Stu & Mary Ellen Hartt, Chapter AB-A Directors

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1 Stu & Mary Ellen Hartt, Chapter AB-A Directors Hi Everybody, W ith the Motorcycle Show behind us and the weather of late not giving much hope of riding anytime soon, we can take comfort that Balzac Billy is predicting an early spring in southern Alberta. Let s hope his prediction is better than his track record. This is also an excellent time to remind everyone who has ordered new tires from Rocky Mountain Honda Powerhouse to pick them up once they are in. We are sure that Ron Syroishka will confirm. Everyone should have seen communication Feb 11 Mar 11 Apr 8 Coming Events Feb Monthly Meeting Mar Monthly Meeting Apr Monthly Meeting Meetings are at Fox Hollow Golf Club, 9th Street and 32nd Avenue N.E. Dinner at 6:30; Meeting at 7:00 PM. regarding our 2019 Region Prairie District Rally planned for Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. This is an excellent venue and hopefully everyone gets a chance to clear their calendar so they can participate in our District Rally. I know that Stew Dickson is working on a special route along with the Ride Coordinators from other Chapters which will be fun to travel throughout our District. More to follow on this. Spring is usually a time for our seminar series and the establishment of other courses to be held through the riding season. If you are in the Levels Program, please check what What s Inside (Continued on page 2) Chapter Directors Words, cont d... 2 Canadian Prairie District Report... 3 Where in the World... 3 District Ride Educator... 4 Rider Education Rules!... 4 January meeting notes Latest & Earliest Ride... 7 February Ride... 9 North West Coast Rally Long Ride Schedule News & Notices Classifieds Area Staff Prairies District Team Registration Form Prairie Oasis Rates Winter Storage... 17

2 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 2 your status is and see what needs to be updated whether it be an ARC or First Aid. Your association is managed by volunteers and the exposure and experience they receive is particularly rewarding. We continue to have an opening for our Chapter Membership Enhancement Coordinator. We would like to mention that if anyone has interests in getting more involved, please feel free to discuss with either your Chapter Directors or Assistant Chapter Directors. Stu & Mary-Ellen Hartt Calgary Chapter Directors

3 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 3 Gary & Susan Premech, CPD Directors Hello to all Prairies District members, H ere we are with a good start to 2019; hoping everyone had a great Christmas and New Year s. The year started with the Calgary and Edmonton Motorcycle Shows which, like every other year, sparks the eagerness for the riding season to begin. The information is out for the Prairies District 2019 Rally being held in Moose Jaw, SK. August 16 th 18 th. You can find the information on the District Webpage at index.php/district-rally. Over the next few months the District Team will be asking for volunteers to help make this event a success. A three-day ride is being organized by Calgary Chapter AB-A which will cover the three provinces ending in Moose Jaw for the Rally. Following the Rally, you can continue on to Wing Ding 41 in Nashville Tennessee August 27 th 31 st. You can find a list of other events that are happening throughout GWRRA, on the webpage This is where the Districts and Chapters can list their Rallies, Rides, Rider Education and Training Events as well as Chapter Events. This is a great resource when your out on a holiday and would like to join in with another GWRRA event that we are all members of. Remember that it is volunteers like yourselves that make this a great organization. Every member has their own personal touch to bring forward and there is a personal satisfaction of holding a Chapter or District position. Check the District webpage regularly and send us some photos that you would like to see on the webpage as these pictures will be seen by all including future members. Until next month, Gary and Susan Premech Prairies District Director Where is this located? Wall of Prairie Dogs (Answer in News and Notices, Page 13 Submitted by: Lance and Kim Medcalf

