and then started to get two days of blog notes drafted. The WiFi signal doesn't reach the room so I draft the text in wordpad, sort the photos and then go sit in front of the office to upload them.

We had planned for an 8:00 AM breakfast. Mty and Stewey were up and ready but this is what we found when we knocked on Stonewall's door.

Stonewall at his best

The four of us walked the half mile to Country Vittles restaurant. We joined Don and Sherm's breakfast table already in progress. Country Vittles menu has a lot of very good a la carte items or you can order the all-you-can-eat-family-style breakfast for $7.95 a head. This is where they basically bring the buffet to your table. Mary and Stewey went that way while Sandy and I had more traditional food.

The first breakfast group

As we ate, other VROC people came in. There were a lot of interesting items in the place. One that caught my eye was a fine scaale merry-go-round. I'm not sure if it was a model or a toy. On the way out, I bought an autographed copy of the paperback novel Diamondback. This is the book Chunk told me I should get because it is set in this area, all the places are real and he thought we should explore them.

Country Vittles merry-go-round

Derrick was leading a ride to Lake Lure, but we wanted something shortter so we hooked up with Stewey & Mary and Butch & Teresa. We headed south on US 19 towards Cherokee. Part way there, we got caught up in a repaving operation with a wait for a pilot car to escort us throught the several miles of construction.

In Cherokee, we checked out the Dairy Queen as a possible place to wait for the kids on Saturday. Looks like a good spot. While there, we met VROCer Opie from Cuba, Missouri who was passing through town with a couple of friends. We also scoped out the welcome center park at the edge of town as another alternative.

We headed north out of Cherokee on US 441 and, almost immediately, turned right on the very southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. A couple of pullouts into the run, Stewey stopped to attach his video camera. We continued on, stopping every five miles so he could reset the camera to keep the video files form becoming too large. Eventually, we had enough stunning footage and he took the camera off. We rode the BRP all the way to the highest point (6,053 feet above sea level) where we stopped and considered our next move.

A scenic stop on the BRP

The group at the highest point on the BRP

Me, Sandy, Butch & Teresa, Stewey & Mary

Discretion took over and we realized that the original plan to ride up to US 276 was probably a little bit ambitious. Instead, we headed back down the Parkway to US 74 and on into Waynesville. Sitting at an intersection, we heard some beeps and whistles. I wondered who was upset at someone's driving until Mary saw Sherm and Don going the opposite direction.  We finally found the BBQ place Stewey was looking for.

Fat Buddies BBQ, Waynesville NC

I had BBQ beef and Sandy had a pulled pork sandwich. The server was very pretty but managed to screw up the side orders. We didn't have any doubts about the cleanliness though.

Fat Buddies Sanitation Score

After lunch, we rode back to the Applecover where a lot of new people had arrived. For those who hang out in the VROC Debate group, I got this landmark photo.

Talon & Nomad Daddy

We spent some time catching up with the new arrivals until about 6:30, when it was time to head down the road the Smacker's, the restaurant where the Meet & Greet was being held. The food was good but they hadn't laid on enough staff so the service was on the slow side. That shouldn't have happened because Jax had made prior arrangements with them for a group of 55. We were slightly over that at 66 by my count.

SEVROC organizer Jax

We got back to the Inn about 8:25, just in time to see the second half of Survivor. I know, we watch too much reality TV. Afterwards, we met a few new people including Van, who was showing a damaged steel oil gear. He told me the story and that he was waiting to meet Judge, the master of oil gears.

Van's oil gear

Willie Wonka and The Lovely Carlene arrive

Later in the evening, as the larger part of the card started to drift off to their rooms, a few of us from Debate settled down and had a discussion about the issues of the day. They tell people that people don't talk politics at VROC events but that isn't true. But those of us who do it don't advertise the fact. Talon, Jax, Flip and I, along with two gentlemen who shall only be known as Bob, solved all the problems of the world. Finally, Talon, Flip and I found we were the last three still up and wandered off to bed about 1:30 AM.

I was concerned about Heather & Tom since they were supposed to leave Waterloo after work and ride to Windsor. I didn't get any phone calls, so I sent an Email asking what was up. No reply as of bed time. But I will go under the assumption that no news is good news.

Today's Route:


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Scenes around the Applecover Inn

For those of you who couldn't make it, here are a few random shots of the day.

