Good ride Cowboy good ride…..June 24

First I apologize for the late posting of these blogs, "internet connection issues".  Technology and I have a love hate relationship.

So I thought this title was appropriate because it was a good ride and we've been all over cowboy country.  Actually, truth be told it was a GREAT ride but I couldn't think of any songs that had great ride in the title…hey, it's 7:00 a.m!   Wow, Sunday already!  It's hard to believe the ride is done.  As I write this I can hear a couple of bikes heading out.  No doubt some of the Fort McMurray people heading off for their long ride home.  Please be safe!  Today are the bittersweet farewells.  New friendships have been formed and old ones re-established. To all the riders both new and old - thanks for making this ride just the best ever!  

Last night at dinner we heard from Sarah, Ruby's mom.  She spoke of what it was like to find out your child has cancer and she spoke of what the Kids with Cancer Society means to them now. While Sarah spoke I couldn't help but smile through my tears because Ruby was playing with her Mom's hair, she was doing what a 7 year old should be doing, being a kid. That's why we ride on this weekend, that's why we raise this money, so that kids can be kids and so that families like Ruby's do not have to walk alone in the halls of the hospital.  I am proud to say that this weekend's ride raised over $210,000.00.  That amount includes the money raised last night from an impromptu auction for a print that the Neufelds donated.  Hamish was the lucky bidder.  Ruby's Grandfather, Mike,  personally raised over $12,000.00 in pledges.  WOW!  That is the most that one person has ever raised and it is also the most we have raised as a group so just think of what we are going to do NEXT year!!  And Mike, I know we will see you next year!

But for now the 2012 ride is done.  We are heading up the gondola for breakfast and then when done we will all get on our bikes and head in various directions towards our next destination, home.  As we ride away, I know that each and everyone of us is leaving a little piece of our heart with Ruby.  Ruby we love you.  You have shown us courage and reminded us of what's important.  I know I am a better person from meeting and talking with you.  And yes Ruby, you are so right when you say that Ariel is the best Disney Princess!  

To all the riders in this event, you guys are the BEST!  We truly do become family on this weekend.  So safe journeys my friends.  Remember shiny side up!   It looks like rain (since it's raining right now) for the ride home.  Be careful out there.

I have said this before and I will say it again, I long for the day when we can all get together and ride for fun because that will mean that we have erased childhood cancer. 

Ruby you are right again,  like you told me on Friday night, this IS better than Disneyland!

Today's biker wisdom -  "always go pee BEFORE you put your rain gear on"  

Until next year........

Karen

I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay….. June 23

Wow!  What a beautiful day.  I'll admit that there were rain clouds but thankfully the rain held off (until now that is).  We headed out from Fernie at the late hour of 9:00 a.m. (honestly, for us that's late!) and were off to Cranbrook though Ft. Steele with a stop at Copper Point Golf Club for lunch.   After lunch we headed off to Golden.  Each group of bikers pulled into a roadside stop about 30 kilometres outside of Golden and together in one group all 60 bikes rumbled into town as one group.  What an incredible powerful sight to see!   To say we got looks from people would be an understatement.  One guy on the road construction crew did an absolute double take and people came out of their houses to watch.  

Tonight we are staying at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.  As I write I can look out the window at the beautiful mountains.  I feel like I'm in heaven.  Tonight is the more "formal" part of the weekend.  Tonight we will get to hear Ruby's story and there is no doubt that Ruby's bear, Captain, will be in attendance as well.  This little bear goes everywhere with her, and I mean EVERYWHERE.  Captain was there for all her surgeries and once, Danielle had to drive all the way back to Kearl Lake to get Captain.  That's love.  But tonight is Ruby's night.  She will inspire us with her courage, her wisdom and her energy.  I can't even begin to tell you how much we have all fallen in love with Ruby.  Ruby's Grandfather, Mike Hannigan, is on the ride with us.   When you see him and Ruby together, well, it just warms your heart.  You can see the love in his eyes and you know he would go to the ends of the earth for his Ruby.    

Our ride Captain, Dennis and our sweeper, Keith, were great today.  Dennis was kind enough to show us how to get to the highway before going to the hotel.  I would have thought that he took a wrong turn and was lost but Dan wasn't with us so I knew that couldn't be it.

Last night was incredible.  We met up with the Calgary Kids with Cancer Society and helped them celebrate their 10th year.  They are actually the reason we exist.  We, thanks to Harry Stepper, are an offshoot of that ride. Brian Morrison spoke of his love and his pride in this ride.  He said we are bikers, loud and proud. He told us how the ride came to be 10 years ago with the words "we have an idea".  There were 32 riders that first year and they made over $160,000.00.  I can't wait until tonight to find out how much we have raised this ride.  There were over 100 riders sitting there last night and the two rides combined raise over 300,000.00 annually.  The Calgary group left in the morning and were off to Nakusp.  Perhaps one day in the near future both the Calgary Society and the Edmonton Society can ride together for fun.  I say for fun because that would mean that a cure for cancer has been found.  I hope that day is soon.

