Canada celebrates its Thanksgiving holiday mid-October, a month before the USA. I'm pretty sure our weather has something to do with it. Perhaps I'll Google it later and find out if I'm bored enough to know.
A group of riding friends gathered at Planet Tour headquarters for a night of celebration and copious amounts of food and drink. The following day a ride was planned, 5 bikes and 6 people.
Since we had so much food left over, one of the group suggested a Thanksgiving picnic. With turkey bun-wiches, salads and a pumpkin pie we set out. The food packed in cooler bags and stored in the bikes with full luggage. As the sun warmed the day we headed west and south from Calgary. Our destination was Sheep River Falls area.
This year's Thanksgiving weather was nothing short of amazing for this time of year in Alberta.
A crisp fall morning soon gave way to a rapidly warming sun. There was little to be had for a breeze. Fall days like this just put a smile on my face. Our first fuel stop most of us were peeling off layers as the blue sky and sun embraced us.
A short while later we found ourselves on a road I had yet to explore, Highway 546 just west out of of Turner Valley, AB. The road winds through the foothills before becoming Township road 194A. Traffic was light, almost as light as road maintenance. The pavement became progressively worse, each bike slowing to pick their way through the potholes, broken pavement and several Texas gates with bumpy crossings. There was one dual sport bike which was way in the lead, seemingly unaffected by the rough road. I made a note to look into getting one.
While a group of sport bikes and sport touring bikes are best suited to nice black top, the road was passable by taking it easy, which was fine as it allowed one to take in the scenery. Fall colors greeted us with tones of yellow, orange and in some areas green still. Nature was wearing her fall colors with style.
Our intended destination area was closed due to the earlier floods Alberta had in June. Our dual sport rider had managed to scout ahead and find a spot before the slower sport bikes caught up (I never thought I'd ever write those words LOL). Soon we were hauling all our goodies past families that also had the same picnic idea.
I suppose bikers carrying a pie, veggie platter and bags of turkey on a bun looked harmless as the usual reaction to "bikers" was not there. Maybe it was the fact one rider had brought Thomas, a stuffed turkey toy, for the occasion. Smiles and hellos abounded as we greeted tables on our way to a vacant one. Thomas served duty as our center piece but not before a test flight or 2.
Despite snow being visible in the shadows of the forest the day was warm and almost springlike. It was one of those "good to be alive" days, something to truly give thanks for. The group went into action, two of them collecting wood for a campfire (for ambiance) and the rest of us getting the feast laid out on the table. It mattered not that we were having some of the same stuff as the night before, the scenery seemed to make the food burst with new flavor and fun.
With Sheep River babbling near by, the fresh air warmed by the afternoon sun and the camaraderie of good friends. What more could you ask for?
Here's hoping you had a great Thanksgiving weekend. Whether you celebrate this holiday or not my advice is when someone
comes up with a fun idea on a nice fall day be thankful you were
included. To our American friends, I hope your holiday goes well next month.
Cheers,
Daryl, the gang and Thomas
A group of riding friends gathered at Planet Tour headquarters for a night of celebration and copious amounts of food and drink. The following day a ride was planned, 5 bikes and 6 people.
 |
| Sunny October sky |
Since we had so much food left over, one of the group suggested a Thanksgiving picnic. With turkey bun-wiches, salads and a pumpkin pie we set out. The food packed in cooler bags and stored in the bikes with full luggage. As the sun warmed the day we headed west and south from Calgary. Our destination was Sheep River Falls area.
This year's Thanksgiving weather was nothing short of amazing for this time of year in Alberta.
A crisp fall morning soon gave way to a rapidly warming sun. There was little to be had for a breeze. Fall days like this just put a smile on my face. Our first fuel stop most of us were peeling off layers as the blue sky and sun embraced us.
 |
| Thomas the stuffed turkey mascot on a test flight |
While a group of sport bikes and sport touring bikes are best suited to nice black top, the road was passable by taking it easy, which was fine as it allowed one to take in the scenery. Fall colors greeted us with tones of yellow, orange and in some areas green still. Nature was wearing her fall colors with style.
Our intended destination area was closed due to the earlier floods Alberta had in June. Our dual sport rider had managed to scout ahead and find a spot before the slower sport bikes caught up (I never thought I'd ever write those words LOL). Soon we were hauling all our goodies past families that also had the same picnic idea.
I suppose bikers carrying a pie, veggie platter and bags of turkey on a bun looked harmless as the usual reaction to "bikers" was not there. Maybe it was the fact one rider had brought Thomas, a stuffed turkey toy, for the occasion. Smiles and hellos abounded as we greeted tables on our way to a vacant one. Thomas served duty as our center piece but not before a test flight or 2.
Despite snow being visible in the shadows of the forest the day was warm and almost springlike. It was one of those "good to be alive" days, something to truly give thanks for. The group went into action, two of them collecting wood for a campfire (for ambiance) and the rest of us getting the feast laid out on the table. It mattered not that we were having some of the same stuff as the night before, the scenery seemed to make the food burst with new flavor and fun.
 |
| Thomas enjoying the meal. |
With Sheep River babbling near by, the fresh air warmed by the afternoon sun and the camaraderie of good friends. What more could you ask for?
 |
| Sheep River |
 |
| Thanksgiving bikers |
Cheers,
Daryl, the gang and Thomas
 |
| A fun group, thanks for being there Shannon, Brian, Lasia, Carl and Matt |
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