Wompus & Stonewall

GoldWing Parking

VSP & Stewey

Sherm blogging

TBone

Badger, Wompus & Sherm

Wrong Turn, KT, VSP, Stewey & Sandy

Teresa & Butch from western Kentucky

Derrick, KT and VSP

Fayetteville West Virginia to Maggie Valley North Carolina

The day dawned with blue skies and significantly warmer temperatures. The weather radar showed the big system that had terrorized Oklahoma was due west of us and moving northeast. Locally, there were some scattered showers.

We left at 8:00 AM heading down US-19 and on to I-77. Jim and Katie would follow later in her Jeep. After a quick breakfast stop in Princeton, we crossed the Virginia Line under the East River Tunnel and, on Jim's recommendation, we took the Rocky Gap exit to Va 61 west. This is a nice winding road through a valley with very little traffic.

Near Tazewell at Frog Level (you have to love the names down here), we headed south on Va 16, a road I have wondered about for a while. It looked challenging on the map and it was. Between Tazwell and Marion, Virginia, it crosses three lines of mountains and each section up and down was more challenging than the famed Dragon. One thing I noted was how friendly people were. We stopped at one spot and everyone who drove by waved and smiled.

Stopped on Va 16

In Marion, we joind I-81 and headed west into darkening clouds. About twelve miles from Abingdon, Va, it started to spit rain. This got heavier as we went along and, as we pulled into the familiar Abingdon McDonalds, it started to get serious. Mickey D's now has free WiFi so we ate lunch and looked at the radar. It looked like the rain was confined to the I-81 corridor.

Our Abingdon office

After an hour and a half, the fine rain let up and, after drying the bike seat, we headed south an Va 75 into Tennessee. My plan to ride US 421 (The Snake) was left for another day since the pavement was wet and we were behind schedule. We opted for the direct route to Maggie Valley via US 421 to 394 past Bristol Motor Speedway and US 19 to Johnson City.

Going into Johnson City, we stopped for gas and were engaged in conversation by a nice gentleman named Richard. He was a 64 year old retired mechanical engineer who lived nearby and was wondering how he could invest in Canadian currency to protect against the inflation of the US dollar he felt was coming. A very nice man.

Continuing on, we ran south on I-26 over the ridge into North Carolina. The top of the ridge had some cold rain, but this quit as soon as we were on the other side.

Welcome to North Carolina

The NC Visitor Center on I-26

We stopped at the Visitor Center briefly and then continued down around Asheville onto I-40 and over to Maggie Valley where we found Stewey, Stonewall and their wives, both named Mary. Wompus was also present as was TBone. Don (VSP) and Sherm arrived from the west coast a short whike later in Don's Toyota.

After checking in, we unloaded and hung out for a while before wandering down to J. Arthur's restaurant for supper. I had a nice (but expensive) filet mignon with (take note, Brother Bear) Bearnaise sauce. Sandy had the deal of the night with a very inexpensive but satisfying half rack of ribs.

The gang at J. Arthur's

After supper, we came back to the Applecover and stood around with Derrick (the owner) in front of the office visiting. Jim & Katie finally arrived in the Jeep and, after dark, Lucky Al and a friend rolled in from New Jersey. Sandy, Stonewall's Mary and I watched the Idol vote-off show and Crystal is continuing on to the final three.

I hit the sack before 11:00 PM, tired after an interesting day.

Today's Route:


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Erie Pennsylvania to Fayetteville West Virginia

We rose at 6:00 AM to a cloudy, windy and cool Erie morning. The radar map showed a large rain cell moving in from the southeast. It had already crossed I-79 south of us so there was no hope of beating it and we took our time having our hotel breakfast. On the bright side, if the radar was right, we should be able to get behind the rain in a couple of hundred miles.

We left Erie at 8:00 AM in full rain gear. I-79 was down to one lane for the first ten miles or so, an event that was to repeat again further down the road. Proud signs said this work was all being done with stimulus money from Washington. Most of the roads they were working on didn't look too bad to me.

Twenty miles or so down 79, my peripheral vision caught a flash of something moving above us from the left. I ducked as a large wild turkey went over our heads. Shades of deja vu, this was right around where the turkey flew into the side of us about eight years ago. I am not a wild turkey fan. Sandy did point out that at least this wasn't the same turkey......

