Mission Control, we have lift off!

 

And so it begins. I was up at 0600, checking everything over, having a coffee or three and trying really hard not to leave immediately. I had made a promise to a friend, you see. Brunch was to be my send-off.

So I began packing the bike at about 08:30. And finished at 10:00. Good thing I wasn’t on a schedule, lol. I couldn’t believe how long it took me to get everything packed and in place and tied down just so. I would have had to get up at 03:30 to adhere to my original Friday morning 05:00 departure time.

So it is with a sigh of relief that I say thank you Susie, for inviting me to brunch and thereby instigating me to slow down. I believe it has set the tone for the trip. Takin’ it easy – enjoyin’ the ride.

There was another added bonus to having brunch with friends this morning – it allowed another motorcycle-riding friend of mine time to finish up a meeting and then join me on my ride out of the city.

I have had escorts before – usually to a courtroom or a jail cell – but never has someone offered to be my wingman and see me off like this before. My fellow rider accompanied me all the way to Renfrew, under dark, gray and threatening skies – and lent a hand in repositioning and refastening my gear – before turning around to head back to the city and his family.

You are an above-average man, doing above-average things. Thanks Roy.

And now, I am sitting in a motel room……yes, I know – I brought half of Mountain Equipment Coop with me and I am staying in a motel…..but I thought that I should really try to make the end of the first day as great as it’s start was, so yes, I am in an air-conditioned motel in North Bay, digesting a wonderfully cooked medium rare steak and baked potato served to me by a very cute – and sassy – waitress named Rebecca at the local Kelsey’s.

Interestingly, Rebecca appears to be about 20 and remarked to me that she ‘hates technology’. Her cell phone failed to charge because she failed to plug the other end of the cord into the wall.

North Bay folks have  a lower standard for technology than us big city folks I guess. Ah well – keep smiling and making tips Rebecca – Cletus will come by once in a while to check on that dag gum chargin’ thingy for ya’.

 

As noted by my Ottawa-Renfrew wingman when I ‘checked in’ from North Bay via Facebook – I kind of missed Algonquin Park. Just kept right on riding. With nary a thought about shadows of past lives. Just as it should be, I keep learning. Curiously, my older brother – the ‘camping in Algonquin Park when I was 7’ older brother – called me just as I was entering North Bay. He left a message saying ‘I hope you are going to touch base before you leave.’

I am a heel sometimes.

I called him right back – shared a few laughs – felt that ‘older brother / younger brother’ connection – and told my big bro that I love him.

“Ride safely”, he said. “I love you too” he said.

 

 

Life is good. Really, really good.