The picture above shows my first Gold Wing. It is a 1984 GL1200 and was the first year for the 1200 fully loaded Aspencade model. In its day it was the ultimate cruising/touring bike. It was equipped with an air ride suspension, FM stereo/cassette system with a built in intercom for driver and passenger. It also had the first digital dash found on a motorcycle. I was the third owner and did my best to keep the bike as original as possible. At the time of this picture, it had just over 120,000 kms on it, as far as I know.
Owning this beautiful bike encouraged me to get out and ride as often as possible. I have upgraded twice since then and currently ride a 2003 GL1800 Gold Wing. A huge improvement in comfort and power!
In the following pages, I share stories of the rides I have taken and about the fantastic places I have been while riding these beautiful bikes. Enjoy!
Relive the Adventures… (11/29/2023) - A few years back I started recording my rides using an app called Relive. It uses GPS tracking on your phone to record your ride which you can then edit and turn it into a video to share with friends. … Read More ...
Gypsy Sister’s Run – Keiller Gowans Memorial (6/30/2023) - Back in the fall of 2019, our GWRRA District Ride Coordinator, Keiller Gowans, was working on a 4 day run down to Sisters, Oregon and back. He spent countless hours designing a route that would encompass many of the twistiest… Read More ...
Almost to Alaska….June/July 2022 (8/5/2022) - In February, 2022, Giselle and I were looking at doing another extended ride, this time further north than we had ever been. We have already experienced all the roads south of HWY 16 from Prince Rupert over to the Alberta… Read More ...
Vancouver Island Ride – July 2021 (7/30/2021) - Near the end of July in 2021, Giselle and I got together with good friends Doug and Kathy Wilkins for a two night trip over to Vancouver Island and then return back down the Sunshine Coast. We didn't take a… Read More ...
Icefields Parkway – July Long Weekend, 2021 (7/4/2021) - We were supposed to go to Wing Ding in Springfield, Missouri this summer, but again, the borders were still closed due to the covid pandemic. So we headed north and east to finish the ride we started last year at… Read More ...
October Falling Leaves Ride (10/4/2020) - In early October, we planned a Falling Leaves Ride for the Chapter. Normally, we would head down into Washington State for this because there are so many beautiful roads along the west side of the mountains to get lost on. … Read More ...
The Way Too Long of a Ride Ride….or Smoked out in the Kootenays (9/12/2020) - In mid September of 2020, several of my riding partners met at McDonalds for breakfast on a Saturday morning and then headed out for a ride towards Hope. We stopped in Hope for fuel and I noticed that I was… Read More ...
Rock Hard Buns Ride (8/23/2020) - In August the GWRRA North West Coast District sponsored a three day ride out to the Kootenays. Here is my story. The weather was cool and cloudy in the lower mainland on the 21st of August. Six of us gathered… Read More ...
June – July 2020 Vacation Ride…… (7/24/2020) - At the end of June, Giselle and I were supposed to ride down through the States to attend Wing Ding 42 in Springfield Missouri. Well, that didn’t work out but we still had our vacation time booked off, so we… Read More ...
North West Coast District Rally 2019 – Wings in the Cariboo – Day Two (7/28/2019) - Day two of the rally started off with registrations and organizing the start of the Poker Run. The route had been set up earlier in the year by our District Ride Coordinator, Keiller Gowans. He did a fantastic job finding… Read More ...
North West Coast District Rally 2019 – Wings in the Cariboo – Day One (7/27/2019) - Giselle and I have the distinct honour of serving on the board of the GWRRA North West Coast District. We helped out, along with the rest of the team in organizing a very successful rally in 100 Mile House, BC. … Read More ...
Iron Butt – 2019 (6/24/2019) - After attending a seminar at the Ducati / BMW dealer in Vancouver in May, I decided to sign up for one of their sponsored Iron Butt Association rides. My plan was to do it two up with Giselle and some… Read More ...
Three Falls Ride – Sea To Sky Highway (4/18/2015) - Early spring rides can be a bit cool, but rewarding with the right weather. This was one such ride - totally unplanned, hop on the bike and go! It was mid April and the sun was out. Giselle and I… Read More ...
Washington/Oregon Coast (7/3/2014) - Last summer at this time, Giselle and I headed south for the Canada Day long weekend. We had 4 days to go as far south down the coast as we could. We rode down to Anacortes, Washington, then headed south on… Read More ...
Ready for spring…. (2/11/2014) - I picked up my bike from the Honda shop on Saturday. It has been undergoing some minor repairs from a small accident I was involved in back in June! While they were at it, I got it serviced and ready… Read More ...
Blue Ridge Parkway (10/16/2013) - The Blue Ridge Parkway was built back in the 40's and 50's as a government project to create jobs for people in the area. It connects two great National parks - The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National… Read More ...
Cherohala Skyway (10/14/2013) - The Cherohala Skyway runs from Robbinsville, North Carolina (just south of the Tail of the Dragon) westward into Telico Plains, Tennessee. Just over 50 miles of smooth, twisty highway along a ridge of the westernmost point of the Smokey… Read More ...
Tail of the Dragon – US 129 – Deals Gap (10/14/2013) - The Tail of the Dragon is located southeast of Nashville near the entrance to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. It is a section of Tennessee State Highway 129 and consists of 11 miles of the twistiest, turniest highway ever… Read More ...
Vernon Loop Ride (8/11/2013) - In August, the club was supposed to go on a ride that went from Vancouver to Whistler, up to Pemberton, and then over the Duffey Lake road to Lillooet and then back down along the Fraser River Canyon through Lytton… Read More ...
Kootenay Weekend….. (7/11/2013) - The July long weekend Kootenay Loop Run started out a bit shaky, but ended with lots of memories of a great weekend with good friends. It all started out on Saturday morning with a planned ride starting in Langley with… Read More ...