James Moore, from Comedy Monday Night, was with me as he was to be my emcee for the event. Any chance to get out on the bikes and do comedy and you can usually count him in.
We stopped for gas and food in Lake Louise as there are not many places to stop on the parkway and the ones you do find, can be hard on the wallet. Besides, once on there we were only stopping for pics and nothing else as time was tight.
While in Lake Louise I snapped this pic through the restaurant window with my GoPro. A third sport tourer had pulled in along side Suzy B and James' Kaye. (yeah, he named his too). Those that know me understand my love of sporting bikes so I had to take a pic. The fish eye lens gives it an odd perspective yet it captures the beauty of the view we had plus the 3 sporty rides.
Inside there were 2 friendly couples across the aisle that had ridden up here from Wisconsin USA, on their motorcycles so that was enough to start a conversation. They were very pleasant and excited by all the attractions they had scene on their tour so note comparing was the order of the moment as we rattled off places visited.
They were also receptive to suggestions of places to see, so I gave them all sorts of places to check out on their way back that they would've never found on their own in the short time they had. Its a common trait I've noticed with bikers. If they've had a great time on a great road or attraction they want to share it with other riders so they can experience it too. It is a sort of 'pay it forward' that seems to find its way back to you in strange ways.
Like that time last year when that CHiPs officer pointed my group toward a fantastic road we had not even thought of going down while we were making our way through the desert heat to see Joshua Tree National Forest. I am always eager to tell people about those hidden gems so maybe that was a payback? Either way, thanks officer for making our ride that much better. But I've side tracked, now back to the recent trip and my new Wisconsin friends.
That coming Sunday, back in Calgary, I was doing a show and a DVD recording. The cheese heads, as Wisconsin residents are sometimes affectionately called, were going to be in town so I gave them information on the show. I don't think we even introduced ourselves as there were so many stories about where they were going and where they had been. It was that bond strangers, who enjoy being out there traveling on the bike just seem to have. It is a short relationship that lasts until you part ways. Names seem like an unnecessary formality.
I never really thought I would see them again but, come Sunday, there they were, buying tickets to the show! I had hoped they would stick around after so I could say hi, but with all the distractions, people I had to talk to right after the show, they somehow slipped out before I could thank them.
Complete strangers who shared a common bond of touring so they came out to support my show and the live art form that is my life. It is the type of gesture that is golden to a performer and reminds me of why I do this crazy thing I do for a living. I hoped they enjoyed the show. I heard they were laughing.
Upon downloading my window pic I see I also captured the 2 big Harleys, in the top right hand corner, that belonged to those nice folks from Wisconsin. So in a way they are part of this picture.
Since they were heading to Jasper and then back I know they also shared this view (in my next pic) as you reach the top of the pass on the parkway.
I hope you 4 made it back safe and one day perhaps I will get an email to let me know you did and that you found the Wayne Hotel near Drumheller like I told you.
Be safe everyone. Never go faster than your guardian angel's screaming can be heard.
Cheers
Daryl
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