Final Preparations

After tonight, there is one week left before take-off. So, lots of loose ends to do such as picking up my meds (stuff for malaria, dehydration etc), final shots for encephalitis tick and rabies (done in the UK), testing camara equipment and portable hard drives, packing (or I should say re-packing as I have to downsize (the hardest part of this whole trip - downsizing). I still have to get dog food for Mitzi, new health card, all my papers in line so that I don't forget anything not to mention all the things I had to tie up before my final day at work on Saturday (Aline is covering for me and she is going to be super). So much to do and so little time. I hope i can capture alot of great shots on film to share with anyone out there who may be interested.
I must admit that I'm feeling somewhat melancholy. Thinking about the four months away from my life is not as easy as I thought it would be. It really is making me realize how much i will miss by dog (because I depend on her probably more than she needs me), my friends and family and even the routine of work. I know it will probably go by fast however I'm also aware that a lot can happen in four months. So, as it's getting closer I have been dragging my heals; procrastinating to some extent as I will be leaving my comfort zones. I would love to hear from anyone out there who cares to share so please feel free to leave your comments. Good night for now.
JACK

Riding Buddies

Just one day more than a week away and I'm wrapping up things that I need to do before I leave and am gone for four months. This weekend I got a chance to see most of my riding buddies (not all unfortunately). It was an extroardinary Sat. night in which I attended a gathering held for two friends who were recently married, Tim & Linda. As I witnessed such a deep and respectful love between these two newlyweds, it made me sit back and reflect on how similar a feeling I feel with all my Riding Buddies. At this event, most of the people I ride with whom I've not only travelled to the Alps (my five countries in a week trip) but to other places such as Rome to Sicily (last year) and Pennsylvania as well. If it wasn't for this particular group of riders who not only widened my perspective about the different types of riding (cruising vs sport touring) but have become a unique bunch of friends for the stories we all share with one another, the non-stop laughter that's a result of the varied personalities within the group and the genuine concern for one another that is non-judgemental. This bond has not only become a deep source of friendship but one of love for one another within the group - an invisible thread that has linked us all. It's oftentimes very difficult for those who don't share the same passion for riding to understand not only the incessant need to ride but the bond that our group shares and perhaps to some this bond may feel threatening. Yet, once past the whys and wherefores for riding, it is clear that through riding everyone is on their own journey (or rides their own ride) for their own personal reasons and the group not only supports but uplifts each other to a higher level of awareness and understanding of themselves.

So, as I'm getting ready to leave I know I'm not leaving behind my friends, my riding buddies, my new family but I'm taking them with me on my trip of a lifetime that they too will be taking in 2013. So here's to you my friends. I will miss you dearly and I will be thinking about you on your trips without me this summer but know I carry you all in my heart with me. Luv Ya!

JACK

My Inspiration

I guess I just wanted to write down and see in print my "real" inspiration for doing this trip London to Magadan and back to Huntsville. And that's "my Mom". Me being a cancer makes me fairly sentimental and one who clings to the importance of family. Unfortunately my mom's father died when she was 3 and her mom died when she was 25. I believe she strove to "make her mother proud" even though she had passed away. My mom has been a very driven woman and I've often asked her "what drives you"? She's lived her life in the education business going from teacher to principal to working at the Teacher's Federation in Toronto to being the President of the Retired Teacher's Organization currently. Having had my father pass away at 21, my mom has, was and is the most precious person in my life. Unfortunately, I will never accomplish in my lifetime what she has in hers yet I too am driven to "make my mother proud" and it is imperative that I do this "while she is here". On the long weekend when I went to BC, I know she worried about me going that distance in 3 days by myself. I will never be a mother to know and experience what that kind of worry feels like. Yet, i do know that the sense of accomplishment I felt and reading her text that said she was proud of me, meant the world to me. So, I feel it necessary to write down that my "real" source of inspiration for doing this trip is "my Mom". I want to accomplish something that I will never forget and be able to say that i completed in her lifetime as well. I will miss her tremendously as she is my "very best friend" and I pray that as I'm travelling both her and my father Leo will remain safe. I know I won't be able to wait to see them when I get back (along with my dog Mitzi). Thank you both (all) for your love and support and encouragement for me taking this trip. I love you.
Jack

