Ride Report 01

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="044785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Canadian Masonic Riders - Masons on the Road</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Canadian Masonic Riders Masons on the R"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Were Here"><U>Why We're Here</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heres The Deal"><U>Here's The Deal</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wanna Ride ?"><U>Wanna Ride ?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U>Related Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletter 3"><U>Newsletter #3</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletter 4"><U>Newsletter #4</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletter 5"><U>Newsletter #5</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miles of Smiles"><U>Miles of Smiles</U></A>   |   <B>Ride Report 01</B>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#3399FF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="0817f7a0.jpg" border=0 width="127" height="122" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Ride Report 01</I></div> <div> <I>Ride Report - Sept. 21st, 2003 - Ottawa ON</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0891b760.jpg" border=0 width="539" height="118" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>The CMR Mystery Ride!</B><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>Sept. 21st, 2003</B><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Why is it called the Mystery Ride? Because I had no idea where we were going to end up! That happens once in a while, of course, but I like to prepare for spontaneity if I can. Our plan to meet new member Stu Hendin didn't exactly fall into place. As is the case with most unexpected problems, it was a communication issue where Stu was waiting for a phone call and didn't get one. </div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Ferry Ride to Quyon, Quebec."><U><IMG SRC="08b51e00.jpg" border=0 width="337" height="224" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="5"></U></A>Since Art Gosling, Paul Hilliard and I were sitting together in the early afternoon in the parking lot with our bikes in attendance, we went for the ride anyway. A few road names were mentioned and, since I couldn't place them off the bat, I chugged the last of my coffee, plunked myself in the middle of the group and just followed the leader. Before the afternoon was over, we had all taken a turn at leading. Since Art knew exactly how to get to the Quyon ferry, he took the lead for the first leg of the trip getting us to the Ottawa River and the Quebec border. </div> <div> I then took over the lead in order to look for a road from years ago, Eardley Road, which I had since heard was now paved. Heck, even some people on the ferry told us it was paved. Well, it wasn't! We enjoyed about a quarter mile of promising curves before getting to regular old gravel road so we turned around and went back to Hwy.148 running along the Ottawa River. After a quick stop for some French fries, we switched to Plan "B" and took Mountain Road up into the Gatineau Hills. This is always a pleasant trail because it follows the base of the Gatineau Hills (just about rock for rock ! ), and then heads up into the hills themselves.</div> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="pic2"><U><IMG SRC="08d37e90.jpg" border=0 width="311" height="233" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>By this time, I realized that the rental period on my last Coke had expired and it was time to get rid of it so we headed straight for this certain little restaurant we'd stopped at on previous occasions. Now, I'm not sure if we were riding too quickly, or if Art ain't been out in a while, but I'm pretty sure that was him at the last stop sign yelling "Yee-haw !!!" It seems Art's been riding with new riders a fair amount lately, being the patient and gentle coach that he is, and he was enjoying the thrill of the upper gears! ;")</div> <div> Once into the Gatineaux, we were into Paul's old stomping grounds from his ski-bum days so he took the lead and ran us through some nifty curves. (Did I just say "nifty"?!)  I've been through the Gatineaux a few times but I don't remember these roads at all. (Mind you, I don't remember what I had for supper last night, either.) There aren't a tremendous amount of roads through the hills, but the ones there are sure qualify as beautiful riding roads. With the appropriate coffee stops to talk and gawk along the way, this made for a really pleasant afternoon.</div> <div> While this was a quick 'n dirty trip, meant to take in one of the few remaining riding days left to us for the year, it was also a great chance to meet up with old friends again, puttin' the rubber to the road and the knees to the breeze. As we came back across into Ontario, our real lives started to take over and we each took our turns peeling off to whatever we had waiting for us. 'Til next time, guys!</div> <bR> <div> Happy to meet. Sorry to part. Happy to meet again!</div> <bR> <div> Thanks for the ride, Brothers!</div> <bR> <div> Len Cotton<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Smiths Falls ON<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> SW, Merrickville Lodge #55, Burritt's Rapids ON</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>