Help me get the message out please!!

As I write this it is a wonderful fall day. Clear, warm, sunny and no wind. Perfect for a ride only I have no ridable bike and if I did I am unable to throw a leg over one in my condition.
Last Saturday, Sept 18/10 on the last leg of this season's portion of The Planet Tour, after crossing the entire country of Canada solo, to spread the message of sharing the road, an inattentive driver nailed me.

She did a sudden turn in front of me which then turned into be a badly executed U-turn. After slowing and moving over to avoid her, the car suddenly careened left over to where I had moved. It was like it had bounced off the curb or something. The only place left was to glance off the side of the car.
"Oh shit this is going to hurt!" was my second thought; "This cannot be happening again!!" was my first as I heard the crunch of Suzy's parts as they shattered against the car and I was thrown.
I has ridden the whole country of Candad, solo and this happens during the last week?!? Why are people so reluctant to see motorcycles? I ride with my high beam on all the time yet am invisible?

One of the main purposes of The Planet Tour is to promote sharing the road while raising the image of the motorcycling community. Sometimes I wonder if it is the bad apples of biking that help give all riders a bad image which may just be part of the reason people refuse to accept what their eyes see. Maybe we don't matter to them.

Its just a theory.    

I missed my headline spot at The Laughshop in Sherwood Park, because, as we all know, emergency wards don't move with speed. 4 1/2 hours on a spine board caused the wrenched muscles in my back lock up and spasm. It took good old morphine to the rescue. Its the only fun part of being hit. Man that stuff works but I was still in pain.

I was in no shape to do a headline spot but went down to see the crowd. The manager was kind enough to give me a few minutes on stage so I could feel the laughter and mention my cause.  Move over morphine because there is nothing like the sound of an audience laughing at my words (and I have no idea what those words were being on morphine) to make me feel better. I was still whacked on morphine but everyone said I did well for my few minutes up there.  I would have loved to do my full 45 minutes but after limping back to my chair I could tell I would have run out of steam rather quickly. The effects of the drug were wearing off and I was dizzy and tired.

I've included some pics of my injuries and I apologize to the squeamish (they are a bit graphic) but I believe people need to see what can happen when a driver does  something unsafe.


While there are no broken bones (thankfully) I do have a swollen right ankle, some massive bruising on my right hip along with some road rash on my shin and some wrenched back muscles that spasm every now and then. I suppose this might be what one of those electric abdominal zappers, you see on late night TV,would feel like if I hooked it up to my back...and cranked the voltage up! I should try and get a spasm on video as it is humorous when it happens mid-speech.

Bruise on Day 3

The world is filled with drivers not paying attention so wear your gear or you could be asking for a world of hurt. I am grateful I had my Draggin Jeans on, my Joe Rocket riding jacket, Alpinestar boots, riding gloves, helmet. ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) always. I cringe when I see a rider with only a t-shirt or worse- shorts! Things can happen so quickly it is not worth the risk of going sans safety gear.

So what's next? 

Healing of course and dealing with insurance. I'll know in a few days what is happening with Suzy. Parts aren't cheap so here's hoping its not a write off. She's a good bike, only one repair in over 60,000km plus, of course the regular maintenance stuff.

I still have 12 weeks of webisodes to edit that I will add a safety message to along with showing you the stuff I encountered in my travels. I am not quitting riding or The Planet Tour show, if anything I am more motivated to get this message out, teach people to share the road and wear your gear and of course to deliver it through my comedy. I will need your help though. More people need to see the webisodes so share this link and get more people to subscribe together we can help spread the message.

Get involved!

I would like to promote your company in the videos and am seeking sponsorship to pay for the editing costs in return for exposure on the show. If you have a service or product that I can promote, as long as it meets the guidelines, lets work together. I can place your company ad or product in the video and get you some exposure for a very affordable fee and, unlike print advertising these videos will be up online indefinitely! Let me promote you and your company.

The media is starting to help get the message out. This story ran in all the Sun newspapers across the nation.
Story Link
I am in the process of releasing a video about the crash and my injuries which will be out soon. I do hope it makes a few people drive with more caution.
Please spread the word and share the links. We need to reach more people so they start to see motorcycles out there. To all riders please invest in the proper riding gear to minimize any injury should something go wrong.
Some may be saying I am crazy to talk about getting back on the bike, to even continue riding. Its my passion and if I quit now before getting my message out there then the bad drivers win. I can't let that happen

Daryl

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I left the Wharf Rat Rally feeling good about the experience but sad to say good bye. I know I will return as I have an invite from the rally organizers.

Night time at Wharf Rat

I snapped this pic at night with a flash and ended up with a floating crosswalk sign that glows like an icon on the screen. Sure some of the pic is out of focus but I just enjoy the way it turned out.

I left Digby and picked a great road, Highway 1, that hugged the coastline and was rewarded with an amazing view of the famous tides of Fundy which are reported to be the highest in the world...or the lowest when it is low tide. I happened along at low tide and was amazed at how far the water retreats along this area.
Looking like someone has drained the ocean I had to stop for some video. I have extracted a frame for you to see of some of the upcoming images.

