Okay, so with 2 days to rest up I finally feel ready to tackle what stands to be a massive blog entry.
What I'm going to do first is just write everything down that I can, and then I'll go back and insert pictures for those of us with shorter attention spans.
About 4 weeks ago Karatechick approached me with the idea of usinga friends condo in Canmore to go riding in the mountains. Basically we get a place to stay (for free!) anda chance to go riding in the mountains.
After much discussion we decided that going the weekend of the 14th would be the best bet. Giving us just over a week to prepare - e-mails started flashing around at near warp speed and within days we had 7 people willing to make the journey South to Canmore: Karatechick, Bubbagump, Malice, Gadjet, Forest, Kris, and myself. Quite the group, but one that I'd ridden with before, so I was okay with it.
The basic plan was to leave Edmonton at 7pm (I worked till 7) and head to Red Deer where we would meet Gadjet, Bubbagump and Kris at Tim Horton's. From there we'd push on with Gadjet leaving and eventually arrive at Canmore. I got the distinct pleasure of leading 5 bikes to Red Deer, which was a lot of fun for the most part.
We rallied at our normal spot an ASC site where Forest teaches, and was almost roped into teaching a class that night ruining his chances of going with us, but we got him out of there fast.
The ride to Red Deer was relatively uneventful, except for 2 things. Rain out of nowhere (not a cloud in the sky) and it rained for about 2 minutes. And a camper that tried to destroy me!
While riding along we came up behind two campers, going through an underpass, in the right lane. A truck with a trailor was try to merge into the lane we were in, so the camper in the lead changed into the left lane to give the truck room to merge safely. Then the camper just stayed there, with us all behind him, even though he had enough room to safely merge to the right lane again. So we had a giant stagger - truck with trailor in right lane - big space - camper in left lane (who shouldn't be there) - big space - camper in right lane - space - 5 bikes trying to pass.
It stayed like that for about 3 minutes before I decided this camper wasn't going to get out of the passing lane. So I pulled up into the space and changed into the right lane intending to weave around. Then pulled forward till I was almost parallel with the camper in the left lane when I saw his signal come on all of a sudden, and he swerved to the right lane. I braked and swerved left, back into the lane I came out of avoiding both him and the camper behind me.
He got a nice stare down as I went past. People need to learn how to drive.
In Red Deer around 9pm we met up with the others, and recharged with donuts n coffee, mmmm coffffeeeee.
In Tims
Leaving Tims
After a long ride we finally arrived in Canmore about 1 in the morning, and got to drinking. I don't remember much after that, but I have vague memories of a lot of shots passing these lips. Such a lush.
Sat Bubbagump woke up LONG before the rest of us and walked over to the market, picking up food for breakfast. He then treated us to pancakes, scrambled eggs with cheese, and facon for breakfast. What a sweetheart. He's a pretty darm good cook too. Kris did pancakes, and I grated the cheese, HAHA
.
Did I mention we squeezed 7 bikes into less then a 1 car garage?
Saturday we rode into Banff and Malice hauled out his videocamera and we got some nice film I'm told, spend time up around 2 jack lake, where my sig pic is from. That was actually a lot of fun just riding around. We had a couple of neat double yellow paces around SLOW moving cars where the guy in front of the car would signal that it was safe to go. Lots of great turns around there.
No effects of any sort were applied to this pic 
Sat night was the best night of the whole trip as far as I'm concerned... despite some mechanical problems we're not going to get in to. Before we left I had contacted TMW Mike about the possibility of a get together on Sat or Sun night so that Edmonton can meet Calgary despite all the pent up hostilities latent in that combination.
Bok being by far one of the coolest guys I've ever met hosted a BBQ at which we were supposed to show up then go shopping for. When we got there he was just throwing marinated steaks, porkchops and sausages onto the BBQ. I felt a little bad at what had obviously been a big expense on his part to host this party, but the food was phenominal and I'd gladly have him over in return
.
KC and I got in a fight on the way out there... she won that one.
I got her back
Great conversation, great people, just a great time, and Bubbagump walked into a screen door
. It was sooooo nice to finally put a face to all the names I've been reading. Mashby has a cool accent btw
Haha.
We had to leave a little early and there was no drinking because we were headed back to Canmore for the night. Drinking started promptly on arrival in Canmore *shifty eyes*.
The bikes
The bikers lined up across the street
Sunday morning Malice, Bubba, and Kris had to leave... I said goodbye to them Sat night so I could sleep in as they were heading out FREAKING early (6:15). And we'd all gone to bed around 2:00... lol, I slept till 10:00. That left Me, Karatechick and Forrest
Karatechick, Forest and I met up with one of Forests friends who was visiting Calgary from WAY out East. He works for Daimler-Chrysler and also rides. A 650 Bandit I belive. After breakfast we headed back to the road we had found this time with the intentions of taking pictures rather then video and we got some good ones... and some bad ones.
We ran into a bunch of mountain goats along the way, so we pulled over. They stayed across the parkinglot until Karatechick said something, then they walked right over to see us.
Great steaks for dinner that night, and then we went out for breakfast after which I headed to Vancouver, and KC + Forest went home... I hear they got rained on along the way. Ohhh, I bought fudge on the way out... mmm fudge.