A light rain started bout 40 miles south of Erie and continued for about 15 miles before easing up. We took a quick break in Grove City, Pa and I thought we would perhaps luck out. Not. As soon as we headed south, we were into steady precipitation and the temperature dropped to 7C (about 45F). We stopped in Waynesburg, Pa in a steady rain for fuel and McDonalds lunch. Then we continued to slosh our way southwards.

At the pretty little rest area south of Weston, WV, we stopped again and I phoned Wrong Turn (Jim) for directions to his place in Fayetteville. As we left, there was a patch of blue sky a couple of miles to the west, the first promising sign all day. By the time we reached US 19, the rain had stopped and, by Summersville, the roads were dry.

We arrived at Wrong Turn's house about 3:00 PM. The plan was to offload the Kuryakyn higway pegs for his new GoldWing but the sky clouded up again and we took up his and Katie's offer to spend the night. Jim and Katie were in a serious bike accident earlier this spring. Katie's injuries were relatively minor while Jim had his left upper arm broken in firve places, his right wrist shattered and the head broken off his femur. With a partially new hip and a lot of titanium parts and screws, he has made a remarkable recovery so far. He is one tough gentleman.

They took us over to the OK Chinese Buffet, located in the same mall as the K-Mart. (Remember the Batman pillow, Terry & Patsy?). It was enjoyable and Jim met a man whose father he had taught. This man's son (Jim's student's grandson) was in college. That is a sobering thought.

Jim & Katie at the OK Chinese Buffet

After supper, Jim took us for a different view of the bridge over the New River Gorge. We've seen the views from the Visitor Center but he took us down this narrow, winding road to the bottom of the gorge. The New River is popular with rafters and kayakers and Jim can tell some stories because he used to be a river guide. Railway tracks run both sides of the river down at the bottom and the twisting road used to be the only road.

The bridge from part way down the gorge

Down by the river

Jim & Katie on the bridge

Another view of the highest arch bridge in the western hemisphere

Back at the house, we watched American Idol (go Crystal) and Lost (because we would have to see it live next week with the kids). Then we turned in for the night.

Today's route:


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Sudbury Ontario to Erie Pennsylvania

I was up at 6:00 AM. The weather channel said it was -2C but, unlike yesterday, was supposed to warm up quickly. By the time we had packed and loaded the bike, it was 9:18 and the temperature was up to +8. We were fueled and headed out of town by 9:30.

The first day of any trip starts out slowly. The first half hour, it seems like you aren't getting anywhere. Then you settle into the rhythm and, before you know it, the day is done.

For the first hundred miles, there were still snow patches in both sides of the road. Add to that the fact that they obviously salted the highway during the snow on Saturday because the residue was evident on the pavement. I try to avoid salt whenever possible but, this time, there was nothing to be done about it.

Under doctor's orders to stop every hour and let Sandy walk around to prevent a recurrence of the blood clot problem, we pulled into the Moose Lake Trading Post just north of Pointe Au Baril. The last time Sandy was here was before she met me and the last time I was here was never. It has coffee, french fries and a nice little gift shop with lots of interesting things. Outside, they have a wishing well dedicated to Terry Fox. I made a wish and tossed in a coin. Hope it comes true.

Moose Lake Trading Post

Terry Fox Wishing Well

Inscription

South of Shawanaga, a yearling bear wandered out of the ditch a couple of hundred yards ahead of us. I slowed down while noting that this was probably the most laid back bear I have ever seen. He ambled slowly and deliberately across the road giving us a look of disdain as he did. Sandy would have gotten a great picture except that she had the camera settings wrong.

The Parry Sound contruction zone said it would be completed in the summer of 2009. It still isn't done so I don't believe the summer 2010 promise for completion of the new section around Nobel.

Our second stop was about noon at the Derek Roberts Country Store in Waubaushene. We split a Subway meal deal for lunch as Sandy tried to warm her hands around a cup of hot chocolate.

Coming into Barrie, I felt a wave of fatigue wash over me. I managed to hang on until the service centre in King where I slurped down one of my 5 Hour Energy Drinks. This perked me up and I didn't have any more problems for the rest of the day.

We splurged and took the 407 across the top of Toronto all the way to Burlington. The QEW was moving well and, after a stop for fuel and walking in Beamsville, we arrived at the Peace Bridge. For the first time I can remember, traffic was backed up onto the bridge and, as we sat there, we could feel it shake as trucks went by the other direction. Soon we rolled off the bridge and, ignoring the packed plaza, wheeled into the NEXUS lane where there were only two vehicles waiting. After holding our cards up to the scanner, we told the agent where we were going and he wished us a good trip. This was one of the days that I know the NEXUS cards are worth every penny we paid for them. And no questions about the terror list, either. Maybe they caught the guy.

