I started riding motorcycle in 1989 after taking the motorbike safety-training course. My first bike was a 500cc Honda Shadow. I enjoyed learning on this bike and even took a few weekend trips into Montana. This little bike even took me across the Highway to the Sun in Glacier National Park. My first experience on high, narrow mountain roads. was hooked from the beginning and in 1991 I bought my first Gold Wing, a 1984 1200cc Aspencade. We rode together for over 85,000kms.
The first year took me south along the Oregon and California coastline to the Mexican border. What an experience that was riding the curves along the coast! I certainly felt my inexperience as a rider. Coming back through Arizona I saw the Grande Canyon for the first time. Another great adventure! In 1992 I bought a Tiny Mite tent trailer and traveled in luxury. It was a real treat not to sleep on the ground. This year was my first trip to Sturgis, SD for the Harley rally and my first trip to a GWRRA Wing Ding, which was held in Madison, Wisconsin. In 1994 I went to the Wing Ding in Albuquerque, New Mexico with other members of the GWRRA Chapter in Edmonton.
The trusty bike that took me around the globe. It was an excellent choice for me and handled the off-road stretches just fine. We clocked 120,000 kilometres, experienced a few spills along the way, had one accident and one flat tire in almost three years. It died in the middle of the Kav-e-lut Desert in Iran, which turned out to be a loose battery connection. The odometer now shows 40,000 kilometres (the second time around).
Since returning home my trusty stead spent 2 years in the Alberta Reynolds Museum (2005-2006) in their bike exhibit. After reclaiming her, I removed the trunk, side bags and luggage rack, had the black pieces re-painted and some airbrushing added to both sides of the tank, had the seat re-covered, and polished up the chrome. She now looks like a brand new bikes-Beautiful!
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