Why?
Bikes, Burgers and Bendy Roads;
Bikes…… I bought my first bike in 1966, about 3 weeks after I turned 16. It was just one of those things. I had saved some money working at a restaurant in downtown Toronto and one day I walked past Downtown Honda. I looked in the window and started to dream. That Friday, with cash burning a hole in my pocket I walked in the front door, just to have a look. I could not afford anything fancy but for some strange reason, I just had to have one. I put my hard earned fortune down on a 2 year old Honda Hawk. I went back the next Friday and paid the balance. The total cost was $112, that included the first year insurance and delivery to my Grandma’s house. I had never ridden a bike, never even been on the back of one. When the guy took it off the pick-up in the laneway behind the house, he had to show me how to start it and gave a quick lesson on how to ride. Within 10 minutes I was zooming up and down the street. I was hooked.
Over the years I have owned several Hondas, a Suzuki, a Yamaha, 3 Kawasakis and 2 Harleys. I have loved each and every one of them, well except maybe my first Harley. I now ride a 2014 Harley Ultra.
Burgers….. Well, I am not actually a big burger fan, but the alliteration worked, it could just as easily have been ‘Bistros’, but that sounds a little snooty. Most of the rides I do with friends always seem to end up at a restaurant of some kind at some point. You will find in my detailing of our rides some burger joints, several cafes and bistros, a number of diners and more than a few ice cream shops. My taste buds are not very fussy and I will try just about anything. I will usually only mention the places we stop if they are either real good or real bad; had great service or terrible service; and sometimes just because of the location. The payoff for me is never the burgers, its always about finding a better way to get there and just enjoying the ride.
Bendy Roads….. This is really what its all about. There is nothing that keeps me on a bike more than riding down a scenic back road with rolling hills and sweeping curves. Nothing takes the stress out of everyday life more than letting the bike and the road take me places I have never been before, again.
Now, I do love the thrill of tight mountain twisties, but they can be exhausting. I cant take more than an hour or so of those in a day. But those ‘bendy roads’ I can ride all day, every day and never get tired.
Bikes, Burgers and Bendy Roads is one way for me to share my love of riding with you. I hope you enjoy reading about some of my adventures.
Ralph
Wanna learn more…
Click the blog button to find out more about some of my recent adventures. In each blog you will find links to some of the places we visited.