On the I-190, we were passed by a Milwaukee vibrator with loud fishtail pipes. I backed off a ways to let the noise get well ahead of us. The GPS kept trying to take me to the street level until I checked the avoidances and told it toll roads were OK. Entering the NY Thruway, the EZ-Pass transponder worked fine for a change. Yowza, more time saved.

When we took a brief break at the Angola service centre on I-90, I noted that their gas was going for $3.08 per gallon. Yikes. I won't look at any more prices after this. I did note a sign along the road that said NY driver's licences would be suspended after a second speeding ticket in a construction zone. That should get some attention.

At the Pennsylvaia state line, there was an overhead sign that said "Watch Out For Motorcycles". Way to go, Pa! We rolled into the Comfort Inn parking lot in Erie just after 5:30. After unloading, we walked next door to Bob Evans where I had a monstrous chef salad and Sandy ordered a turkey, dressing, mashed potato and cranberry dish from the over 55 menu.

The weather here tomorrow doesn't look good. Showers in the morning will deteriorate into a "soaking" rain in the afternoon with a high of 50. On the plus side, Princeton, West (By God) Virginia will start wet and move to thunder showers in the afternoon with a high of 62. We realize it could be worse after watching coverage of the wild tornados in Oklahoma. Our thought are with everyone there.

A blurb I caught today on the radio detailed a plan the Ontario police chiefs are asking the province to enact whereby police officers would not have to appear in court for traffic citations they issue. The chiefs say a written, sworn statement should be sufficient to reduce costs. I have to wonder what happened to being able to confront your accuser. The defendant can't cross examine a written statement. I hope this goes nowhere because it would make a mockery of the court process.

Tonight, as I type this, we are watching Dancing With the Stars. I expect to be asleep early in anticipation of another great dat tomorrow.

Today's Route


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The Night Before .....

I have been doing this for a lot of years and many, many miles.  Still, the night before we head out on the first trip of the season, I am riddled with doubt.  What if we break down, what if we wreck, what if.........  It runs through my mind that it would be safer and more predictable if we just stayed home and played golf.

But tomorrow morning when we head out the driveway for faraway places, I know it will also be the same.  The doubts will disappear and the eager anticipation of the places and people we will see takes over.  Any what ifs will be dealt with if and when they occur and, in the meantime, we will be truly alive again.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Getting Ready To Head Out

We were going to hit the road for the SEVROC gathering in Maggie Valley, North Carolina this morning but this was the scene here yesterday.  They called for 15 cm of snow but, lucky for us, this was about all we got.

A snowy Sudbury morning in May

It was below freezing this morning and there was still some of the nasty white stuff on the ground so I decided we could wait until tomorrow to leave.  Not a big problem because I had allowed four days to cover just over 1,000 miles.  This is normally a pretty easy two day haul and now we will do it in three.

The last few days were a bit hectic as the Freedom Riders held their annual Safety Booth at the New Sudbury Shopping Centre.  We like to remind the public that motorcycles are back on the road and we appreciate it when they look twice for us.  We also publicize the Action Sudbury message against drinking and driving and make riders aware of the club and its purpose.  This year, instead of putting a member's bike on display, we borrowed a brand new Vulcan 900 Custom from NorthStar Recreation.  Dave, the owner, offered us any bike in his showroom.  After careful consideration, we thought this would attract a lot of attention and we were right.

Sandy and Biker in the Freedom Riders Safety Booth with the 900 Vulcan Custom

Today, I have been running around taking care of the pre-trip details.  I bolted my Kuryakyn Ergo II highway pegs and Baker air wings back on the Wing.  The pegs will get dropped off at Wrong Turn's place in Fayetteville, West (By God) Virginia for his new bike and the wings are headed to Maggie Valley for Stewey. There are still some things to do but we are getting a handle on it and should be on the road as soon as the temperature gets above freezing in the morning.

