Big draw in 24 hours

Hi Folks
I hope you have gotten through the holiday season okay and had time with family.
It has been busy for me with both family and working on things behind the scenes with The Planet Tour and getting ready for the upcoming Calgary and Edmonton motorcycle shows!

We are doing the draw for a pair of Draggin Jeans to close out 2010. These are the only jeans worn on The Planet Tour. Why? Check out this video and you'll see.

If you follow the blog but have not subscribed do so now.
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We all know that bikes have a certain 'cool factor' but riding without protection is not one of them. I cringe when I see riders with regular jeans, no jacket and no gloves. No, scratch that. I get angry because those duck asses, should they have a wipe out will have massive injuries that affect all of our insurance rates. With great products like Draggin there is no need to risk massive road rash. They also have shirts made with the same Kevlar material for those days when it is just too hot to wear a jacket.
Check out more through Universal Cycle the official supplier of Draggin Jeans products in Canada.
See you at the bike shows
Daryl

A new motorcycle life is coming soon

As the calendar tells us winter is here in Calgary my thoughts turn to prepping for this upcoming riding season. Damn I wish I could ride right now though as I was ripped off a several nice weeks of fall weather all because of a duckass driver.

Some of you may have learned that Suzy B has been reduced to money in my bank account by the insurance company. It is sad how easy it is to write off a bike. No, scratch that. It is annoying how easy it is and drivers don't seem to understand that riders don't get fender benders.

Motorcycle owners usually have an attachment to their bikes sort of  like a cowboy has a bond with his horse. If you don't ride you may not understand this but it is like losing someone when a bike goes down, especially one you have spent a lot of time on.

I was fortunate to have 3 good seasons on Suzy B and wracked up over 62,000km in that short time. While some of the riding conditions were less than perfect I enjoyed each and every kilometre. I have accepted that she is gone and now begins the search for a new ride.
I am a rider that likes many types of motorcycles and brands and am not set on just one type so choices are endless. Do I get another sport tourer? If so which brand? Do I switch to a dual sport? I rode a couple this year on test rides while at The Wharf Rat Rally and was impressed at the ride quality they offered as well as the ability to head off the pave road if I should desire.
The fact that I am not sponsored by any factory rides makes choosing one even more difficult. I have a set amount of money to spend and it will not be enough to buy a new bike unless I went with some way too small.
I do have to give a shout out to my insurance company, Blue Circle, as one that is very easy to deal with. They also have a clause in their policy that if your ride is written off by someone else within a certain period you get your purchase price back. WOW! The worst thing a rider can face, besides physical injury, is to have their beloved ride wiped out by someone else and having to take the fist in the ass, black book value, depreciation price so many insurance companies will ram in there. Not Blue Circle.
It has allowed me to search for a bike in similar condition and value of what I was riding instead of the usual victim gets robbed again value. Thank you Blue Circle.
I am off to shop!
Big news is The Planet Tour is going to be at the Calgary Motorcycle show and the Edmonton Motorcycle show this coming January! Who knows? Maybe my new (to me) ride will be there with me.
R.I.P. Suzy B, you were a great bike. Anyone looking for an awesome sport tourer with great bang for the buck take a look at the Suzuki Bandit. Fantastic engine with gobs of torque, very decent milage for a 1250cc and all the comfort you need to tour.

You may be asking "Why don't you go and buy another Bandit?" I thought about it but it would only compete against the memories of Suzy B and all we have endured. I think I have to have something different now.
Cheers folks
Daryl Makk

Who would like a promotional vehicle?

I have returned home to much cooler temperatures. Summer, or what little we had, has departed like a guest at a party that no one seemed to notice. It was that forgettable, weather wise. Most of the leaves have switched to their fall colours or have already fallen. It is a time of change which seems so fitting right now. It is time to work on the next stage of The Planet Tour and decide what changes I need to do to my plans.

Besides the obvious of fixing or replacing my ride

I need to focus on funding to afford creating a better production for you nice people. I have teamed up with a great editor and production house Widescreen Media who brought some great technical know-how to the team. I think they did an awesome job on the animated graphics at the beginning of the last episode
I need to take the show to a higher level to get the message of safety out there but I also wish to show people the wonderful adventure they can have on a motorcycle or a road trip in general. Its a great planet and I hope to inspire others to get out and see it.
To raise the profile of the show of course takes some bucks so I will be open about this. I am looking for companies to advertise on the show. Money will be used for production costs and to purchase online advertising to promote the show which in turn will expose you to a larger customer base as we reach out to more and more viewers.

Part of our promotional material. Email for complete information package

My team and I are working on booking public appearances for the upcoming touring year. If you would like a live comedy show come to your event/town/business please write to us and we will do our best to get you as a stop on the tour.
info@theplanettour.com

We are also working on the next webisode to get the story back on track of my travels and will release that shortly.
For those only following the blog you can find the latest video on the website  and subscribe for updates on the bottom of any page on the site.

My injuries are healing quite well. In fact I have been itching for a ride for over 2 weeks now that I am up to the task again. The only problem is I have no motorcycle. Now the weather has turned it helps ease the itch but I still feel ripped off of a month of riding, all because someone had to be in such a hurray to make a mistake. 2 weeks ago we had some nice fall days but lately it is cold enough to remind me of my Saskatoon to Edmonton stint I did just days before the accident. That is a cold I never thought I would have to repeat.
Here are maps of provinces and US states I travelled in 2010

Canadian Provinces visited 2010

US states visited 2010

Where will 2011 take me?
Some of that is up to you folks.
Be safe
Daryl

Embrace the change instead of fight it.