Okay, now to my Monty Python lumberjack reference.  No, I'm not a lumberjack either, but man I do love me the smell of fresh cut wood.  We passed by several lumber mills, a few lumber stores, some logging trucks and even some log furniture builders.  Yep, it's gotta be logging land and man, what a great smell!  The skunk part was't so great though, but it grew on me.  

Biker lesson for today - if you wear a full face and you go to put on chapstick, make sure your visor is up!

Karen

It takes a village…June 23

They say it takes a village to raise a child.  Well, I can certainly tell you that it takes a village to make this ride run as smoothly as it does. To the support team, Val, Don, Gord, Carla, Duncan, Sheila, Bob, Dan, Jody, Jay and Randy, thank you all so much.  You guys ROCK!!.  Don, Gord, Carla & Duncan (aka Lamb chop) you literally jump to the pump for us. Not only do act as gas jockey's but you also are there just at the right time with treats and water.   Jody (aka photographer extraordinaire) welcome to the group.  I am amazed at how relaxed you are while cruising along on the back of Bob's bike snapping shots of us.  Jay and Randy are from Cycle Works and we would be lost without them (getting us lost is Dan's job).  Without you guys, well, the bikes just wouldn't run as smoothly as they do.  While we are in showering and relaxing you guys are out there making sure our rides are in top form.  You are there for our every need and you seem to anticipate them even before we know we would have them.  Dan you are just the best.  You might be directionally challenged, but somehow you find that podium and guide us.  Sheila, what can I say.  You are there to take care of us and we love you so much!  Terry Evans, thank you for participating in this event and thank you for promoting it on K97 as you do.  You've introduced new riders to the group and we love them.  To our group leaders and sweepers, thank you for all that you do.  You put in countless hours and many miles to make each ride the best it can be.   Val, what can I say!  You are just the best and we all love you so so much.  I don't know how you do it but you manage to put 28 hours of work into a 24 hour day.  You never seem flustered and there is no issue that cannot be resolved.  I am honoured to call you friend.  To LOOK Homes, the Steppers, Brazzo, Cycle Works thank you, thank you, thank you.

But my biggest thank you goes out to Miss Ruby Tuesday.  You have won our hearts.  You are such an inspiration to not only myself, but to everyone in this group.  Your energy, your courage, your spirit and the joy that you bring is amazing. I love your smile and I love your giggle.   I am going to try very hard to follow the wise words that you said at the end of your video "Don't worry, be happy".  

To all who make this ride what it is, thank you.  I know there are countless people behind the scenes and I know I probably have missed names, and I apologize for that.  But we do thank you each and every one of you.  

Karen

I Wanna be a Cowboy…..

Okay, maybe I don't really want to be a cowboy but I thought the title was appropriate since we were travelling through cowboy country today and participating in a slo mo rodeo.  Also, I thought it was a catchy little title and you can't tell me that you don't have that song stuck in your head now.  

Today's adventure led us from Canmore to Highway 40 through Kananaskis country.  There is still snow in the ditches and there were plenty of deer too.  I must admit that it did get a little chilly but hey, we're tough bikers (plus some of us have heated jackets).  We passed through Longview (home of Ian Tyson) Where we met up with the Calgary Kids with Cancer crew.   We then made our way past Frank's Slide onward to Fernie.  I just have to say how much I love our province.  No, it's not a flag waving moment (left it at home) but I just love the beauty of it all.  I am always a little humbled when travelling through the Rockies.  Despite the snow in the ditches and the chill in the air the ride was absolutely breathtaking.  At one point I actually thought I got the scent of lavender.  

We have now landed at Lizard Creek in Fernie.  Our group did have another small "detour" and yes, surprisingly enough Dan was there…. can you see a pattern? 

Today's big event was the slo mo rodeo (again with the cowboy theme).  The riders had to ride Pixters (sorry if the spelling is wrong) and Vespa's provided by Cycle Works.  They had a variety of courses to travel through and if your foot was down you were out.  Our Edmonton group gave it a GREAT try and Tyler Neufeld did his best, but in the end Calgary was victorious.  Next year....