4 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 4 Alex Middleton, Canadian Prairies District Educator Good day Everyone: W ith the snow making its presences known, and all the bikes under wraps, it s time to start making sure that your ride is in tip top shape for the riding season. Many motorcycle shops are willing to cut prices on maintenance work, as it is a slow time for them, and you can usually get your work done fairly quickly. The local weekly gathering is a good time to have a seminar presented as they can be given in as little as 15 to 20 minutes. We can always brush up on our First Aid & CPR skills. Maybe we took it a year ago, but haven t had to use the knowledge that was learned at the course. Talk to your Chapter director had have him / her set up a course for you. Taking these courses at this time of year is a great time as it doesn t cut into our riding time when the nice weather comes back. If you need help setting up courses or seminars please contact your Chapter Director. ALEX MIDDLETON Roger Matas, District University Coordinator District Education Day Calgary, AB, Location TBD Saturday, April 20 Road Captain Saturday May 25 in the afternoon for the classroom and road portion. Join members from other chapters in our district for the day to participate in GWRRA seminars and socialize. Agenda of topics to be announced Advanced Rider Course (ARC)/2 Up May 25 and 26 mandatory classroom Saturday May 25 in the morning; Range Sunday morning. Only 12 spots are available for the ARC, cost is $40. Team Riding Details to be announced, tentatively April All courses subject to the interest of members and availability of instructors. Contact Roger to sign up.

5 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 5 There were 48 members in attendance, including Stu and Bob who joined us via video link. Welcome new members Keith Paget and Greg Fuller! Tracy summarized Chapter activities since November the Christmas party and Motorcycle Show and highlighted Stewart s ride plans for Tracy noted we set a record for new members signing up at the bike show with 7. Parking lot practice is still being looked into. Tracy reminded everyone to submit stories and pictures to the newsletter Brian advised Flags will be from San Luis Rio Colorado (south of Yuma) to Vernon, BC. Registration opens January 19, 2019 at midnight PST. The route will be around 2,000 miles up the west, tentatively. Tracy asked for a show of hands re how many members use Facebook and if the addition of a chapter Facebook page would be useful. Enough interest was expressed that a page will be set up. The page will have info from the website and provide a place members can post, communicate about rides and last minute changes, etc. As mentioned earlier the mileage awards will have some different awards this year. The distance challenge will have a Men s and Lady s high mileage award and one fun award, not related to high mileage, will be announced. Send your starting mileage for 2019 to Tracy, if you haven t done so already, to get in on the fun for Ride schedules and updates Stewart Dickson and Bob Van Nes are planning a ride for May 9 to 13; US Loop, about 27,00 km. Stewart and Gord Stevenson are working on a July 11 to 15th ride, basing in Creston for 4 nights with US and BC loops. The hotel has 10 rooms blocked for our group and camping could also be booked. Since the group will be based in Creston, there would be options for members who can t do all the days to join for a shorter trip. Stewart is also working on planning a three day ride to the Moose Jaw District Rally, like a mini 3 Flags. A Calgary Iron Butt is being discussed (to Winnipeg via Edmonton). Further details to be announced. Stewart reminded everyone that if you d like to sponsor a ride talk to him to set up. You don t have to lead the ride to sponsor it. Ron advised Bunco in October was a sellout and garnered a profit of $2.58; Ron has rounded it up to $2.60. This is despite having to run the event without Bob Van Nes help! Ron congratulated Gilles on a job well done on the music for the Christmas party and noted the venue was a success. The party was subsidized by approximately $10/ person by the Chapter. The silent auction went well and Ron isn t the least bitter about losing his items to an unnamed, but skilled, bidder. The silent auction had 14 donated items with a value of $1,512.93, resulting in a profit of $974. Ron has booked the venue for a repeat; Friday December 6, 2019 and has requested a Saturday date should one become available. (Continued on page 6)