It is amazing what a week in warm weather can do for your spirits. Perhaps it was our lack of our summer and my need to feel some heat or it was just the endless food and lack of housekeeping duties. Then again it could have been the new experience of the on board comedy clubs that Carnival Cruise lines has. What ever it is was I feel renewed from the down in the dumps feeling I was having after the accident.

My office on board

On board I did some writing. Nothing like a deck with an ocean view to stir some creative juices. I also shot some video commentary for some upcoming webisodes.
We are working on video clips as I write this and will be releasing them soon.
Thanks to all for your support and for helping me get this message out to share the road with motorcycles and for riders to wear their gear.
I'm thankful for my helmet, Joe Rocket jacket (with padded armor), Draggin Jeans and Alpinestar boots. All of them had a part in keeping my injuries to a minimum. I shudder when I see riders in next to no gear but a whole lot of faith that it can't happen to them. It can happen to anyone no matter what your skill level. Things can go wrong and if it should why make your day even worse by risking extra injury?

While on the ship I was reminded how things just don't go as planned. Our schedule was to go from Galveston Texas over to Cozumel Mexico but a wind bag named hurricane Paula got in the way. Safety first was the order and we were redirected to Vera Cruz instead. I was shocked to see how many passengers got pissy because they were "supposed to go to Cozumel" and had on shore excursions booked.
Their self indulgence was so strong they completely ignored the fact that for us to go to Cozumel we would have had to sail through a hurricane!! I am pretty sure the weather would have not been up to their vacation standards either.  Even though they were all getting refunds to compensate I still heard them moaning about it in the stairs and hallways days later. So hard done by were they that their precious plans had been altered, for their well being even, they still did not get it. Our new port meant we did not have to risk possible death at sea or a ship full of sea sick passengers so shut up! It's  this "me only" attitude I believe carries over to our roads and may be why some drivers do the stupid shit they do. They only care about themselves.
Its a basic theory at this point.

I am always up for seeing new places and although I had never been to either port a surprise stop can sometimes be the best part of a trip. It happens on  motorcycle trips constantly. In fact this summer, unless I had a show I had to get to, I had no idea where I was stopping for the night. So of course I was one of the few that was happy things had changed. Hello Vera Cruz!!

It beats rockin' in a hurricane!

I did not venture far as the number of heavily armed cops and military that seemed to be on every corner, made me think it was best not to wander too far. I learned later that there had been a shooting in a market square the day before and 10 people were gunned down in an apparent drug territory war. It was the same market square where I had lunch but I did not know its recent history as I pointed at pictures while I ordered.

I need to learn Spanish as I have found the need for it in more and more in my travels. No worries as the food that showed up was sort of, kind of what I thought I had ordered.
Never get set on just one thing while travelling and you can never get disappointed. I was sure I had ordered the Cozumel burritos but I got the Veracruz tostadas instead. At least an edible meal showed up! As they say in Mexico, bon appetite amigo....or something like that.

Gringo sailing!

Hi folks

As I write this I am sailing through the Gulf of Mexico on my way to an alternate destination. When I say alternate destination I was referring to our redirection due to hurricane Paula that was threatening us if we continued on to Cozemel. The cruise line decided to sail to Veracruz rather than take the storm full on. Good call. I think I have been tossed around enough this past month.

Its as though one of my wishes had been granted I suddenly got a call to work a cruise ship in warm weather, which is just what I needed while I am on the mend. Perfect. Few distractions, free food and good show location with no commuting.

We left Galveston Texas on Monday and it has been nice to feel summer-like heat.

The shows have been fun as Carnival Cruise lines now allows a few R-rated shows during the week which is awesome. Nothing can lower the effect of comedy more than censorship of ideas and words. We still have to do a clean, family show but are allowed to let loose on the R-rated ones like a real comedy club. 

Keeping it short as internet time is pricey at sea.

Adios my amigos and amigas

Hi folks
Well my aches and pains have lessened a bit. Still have back spasms and fatigue sets in around midday but I am up and moving on my own and that is enough to make me grateful.
At least the pain is not so much that I have to live on pain killers. Those things wreak havoc with the digestive system so I take them only when having a bad spasm.
Currently working with an editor to get the webisodes out. I had a great time this summer despite the excessive rain.

From Winnipeg Aug 13,2010

You can help me out. If you or anyone you know was involved in a motorcycle accident, especially one caused by a car please have them contact me. I am looking for pics of the crash and injuries to use in the show. Perhaps some graphic images will help get the message out to some that there is no such thing as a fender bender on a bike.

As we release the videos we would also like to work with you and your company on promotion. If you would like to be featured as an advertiser/sponsor please contact me. The cost is very little and the videos will remain online indefinitely.

I hope to hear from the insurance company soon as to the state of my bike. Is it fixable or not? They sure are taking their time on this. To add to the whole situation Calgary has been experiencing some great riding weather lately. It hurts me more to sit here and not ride than the injuries themselves. I will get back to riding despited all the quitters in the world advising me otherwise. My mission is to bring the message of sharing the road to as many people as I can. To quit now means that I accept that bad drivers have won. That is not my style. My injuries are healing and my determination is growing.

Thanks to all who have stopped by to read and to those who have shown support. You can help as well by purchasing a T-shirt from The Planet Tour store
We also have set up a funding page on IndieGoGo to raise money for editing. Travel this summer ate up more budget than predicted. Please donate if you can and pass on the links to others who may be interested.
I have lots of stories to share and a helluva lot of people to educate.
Be safe out there
Cheers
Daryl

Deer in one of my campsites. Video recorded from the bike!!

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