Last night we were privileged to hear a few words from Ruby.  We watched a video last night about Ruby and her beaded journey.  She explained that some of the beads were for when she went for a blood transfusions and various other treatments.  There were so many beads.  Also in the video was Sarah, Ruby's Mom.  She talked about when Ruby was diagnosed and how this angel came and her name was Val.  Val brought them all the necessities that they needed for overnight stays.  See, that's what the Kids with Cancer Society does and that is what events like this help pay for.  We will hear more from Ruby tomorrow night.  I can guarantee you that there won't be a dry eye in the place.  Dan and Terry spoke the truth last night when they said that "Ruby is the toughest biker in the room".  Not one of us can disagree with that.  I asked Ruby last night what she thought of the ride so far and her response was "it's better than Disneyland".  Wow….  

When we came back to the hotel after the slo mo rodeo we saw Ruby swimming in the hotel pool. That young lady has so much energy!

So now that the rodeo is over we are all gathering and sharing tales of the day.  Dez, from the Calgary group is telling us about their ride (he's English, a kindred spirit).  Ruby has also come to join us and I have to say she looks fantastic tonight in her lovely green sundress, purple shoes and pink barrette.  A fashionista in the making I think.  But this means it's time for me to go for tonight.  

But, I can't leave tonight's blog without some biker wisdom.  I figure that everyday we probably learn some life lesson (and trust me Ruby is teaching us many many lessons).  For instance, I figure we learn something when your older brother says it won't hurt if you stick your tongue on the end of a 9v battery.  Well, you do it and you learn, right?  So here's some biker life lesson moment for you.  When you are riding on the bike, don't sing with your mouth open because there are bugs out there!  I'm just saying …….

Is this Christmas Eve?

We're baaaaaack!  It's another LOOK & Stepper Revving up for Kids motorcycle ride, the 7th to be exact.  Since the first voyage in 2007 to the 2011 ride this group has raised over 1 million dollars.   I know that this years pledges are going to blow our minds.  But our journey isn't over yet, in fact it's just begun.   

The Edmonton group of riders met this morning at 6:30(ish) at the office of LOOK Homes.  After a great breakfast served up by Elizabethan Caterers and some hugs and hellos we heard a very heartwarming speech from  Bob Walker  at Ledcor.  Next up to mike was Dan McOuat with our usual safety talk and quick version of our itinerary.  We were  introduced to Ruby Hannigan and her Mom who are our host family.  Ruby was diagnosed with cancer in May 2011, she was 7 at the time.  At the time of writing this I haven't had the opportunity to sit and talk with Ruby yet, but at our stops today you can see that she is a vibrant young lady.  

Today's journey took us from Edmonton with a stop in Red Deer where we picked up the Calgary group then off  to Rocky Mountain House.  We had lunch in the campground at the David Thompson Resort and there was much reminiscing of our ride several years ago when we stayed there.  From there our leader pulled a Dan McOuat and missed the turn so we had to back track a little, just a little onto the Bow Valley Parkway on our way to Canmore (but funny enough Dan was there when we missed this turn...coincidence?).   Bow Valley Parkway - What a beautiful road.  I had never travelled that road before but will certainly do it again.  We didn't see a lot of wildlife today, but we did encounter a black bear!  It looked pretty huge from far away but as we got closer, it wasn't too big, but still it's a black bear and we didn't stick around. 

Now, onto my "Christmas" reference.  I think I speak for pretty much everyone on this ride when I say how much we look forward to it.  So there we are last night, the bike is ready for the road, the bags are packed and the animals seen to and now it's time for bed.  But who can sleep?  As we lay there eyes wide open Dave says to me "it's like Christmas Eve"  and he's right.  It's the anticipation of seeing old friends and knowing that we are going to meet new ones and it's knowing why we are on this ride, for the kids.  So who can sleep?  

Now, just like last year let me tell you about the smells!  Sorry, I'm big on that and it really is a part of the experience of riding on the back of the bike (that and taking pictures on there).  Today's smells were exceptional, minus the farm we passed on the QE 2.  We went from farm land "smells" to the wonderful smells of the forest as we travelled through the mountains and then when we got to the icefield you could actually smell the cool crisp air.  There's nothing like it.  

So now we are all gathering and we will finally have a chance to have a good visit and talk about rides past and to get to know our host family.  Tonight will be catching up with friends, meeting new ones and talking about today's ride.  This is an exceptional group of people and I am so happy to call them my friends.  But we never lose sight of why we are here and why we do this ride.  It's for the kids. 

Hi everyone

One more day to go.  This will be a great event. Karen Donald has offered to do a daily blog so keep checking.  Ride safely

Val

Welcome to our Blog

Welcome to the 2012 Revving Motorcycle Ride in support of the Kids With Cancer Society Blog. Please come back often to read all about the upcoming event and feel free to contribute, comment or just read and enjoy!