Reprinted from www.rcl122.ca 

Motorcycles, Classic Cars, Classic Music and Classic Fun!!

The weekend of August 20^th and 21^st is shaping up to be one of the high points of Summer 2011. Early Saturday morning, the street in front of the Royal Canadian Legion (11^th Ave, soon to be "Veterans Way") will be blocked in preparation of the "2011 Rocky Mountain Cruisers Cruise In" slated to run from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Regular Meat Draw will be at 5:00 and BBQ Steaks will be available on a first come first served basis starting at 6:00 PM.

Live music featuring "Maritime Kitchen Party" will be starting at 6:30. Great Classic Rock with a Celtic Flavor to get your toe tapping and the dance floor bouncing. Good Food, Good Music, Good People, Good Fun!! How can you go wrong?

Saturdays activities will include a multitude of shiny cars, trucks and motorcycles to "Wow" your socks off. Select Vendors will be set up to entice you with their wares. A BBQ will be running most of the afternoon as well as Ice Cream and frozen treats to cool you off. Speaking of cooling off, the Legion lounge will be open at 11:00 if you need to escape the heat for a refreshment.

The Rocky Mountain Cruisers is a recognized Chapter of The Vintage Car Club of Canada and have been having "Cruise In's" in Golden for over 25 years. The car shows were held for years in Downtown Golden and also at the Golden Airport. The last couple of "Show & Shines"  have been held at the Arena.

Sunday morning at 9:00 AM motorcycle riders and passengers from all over will meet at Meyhem Motorsports for The 4th Annual Golden Triangle Memorial Poker Run . There will be coffee and snacks availible for the riders and passengers while they register and receive the 1^st card.

The Run leaves at 10:00 for Lake Louise, a rest stop and the 2^nd card. The Poker Run Route follows the Trans Canada Hwy to Castle Junction and then down Hwy 93 to Radium, for the 3^rd card and lunch.

After lunch, the stage is set for an afternoon ride down Hwy 95 to Parson and the 4^th card. The 5^th and last card is waiting at The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #122 along with cold refreshments.

Once everyone has had a chance to relax with a thirst quencher and a snack, The winning hands will be announced. 50/50 draws and door prizes will ensure you have a chance to win even if your poker hand does not.

The prizes this year are going to be impressive. 1/2 of the entry fee will be divided up between the 3 highest poker hands. The other 1/2 of the entry fee will be donated to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #122 to help the legion help the community. In addition to the high hand prizes there will be several door prizes ranging from T-Shirts to Full Day Rafting Trips.

History of The Annual Golden Triangle Memorial Poker Run

The Annual Golden Triangle Poker Run was started by Bryan Englehart 4 years ago. Bryan was a rider that said "We should have a Local Poker Run !" and then organized it. Bryan did everything the first 2 years with only his wife Janice to help.

In 2010 The Royal Canadian Legion and Mayhem Motorsports pitched in to help Bryan with the details of the Run but the cards were still dealt by Bryan.

Bryan passed away suddenly, this spring while we were in the midst of planning this years Poker Run.  It is fitting to dedicate The Annual Golden Triangle Poker Run to the memory of the Poker Run founder, Golden Resident, Legion Comrade, fellow rider and friend, Bryan Englehart .... Ride with the Wind !

There has been volumes written about the joys of riding motorcycles. The sights and smells cannot be duplicated or even imagined for the un-initiated. The feeling when leaning the bike into a curve just as a blast of cooler air or the smell of a freshly mowed hay field hits you is indescribable. It was just such a day last Sunday when Kim and I rode down the Valley to visit Family and Friends in Edgewater.

During the ride home, we stopped for a break at the Spillimachine Rest Stop.  As we were visiting with a couple of other bikers also stopped for a stretch, a cell phone rang. Someones daughter phoned that she heard there was a motorcycle accident just North of Parson and a couple of people were killed.

Oh my God, we had passed many bikes today both local and travelling through. Was it someone we knew? Was it one bike? 2 bikes? All sorts of questions run through your mind.

The rest of the ride home was a very sombre affair. Thoughts of mortality running through your mind. What had happened? Was it a deer? another vehicle? We passed through Parson and saw flashing lights ahead and a sign " Accident Scene". The officials were cleaning up the site and trying to determine what had happened. The bike was still laying in the ditch. From brief observation while riding by, it seemed that the bike simply did not turn the corner. It did not appear that the rider even started on the corner. I could not see any skid marks. There were two people killed in the accident, they were not local riders. There did not seem to be another vehicle involved. At this time the RCMP are not releasing any names or theories of the cause.

Lesson of the Day, Tragedy can strike at any time, Ride Safe and Ride Often. Never put off seeing family and friends, it may be the last time you see them.

Ride Safe and See Ya in the Wind,

Terry

Spring is Finally Here!!!

It's been a long cold lonely winter...... isn't that how the Beatles song starts out? Well, Spring has been slow coming. Insurance went on the bike a month late and even then, it snowed the day after I bolted the plate on....

But, the forecast for Easter Weekend looked good. A couple of rides around town on Saturday between yard chores and walking Diesel, the Grandpuppy set the scene.

Then, Sunday morning, The sun was shining, the breeze was light, It felt like Spring, finally. Easter Breakfast, Yard Work in the morning, wash the winter mud and grime off of the Expedition after lunch, and pull the bike out into the sunshine was the order of the day!

We donned our leathers and rode up to put some gas in the bike. I try to always use the 94 octane in the bike so am used to paying a premium price. $1.479 per litre tho is a tad ridiculous!!

Although, I have been riding for a couple of weeks, this is the first time for an afternoon ride with both Kim and I.

A ride south in the sunshine until we want to turn around is just what the doctor ordered. We met a few bikes on the road but nobody was at Braishier Creek Rest Stop when we got there. A quick rest and back on the road again.

It was the kind of day that makes you want to throw your head back and scream in joy. The sun was warm against your face but the wind was a bit cool to remind you that riding season was just beginning.

Thoughts drifted to the upcoming season. This weekend (April30)  Mayhem Motorsports is holding a Swap Meet from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. A lot of our usual Rides and Rallies have had major changes this year and, in my opinion not for the better.

The Ride for Sight Event that we have gone to for the past few years changed location last year. The location change and the change in the event  itself has made us re-evaluate the ride.

There is a new event in Salmon Arm called Sturgis North. If the marketing is to be believed, it will be the greatest rally of the summer. Lots of name bands and people. It all sounds good. The question I have is why did they chose to hold it on the same weekend of the long running Salmon Arm Summer Stomp?

The Salmon Arm Summer Stomp has been taking place for the past 22 years. It has been the party of the summer and has given back a staggering $181,345.00 back to the community over the years. Seems like a no-brainer which one to support for me.

Some other Rallies coming up: July Long Weekend at Toad Rock, the following weekend (July 8-10) at Horsethief Hidaway and don't forget the laid back time at the Creston Thunder Run on the Aug long weekend (July 29 - Aug 1).

Last but not least don't forget the Annual Golden Poker run. on August 22. There are some changes this year. I will post an article about it as soon as some details get clarified.

Anyway you ride it, keep your face in the wind and enjoy !!!

cya in the wind, Terry