Sleep Deprived Post BC

I haven't written in a few days since the airport in BC. Unfortunately my Aunt and my mom's sister, Pat Renaud, passed away while I was away. My mom didn't want me to know while I was driving as I was putting in long days on the road and it would probably have distracted me. So, yesterday I was in Windsor (6 hours from Huntsville)attending her funeral. Very sad yet my cousins and Uncle did a beautiful job with her funeral arrangements. I'm very fortunate as I have four cousins; Billy, Scott, Jamie and Brian who, even though we see very little of each other, have always been very supportive of me (as my Uncle Clarence and Aunt Pat have been as well). So, they will be following my trip also. My cousins Barbara, Karen and Bruce Laidlaw were also present and I was able to tell them of my expedition also. I do have to credit them with being my roots for motorcycle riding. My mom and I use to visit them and Bruce had a little dirt bike that I was able to take out riding up and down the lane/trail they had behind their house. I loved it (before I turned 16 and had my licence). So, cheers to my family who will be with me in my heart as I'm riding.
Since the BC trip over the long weekend, I've had time to think about it and shake my head "did I really do that". There were times along the way I didn't think I was going to cover the necessary ground to finish in time but the Sunday where I did 1800 kms really made the difference. It also gave me lots of time to think about so many different topics; lovelife, work, friendships, family, passions, riding, my dog etc. making me realize that riding has become a necessary place where I can go to de-stress and look around at the things around me that I'm missing day to day as my sole focus is work. I never seem to take the time to smell the roses but get caught up in the grind of work - never enough time to do anything else. The ride made me realize the "balance" is the key and riding is like looking out/after my soul. So, that's my food for thought for today. The weather has been beautiful so hopefully anyone reading this has been out riding (I'm bikeless for 2 weeks until London). I've already received my post trip information package from Compass Expeditions so everyday this London to Magadan ride is becoming more real. It's getting down to the packing. So, off to work and until later.
JACK

BC in 3 Days - Is It Possible?

Hey! I'm back! Action Jackson here letting you know that I officially did it. Gotta say I'm proud on the one hand but on the other as I'm sitting here in the Vancouver airport waiting until 11:00 pm to fly home; I'm pretty whooped!!! Just hope I don't miss my plane because I've fallen asleep in the lounge (after having 2 Coors light and my first "real" meal in over a week.) Whatta ride!!! I made it and am here in one piece to let you know that it went without incident. Thanks to my bike, of course. I don't have a name, except VTX, but my bike REALLY did take care of me. It just drove on even when I was feeling to tired it just pointed straight ahead and kept going. For such a heavy bike and being a 2002, I wondered how the bike would perform. I must admit, I was impressed. And soooo many people at gas stations/truck stops came up to say "nice bike". If only it was "nice _ _ _ _ and directed at me (oops, sidetrack). Anyway, made it to Sault Ste. Marie (7 hours) on Friday night. Crossed over into Michigan at 7:00 am next morning (whatta long state that was). Stopped at Mickey D's and couple of guys commented on helmet cam "what is that to take a picture before you hit the deer"? Nice!!!

Made it to Valley City, North Dakota Saturday night (no don't be calling me Valley girl). Big storm overnight. I was going to continue riding but clouds looked bad and lotsa lightening. Next morning heard there were tornados touching down in South Dakota. Rode the rest of North Dakota, ALL of Montana (wow what a big state) and into the mountains in Idaho. I stopped at 10:30 pm in one of the tallest passes trying to find a place to stay as my bike was going sideways on ice (when I passed the "Lookout" I guess that was a clue that I was fairly high up - ya think!!)

Found a small town and it was like something out of the Twilight Zone - spaceships everywhere, ghost-like town except for the bar. I walked into the bar and everyone just stared. A girl walked over, obviously having drank copious quantities asking all sorts of questons, "are you alone and by yourself? Where's your bike?" I asked the bartender for a hotel in town. She made a phone call and got me a room for the night. Thank God. The hotel was decent and my bike was right in front of the door (bit afraid one of the people in the bar might do something). When I woke up though, she fired up and away we went. The morning dew plus the freezing temperatures still made the pass tricky but there is something about doing it in daylight that makes me more brave.

