Sunday, April 30, 2006
Group Ride to Burlington for lunch via the Chuckanut Drive
Last weekend’s ride had been much anticipated. After so much cold rainy weather, people were getting antsy for a chance to ride. A member of our local riding club had done the research to find an interesting route to access the Chuckanut rather than just heading straight down Hwy I-5. We met at a General Store/coffee shop/gas station near the border. I was surprised to see our leader and his wife there ahead of me, because they have a reputation for being late for their own rides.
It was actually somewhat surprising that I was there on time, given that I was riding out to meet them with “Jake”. He is also not the most punctual person I have ever met.
Hmmmmm, I’m thinking one day, I should tell him I’ll meet him at 9 but not show up until 9:23.
When we arrived at the general store, I noticed a couple of riders I had not yet met. So, after removing my helmet, I introduced me and my 650 to the new guys and their 1100’s and RoadStars. They were a, uh, “friendly” crew and I was almost wishing I had come alone. Hahaha
When everyone had finally arrived, we got into a raggedy formation to leave the parking lot and headed to the border. Unfortunately, there was a big lineup today. I think if we go again, we need to go earlier to avoid such a long lineup. When you have to sit in a line of idling bikes and cars, the air gets full of exhaust. It was causing my bronchitis to act up with a fresh bout of coughing. I started leaving extra space between me and the Road* in front of me so that the exhaust had a chance to dissipate before it hit me. It did help, but not enough to make me want to do this very often.
When our group to a point where another lane opened up, half the riders moved over, while the other half of us just remained where we were. Under normal circumstances, this would have been a good idea, however, today, those of us that stayed in our line, got the immigration person who apparently had something to prove. The other line was moving along quickly. The other immigration person was probably using common sense.
Finally it was my turn to move up to the booth. Unlike a few weeks ago when I crossed the border, when it was what I would consider normal, today was a little over the top.
I pulled up beside the immigration person….who incidentally was a woman. Apparently, the others who moved over to the other line had seen that and knew from past experiences that if there is a woman working the booth, it takes ten time longer and they are more likely to do searches etc. That was the real motivation for them moving over. I, however, did not know that. Every vehicle that went through her booth was there for such a long time. She went around the vehicles and made them open their trunks.
As I was saying, I pulled up along side of her and put down my kickstand. That will automatically cut the engine. I handed her my passport and then she asked me to move my bike forward so she could see my license plate. I started the bike up so that I could move it forward two feet. I kept my face neutral, but in my head I was thinking she was being an idiot. Could she not have just stepped behind me to look? The immigration officer in the line next to me who was dealing with the other half of our group did just that. The immigration guy a few weeks ago did just that. I put the kickstand down again to stop the engine and then she said to me, “I need to see your face. Please remove your helmet.”
Now, while it is true that my full face helmet covers a portion of my face; my blue eyes, skin colour and whisps of blonde hair are all still visible. I’m quite sure I don’t fit their terrorist profile.
So, I removed my eyeglasses first, and then removed the helmet. When she saw the production of having to be so careful about removing the glasses she actually said she was sorry about that. I doubt it. She took a look at all the pages in my passport and then asked me what I did for employment where I live. In all the years I have been going back and forth across the border, I have never been asked what my job was. I don’t know why that was asked. Maybe she wanted to date me??? Lol. Well, that’s what the other riders thought anyway. While she was flipping through my passport, another immigration guy arrived. While they were flipping through my passport I asked, “Are you finished with my face yet?”
The new arrival laughed and she said yes I could put my helmet back on. So, I put the helmet on and then very carefully put my glasses on again. It’s quite a chore to wear glasses with a full face helmet. I guess she finally decided I was not a threat to their national security and said I could go.
Given that she had delayed me for such a long time, I wanted to move out of the way as quickly as I could so that the person behind me could get going. So, I pulled up to the curb of the parking lot, where I was brusquely told to wait on the highway. I politely said, that I needed to do up my helmet and put on my gloves. He nodded ok for me to stay there. I was then able to put my passport away and zip up my little bag that was on the rack. I quickly buckled the helmet, rezipped my jacket and pulled on my gloves. While I doing that I had a chance to observe the guards and their dogs checking out every vehicle that came though.
