Paul Hunter and I have been friends since we were 5 years old. Technically that’s 51 years ago, but close enough. His aunt and uncle lived next door to me when I was a child. Paul and his family began visiting from Scotland and then decided to move to Canada, just a few blocks down the street from us. We’ve been friends ever since. We were best man for each other’s wedding.
Paul’s extended family were all motorcycle enthusiasts. His cousin, Ian Oliver, who lived next door to me had a small Yamaha 50cc dirt bike. He took a spill on it one day and decided to give it up and gave it to Paul. We were probably about 14 at the time. We rode it regularly on the trails near our house, taking turns. That was my first taste of motorcycling.
It took me until my early 20s to finally purchase my own bike. It was a 1985 Yamaha Virago 750. I took the Ontario motorcycle safety course to prepare for my motorcycle license. In my class was Matt Daudlin. He looked familiar. It took us a few days to realize we’d been cabin mates at the Ontario Music Leadership Camp back in grade 11 (1981). We have been friends and riding buddies ever since. Matt was also in my wedding party.
When I graduated with my Master of Divinity Degree from the Vancouver School of Theology in 1996, my graduation present to myself was a (still new) 1995 Yamaha Virago 1100. A month after purchasing it, my then wife and I rode it 5000 km from Vancouver, British Columbia to London, Ontario.
About ten years ago I met a brother Freemason in the Widows Sons Masonic Motorcycle Riding Club, Brock McCulloch, who owned a gorgeous 1700cc white Yamaha Road Star. It was my dream bike. I kept joking with Brock that he better be careful with that bike because he was riding my next bike. When he sold it, he gave me first dibs. I jumped at the chance. I’ve had it for about 8 years now.
The pandemic has been hard on all of us. I have really suffered from the isolation. Monday July 19, 2021, was two weeks past my second vaccination, which meant I was fully vaccinated and finally able to socialize with other fully vaccinated people. The weather was beautiful. Paul said he was coming to Hamilton on the Harley and wanted to know if I wanted to go for a ride. Oh yes I did!
We followed Ridge Road along the edge of the Niagara Escarpment through Stoney Creek and Lincoln, then took the back way to Niagara Falls, picking up the Niagara Parkway just south of the top of the Falls. We followed the Parkway along the Niagara River up to Queenston where we ran out of time and had to head home. I rode with Paul all the way back to London and then rode by myself back to Hamilton. About 500 km in total for the day.
To date I have logged about 250,000 km on my motorcycles. And, yes, I only ride Yamahas.
The camera I am using is a Kaiser Baas X600 which I just picked up on sale. This was my first attempt using it.