This will be the first time in years that we have made it to SEVROC.  Usually, it is on Victoria Day weekend and we are in Combermere, but they are a week apart this year.  I expect to make Erie, Pennsylvania tomorrow night and Princeton, WV or Wytheville (pronounced Withville), Virginia on Tuesday.  On the way to Maggie Valley on Wednesday, I plan to check out The Snake, Highway 421 through Shady Valley, Tennessee.  I have passed the road many times and there is no time like the present to take a ride on it.  It is highly spoken of in motorcycle circles.

Heather and Tom will be leaving Waterloo Thursday evening and expect to make it to Maggie on Saturday.  After the festivities, we will start north on Sunday exploring some interesting highways and byways on our way to the Combermere gathering the following weekend.


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Proposed route from Sudbury to Maggie Valley

Stay tuned to this channel for further developments.

Spring Has Sprung

I haven't posted since our late season golfing foray on November 18th.  The bike was put away on the 26th, the latest I can ever remember storing it.

You can see from the preceding post that we lost Mom back in January.  She suffered a heart attack and a stroke almost simultaneously in mid-December.  Hospitalized, she was unable to communicate and it was difficult to know just how aware she was.  As she slipped lower, the CAT scans showed substantial damage and the doctors gave no hope for a meaningful recovery.  Fortunately, Mom left Dave and I no choice in the matter as she had left us with a strongly worded directive that, if she was not going to be able to enjoy a substantial standard of living, she be allowed to go peacefully.  Dave got back from Edmonton on Christmas Day and we spent the next two weeks with her as she was moved first to the Palliative Care Wing of the hospital and then to the new ARCH Hospice up on the 4th Line.  I can't say enough about the staff and volunteers at the ARCH.  Wonderful people.

Mom slipped away at 1:10 PM on January 8th with Dave and I and some friends at her bedside.  Dave and I sang Isn't It Grand, Boys at the end.  The others looked at us a bit funny because the song is a touch (OK, a lot) morbid, but this is a family favourite in these situations.  Sister Dana, one of the few young nuns I have met lately and a true sweetheart, joined in with us before we finished.

Rather than mourn her passing, we were grateful that she was able to live on her own terms almost right up to the end.  I miss her but she lives on in our hearts and memories.

Dave is back in Edmonton right now but is working on a plan to commute between Alberta and Ontario.  He bought my half of Mom's house and will be based in the Soo when he's here.  He's not sure how this will work out but will play it by ear as he goes along.

The rest of the winter was pretty quiet.  Leo, Doug and I attended the early December bike show in Toronto and got stranded in Midland by a blizzard on the way back.  Sandy, Heather Tom and I attended the other bike show and VROC Frozen North Dinner in January.  We made a few trips to Cambridge/Waterloo to see the kids.  Jolene is growing like a weed.  Check out some photos on Mike's Flickr Photostream.

I didn't take the snowmobile out once over the season.  Winter, which had entered like a lion in early December, just kind of fizzled out.  The snowblower ran once after Christmas, just a little cleanup job.  It looks like Atlanta and Dallas got more snow than we did.  I will hand it to Normie and his STP people because I heard that they made passable trails with almost nothing to work with, but I had no desire to ride at all.  Normie was good enough to grant me a Leave of Absence from STOP and I hope I find some interest before the fall or I fear I may get rid of my last sled.

Anyway, winter is behind us and a new travel season beckons.  The bike came out of storage today, very late since the snow left at the beginning of March and many have been riding for six weeks.

I had first intended to go to Sherm's Lettuce Ride in Yuma Arizona last month. but we cancelled that for several reasons.  We are now heading for SEVROC in Maggie Valley, North Carolina on Mother's Day.  This is the first year in a while that SEVROC has not conflicted with our Combermere weekend.  Heather and Tom will join us in Maggie and we'll all ride back up to Combermere via the Blue Ridge Parkway and other scenic roads.

So I apologize for not keeping up over the winter but we are now back, the bike is running and I have a new camera.  We'll be seeing you down the road.

R.I.P. Fred Poysor 1929 - 2010

Fred at Cyclefest 2010

We received word from Ginger that old friend Fred Poysor of London Ontario passed away after a brief fight wih cancer. We didn't even know that he had been sick.

Fred was a regular on the Ontaario rally circuit for many years. He had traveled first with his wife Wanda, who was also a rider. When she passed away several years ago, he continued to come out and, for the last few years, had been keeping company with Ginger. Fred and Ginger. It took me a while to get the significance of the names.