1700 kms and some was yesterday mileage but today was alot less. Through the rest of Idaho and through Washington were very picturesque. Many qualites to Montana where different protrusions jut out of the earth carving out canyons and cavernous rock formations. Quite beautiful. Seattle was a bit of a nightmare to maneuvre and my ride from there to BC was about 250 miles. Lots of sun through the windshield left me burnt (not to mention not much sleep).

So, now I'm here relaxing and telling you my days events. Nice way to recap. This way actually great preparation for my trip that leaves in 2 weeks. So more updates on that soon. For now, Good night!

BC BOUND!!!

Today's the day for the first part of my trip. Pretty excited. Finishing packing the bike. Weather's gorgeos and I mean GORGEOUS!!!. Nice long weekend to be riding. I'm still undecided if stateside or Canadian side to BC - saves lotsa time stateside (6 hrs). So that may be the plan.
Hopefully EVERYONE is out riding this weekend. It looks like it is a weekend to hop on the bike and go. Wind in your face!
Well, better get back to packing, then off to work and off to BC......
JACK

Man, one night before heading to BC. Just got my Visas back today so that means that I can go Stateside to BC (should save anywhere from 4-6 hrs, I think). I should throw it out there whether I should be going Stateside or Canadian side as I have to get out there by Monday night. I have a plane ticket back from Vancouver International Airport 11:00 pm Monday night. So, if anyone has any tips they want to share, please let me know. Moose/deer/bear avoidance - is there any advantage of going one route over the other?
Not packed yet completely. I'll be pulling out at around 6:00 pm tomorrow (unless I can sneek away a little earlier). Taking extra fuel in case I run out and no gas stations. Hopefully I'll get some practice with my helmet camera and other camera that I'll be taking for the trip. Lots of shots today - typhoid, rabies and encephalitis tic (round one). I go back for round two beginning next week and I'll have to get a third shot in London along with taking malaria pills for 17 days in Uzbekistan. I'm glad this is all jammed together. I'm not much on one who can handle it long and drawn out.
It will feel so good to get the wind in my face and unofficially be starting for my big trip which will be two weeks by the time I get back after the weekend. I'm so looking forward to all of it but especially some of the open landscapes in Mongolia. I'm pretty excited about Romania and going through the village that my grandmother was raised in.
Anyway, back to the present. I'll be bringing along my little computer this weekend so if I'm able to upload any pictures from Huntsville, Ontario to Vancouver, BC - I will. Until next time.

Well, it's Wednesday night, only 2 more sleeps before heading off to BC. That's going to be quite a ride with very few sleeps. Lotsa ground needs to be covered in so little time. Leaving Friday after work and flying back from Vancouver's International airport Monday night (thank God it's the last flight out at 11:00 pm). I'll be carrying a couple extra gas cans with me (with stabilizer fluid so that if I don't need it along the ride, I'll dump it in the tank as the last fill so that it's o.k. for the four months the bikes sitting while i'm gone). I'll be trying out my camera ( a new point and shoot camera with video). I'll also be trying out the helmet camera for the trip. Ordered another battery backup. Mick, from compass expeditions is recommending we all bring 500 GB portable hard drives for backing pictures up).
I found out today that my Visa's are ready and being purolated to me tomorrow (fantastic!). One main worry to check off. I have to get a USB portable charger that I'll be able to charge right off the bike when we are in places where we won't have any electricity.
I think the ride to BC is the most daunting at the moment. At night i'll be travelling slow in case of animals and stopping when too tired. Mapped out the trip last night with many alternatives depending on how I'm feeling at the time. Also, just got t-shirts done for the trip, they look awesome. Checking off things on the list. After this weekend less than two weeks before I'm done work and when I leave. I'll be updating my post along the ride to BC. If anyone's out there, please drop in and say hi. Words of wisdom always appreciated.
JACK

AROUND THE WORLD


It’s so hard to believe that two years ago I was living a semi contented life going from
home to work, home to work, home to work; hanging out with my dog Mitzi, watching
my soaps and thinking “I guess this is what life is about; nothing too overly exciting,
good paying job, friends however no real passion or sense of purpose. Is this really what
my life is suppose to be like?” Oftentimes I have grown very agitated as if there is
something that I’m suppose to be doing but the frustration of not knowing what that
something is has been like a hell for me. Until 2 years ago…