6 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 6 (Continued from page 5) Spring Bunco will be the last Saturday in April, more information to follow. Canadian Prairies District Rally Aug 16 to 18 in Moose Jaw. Poster is on the website and application form will also be posted there. Ron s rally action list has 92 items so he s looking for volunteers to help with the rally. More information to follow. Group tire purchase is closed and final instructions were sent. Anyone that missed can contact Ron in the next day or two. 54 tires order for the Chapter. Rocky Mountain Honda is under new management, with the previous manager transferred Pro Am. There is also new parts and service managers. Summer BBQ is tentatively scheduled in the ride schedule. After discussing different days it was determines weekdays had the least interest. Shirts are still available for purchase. Reminder we still need Chapter Membership Enhancement Coordinators. Patches to be discussed at the next district meeting. Terry Collins wished the Chapter a Happy New Year and thanked the Chapter for support on the death of his oldest son. Terry spoke of his son s past and life. Hi s son arranged with the U of C to donate his body for research. Memorial details to follow. Harvey provided an update about Two Wheel Sunday. There were at the bike show and are aiming for 100 booths (last year was 85). This event should be bigger and better than ever in 2019 Harvey is planning another bowling night in early May, approximately the 2nd week in May. Details to follow. (Continued on page 7)

7 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 7 (Continued from page 6) Honda sunglasses and key chain Ron Parkinson and Ernie Reid By: James Tremblay My old record for last day riding, in 2016, was the 2ND week of September. For 2017 my last day was on November 12th. That was a ride out to Chain Lakes. I can't really remember the temperature but there were partial clouds with strong south winds. I wasn't was cold yet but I knew I would pay for it on my way heading back north. Once I turned west towards Nanton, I could definitely feel the wind, and the temperature felt like it was dropping. When I arrived at Chain Lakes I stopped to warm up. I can still remember being in the parking lot looking at guys, fishing for trout on the wind-swept ice, wondering how they could put up with the cold wind. They were probably thinking 'What the heck is a guy doing out here on his bike at this time of the year?' Riding home from Chain Lakes the weather started to change to more like winter. I stopped in Longview to put on my heated gloves; with the heated jacket and gloves on I felt I could ride forever. Once I reached Okotoks I was feeling chilled again but I pressed on home. I don't think my trip to Hyder, Alaska was as cold as it was that day. (Continued on page 8)

8 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 8 For 2018 I headed out to Canmore, on the 1A, on December 18th. It was 9 degrees and no wind when I left Calgary but the closer I got to the mountains the more the wind picked up and temperature dropped. Looking towards Canmore it was cloudy; almost snow menacing type clouds. As I approached the Seebe Dam turn off there was something dark looking in the left side of the ditch up ahead. As I got closer 2 young black bears darted across the road. I guess with our mild temperatures we've been having they haven't gone into hibernation yet. Proceeding on to Canmore it was still sunny on the north side of the valley but the south side was definitely getting snow in the higher elevations. Sitting in Tim Hortons having a cup of coffee I was getting strange looks from people looking outside at the light snow fall and then looking at some idiot on a motorbike. A couple of guys asked me where is was going, "Vancouver" I responded. One guy said you'll never make it as they just came out of a heavy snowfall in B.C. To keep up with my sick sense of humor I said, "No I'm not going to Vancouver, I just came back from there and now heading to Calgary". Traffic on the #1 from Canmore was pretty heavy. A lot of the vehicles were coming back from skiing and giving me the thumbs up for being on a bike at this time of the year. As the temperature rose from Canmore's -5 degrees to Springbank s 7 degrees riding became an obstacle course. Large chunks of snow and ice were falling off vehicles and sliding on the asphalt until they broke up into little pieces. Nothing dangerous for vehicles but could be disastrous for 2 wheelers. My new record date, for the last ride of the year, is now December 24th. I got all my chores done and wanted to go for a ride. Having finished all my chores and getting final approval from the Commander and Chief (Janine), I suited up to hit the road. It was a nice sunny day, no wind, a high of 8 degrees. Heading west on the 1A highway traffic was pretty light to Cochrane. The town itself almost seemed like a ghost town as I rode past but I'm sure there were a lot of people in town doing last minute shopping. West of Cochrane there was next to nothing for traffic, until I reached Canmore and then headed home on the #1. When I arrived home, Janine said I had a big smile that could be seen through my colored visor. Yes, it was quite a feeling and set a new record for myself. January 14th, 2019, I set another record for myself for earliest ride of the year I've ever done. I didn't have much time for a ride so I got onto the #1 and headed west and thought of coming back through Morley and then the 1A highway. I have a stubborn bike, though, and didn t want to call it a day yet so I agreed with my BLUE wing and proceeded to Canmore. I checked the temperature at the Seebe Dam turn off and it was 8 degrees and still very sunny. About a kilometer after that, a wind suddenly picked up, dropping the temperature. Wow 8 degrees to -2 degrees! I had my heated gear but it was turned off until this point. There were sections of the highway that looked frosty or even worse, black ice. I slowed down just as I came up to Lac des Arcs as the wind picked up even more. Taking the turn off onto the 1A traffic was very light again and now being on the sunny side of the valley the temperature rose to a whopping 3 degrees. Did I say how much I love (Continued on page 9)

