Happy Canada Day
It has been brought to my attention that I am falling behind in my journal. I have a very plausible explanation.
I have been riding.
After the Vernon ride, I didn’t have much time to ride for a week. I was going to work and helping a friend with her garden and winding up my union duties.
Although I did use the bike to commute a couple of times and went to my photography club via bike, but those are just your everyday rides of a few miles.
Last weekend I went with 3 other bikes across the line to Mount Baker. I met Starman and his lady at 8:15 whereupon we headed for the border. When we got there, though, the lineup was over an hour long….and this was the short lineup. The other border crossing would have taken 2 hours. I know it’s a long weekend, but this was crazy.
It used to be so easy for us to cross the border for a daytrip, but sometimes I think twice about it now. Historically there has always been an easy going back and forth for the Canadians and the Americans. That all changed after 9/11. The threat of terrorism has forever changed the relaxed relationship we had with the USA. Now they look at us all as if we were the enemy. It is so sad. When we came through the border, I noticed that the USA side has more electronic gadgetry than you can count. There are sensors and scanners, cameras and x-ray machines as well as guards with dogs. We never used to need to carry much ID either. Your word was good. I went and got myself a new passport (another government money grab) to make it easier for going across. It’s still not good enough. They make me take off my helmet, too. I don’t know why they make me take off my helmet when they don’t make others take off their helmet. Even with my helmet on, you can still my blue eyes, white skin and wisps’ of blonde hair.
So, back to Saturday….As we sat at the light in a line that was going nowhere, a woman in a van came from the opposite direction and stopped at the light. She recommended going a different way in to the border. Starman should have known that since he goes down there so often. We inched along until we got to the end of the median and then we made a u-turn to head back to the light. We made a right onto 8th Avenue and followed it until 184th. We then turned onto Zero Avenue and followed it right to the border area. We stopped at the stop sign and then gently inserted ourselves into the line up. Well, I should say, I gently inserted myself. Starman just sort of “went” in. The old man in the Subaru saw me so he waved at me to go in ahead of him. I rode my bike close enough to his driver’s window so he could see my eyes and leaned in close to say thank you. He and his wife both smiled at me.
A little courtesy and politeness can sure go along way.
I caught up to Starman and his lady. It still felt like an eternity to get to the border because it was so hot outside and there was a lot of exhaust, but in reality we were through the border in about 20 minutes. We will definitely go in via Zero Avenue next time.
Although the border guard asked me to take off my helmet, he was quick about letting me go. I rode over to where Starman was waiting hoping to do up my helmet and put on my gloves, but he was off and riding. All I could do was follow until we got into Blaine. I knew we were only going a few blocks so I wasn’t too worried. We pulled up outside the appointed meeting place to wait for Fringes and Hubby while Starman’s lady went in search of coffee and muffins. Finally Starman’s cell phone rang. It was hubby. They were still in the lineup to cross the border. So, we just hung around in the sunshine enjoying our coffees and talking to the locals who happen to walk by. Two different men in trucks stopped to see if we needed any help. Blaine is such a small town that people are quite friendly here.
Finally Fringes and her hubby arrived. We took a few minutes to chat while they cooled down a bit. Having been sitting in the border lineup for so long made them extremely hot and thirsty. After they got hydrated and cooled down, we got ready to go. Starman showed us a map of where we were going and then explained where we would be stopping.
Starman led the way to Lyndon for our first stop. We fuelled the bikes, made use of the washrooms and bought some cold drinks. We needed to make sure we drank lots of water today. After our short break, we geared up again and started on our trek to Mount Baker.
It was an exhilarating feeling riding along with this select group of people. A year ago I never knew any of them and here I was riding along on my own motorcycle with a great group of people to ride some challenging roads.
I was smiling inside my helmet. I still marvel at the fact that I am a motorcyclist.
Next….Mount Baker.
Canada Day is the day to show your love for your country. Be proud and loud about being a Canadian.
I understand that it is a lot of fun for those sport bike riders, but this is, after all, a public road that winds its way up a mountain. There are more blind curves than you can keep track of…and a steady flow of traffic.