Maybe there has been too much BC Bud getting across the line lately….hahahaha
I pulled out onto the highway and then waited on the shoulder with the group until the rest of our riders were through. I was the only person in our group that got asked to remove the helmet. I was also the only person who got asked what you job was. Even the folks on our group who were immigrants to Canada had no problems with the border folks. That was when it was suggested that maybe the border woman was just interested in me because I am a woman and she was looking for a date.
While we were waiting at the side of the road, another group appeared. There was a conversation for a few minutes about where we were all going. They were also heading down the Chuckanut. Their group left just ahead of us, but when we arrived at the junction, they turned right where we turned left.
Our leader, who had done his research, had a printout of his route and taped it to his windshield. He was then able to have a quick glance at where to turn and what streets. Our plan was to first make it to a Birch Bay area gas station/convenience store to meet up with 3 other riders.
Along the way, we came to a stop sign at a highway. We had to turn left here. The highway cleared and the first few riders made their left turn onto the highway. I was about to go, but at the last second I realized the doofus leading the motorcycle group that we had spoken to earlier, was being, well, a doofus. They were approaching slowly, the leader with his signals on implying they were going to turn off. They were all looking like they were about to veer off to the right when I started to go. The leader then looked me square in the eye, and with a sneer throttled his bike up and went straight ahead. Of course I had to stop. I had a few choice words to say inside my helmet, let me tell you.
Eventually the rest of us got to make out turn onto the highway, but it took quite awhile to catch up with the rest of our group. They finally pulled over to let us get back together. It wasn’t long before we pulled into a service station/convenience store to meet up with the other 3 riders from Abbotsford. I made a comment about what had happened….or should I say I attempted to talk about what happened, when “Jake” cut me off and started telling me what he thought. I tried again to explain, but he just talked right over me. At that point, I turned my back, waved him off and walked away. I get so sick and tired of guys who never let you finish what you are going to say. It’s as though my opinion has no merit. “Jake” wisely shut up at that point.
It should be noted that I have never done anything like that in my life. But just the previous week, we had watched a movie called,”I’ll Sleep When I Die”. Clive Owen just turned his back and walked away while the others were talking to him.
I had said, “I wish I could do that”.
“You wish you could do what?”
“I wish I could be rude and ignore someone and just walk away”.
Well, I did it. It had the desired effect. Shock and a bit of hurt. I don’t like to hurt people and I really don’t like to be rude, but I need to stop letting people walk all over me, so to speak. It’s too bad that being polite just does not work sometimes.
For example, a few years ago, in my workplace, a few of the guys started bugging me about my hair. Or my clothes. Or a scarf I might wear. All the politeness in the world did not make them stop harassing me. One day, I walked in wearing a green ribbon in my hair. It was summertime and I wanted to keep my hair off my face because it was so hot outside. I walked in the door, and was immediately greeted with a bunch of comments about my hair and “What’s with the thing in your hair”, kind of comments.
Well, I had had enough. I tore a strip off those guys. I figure my hair is my business. I got bugged my whole child and teen life by my family about my hair, and I was not going to put up with it any more. I used to have waist length blonde hair and I was very proud of it. But for some reason, everyone thought I should get it cut. It was a never ending power struggle between me and my parents and grandparents about my hair. Which is why on the day of the green ribbon incident I let her rip. The very next day, as I was standing checking my work for the day, with my back to the door, I heard a voice say, “Good Morning, B2C”.
I turned around and saw about a dozen of my workmates all wearing green ribbons in their hair….even the guys. I couldn’t help but laugh. They knew they had gone too far and wanted to apologize for all the harassment they had done. One of the guys had gone to a fabric store and purchased a length of green ribbon for everyone so they could say they were sorry. They said they always thought the teasing was in good fun, but I told them they just never listened. How many times do you have to tell someone to leave you alone before they do? It was unfortunate that I had to get really angry and yell the day before, but it got my point across and they never harassed me again.
Which once again brings me to my flipping my hand and waving “Jake” off as I turned my back and walked away. It had impact. We have since talked about that incident and he now realizes he had a habit of cutting me off. It doesn’t happen so much anymore.
