End of the GCMR
Y'know what? I've been drafting and re-drafting this email for days, f...er cryin' out loud! Last year was the 11th annual GCMR, all of it having started after a chance comment on WOTI about Canadian ethnic food. I took a chance and made the comment.;-) That was back in the previous century (1999).
WOTI members will accept, in fact hunger for, just about any excuse for a ride, especially if it centers around interesting roads and good food, even regular roads and regular food. Sometime during early summer of 1999, we found out that George and Pam Hockhousen were coming up from Maine to partake of the northern air, sights, and folks in the Ottawa area. That was good enough news that four WOTI friends from Ottawa, along with Montreal WOTI'er Dave Evelyn and his wife Candy, decided that as many as possible gather up in the Ottawa area of eastern Ontario, Canada, during the first weekend in August for a sampling of "historical" (or was that "hysterical") Canadian cuisine.
Over those intervening years, we've all had a chance to meet some really great people from the WOTI list and even a few as the result of WOTI'ers bringing non-list friends. If my remembery ain't broke, we had folks from Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, New York, and New Jersey. Did I get 'em all? Some have moved on; some have passed on. We still remember them as wonderful people after meeting them at the GCMR. I remember Jeff Dellinger and his sister Michelle who came up with John Kannard the year that we went on a river boat cruise. Jeff is one who has since passed on; what a cool guy! While some years had a larger and some a smaller attendance, there isn't one that was less than a real treat that I wouldn't want to repeat. We also had the chance to sample typically Canadian "cuisine". Remember beavertails, poutine, Mae West, Tim Horton's, and maple sausages, eh?
Art 'n Annie Gosling are Hardley riders now but back in the beginning, when they had their 2000 Goldwing, Art 'n Annie would map and pre-ride the routes we would follow during the GCMR. At one point, Art thought it would be nice to offer me a deeper commitment by handing over the typed route to me and walking away so I had to lead the rides ... cold ... without my having had the advantage of having ridden in an area I didn't know. This gave rise to a whole new legend ... the legend of Lost Lenny and the Lemmings, and the ballad of Sir Lostalot. Just think of the roads we found when I wandered off the beaten path. Besides, God allows U-turns! (I'm so unappreciated for my sense of adventure. Just call me Rebel Without Applause.)
Paul Hilliard and I met through the list and a common interest in being Masons, but I think we bonded as true friends sharing a shipload of good times as the result of the WOTI list giving birth to the GCMR. We've talked of this before, and neither one of us would want to hold the GCMR if the other one wasn't there. And others got involved, too ... Wayne Spath and John Garner by hosting the GCMR site on their own web sites, Kevin Backs volunteering as the official GCMR photographer even when he didn't have his bike just so we could have some on-the-road shots to add to our individual contributions, Greg Denoyer bringing his guitar, Paul's son Myles as our formally-trained chef! And on and on ...
However, Gloria and I are planning to move to southwestern Alberta now, probably in the Spring, no later than July 1st, maybe for a number of years, maybe for good. Ain't that "Lizard" country? I've been wanting to move back out there since I got transferred out of there with the RCMP many moons ago, and Gloria's actually from out west so she's fine with the idea.
Well, all that to say, it looks like the GCMR is coming to an end. There ... I said it. I never thought I would. And for those who may be thinking we could do it in two halves - the riding in Alberta and the BBQ in Ontario? Nah, ... just think of the commute!
If we don't move out west for some reason, who knows what might come about. But for now, let's consider the GCMR as having run its course. If you'd like to re-visit a few memories from the GCMR, go to links and click around ... http://jkgraphics.com/gcmr/gcmr.htm. The old web site sponsored by Wayne Spath at www.frogfish.net/gcmr doesn't seem to be available anymore.
So ... I tell ya what ... as a way of having one last virtual GCMR during PMS season, anybody have a particular GCMR memory they'd like to share?
Road Ranger (Mrs. Cotton's little boy, Lenny!)