9 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 9 my heated gear? I stopped to take a couple of pictures and I must have had 6 vehicles stop to see if I was okay. You never get that in the summertime! By the time I reached Calgary it had warmed up to 6 degrees. Well I guess I'm not like Brian Hooker impersonating a sasquatch on 2 wheels in the snowy Kananaskis but so far this is my personal best for cold weather riding. By: Stu Hartt Sometimes during our stay in Arizona we get the chance to get together with others from our Chapter. In some cases, they are others that enjoy the desert winters in Arizona, in other cases, it is getting together with those that are coming south for a brief vacation. This year we had the chance to get together with James and Janine Tremblay while they were in Scottsdale to visit with family. This time, James rented a Gold Wing on the morning of February 7 th. It was a very cool morning and we met at his rental location. James picked up his th Anniversary Gold Wing. He said it was too bad it was not blue (Really said this Kim!). In keeping with GWRRA, James had all his gear with him and once he was suited up we headed out for our first stop in Maricopa, AZ. In Maricopa we met up with a friend of James and Janine, Jerry Aschenbrenner, a GWRRA member of our Calgary Chapter as well as with the Chinook Wings. We met Jerry at his home and we enjoyed the tour which showed his many plaques mounted in his den of his 15-3 Flag Classic trips. That is impressive! (Continued on page 11)

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11 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 11 (Continued from page 9) From Jerry s place we headed out on John Wayne Parkway turning off on Hwy 238, heading to Gila Bend, AZ. Gila Bend is a town that most riders went through when they headed to Puerto Penasco in Mexico for the start of the 3 Flags Classic last September. Last year James wanted to buy a T-Shirt from the Space Age Restaurant so we stopped for a coffee and a break to get the t-shirt. As luck would have it, the next shipment of t-shirts was not going to arrive for another 4 days. Guess that means another trip back, but he got a couple coffee cups anyway. Departing from Gila Bend, we headed west on I-8 traveling about 12.5 miles then turning off at exit 102. Right at this exit is the Solana Solar generating Station becoming operational in 2013 and generates enough solar power to look after about 58,000 homes. From this exit, we headed out on Painted Rock Dam Road. We were headed to Painted Rock Petroglyph Site. This is where the Indians carved figures and designs into stone. This was a very interesting area as it was also the site of where many wagon trains traveled on their way to California in the early years of the western settlement. Trails can still be seen of the many who traveled this area. We only had to travel a short distance on gravel to get to the actual site. After this we departed back to Gila Bend to refuel and then take old Highway 80 towards Buckeye, AZ. On this road we decided to stop at a local grill for coffee and discuss the final roads we would travel for the day. It was after this that Jerry headed back towards Maricopa and James and I headed to Buckeye and I-10 to return to Phoenix. Unfortunately, we were trapped in traffic due to a rollover accident as we had to feather our clutches for about 3 miles to get past all the tie up. Once done, we were back up to highways speeds and made our way through Phoenix until James headed north on the 101 and I carried on to Gold Canyon.

12 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 12 Overall, a great day of riding and friendships. I left in the dark to meet James and got home in the dark after riding through the city. At the end, I had recorded 328 miles of riding which is pretty good for a cool day in the desert. (Special thanks to Ryan Randazzo and The Republic for the use of one picture of the Solana Generating Station) By: Stewart Dickson Please check the district website calendar ( for the most recent information regarding ride schedules! Smaller ride information will be posted on the website and will also appear in Wing Wag closer to their proposed dates.