Low tide - Bay of Fundy

Later that same day I veered off the superslab of the TransCanada in New Brunswick and followed a Highway 105 on the other side of the St John River.

Upon reaching the small town of Harland I was greeted with a cool site. A covered bridge. I have always wanted to see one up close as there are none where I live. As it turns out not only did I scratch off a bucket list item but I did it with the LONGEST COVERED BRIDGE IN THE WORLD!!

Very cool. I stopped for some pics and video. Here are some pics to check out as well as a link.

Sometimes the best stuff on the road is free.

More updates to come.

Cheers and be safe all.

Daryl

Can you give a wharf rat's ass?

I sit here with a view of the Bay of Fundy having my last morning coffee in the Digby Nova Scotia area. I was here for most the week to attend and perform at the Wharf Rat Rally which is reportedly Atlantic Canada's biggest motorcycle rally. The crowds grew as the week went on then the party was almost crashed by some dude named Earl.

Hurricane Earl was coming up the coast and of course the media was hyping it up as Armageddon because that is what they do, feed hype and fear.
Many people pulled out on Friday as they were afraid of getting nailed by Earl. Vendors shut down and prepared for the worst and put their wares away but stayed.
The group of riders staying at the hotel resort where I was decided to have an all night bonfire party in Earl's honor.
 When a bit of rain started to sprinkle. It made us laugh and get up and dance in the rain, which stopped and started through out the night. We partied til 5am when it looked like Earl was a no show.
In the morning Earl showed up apparently as hung over as the resort residents. All he could muster was a bit of blowing wind that took a few leaves off trees and some warm rain for a few hours.
By mid day Earl had left and the rally kicked off again. Vendors re-opened their tents, shows commenced and the few true bikers that weathered it out were there to keep it going. Riders started to return from nearby towns.
Sunday the weather was sunny and windy. Actually it was more windy than when Earl was here but the storm was gone and riders returned....in droves!
The main road into Digby was backed up out to the highway and they kept coming. All sorts of brands from all sorts of manufacturers and several vintage rides too. Within hours the main street was wall to wall bikes and shut down to cars...and they still came. The pic I have here is from Thursday, 2 days before Earl and not even half of the scene I describe. As I write this my camera is in my room charging but I will post pics and video when time allows.

The feel of the rally was one of old friends you had yet to meet. Maritimers are some of the most down to earth folks you will ever meet and are always willing to strike up a conversation or invite you to their party. There was little or no brand attitude that is usually present at some events. No one here cares what you ride they are just happy you are here too. It was a nice feeling and the rally was family friendly by day. At night the main street empties out after the fireworks. A few local bars for the die hards but most retreated back to their hotels and campgrounds to have private parties. In short, no major trouble spots despite the large turnout.
I look forward to next year as I plan on returning. As for Earl? I couldn't give a wharf rat's ass if he came back either, but he has to bring his own beer this time.

Digby Harbour

Corners again!!

After the coma inducing roads of Ontario and having to run the super slab 4 lane through Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia I finally found corners again!!!
I ran highway 333 down to Peggys Cove in Nova Scotia to see the most photographed lighthouse in the maritimes of Canada.
A pleasant road through postcard-like towns, each with a sign welcoming you to their community, offered many great stops along the way.

 The road winds along the Atlantic with some great scenery of the coastline. Closer to Peggys Cove the road becomes downright fun but you will want to stop and take pics first.
The wind swept point is a big slab of granite weathered from years of the Atlantic Ocean carving it into a picture perfect place. Unlike any other coast I have seen, it was fantastic place for pics and video.
The first lighthouse was a wooden one built in 1868 and was replaced by the octagonal concrete one, pictured here, in 1914.
The village and area almost look like a movie set in its quaint setting.
After pics and food I went for a brief blast up the coast, tossing Suzy B back and forth in corners. She seemed like a horse that had been stabled too long and wanted to run. The engine roared and we carved some apexes as I took in the wild wind swept coast. Decorated with tiny evergreens stunted by the continuous blast of the ocean it was a surreal countryside to ride in. I loved it and hope to return.

I wished I had the luxury of more time to explore this area. So many things that were screaming for my attention but I had to get closer to Digby to prepare for The Wharf Rat Rally.
That night I made it to Kejimkujik National Park which was nice but not worth the inflated government prices. Note: I will avoid camp areas with park fees on top of pricey camping.
While the sites were well treed and far apart, amenities like showers and washrooms were uncomfortably far from my campsite. They boasted an internet cafe which was not working but you still pay for it in the fees.

The ride to Kejimkujik was on a winding country road 325 then 8. Nice sweepers, little traffic and a few bends to actually have fun in. I swore I could feel my tire rounding out again from the brick like flatness the super slab had done to it.

I'm in Digby now. The rally is blast. More on that later.
Remember to subscribe to The Planet Tour shows for a chance to win a pair of Draggin Jeans at the end of the season.