Day 0 – Getting ready
Breton
Not exactly sure how the idea originally came up but I’m pretty sure it involved wine. Mark and I had been grumping for a while about the length of winter and the desire to ride. Somewhere along the way we started talking about doing a Ewan/Charley style epic journey and eventually landed on the idea of a ride across Vancouver Island all the way from Victoria to Ucluelet. We didn’t know if anyone had ever attempted a journey of this magnitude before but we were intrigued by the challenge it would present. Up from the urban jungle of Victoria through the wilds of Chemainus to the hinterland of Parksville then across the treacherous mountain passes of central Vancouver Island to the sleepy fishing town of Ucluelet. (yeah, wine was definitely involved…).
Ucluelet doesn’t know what’s coming…
Throwing caution, common sense and reality to the wind, we committed ourselves to the trip. Lacking sponsorship and even rudimentary organizational skills, we quickly turned to Mark’s wonderful wife, Dianne, to assist us with the logistics.
We settled on the Easter long weekend and soon after bikes were being rented, hotels booked and flights arranged. In the whirlwind of the planning phase, I really didn’t have time to think of the dangers we might face on the trip. Would we find decent restaurants in Ucluelet? What if we couldn’t find an adequate selection of wines? Would Dianne be able to arrange an iPod playlist appropriate enough for the trip? I really should have paid more attention to these real and present dangers but I was too caught up in the excitement and romance of the trip. Later we would pay the price for our lack of due diligence…
Mark
He’s ‘pretty sure’ there was wine involved? Pretty sure?!? Of course there was wine involved. There’s ALWAYS wine involved. The real question is not whether, but “how much”?
Of course, Breton makes it out to be a far more rare, exotic and remote a ride than it probably is. Many may have done it. Many more may have attempted. But I’m sure there are damned few that have used the Fairmont Empress as their home base. Charley/Ewan style has been recalibrated to be an experience that involves martinis, room service and (if we’re lucky) hot and cold running masseuses. But I digress…
There’s something about packing for a motorcycle trip that is special. The anticipation, the planning, the detailed preparation. Preparing early. Carefully considering the essential equipment that will protect your safety, while at the same time giving careful thought as to space, capacity and weight. Paring down, and paring down yet again, until finally you are left with those few, essential tools that are critical to your survival and basic bodily comfort. The right equipment in the right place for the right job. At least, that’s what I’m told. As for me, a carefully considered plan of attack devolved to 9pm the night before. Again. Madly dumping everything I might need on the table. Folding and refolding. Trying one bag, and then another, and finally one more until it would all fit. But fit it did. In a 30″ pullman. No carry on for this motorcyclist, it’s checked baggage all the way.
Just how much stuff does one motorcyclist need?
Of course, carrying a 30″ pullman on a motorcycle is a tad tricky. I’d be up for it, but it might look silly. And above all, there is an image to be maintained. Thank god for the bellmen at the concierge desk in the Fairmont. They’ll be holding that pullman for me for the weekend, and no one will be any the wiser.
And so it is that I step out boldly into the world. To go, to explore, to live life the way it was meant to be. With luxury. And wine. And fine food. Let the ride begin…
One final note, however. For those who were concerned that the iPod playlist wasn’t going to be done in time. There is a playlist. And it is good. And it was finished sometime last week. Because I didn’t do it. That was Dianne.
Regardless of what tragedy, comedy or general buffoonery might befall this noble quest, there will be music. We might not have a camera crew. This revolution will not be televised. But damn it all, there will be a soundtrack.