13 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 13 Greeting Cards: If you know of any member, their spouse, or immediate family who would appreciate receiving a greeting card from our Chapter please contact Judy Istvan, address nucleus.com. Judy will arrange to send the appropriate card on behalf of the Calgary Chapter. Veterans Food Bank: Please remember the men and women who committed themselves to ensure the freedoms that all Canadians enjoy every day of our lives. Bring your non-perishable food items or monetary contributions to the Monthly Chapter Meetings and help support the Veteran's Food Bank. Thank you to all who choose to support this worthwhile cause. Distance Challenge 2019: The Distance Challenge 2019 is starting now! Or as soon as your bike comes out of winter hibernation.. See this month s article for more information and submit your mileage to Tracy Boyda at tboyda@ telus.net Where in the World?: Answer - Stephen Ave, ice rink, Calgary AB Classified Ads The Classified ads are free to all members and associates of the GWRRA. While advertised items do not have to be Gold Wing related, we do insist that all ads pertain to motorcycling. Ads will appear on a space available basis for one month. Should you wish to continue to run your ad for a second or succeeding month, you must resubmit or renew your ad. Deadline for submission is the first Monday of each month. To post an ad or if the item is sold or the offer withdrawn, please contact Suzanne Shaver at goldwing calgary.com For Sale Long Ride Shields TAKA windshield for GL " longer than stock. Brand new, $ Brand new stock and +2" with vent hole windshields for $ each Barry NOTE: addresses in this publication are displayed in a manner that will deter automatic address harvest programs. This step is taken to reduce unsolicited to any addresses we post. We regret any inconvenience caused for our legitimate visitors. Remove all the spaces in the address to make it work.

14 Wing Wag February 2019 Page 14 CALGARY AREA STAFF Chapter Directors Stu & Mary Ellen Hartt chapter goldwing calgary.com Assistant Chapter Directors Tracy & Elaine Boyda assistant chapter goldwing calgary.com Membership Enhancement Coordinators Vacant Quartermaster Jeff Webber goldwing calgary.com Newsletter Editor Suzanne Shaver goldwing calgary.com Treasurer Eric Roberts goldwing calgary.com Ride Coordinator Stewart Dixson ride goldwing calgary.com Rider Educator Roger Matas gmail.com Special Events Coordinator Ron Syroishka goldwing calgary.com Webmaster Roger Matas goldwing calgary.com Friends for Fun, Safety, and Knowledge Come ride with us...everyone Welcome! For the latest updates on what we are doing and where we re going, check out our website: GWRRA NATIONAL LEADERS GWRRA TOLL FREE NUMBER (CANADA & US) PRAIRIES DISTRICT TEAM Canadian Prairies District Directors Gary & Susan Premech gmail.com Canadian Prairies District Educator Alex Middleton shaw.ca Canadian Prairies Ass t District Educator Kim Coubrough Canadian Prairies District Ride Coordinator Ron Syroishka telus.net Canadian Prairies District University Coordinator Roger Matas gmail.com Canadian Prairies Dist. Membership Enhancement Tracy Boyda telus.net Canadian Prairies Dist. Motorist Awareness Coordinator Vacant Canadian Prairies District Treasurer Eric Roberts shaw.ca Monthly Meetings Monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month. This is a time to share information and to meet old and new friends who like to ride together for FUN, Safety and Knowledge. See you at the next meeting at the Fox Hollow Golf Club, 9th Street and 32nd Avenue N.E. Dinner at 6:30 PM; Meeting at 7:00 PM. Rain, snow, or shine, we meet for breakfast every Sunday morning about 9 AM (Fox Hollow opens at 8:00). This is a great year round way to stay in touch with your GWRRA friends. So, if you have missed the opportunity to join us for breakfast recently, why don t you come on over to: Fox Hollow Golf Club

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