Although Fred rode his 2002 Illusion Blue GoldWing to most events, at Cyclefest on Labour Day weekends he would show up in his truck towing his large RV trailer. He had mosified the door so he could get the Wing into the kitchen and it was truly an awesome thing to watch him load it and unload it.

When Heather didn't pass her first motorcycle test a couple of years back, I contacted Fred to see if he could coach her. In addition to riding with a drill team, Fred helped many ladies acquire the skills they needed to get their licence. He brought his 1976 Honda 125 to the lot at the New Dundee Community Centre and spent several weekends setting up pylon courses and teaching Heather how to get through them. There was a special moment at last year's Rainbow Rally in Sudbury when Fred, at 80, won the oldest rider and Heather won the youngest.

My last ride with Fred was at the final Cyclefest last year. While Ginger was working and Heather and Sandy were out looking for a marriage licence, Fred and I too a ride up the Hockley Valley Road to the General Store for coffee. We returned via the Forks of the Credit and, despite his age, I couldn't lose him in the corners.

So long, Fred. Although I am glad you didn't suffer long, we sure are going to miss you.

R.I.P. Mildred Eileen "Midge" Robinson 1924-2010

Midge Robinson passed away peacefully January 8th, 2010 at the Sault Ste Marie ARCH Hospice surrounded by family and friends. She had suffered a heart attack and stroke December 14th.

Born in Detroit Michigan in 1924, Midge was raised along with her younger brother Warren (predeceased) in London Ontario by parents Lena Beatrice and James Thomas Woodend (both predeceased). She then trained as a Registered Nurse in Hamilton. After graduation, her spirit of adventure became apparent when she took a posting to the Red Cross Hospital on St. Joseph's Island. From there, she went further into the wild, first working at the Red Cross facility in Hawk Junction and then for the Helen Mine in Wawa.

In the small isolated community of Wawa, Midge developed some lifelong friends and met and married the love of her life, a geologist from Bathurst, New Brunswick named Dale Robinson (predeceased 1969). The couple relocated to northern Quebec where oldest son Jim was born in 1952, and then back to Dale's hometown where they welcomed sons David (1955) and Douglas (1957).

The family moved to Timmins, Ontario in 1958 where Midge became active in many community activities, including part time work with the Victorian Order of Nurses. Following Dale's serious heart attack, they moved to Sault Ste. Marie in 1967. Midge resumed full time nursing at the Plummer Memorial Hospital, first working Emergency and then moving to the Intensive Care Unit where she stayed until retirement.

Following Dale's death in 1969, Midge finished raising the three boys and supporting the family single-handedly. At the hospital, she worked shifts in the challenging ICU and was acknowledged by her peers as a fine nurse with high standards.

Tragedy again struck the family in 1983 when youngest son Doug was lost in a traffic accident but she soldiered on.

In 1985, Midge was forced to take a disability pension, spending her summers at her home on Lasalle Court surrounded by fine, caring neighbors and her winters in Florida. In later, years, she abandoned the snowbird lifestyle but discovered the Internet where she quickly expanded her already large circle of friends.

Right up to the end, Midge lived in her own home and drove her own car, recently passing a road test with flying colours. She will be remembered by all who knew her as a lady who spoke her mind, cared for others and was not above beating a moose calf with a paddle if that was what it took to save the canoe. She was also an Irish witch who was an excellent blackjack player, a voracious reader, an astute political debater and a devoted NASCAR fan.

Her sons Jim (Sandy) of Sudbury and Dave of Edmonton will miss her greatly, as will granddaughters Heather (Tom) of Waterloo and Kim (Mike) of Cambridge and great granddaughter Jolene. Brother Warren's children in Pennsylvania, Jamie, Kathy, Stef, Tracey and Nancy as well as their families, will also fondly remember Aunt Midge.

The family offers many thanks to the neighbors and friends who looked out for her over the years, especially Gale and Les Daniels, Jack and Bridget O'Neill and Angie Ballantyne. Thanks also to Dr. Catania, her physician for many years, as well as Dr. Buehner and the staff in the Palliative Care section of the Plummer Hospital site. Special thanks to the staff and volunteers at the ARCH hospice, who are living proof that angels walk among us.

At Midge's request, she was cremated with no funeral services. The O'Sullivan Donnelly Funeral Home handled arrangements. A committal in the family plot at Greenwood Cemetery where Dale and Doug are already resting will be conducted at a later date.

