It Started in Port Hardy

MY CRAVING TO DRIVE our Russian Ural motorbike with sidecar, started just after we purchased it in 2008. We bought it while we were living in China; my husband picked it up in Vancouver and brought it to our new living space in Port Hardy, British Columbia. We’ve since moved to Campbell River and enjoy our funky ride all seasons.

My idea was to be able to control the bike enough that I could get us both to safety if something were to happen to Frank on one of our excursions. So, he agreed to take me to an empty parking lot and there he handed the green bulldog over to me.

After several attempts to switch into second gear, I found myself getting very comfortable with the technique of gearing up somewhat and shifting at the right time.

“Just listen to the motor,” Frank said. “It tells you when it needs changing.”

Although I’m not the primary driver, I still have a confident sense that I can take us to safety if need be.

Ladies, may I suggest that in order for you to really appreciate the role of the driver, you might like to ask for lessons. The Ural bike rides like a sports car. It doesn’t lean to one side or the other and you feel solid assurance between your legs.

Have fun!

Port Hardy Excursion

I'll get us there if I have to.

222 To Sayward

In 2011 our URAL Rally number was 222 and along with two other URAL motorcyclists from Campbell River, British Columbia, we headed due north approximately 63 kilometers to Sayward. We were registered as Van Isle 3X2 for National Rally Day http://nationalrallyday.com/.

Our great nation, Canada, is separate and unique from its American sister and we have our Russian URAL motorbikes with sidecar in common.

The main purpose of the gathering was to ride our bikes approximately 200 kilometres or so and collect points by photographing the bike and us, with its number clearly shown, at various stops along the way. For example, Locky stopped his Gear-Up at a Heritage Fire Truck garage and snapped a picture to gather points. As a sidecar passenger, I hopped out of our Patrol several times to capture an image that would get us rewards too, like Frank filling the gas tank.

The front rider used arm signals to steer us in favourable directions. We stopped along the road several times and once long enough to have a barbeque thanks to Ms. Dianna, another of our team’s sidecar riders.

Just past the one-lane bridge in Sayward, we stopped along the side of the road and admired all the abandoned farm implements. From that point we carried on to the Kelsey Bay Wharf and enjoyed a cup of coffee and one of the most magnificent panoramic seaside views on the Vancouver Island.

Exploring the wonders of our local area as a passenger on a URAL motorbike is a breathtaking experience. No scent goes unnoticed and the view from the comfort of my cushy seat is magnificent.

Locky with Gear-Up

Dianna prepares BBQ

Kelsey Wharf, Sayward, BC

Little Goose Big Thrill

OUR EXCURSION TO LITTLE GOOSE was quite by accident as are many of our adventures on the URAL bike. We headed north from Campbell River to Roberts Lake, approximately 30 kilometers, to enjoy one of their famous cinnamon buns. On our way, a sign on the west side of the road caught my attention and we decided to explore the trail on our way home.

At the resort, we met a group of other bike enthusiasts and typically, our Patrol was the only bike with a sidecar. I exchanged stories with some of the women who ride on the back of a motorcycle, explaining the sheer joy of facing the adventure head-on. The other women who were motoring their own bikes shared their sensation of freedom not having to sit behind the driver.

We waved our goodbyes and headed south to Little Goose Road.

We are always thrilled with side roads. We love our trails narrow and cumbersome. We get a sense of being alone in the world surrounded exclusively by the sound of the bike motor until we pull to a stop. The surrounding forest was filled with chirping birds and curious sounding rustles at ground level. We investigated an abandoned farm plow and took our time enjoying the lay of the land.

The daisies in the field hold a special place in my heart. They were my mother’s favourite flower and seeing them fills my senses with her face and love.

We sported our helmets and headed home.

 The Motorcycle Song

by Arlo Guthrie
♫ I don't want a pickle
Just want to ride on my motorsickle
And I don't want a tickle
'Cause I'd rather ride on my motorsickle
And I don't want to die
Just want to ride on my motorcy...cle ♫

Little Goose Forest Service Road

Memories of my Mom

Learning to work the Ural

Bear Creek Nature Park

OUR MID-DAY EXCURSION on the URAL bike had us heading south on Inland Highway 19A approximately 58 kilometers south to Washington Way on to Strathcona Parkway. After a short jaunt down the highway we came across a wooden sign inviting us into Bear Creek Nature Park. We love taking side roads and look forward to the adventures that may come up.

We barely made it through the first turn in the path before we ran out of gas. We carry three gas cans attached to the bike and always have reserve. While Frank replenished the tank, I sprang out of the sidecar and walked leisurely around the area. The warm summer weather allows me to sport shorts, a T-shirt, my trusty leather jacket and my Department of Transport (DOT) helmet.

The bear-warning signs were everywhere and so I kept within shouting distance to the only other human in the area. We hiked a few trails and listened to the birds chirping their excitement about the intruders, the gurgling of the creek and the whisper of wind fluttering the leaves in a southeasterly direction.

We boarded the bike and roared down the road that took us back to the highway and home.

Caution! Bears

Susan as a summer biker

Port Hardy Excursion

SEPTEMBER on the North Vancouver Island, specifically Port Hardy, is a time to bundle up with warm clothes if you plan to motor through the mushy trails around the local airport.

For the passenger, gearing up for the sidecar means sporting warm socks, long johns, long pants, a long-sleeved T-shirt, a Hoodie, earplugs, a fur-lined leather jacket, a helmet and leather gloves. Once I get settled on the padded seat, I draw a cozy blanket over my lap and then pull the tonneau, a leather cover, secured to the front of the sidecar, onto my lap. What might seem like a lot of fussing provides me with warmth and a sense of security.

I sit right beside the engine so having ear protection helps me enjoy the ride. The windshield protects my face from bugs. There is a metal hand-grab bar directly in front of me and I use it to hold me in place if Frank decides to take a sharp corner. Switchback stretches bring a smile to my face.

The sturdy bike can plow through mud and snow at a patient speed. There’s a mechanism between us that Frank manipulates to put the plow horse into second gear. The muddy water is close enough for me to plunge my hand into. I resist the temptation and look forward to achieving dry ground.

Life is side roads.

Port Hardy Excursion

Tonneau

On The Road Again

FRANK AND I are URAL buddies but it wasn’t always that way. Frank’s long history with Harley Davidson motorbikes and my one ride on the back of a Honda as a young woman collided in China when he brought up the idea of buying a bike.

“I’m not riding on the back of a motorbike,” I said.

“Alright then, have a look at this beauty,” he said.

Displayed on the computer screen in our suite in Yichang, China, where we were employed as English teachers, was a sparkling green Russian URAL Patrol bike. It took my breath away. I imagined myself seated comfortably in the cozy sidecar enjoying the unobstructed sights, sounds and smells of freedom.

We ordered the gallant ride, picked it up in Vancouver, Canada and use it all seasons.

Most recently, we took a 129-kilometre excursion from Campbell River, British Columbia, north to Woss. We ran out of gas along the way, but that’s a good thing. We pulled into a Nimpkish roadside spot and while Frank filled the tank with contents from one of our attached gas containers, I filled my time by taking in the beautiful surroundings.

Our friends in Woss entertained us with local news and a scrumptious meal. Our expedition home was a delight.