Finally everyone was ready to saddle up and get going. Sometimes this group sure knows how to drag out a pit stop.
We followed our leader through Bellingham and to the Chuckanut Drive. It was nice day and the scenery lent itself to stopping for some photos, but our leader had a one track mind. He just kept going. I guess he was hungry and wanted to get to Burlington to the EZ Rider Café as quick as possible. We parked our bikes outside and went in to find a table for ten. While some of us commandeered two tables, the others went to ogle the bikes and accessories. We had a good time over lunch and when we were done, we had some time to browse. I saw a helmet I would like to get, but unfortunately, they were sold out except for the one that was too small for me. I am going to see if I can find it here. If I can’t get it here, I can order it online.
It was time to go but first we all lined up our bikes outside the café for a “tourist” photo. We got a nice group shot of all of us before we got on our bikes and headed home. Our leader had a route planned that was different than the way down. We rode though some gently winding country roads…..about 20mph under the speed limit.
Sigh……Our leader is an experienced rider, but his wife is not. She still has a learner’s permit. Now don’t get me wrong. I like her. Let’s call her “Fringes”. After the jacket she wears.
Fringes has a tendency to lag behind. She is not consistent with her throttle. When she starts to drop behind, her hubby, our leader then slows down so she can catch up. It is so hard to ride behind someone who rides like a yo-yo. Throughout the day, it had been like musical chairs with everyone changing position so they would not have to ride behind Fringes. For some reason I kept finding myself behind her. We were riding so slowly, that car drivers were getting P.O’ed and were starting to pass dangerously. Eventually we came to a junction where our leader pulled over and we all followed suit. He got off his bike and removed his helmet. I looked at Fringes and she looked at me. I said, “This must be serious. He took off his helmet.” She nodded and we were kind of having a laugh about it, but it turned out he had concerns about the “dynamics” of the ride. We all agreed that they should ride at the back of the group and another rider who knew the next portion of the ride would take over the lead.
Wowwwwweeeeeeee!!!!!!!! After that frustrating portion of the ride it was so much fun to ride at a steady pace along the winding roads. When we came to the end I flipped my shield up and beamed over at our new leader and gushed,”that was great!!!” He also had a big smile on his face. We rode without any further delays until we got to the border.
The border guard asked for my ID. I handed him my passport. He asked how long I had been down and if I bought anything. I told him only a few hours and no I had not bought anything. He handed back my passport and said enjoy the rest of your day.
Now, that’s how easy it has always been for me to cross the border, which is why this morning’s experience was so unusual. We all congregated up ahead to wait for everyone. Someone had bought a new jacket across the line, which they had declared. So, we simply waited while they went in to pay the duty. Once we were all together we decided to head to Tim Horton’s for a quick coffee before heading home. We had a chance to sit and talk about the day before we made our separate ways home.
“Jake” wanted to go ride on some windy road somewhere that would have made a very circuitous route to get home, but I was tired and had enough riding for one day. I told him, if he wanted to go ride some more, to go for it, but I was simply getting on the freeway to go home. Another rider from Richmond decided to come with us. It was suggested I lead because I know the roads to get back via the most direct route if we wanted to get Mr. Richmond back without him having to ride a big triangle to get home.
I led the way and set a steady pace for home. I took the exit for Langley because it would allow us to access Highway #10 which is a more direct route to Richmond. I was glad Mr. Richmond was staggered behind me with “Jake” staggered behind him. “Jake” has a tendency to lag behind sometimes and there ends up being a very large gap in front of him. With Mr. Richmond right behind me keeping pace, “Jake” also kept up. At the diversion to Highway #91, Mr. Richmond headed west, while I signaled to head south. With a wave of our hands, we went our separate ways to go home. “Jake” moved up behind me and actually kept pace the rest of the way home. He saw me to my complex before heading off into the sunset. It had been another great day with only a couple of minor glitches along the way.
I was surprised that I had actually managed to last the whole day considering I had been unwell for a week. I had already warned the group that I may have to turn back if I got too fatigued. So, with that in mind, I joined the ride. I’m glad I did.
