CDN Miracle Miles

Thirty- seven days on the road.  We started with the Sturgis Rally (approx. 400,000) on Aug 5 and ended with the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby, NS (approx. 40,000).  It was a great day but a tough day.  We left St. John in sunshine and warm temperatures and boarded the ferry (with about 30 other motorcycles) at 11:30.  The ferry left at 12:30 and took about three hours to cross.  During that time we transferred all 15 GB of photos onto a portable drive for Darlene to take home.  Can you believe we took that many photos?????????????  It took just over an hour to copy all of them – what else can you do on a ferry for three hours!!!!!!!  On Friday the ferry had carried 117 motorcycles along with other traffic over to Digby.

 What a surprise we had when we got off the ferry. Darlene yelled out to me to stop – her brother and friends were there to greet us.  I had never met Oliver so didn’t stop when I saw the people waiting on the wharf.  It was a really really nice way to enter back into our own province.  We stopped and hugged and chatted – and like true NS hospitality were invited for supper and to stay for the evening, if we wanted…..

 We eventually made our way into the Rally.  We parked at one end of town and started to walk.  One of the first groups we met were Darlene’s boys (motorcycle trainers from Yarmouth) – Chris, Jim, Joe, & Doug.  What a reunion and of course they wanted to know all the details.  Lots of hugs, lots of stories, and lots of laughs…  We did eventually get to the other end of town but it sure took a while.  We came back into the vendors area to check out all the stuff and to talk with the fellow Darlene had received her gel seat pad from before leaving.  Folks, those gel pads are definitely the answer to making your riding more comfortable and if there is anyone who can attest to that, it is certainly Darlene. 

 The sun was starting to set and I decided it was time to leave for my 2.5 hour journey home.  The last picture taken was one of Darlene and I at the Wharf Rat Rally.  The journey home for each of us was long – happy but sad. 

 As I rode home the sun was setting behind me – the sky was red, beautiful – the moon was full and bright ahead of me.  And I realized that after all the riding we had done we had come back to a place called home, a province that had a bit of everything we had done.  For those of you who have never been to NS – we have 3500 km of coastal roads, mountains, lakes, rivers, valleys, fields of corn, orchards, the best hospitality and we also have our own desert.  The ground around the Greenwood Kingston area is all sand – you can see it all along the highway.  And I saw motorcycles everywhere – coming and going – and all types. 

 When I arrived at my home my family was there to meet me – a lot of tears shed, tears of absolute joy.  Cathy had arrived back on Friday safe and sound.  Darlene called later to say that she had arrived home safe and sound also.  We laughed again – it was over folks.  But we have lots of photos and memories that will stay with us forever. 

 This journey, this part of our lives has ended.  What we had set out to do 37 days ago has been completed – safely.  Oh, we have stories and events we never spoke about on the blog so as not to worry anyone at home.  But now we can say we did it…  And what does tomorrow bring, we’re not sure.  Work starts on Tuesday and tomorrow, maybe we can start making plans for the next journey in life. 

 Over the next few days I will bring you all the facts and figures – and if there is anything else you want to know – just email us…. 

 Thank you to everyone.  One guy I especially have to thank is Mike (Mickey) Moses.  Mike designed this blog and taught me how to use it.  He gave me lots of hints about its use – you can see Mickey’s blogs listed at the right of this blog site.

 May God bless you and give you the strength and courage to follow your dreams.  Remember my prayer on the first day – well He did it………

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