I was sitting in one of those Saturday morning pep talk meeting that sales people have in the
Car biz and our owner, Jason Armstrong of Huntsville Honda was flashing through all
sorts of used vehicles for sale on the overhead screen when I caught a glimpse of a HUGE
burgundy machine with Lots of chrome and then suddenly it was gone. It happened so
fast that it didn’t register with me consciously what I had just seen and it wasn’t until at
least a month later one Saturday, out of the blue, I asked my owner, “awhile back there was a
bike that flashed up on the screen in our meeting – do you happen to know who owns that?”
as it was not on our lot. He said, “I DO”. I’ll never forget that moment. It was as if some-
thing in my brain clicked and I had taken mental ownership. He asked me if I wanted to
have a look at it and of course I said sure. It was gorgeous. The chrome pipes gleamed,
Jason was meticulous in the way he kept everything, and the SIZE. WOW!! He told me
To sit on it/try it out. I remember saying “no, that’s o.k.” and then the next words to come out of my mouth were “SOLD”! No price discussion. Nothing! Within an hour I had insurance on
MY new 2002 Honda VTX 1800 and I didn’t even know if I could drive it. I hadn’t
been on a bike in over 20 years. What was my Mother going to say. She had always
been my best friend, confidente and only immediate family member since my father died
And this was one thing I thought she wouldn’t understand due to the danger factor. Yet,
One April day I called her on her way home from Florida and told her of my new purchase, which I scraped together with my income tax refund, credit cards and god knows what else. Her
response, “I didn’t even know you were interested in a bike dear”. In May, once the
weather improved, my boss asked me if I wanted to ride the bike home. Fear instantly shot
through my body as I was afraid of dropping the bike in front of all my fellow employees so
I graciously asked him if he could bring it to my house. That night as I walked through the
garage passing by my new beautiful yet huge 1800, later to be called “the tractor” and walking
into my house, I was just going to go inside watch my soaps and carry on like every other night
of my life when a voice mentally stopped me when I was not quite past it and said, “Get your
ass on this bike as it is too expensive to sit here like an ornament” and I returned with my
boss’ helmut, a jean jacket I owned and a pair of running shoes. The bike roared as I started it (probably would put most harley’s to shame) and the size and weight was not only intimidating
but my mind kept thinking ‘I can’t drop Jason’s bike”. Yet, something pushed me forward and after two sweeps of the neighbourhood, I pulled up to a co-workers/friends house (who said he could hear me coming for miles) and he told me “you look like you’ve been riding for years.” I remember feeling as if my father was with me in that moment and I still believe he’s riding with me everytime I’m outriding; keeping me safe and experiencing the thrill of riding right alongside of me. Again, that was 2 years ago. Since then, I’ve gone motorcycling in the Alps (what a blast five countries in a week, 49 Switchbacks up Passo Del Stelvio (over 10,000 feet high in the Italian Alps) with pegs touching on the corners , our Rome to Sicily Trip in 2009 and then on May 1st, 2010, I asked my boss for a leave of absence.

After the Alps trip, I had seen Long Way Around and knew I had to do this trip one day. the “around the world trip” became my dream which I often spoke of with my riding buddies; joking and laughing that “one day….” Then my boss wanted to talk about improving the Business Office and unbeknownst to me I suddenly was telling him that I needed to take a four month leave of absence. I was feeling burnt out and something was missing – the spark was gone. He agreed to give me the four months. I went online to a website called “Compass Expeditions” where I had seen what looked to me like “the Long Way around Trip” for the price of a bike and I called them. They told me that I was right at the deadline as it didn’t leave any time for getting the required Visas. I didn’t even know how I was going to pay (not only for the trip but for the months I would be away and my regular bills). I just went ahead and told them, “I’m coming” and began enquiring about visas, shots, money, International drivers licences etc. That was 15 days ago. Right now it’s May 15th, I have 2 of the 3 visas done, international drivers licence, and I’m on for this trip. It leaves for London June 8th and the ride begins June 12th and I’M EXITED!!!. I’m going around the world!!! My trip of a Lifetime. London to Magadan. Then I’ll fly to Japan back to BC and get my VTX out from storage and ride home to Huntsville. And you know the best part. You’ll be riding with me.

My trip officially begins now with the preparation and my ride May 24 weekend to BC
and fly back Monday night to get to work Tues morning. Two weeks later I leave and you’ll be coming with me. Until next time.....