The family asks that any memorial donations be made to the ARCH Hospice in Sault Ste. Marie so that they may continue their outstanding work.

The Golf Diaries

I used to play golf regularly.  For many years, I was a member at Cedar Green Golf Course just up the road from my place in Garson.  Of course, being a serious golfer does not, in any  way, imply that I was any good at it.  My handicap was about 18 for much of the time.

Lately, I only see golf courses as I pass them on the highway.  Last year, I played one 18 hole round and this year never set foot on a course.  Until yesterday.

Imagine having weather in late November good enough that not only were the golf courses open, but the greens were in play.  Leo called and asked if I wanted to go so I packed up the trusty (rusty) clubs, picked him up and we headed out.  All we had time for was 9 so, with no one in the pro shop, we took an available cart and started out on #10.  At Cedar Green, the back 9 is more forgiving and I was certainly in no position to up the challenge.

I wish I could say it was a great round and that I was brilliant, or even competent.  But that would be too much  to hope for.  As it happens, I hit a few good shots and my putting skills sucked.  On the plus side, I didn't lose a ball until 18.  And I had fun.

Today, we went back and played the back again.  Lost more balls, putted a little better and still had fun.  next summer, when I get a few days at home, I think I'll get out on the course instead of just sittting around and vegging out.

Thanks for getting me out there, Leo.

Escanaba Michigan to Sudbury Ontario

We were on our way at 7:00 AM, retracing our steps through the dark pre-dawn morning.  As the sun came up and we progressed through Michigan, my eye was drawn to a "Don't Veer For Deer" sign.  I had never seen one before but the trusty Internet tells me that this is a new and successful safety campaign.  I'll keep that in mind but will probably continue to veer for moose.

At the Soo, the US bound traffic was backed up as the poor design of the truck lanes continued to block cars.  On the plus side, the Canadian side was empty and we drove right into the one open lane.  The agent never even asked for our ID. Has asked about citizenship and time away and then waved us through.  I think he was eating lunch.

There were many bikes out in the Soo enjoying another unsual November day.  We stopped for a brief visit with Mom and then headed home, arriving in plenty of time to drop Sandy off and get changed into my STOP uniform for the parade security duty.

It was a sad occasion to have to travel for, but the VROC family comes together in tragedy just as willingly as it does for fun and games.  I sometimes wonder where we would be if we had never found VROC but I am unable to imagine the answer.

Jefferson Wisconsin to Escanaba Michigan

North on 26, Friday night traffic was busier but we got to US 41 sooner than I expected.  There was heavy traffic through Oshkosh and Appleton but it tapered off once we cleared Green Bay.  The Marinette detour was no longer in effect so we kept on 41 right through town.  We arrived at the Super 8 in Escanaba about 10:00 PM, checked in and went right to bed.

Chunk's Memorial

We got up late and the gang decided we would go out for breakfast at the Pine Cone Restaurant.  It is located at the truck stop in Johnson Creek where Wisconsin 26 crosses I-94.  It was a few miles up the road and I got to lead the convoy.  All went well once I figured out how to get out of the hotel parking lot.

We were very lucky and got a table in the restaurant right away.  Soon after we got there, a line-up of people waiting to be seated appeared.  Our server was a tall, skinny blond girl who sounded exactly like Tina Fey impersonating Sarah Palin.  How could this be, since Palin was born in Idaho and raised in Alaska?  It seems that the valley in Alaska where Palin grew up was settled by people from Wisconsin according to research I did later.  Further discussion revealed she was also a libertarian Ron Paul supporter.  Kindred spirit.

The breakfast was excellent.  I'd recommend this place to anyone.  Sandy had a huge muffin that was so good that we got two to go, along with a concoction called a Magic Bar.  The pastry display at the checkout counter was amazing.  They had things called elephant ears  that were as big as a dinner plate and the chocolate eclairs were easily four times bigger than any I have ever seen.  And they had great looking home made pies.  The cashier wondered why we were in town (everyone was wearing vests) and I told her about the funeral.  Turns out "Ronny" Keisling was a regular customer.  Given Chunk's love of food and good pies, I wasn't surprised.

Back at the hotel, Rainman and Fireball arrived in their truck from Holland, Michigan.  Sandy and I checked out because we would have to leave right after the service, and then we all hung out in the lobby until it was time for the funeral home to open at 1:00 PM.

The room wasn't full to start with.  At the front, Chunk's ashes rested in an engraved stone container surrounded by rocks, photos, paintings, gold nuggets, his baritone horn and a folded American flag.  Among the flowers was an arrangement from the Pine Cone Restaurant.  I guess he was a really good customer.  At the back, they had a projector with a slide show of photos Chunk had taken, both scenery and people.  I watched the whole thing twice, marveling at how he could visualize things I wouldn't have noticced and then captured them with his trusty lens.

At the funeral home

Stewey, KT, rainman, Cheap B, Furhead, Sandy and Wrong Turn

As we waited, people started to arrive.  Many were VROCers and more than a few rode, taking advantage of the unusually clement weather.  Big Dave, Beth and Fly even rode all the way from Des Moines, Iowa.  By the time the service started at 4:00, the place was packed and many of us gave up our seats to local people.  Chunk's son MC'd and some local people got up to reminisce.  As they told stories about "Chunky", I began to wonder if Jefferson was a breeding ground for stand-up comics.  With Chunk's sense of humor, he would have loved the occasion.  I said a few words on behalf of VROC and all Chunk had contributed to our group.

After the proceedings were over, we were all invited to a bar down the street to celebrate a life fully lived.  Sandy and I had to pass because getting back to Sudbury on time meant we needed to make it to Escanaba, Michigan tonight.  We honked as we passed the bar, sad that we couldn't stay to share more of the day with our extended family.

Sudbury Ontario to Jefferson Wisconsin

Sandy and I headed out to Jefferson Wisconsin today for Chunk's memorial service.  We left Sudbury just after 10:00 AM on a clear day interspersed with ice fog.  Westbound on Highway 17, the GPS said we should arrive in Jefferson at 8:15 PM.  A number of people indicated they were on their way and the hotel of choice was the local Rodeway Inn, where we had reservations.  I need to be back in Sudbury by Saturday afternoon because STOP is assisting with security for the annual Santa Claus Parade.

I saw what I figured was a good omen yesterday.  I was at the Pioneer gas pumps with the Wing topping the tank up and getting the SeaFoam worked through the fuel system when a Pearl Purplish Black Mica Nomad, identical to our last bike, pulled in for fuel.  I had a pleasant chat with the owner and told him that mine had been very reliable over the 132,000 Kms that I rode it.  I don't know what this omen portends, but it was a positive one.  I'm not even sure why I ascribe any significance to what are merely coincidences, but they have seemed to have had meaning to me over the years.

We crossed the International Bridge at 1:35 PM.  I warned the border agent he would probably get a hit from my NEXUS card.  He asked what they usually do when they get a hit, yank me out of the car and slap me up against the wall?  I told him no one had done that so far.  He laughed, gave me the ID's back and sent us on our way.

There was more salt on Michigan 28 that we use at home.  They also use rumble strips on the centre line as well as the shoulder, a great idea to aid tired or distracted drivers.  The ride was rough because I still had the 36 PSI in the tires from the wedding trip.  This hasn't yielded any better fuel mileage so I cut them back to 30 PSI in Gladstone, Michigan, improving the ride.

I forgot we would get an extra hour when we went to Central Time near the Wisconsin border.  Lucky us as the sun was just going down.  There was a detour off US 41 in Marinette which led to a new four-lane section that by-passed Oconto.  The only disturbing thing was the number of dead deer on the side of the road, their carcasses just visible in the headlights.  Typical Wisconsin evening.

The drive through Green Bay, Appleton and Oshkosh was uneventful and, after that, the two lane Wisconsin 26 was no problem.  There was little traffic and it was a bright, clear night.  Slammer called to say that they would be at the Towne Inn, just up from the Rodeway.  We found it soon after rolling into Jefferson, billed on the welcome sign as the Gemuchlichkeit City.

The crowd of the usual faithful were having supper when we got there.  Stewey (Illinois), Slammer (North Carolina), Furhead (who lives nearby), Cheap B (drove all the way from Alabama), Didsbury Dave & Pebbles (who flew from Calgary) and Wrong Turn (West Virginia) and KT (Indiana, Wrong Turn picked her up on the way here).  If I have to share a sad occasion, these are the people I want to share it with.

After supper, we adjourned to the Rodeway and Sandy and I checked in.  Then we hung out around a table in the lobby sipping some Maker's Mark and reminiscing until it was time to turn in.


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